Sydney Royal Botanic Garden Self-Guided Audio Walk: Farm Cove, Mrs Macquarie's Chair and the Domain

What to bring

• Phone and audio: Bring a fully charged phone and earphones to listen to the self-guided audio tour.
• Data or Wi-Fi prep: Use mobile data if you can, or open the tour on Wi-Fi before you set off.
• Sun protection: In summer, bring a hat, sunscreen, and water, especially from October to March.

What's not allowed

• Garden rules: Do not ride bicycles, fly drones, bring animals except assistance animals, or climb over the sea wall in the Garden.

Accessibility

• Terrain: There are no steps on the route; it is flat by the water and rises about 30 m toward the Domain.

Additional information

• Best date: Do not plan this walk on 31 December 2026, when the Royal Botanic Garden is closed all day.
• Garden gate hours: Garden gates open at 7 am daily and close between 5 pm and 8 pm depending on the month.
• Start times: Start by 7 pm in November to February, by 3:45 pm in June and July, and 75 minutes before closing in other months.
• Late December note: In late December, Garden gates may shut before sunset along the sea wall.
• Shade and heat: The sea wall between stops 5 and 7 has no shade, so expect strong sun in summer.
• Traffic safety: Cross Art Gallery Road at the zebra crossing and look right first, as cars drive on the left.
• Vehicle awareness: Watch for vehicles at the pool driveway between stops 7 and 8 and at the gallery service road before stop 10.
• Shared paths: Expect cyclists on the sea wall promenade and on Mrs Macquaries Road and Art Gallery Road sidewalks.
• Noise level: Stop 10 is beside the Cahill Expressway cutting and can be very loud.
• GPS performance: GPS may drift under trees near stops 3 and 4, so you may need to start those stops manually.
• Domain hours: Stops 6 to 12 lie in the Domain, which is listed as open daily with no posted closing time.
• After gate closure: If Garden gates are closed, you can still walk stops 6 to 12 by joining from Mrs Macquaries Road.
• Meeting point: Meet just inside Queen Elizabeth II Gate at the Opera House forecourt's south-east corner.
• Public transport: Circular Quay station, wharves, and light rail are about 600 m along East Circular Quay from the gate.
• Train and ferry links: Circular Quay has trains on T2, T3, T8, light rail L2 and L3, and ferries from Wharves 2 to 6.
• Government House hours: Government House at stop 2 opens Fri to Sun, 10:30 am to 3 pm, with free half-hourly tours.
• Government House bags: Bags for Government House tours are cloaked at the ticket office.
• Art Gallery hours: The Art Gallery of New South Wales opens daily 10 am to 5 pm and until 10 pm on Wednesdays.
• Art Gallery closures: The gallery is closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday, with some exhibitions ticketed.
• Pool season: Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool at stop 8 opens from 1 September to 30 April only.

• Please check your final voucher for the redemption details and specific instructions.
• Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.