Next door to the Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay, and a 15-minute walk from the hotel, the Royal Botanic Garden is an oasis of calm in the Sydney Central Business District. Sprawling over a harbourside headland and hugging a tranquil bay, the gardens hold a world-class collection of Australian and international plants. Meander through lush gardens, on shaded walking paths or under soaring palms, while local cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets squawk in the branches above. Don’t miss the chance to see a rare Wollemi pine, an ancient tree dating back millions of years. Another highlight is the Cadi Jam Ora – First Encounters, a garden dedicated to the indigenous Aboriginal inhabitants of Sydney, displaying both native plants and those introduced with the arrival of the First Fleet. Guided walks of the Royal Botanic Garden run daily.