Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens

The Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens is a fantastic day out for all ages – and the best part is, it needn’t cost you a cent.

Situated just off a busy stretch of Ashmore Road at Benowa, the gardens are a 31-hectare oasis of beauty and tranquility. Inside, there's plenty to see and do for all ages, including rose, bush food and butterfly gardens, plus a sensory garden, featuring plants designed to stimulate the five senses.

There’s plenty of opportunity to stretch the legs on one of the many waking trails throughout the gardens. The Mangroves to Mountains Walk is a real highlight and showcases the full range of plant communities found in the Gold Coast region. The boardwalk over and around the lake is another absolute must, especially for kids, who will love keeping an eye out for the resident ducks and water dragons.

Guided walks are available on the first Sunday and third Wednesday of the month, but check the website for more details.

If you're making a day of it, there's plenty of picnic tables situated throughout the grounds, plus a nice, shaded playground for the kids. There's also plenty of grassy spaces to run around on, including a dog off-leash area. However, if you do choose to take the pooch, it's worth noting that some areas are off-limits to dogs, including the boardwalk and some of the surrounding gardens.

If you'd rather not pack a picnic, there's an on-site cafe perched high above the gardens, serving up tea, coffee, a range of sweet and savoury treats, and ice cream by the scoop.

In a nutshell - Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens is at 230 Ashmore Road, Benowa, around a 10-minute drive from Surfers Paradise. Entry is free and the gates are open from 5am to 7pm daily.

By Dominique Falk