Get fit now: Take a walk at the Royal Botanic Gardens

With health experts encouraging people to walk for over an hour a day, a lovely way to get moving is to take a guided walk through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens.

Botanic Gardens Trust Executive Director, Dr Tim Entwisle said there are free guided walks daily or specialty walks on the 3rd Thursday of each month that cost $11 per person.

“On the free walks our experienced volunteer guides provide information about our wonderful native and exotic plant collection along with a range of topics including the Cadigal – the traditional indigenous custodians of this area; early settlement; the dinosaur tree; and much more,” Dr Entwisle said.

“The free walks take around an hour to an hour-and-a-half. Experts say with a healthy diet coupled with walking around 10,000 steps a day (about an hour and twenty minutes) it’s easier to maintain a healthy weight.

“What better way is there to get fit than take a guided walk through the Gardens check-out spectacular views of the harbour and learn about the heritage of places like the Palm Grove,” he said.

Free guided walks take place daily from 10.30am and from 1pm Monday to Friday from March to December. No walks on Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Volunteer guides put months of effort into researching topics for the Specialty Talks/Walks. They get underway on the third Thursday of each month from 10am until 12.30pm from the Maiden Theatre (unless otherwise specified). They cost $11 per person and include refreshments (Friends of the Gardens discount applies). Booking and enquiries: 9231 8134 or 9231 9304.