Gardens & Flora on the North Coast

North Coast New South Wales is blessed with a variety of climates - from temperate to sub tropical which means the range of flora, native and introduced, is huge.

The flora at Grassy Head and the Way Way State Forest is sub-tropical, cycads the Scaly Zamia or Pineapple Palm [Lepidozamia Peroffskyana] grow right up to the beach, staghorns and orchids can be found please look but leave them where you find them.

Cycads are an ancient group of seed plants with a crown of large compound leaves and a stout trunk. They are a minor component of the flora in tropical and subtropical regions today, but during the Jurassic Period, they were a common sight in many parts of the world. For this reason, the Jurassic is often referred to as the "Age of Cycads".

Some Important Links are:

International Palm Society Home Page

Introduction to the Cycads

Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia

The North Coast Regional Botanic Garden in Coffs Harbour offers visitors a unique blend of flora, recreation, education and relaxation. Enjoy the beauty of native or exotic plants, the relaxation of a quiet walk, or the stimulation of learning about the environment. It's open 9am - 5pm every day of the year and admission is free

The Visitor Information Centre is open 10am to 2pm week-days, and 9am to 5pm week-ends, school holidays, and public holidays. Soft drinks, ice creams and souvenirs are available. Enquiries phone (02) 6648 4188

Garden facilities include picnic areas, toilets and wheelchair access.

	The Prime Display Area with its colorful native and exotic plants is the entrance window to the Garden. It is a miniature Botanic Garden ideal for those who want a short walk, or as an introduction to the Garden.
	The Glasshouse Complex features an entry house with a wide range of ferns, foliage plants, bromeliads, and general plantings, surrounding an attractive water feature. Additional displays of bromeliads are proposed.
	The Mangrove Boardwalk has been constructed as a learning resource, with information plaques describing the plant and animal communities, and some of the unique adaptations to the estuarine environment.
	The Orchid House is a specialized part of the glasshouse complex. Because of the need for controlled access, the Orchid House is now only open from 10am to 2pm on Wednesday & Sunday.
	The Sensory Garden where you can enjoy the fragrances and beauty of roses and learn about the culinary, medicinal and scented properties of herbs. Some beds are elevated for wheelchair accessibility
	School Guiding and Group Tours are available by prior arrangement. For details contact Cynthia Floyd (02) 6652 3820. No charge is usually made for school groups, but a small charge is made for bus groups.
	The Endangered Species are a collection of over one hundred and fifty rare plants considered threatened in their natural habitats. The planting preserves and provides seed for their continuing survival.
	Sunday Afternoon Tea - from 2pm to 4pm on Sundays the friends serve a Devonshire Afternoon tea under the pergola at the rear of the Information Centre.
	North Coast Rainforest - the beauty of the five typical regional rainforest types has been created in the garden setting. Over 1200 plantings make this the largest man made rainforest in NSW
	The Creek Walk follows Coffs Harbour Creek with creek views, mangroves, and wildflowers in spring. Other walks include a Nature Trail, Aboriginal Plants Walk, and Early Settlers Plants Walk.

Special Events : Special Events include the Winter Festival held on the Sunday of the June holiday week-end, and music in the Garden on Mothers Day and Fathers Day.

Non Australian Plantings: Non Australian Plantings at the northern end of the garden represent geographic areas of similar latitude to Coffs Harbour - plantings from South Africa, Central & South America, Japan, China, India are progressing.

Fundraising Activities: Fundraising Activities include the school holiday Art Exhibitions in the Display Room, wildflower displays,  and of course donations to the Friends are always welcome.

Weddings in the Garden - couples wishing to arrange a wedding ceremony in the Garden should contact the Parks and Reserves branch of Coffs Harbour City Council, who will advise the conditions that apply. A $50 donation to the Friends is requested.

Picnic Areas : Picnic Areas are conveniently located, within easy walking distance of the car park, close to the Information Centre and facilities, and along the bank of Coffs Harbour Creek.

The Friends of the Botanic Garden is an active community group, formed to further the objectives of the Garden. Members probably have only one thing in common - an enjoyment in contributing a little of their time to a worthwhile cooperative project, in a beautiful environment. The contribution made by individuals varies, but one thing is certain, there is come way every member can help.

THE INFORMATION CENTRE - Members staff the Information Centre from IOam to 2pm weekdays, and from 9am to 5pm on weekends and public holidays. They hand out pamphlets about the Garden, assist with inquiries, and sell drinks, ice creams and mementos.

The Friends of the Botanic Garden have prepared a number of brochures which are available at the Information Centre, for the use of visitors to the Garden. They include Aboriginal Plants Walk, Mangrove Boardwalk, Fauna of the Botanic Garden, History Of the Botanic Garden, Herbarium, Herbs of the Sensory Garden, Plant Names, Eucalypt Identification.

WORKING BEES - Members work every Wednesday morning on a range of jobs approved by Council. They include maintenance mulching, weeding, and constructing the paths and trails required for developing new features. Outdoor work with a friendly group may look sometimes like slave labour, but they come back for more, to make their contribution to future development.

Member subscriptions provide only part of the income. donations, catering, plant sales, and information centre sales all provide funds for development. Volunteers are always required for the annual Winter Festival, which is a major fund raising project.

SEED COLLECTION - Members collect seed from the plants of the Coffs Harbour area, test germination , prepare a list for distribution throughout the world, and dispatch seed to Botanic Gardens in many countries. Members propagate plants for use in the Garden, and some special purpose sales.

HERBARIUM - Members identify plant specimens, using a cornprehensive reference collection held at the Herbarium. The core collection of over 23 000 specimens, and reference collection of 2 000 specimens require a high level of care and maintenance.

Awards won by the Friends include 1990 NSW Best Community Project, 1994 National Banksia Award, 1998 NSW Best Community Environment Project (KABC) and 1997 National Community Link Award

Management of the Garden - The North Coast Regional Botanic Garden has been established through the joint efforts of Coffs Harbour City Council and the community group The Friends of the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden Inc.

Hire of the Display Room - the Display Room is available for hire to the general public, community groups, government departments and commercial operators. Facilities include air conditioning, seating for 80, tables, TV and video, overhead projector, whiteboard etc. Catering can be provided if requested.

History of the Site - the 20 hectare site was covered by various Crown Land Reserves for night soil and rubbish depots from 1907, and used for these purposes until 1964. The Coffs Harbour Planning Scheme drawn up in 1959 by Roy McRae, a Town Planner from Sydney, recommended a Botanic Garden for the area, then known as Wilson's Park. His vision was not rewarded; and the Council minute-was noted, fled and forgotten. It was not until 1973 the potential of the site was gain recognized. Following a canoe trip down Coffs Harbour Creek, the Ulitarra Society, a community group dedicated to conservation ideals, came up with a Botanic Garden concept.

Over a three month period they spoke to 18 local organizations, and gained their support. In November 1973 they presented to Council a well documented and researched submission 'Plan for Management of Natural Areas, Coffs Creek" , prepared by Alex Floyd, Peter Roberts and Lloyd Jones.

OFFICIAL OPENING - The North Coast Regional Botanic Garden was opened by Sir Alexander Beattie on 17th September 1985.

Clybucca Memorial Garden

How soon we forget
The lives that were lost at Clybucca in late 89
No longer well marked, just a garden and park
A memorial for those left behind.

Thirty-five fragile lives were killed on that day
When two buses hit - Head on, head on.
They were innocent lives travelling home
For Christmas with family and friends.

There were singles and doubles and some triples too
On that morning when everything went wrong
In the garden they're listed with photos and wreaths
The bloody reality - how could we forget?

So when next at Clybucca look out for the sign
Stop in. Remember those who are gone
It could've been me, it could've been you
It could have been anyone we've known.