Wollongong Botanic Gardens was opened in 1970 to provide the people of the Illawarra with a first class array of native and flowering plant life from all around the world.

With limited funds the city council have succeeded in developing a fine resource with acres of rolling park lands that are perfect for picnics along with some well planted and maintained specialist botanical precincts that hold some good collections of a wide variety of plants.

This is definitely a place worth visiting whether you be a keen plants-person or just enjoy walking through some lovely parklands enjoying the bounties of nature. 

It can't claim world class standards though the ambition is clearly to be 'up there with the best'. We think they largely succeed and some specialist precincts are outstanding.

The Succulents Garden is one of these being thoughtfully laid out and featuring some fine collections of Euphorbia and Agave. 

And it positively throbs with colour in spring when the Mesembryanthemum beds almost fluoresce with intense shades of pinks, reds and whites.

The Rose Garden is a classic walled setting, beautifully clad in Ficus pumila vines with a traditional tall gazebo providing a strong focal point. 

A few old garden varieties are intermixed with some spectacular Floribundas and modern Hybrid Teas.

The Sir Joseph Banks glasshouse is split into two sections - one for dry climate cactus and the other for humid tropical plants. 

Both are modest but very successful, especially the cactus house which has some rather splendid Golden Barrel Cactus and Parodia in immaculate condition.

There are many other specialist precincts too numerous to mention in detail but no visitor can miss the impact of water to these gardens. 

A large lake with central rotunda is a great addition while the Japanese 'Kawasaki Bridge' must have featured in thousands of wedding photos.

From a botanical viewpoint these gardens were a little frustrating at times being a bit inconsistent with their plant labeling (sometimes very good, other times non-existent). But layout and quality of plantings was very good.

For the casual visitor there is a lot to make you happy here including a very large sun-shaded play area for kids with plenty to climb on whilst the adults prepare the barbecue.

And finally the Discovery Centre is a lovely old colonial house and provides a focal point for a wide range of educational programmes, workshops and tours.