Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan: Opening Hours, Free Entry, Where to Park and How to Get There by Train and Bus (Mount Annan, Sydney, NSW)

The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan is open every day of the year, entry is free, and the Garden says all-day parking on site is free too. The gates open at 8am and close at sunset: 7pm in the daylight saving months and 5pm from April to September. All times here are Sydney time, which is UTC+11 in November.

This guide uses the Botanic Gardens of Sydney’s own pages for the Mount Annan garden: Plan your visit, Getting here, Dine and shop, accessibility, conditions of entry and the picnic spots page. We read them on 7 November 2026.

What time does the Garden open and close?

The Garden is open daily from 8am to sunset, and the closing time depends on the season. The official page sets it out by month.

Months	Opening hours
January, February, March, October, November, December	8am to 7pm
April, May, June, July, August, September	8am to 5pm

The page adds that the 7pm closing applies during daylight saving time only. Daylight saving starts on the first Sunday in October and ends on the first Sunday in April, so the changeover date moves each year. The page still quotes the 2025 dates as its example, so this guide gives only the rule. The Garden may also close early in extreme weather.

Is there an entry fee?

Entry is free except for special ticketed events. The conditions of entry say the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust can set fees for the use of reserved land and for parking on its land, and that it can close or limit parts of the Garden.

Where do I park, and is it free?

The Garden’s picnic page says that entry is free, as is all-day parking on site. The Getting here page says the roads inside the Garden are public roads, so all normal traffic rules apply, and that parking zones are enforced. Infringement notices are issued to vehicles parked illegally in no stopping zones, accessible parking bays and bus zones.

The picnic page names the car parks that are closest to each spot:

Spot	Car park named by the Garden
Lakeside Lawn and the top of the Connections Garden	P3, about a 3 minute walk to Lakeside Lawn
Banksia Garden	Along Caley Drive (P8)
Sundial Hill	Caley Drive (P5), then a path up the hill on the right-hand side of the road
Wattle Garden	Off Caley Road (P7)

The Sundial Hill walk is not wheelchair accessible and has no toilets. Accessible parking bays are provided in the Garden, and most areas can be reached by walker or wheelchair.

How do I drive there?

The Garden is 57 kilometres from the Sydney CBD, about a 45 minute drive according to the Garden. The page gives two approaches:

• From the east: follow the M5 towards Campbelltown and Canberra, take the Narellan Road exit, take the right fork towards Camden and Narellan, and turn left at the second set of traffic lights, where a brown tourist sign says The Australian Botanic Garden.
• From the west: follow The Northern Road onto Narellan Road at Narellan, then turn right at the traffic lights marked by the brown tourist sign.

Can I get there by train and bus?

Yes, but it is not a short walk from the stop. The Garden says to take the T8 Airport line train from the city towards Campbelltown and Macarthur, then a bus from Campbelltown station to Camden via Mount Annan. The nearest bus stop is on Narellan Road outside the Garden, opposite Kenny Hill Road, and it is a 2 kilometre walk from there to the Visitor Centre. The page does not name a bus route or give a timetable, so check times and disruptions on transportnsw.info or on the Transport Infoline, 131 500.

When are the cafe and shop open?

Place	Hours
The Garden’s Cafe	Open daily, 8.30am to 4pm
Growing Friends Plant Sales	Open daily, 9.30am to 4pm; closed on Anzac Day
The Garden Shop, in the Visitor Centre	Open daily, 9.30am to 4pm; closed on Anzac Day

Can I bring a bike, a dog or a drone?

Bikes and scooters are welcome, and the picnic page says there is a BMX track on site. Dogs are not allowed, except assistance animals wearing a badge or permit on the collar, lead, harness or vest with registration as an assistance animal. The Garden asks assistance animal handlers to go to the Visitor Centre or call 02 4634 7935 in advance. Drones are strictly prohibited. Under the conditions of entry you may not jog or run in the Garden except on a road, path or designated circuit, fish in the ponds, or throw, kick or hit any object. Personal photos and filming need no permit.

Do I need to book a picnic spot?

Casual picnics do not need a booking: find an unoccupied spot. Larger gatherings such as birthday parties can book picnic tables or shelters to guarantee a space. The picnic page lists barbecues and bathrooms between Lakeside Lawn and Marquee Lawn, and tables, shelters, barbecues and bathrooms at the Banksia Garden and Wattle Garden.

What if the weather turns?

The Garden says to stay informed with forecasts and warnings, watch for falling debris, avoid sheltering under trees, and call 000 in an emergency. In extreme weather it may close early for visitors’ safety.

Sources

• Botanic Gardens of Sydney — Plan your visit to the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan (hours, free entry; read 7 November 2026)
• Getting to the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan (driving, parking rules, public transport)
• Find your favourite picnic spot (car parks, free all-day parking, bikes)
• Dine and shop at the Garden (cafe, shop and plant sale hours)
• Accessibility at the Garden and Conditions of entry

Featured image: Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, September 2018 (photo: AlexBatura / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added).

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Botanic Gardens of Sydney. Hours and rules can change; check the Garden’s pages before you go.