Is Booderee Botanic Gardens open in winter 2026?

Yes — the gardens remain open throughout the current boardwalk upgrade works (April–August 2026). Entry is included with a Booderee National Park day pass. The entry precinct is also undergoing works through September 2026, which may affect the entry gate area — check the Parks Australia website before visiting.

Is the rainforest boardwalk pram-friendly?

Yes — the boardwalk has recently been upgraded and is now accessible with most prams. All-terrain strollers are most comfortable, but standard prams manage the main boardwalk well. Some outer trails are unpaved and not suitable for prams.

Can we see eastern quolls at Booderee Botanic Gardens?

Possibly — Booderee hosts a quoll breeding program and sightings, while not guaranteed, do occur, particularly in the cooler parts of winter days. Ask rangers at the visitor centre for current spotting tips.

How much does Booderee National Park entry cost in 2026?

Entry fees are set by Parks Australia and change periodically. Check the Parks Australia Booderee National Park page for current 2026 day pass pricing. The botanic gardens entry is included with the park pass.

How long does it take to walk around the botanic gardens?

Allow 1.5 to 3 hours for a relaxed family visit including the rainforest boardwalk. If you have young children who explore slowly or keen birdwatchers, plan for more time.

What facilities are at Booderee Botanic Gardens?

There are toilets near the entrance, flat picnic tables and BBQ areas, and a small visitor area. No cafe or food is available on-site, so bring your own supplies.

Is Booderee Botanic Gardens good in the rain?

Surprisingly, yes — the rainforest boardwalk is particularly atmospheric in light rain and the dense canopy provides shelter. Bring rain jackets and waterproof footwear and it remains a lovely experience even in drizzle.

Booderee Botanic Gardens With Kids in Winter 2026

Booderee Botanic Gardens sits within Booderee National Park at the southern end of Jervis Bay and is one of the most distinctive botanic gardens in Australia — the only one managed by an Aboriginal community. It protects a remarkable range of coastal plant communities, from paperbark wetlands and towering eucalypt forest to a genuine temperate rainforest complete with a boardwalk. For families visiting Jervis Bay in winter 2026, the gardens offer an excellent outing — cool weather makes walking comfortable, the rainforest is at its most lush, and the gardens host a small population of eastern quolls that are more visible during the cooler months. Entry is included with the Booderee National Park day pass.

Quick Facts
Location	Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay Territory
Entry Fee	Included with Booderee National Park day pass (check Parks Australia for 2026 pricing)
Open	Generally open daily — check Parks Australia for current hours and closures
Pram Friendly	Yes — main paths and rainforest boardwalk are pram-accessible
Time to Allow	1.5 to 3 hours for families
Dogs	Not permitted in national parks
Facilities	Toilets near entrance, picnic areas

What's Open in Winter 2026

As of 2026, Booderee Botanic Gardens is open to visitors with a current Booderee National Park day pass. The rainforest boardwalk is currently undergoing pathway upgrades (April to August 2026) — the gardens remain open throughout. The main garden areas, including the paperbark wetlands, heath communities, and eucalypt forest, are fully accessible. Note: the Booderee entry precinct is also undergoing a separate upgrade, expected through September 2026, which may affect the entry gate area on specific days. The botanic gardens themselves are not affected by the entry precinct works. Check the Parks Australia Booderee National Park website for any day-specific access changes before your visit.

The Rainforest Boardwalk

The rainforest boardwalk is the highlight of a visit for most families. It takes you through a genuine temperate rainforest ecosystem — lilly-pilly, sassafras, and cabbage tree palms tower overhead while ferns and mosses cover the forest floor. The boardwalk is elevated above the rainforest floor in sections, giving children a sense of being up in the canopy. In winter the forest is dripping and atmospheric, with filtered light creating beautiful conditions for photography. The upgraded boardwalk surface makes it accessible with most prams, though all-terrain strollers handle it more easily than narrow-wheeled city prams. The circuit is not long — most families complete it comfortably in 30–40 minutes.

Eastern Quolls: What to Know for Kids

Booderee National Park is home to a captive breeding and reintroduction program for eastern quolls — a small, spotted, cat-like marsupial that was once locally extinct. In March 2026, Parks Australia confirmed successful breeding activity in the program, meaning the quoll population at Booderee is in active growth — an especially good sign for family wildlife encounters this winter. For kids, the possibility of spotting a quoll is incredibly exciting. Eastern quolls are nocturnal by nature but are occasionally seen in the cooler parts of the day during winter months when temperatures are lower. The best chance of a sighting is in the early morning, particularly on overcast days. Check with the Parks Australia visitor centre when you arrive for any specific spotting tips — rangers are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about sharing quoll information with visiting families. There may also be interpretive signage and displays near the botanic gardens entrance about the quoll program.

Accessibility and Pram Notes

The recent pathway upgrade has significantly improved accessibility at Booderee Botanic Gardens. The main entry path, the loop around the garden beds, and the rainforest boardwalk are all suitable for standard prams and wheelchairs. Some of the garden's outer walking trails are uneven and not suitable for wheeled equipment, but the core family experience is fully accessible. If your child uses a mobility aid or you have a particularly low-clearance pram, contact Parks Australia in advance for specific guidance. There are accessible toilets near the garden entrance. Picnic tables with a flat surface are available near the carpark — this is an ideal spot for lunch before or after exploring the gardens.

How Long to Allow and What to Bring

Allow 1.5 to 3 hours for a relaxed family visit to the botanic gardens — more if you have keen nature explorers who want to sit quietly and watch for birds and wildlife. The gardens reward slow exploration. Bring a picnic to enjoy at the tables near the entrance or in a quiet garden clearing. Warm layers are important in winter — the rainforest in particular is cool and damp. Water, snacks, a rain jacket (even if it looks fine — weather in Booderee can change quickly), and binoculars for bird spotting will all get use. A field guide to Australian birds is a great addition if your children are interested — the gardens host an extraordinary range of species including glossy black cockatoos and yellow-bellied gliders.

Nearby Add-Ons for a Full Day

Booderee Botanic Gardens pairs well with several nearby activities for a full winter day out. Green Patch Beach, a short drive within the national park, is a sheltered and beautifully calm beach that's swimmable even in winter if kids are brave — and the picnic area there is outstanding. The Steamers Beach walking trail from the park entrance road is a rewarding 45-minute return walk to a spectacular and usually deserted beach. Murrays Beach is pram-accessible and gorgeous in winter light. After the gardens, head back to Huskisson for a warming lunch or coffee before the drive home. The Maritime Museum in Huskisson is also directly on the way and makes for a good add-on on a cooler day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Booderee Botanic Gardens open in winter 2026?: Yes — the gardens remain open throughout the current boardwalk upgrade works (April–August 2026). Entry is included with a Booderee National Park day pass. The entry precinct is also undergoing works through September 2026, which may affect the entry gate area — check the Parks Australia website before visiting.
Is the rainforest boardwalk pram-friendly?: Yes — the boardwalk has recently been upgraded and is now accessible with most prams. All-terrain strollers are most comfortable, but standard prams manage the main boardwalk well. Some outer trails are unpaved and not suitable for prams.
Can we see eastern quolls at Booderee Botanic Gardens?: Possibly — Booderee hosts a quoll breeding program and sightings, while not guaranteed, do occur, particularly in the cooler parts of winter days. Ask rangers at the visitor centre for current spotting tips.
How much does Booderee National Park entry cost in 2026?: Entry fees are set by Parks Australia and change periodically. Check the Parks Australia Booderee National Park page for current 2026 day pass pricing. The botanic gardens entry is included with the park pass.
How long does it take to walk around the botanic gardens?: Allow 1.5 to 3 hours for a relaxed family visit including the rainforest boardwalk. If you have young children who explore slowly or keen birdwatchers, plan for more time.
What facilities are at Booderee Botanic Gardens?: There are toilets near the entrance, flat picnic tables and BBQ areas, and a small visitor area. No cafe or food is available on-site, so bring your own supplies.
Is Booderee Botanic Gardens good in the rain?: Surprisingly, yes — the rainforest boardwalk is particularly atmospheric in light rain and the dense canopy provides shelter. Bring rain jackets and waterproof footwear and it remains a lovely experience even in drizzle.