The National Arboretum (a botanical garden devoted to trees) is one of my favourite places in Canberra. The are had been mostly covered in pine plantations, but was redeveloped following the devastating 2003 bushfires (which cleared the area). The Arboretum is now home to 94 forests of rare, endangered and symbolic trees from around Australia and the world. Many of the trees are still young but two of the forests are over 100 hundred years old. Over 44,000 trees from over 100 countries are growing across the huge 250 hectare (618 acre) site, making it one of the world’s largest living collections of rare, endangered and significant trees.
In addition there is an amazing bonsai collection, visitors centre, cafe, gift shop, children’s pod playground (which has an amazing space for kids built in the shape of acorns and banksias), picnic and BBQ areas, artwork and amazing views to the city.
