One of Australia’s best and most charming botanic gardens are to be found in Hobart, set on a gentle slope overlooking the Derwent River. It's a fabulous location and the 14 hectare size means that the averagely mobile person can see it all in one day.

As with all good botanic gardens though, if you can get back to visit during different seasons then you’ll be well rewarded. 

This is a well established garden being first planted in 1818 so you’ll see some quite spectacular trees that have attained the title ‘Significant’ due to their rarity or just venerable age.

One of the many tree walks features an excellent collection of Oaks which create a welcome shady walk on a warm day. 

The easy stroll paths will take you to so many broad vistas and fascinating displays of the widest variety of plants both local and exotic.

Spring time in particular providing extravaganzas of colour in flower beds and shrubs alike – especially the Rhododendron which are magnificent and the Waratahs are even better than those I’ve seen in NSW.

Close to the visitor’s centre is the Lily Pond which sits at the foot of a very pretty gully.  Apart from the lovely nymphaea lilies, the pond is surrounded with some excellent grasses and giant bamboo.

All paths will eventually lead you back to the striking conservatory built from sandstone blocks salvaged from the demolished Hobart Hospital.  This lovely building houses some spectacular shade plants and is the perfect place to pause a while and soak up the refreshing ambience.

One of my favourite spots is the friends Mixed Border where, amongst other plants are some particularly splendid South American Echium, with a very impressive collection of Iris Germanica close by.

This place is full of charm, with the ancient walls revealing new spaces full of new surprises. 

The Japanese Garden is one of these – a quiet and ordered enclave filled with plant specimens from the orient along with the water features that make these places so peaceful.

The Royal Tasmanian Botanic Garden is a very civilised place with all the features you’d expect along with excellent pathways, manicured rolling lawns and ever changing displays of plants to please most tastes and interests.