The Noosa Botanic Gardens are a short drive from the hinterland town of Cooroy, on the shores of Lake Macdonald.
The gardens comprise eight hectares of native and exotic plant species. The gardens are home to an abundance of wildlife. Other features of the gardens include:
an open-air bush chapel
a fern house
a lily pond
large lawn areas with winding paths leading to picnic areas
a Greek style amphitheatre (a circular structure with rows of seats)
children’s play facilities
permaculture and composting area
toilets
drinking water
The site was originally farmland. Council resumed the site in the late 1950s. Part of the site was used to create the Lake Macdonald water supply.
The site was used to dump rubbish until local resident Ida Duncan approached council for permission to clear the site. With the help of other locals, Ida Duncan cleared the area of weeds and car bodies.
Funding from a government community employment program was used to start construction of the botanic gardens in 1987.
When the program ended, council appointed two full time staff to continue construction and maintenance of the gardens. Former Noosa Shire Parks Curator, Bob Bickley designed the layout of the gardens. Council has funded the gardens since 1988.
The Noosa Botanic Gardens officially opened to the public in August 1990.
View the Noosa Botanic Gardens layout map and imageries.
The Friends of the Noosa Botanic Gardens group meet regularly for a social get together or at the Cooroy Library. The garden maintenance volunteers can be found in the gardens every Thursday. There are many ways of volunteering at the gardens as tour guides, fund raising events, education programs and general support activities.Contact the Friends group for more details.