Chinese Garden of Friendship

The Chinese Garden of Friendship is a beautiful oasis within the city

Architectural features accentuate the natural surroundings in Chinese Garden of Friendship
Architectural features accentuate the natural surroundings in Chinese Garden of Friendship cc licensed photo by David Swhartz

The Chinese Garden of Friendship was opened in 1988 as part the commemoration of Sydney's bicentennial. Located near Darling Harbour at the northern end of Chinatown, this lovely garden is well worth a visit and the admission fee is very reasonable.

The garden was designed by landscape designers and gardeners from Sydney's sister city of Guangzhou in China. It is modelled after the likes of private gardens common during the Ming Dynasty, but is somewhat smaller than they were. A unique aspect of the design is that there is no point in the garden where you can see all of the garden at one time.

You will be delighted by the beauty of the gardens natural features and settings accented by a variety of architectural backdrops and Chinese sculptures as you stroll along the meandering pathways through the garden. It is this natural beauty that makes the garden very popular for wedding photography. Some of the features to watch for include the Dragon Wall, the Water Pavilion of Lotus Fragrance, and the Twin Pavilion.

The garden also has a Tea House, where you can enjoy a cup of Chinese Tea of some other refreshments. Be sure to bring your camera.

Nearby attractions include: Chinatown, Powerhouse Museum, Capitol Theatre and Darling Harbour.



Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes

Chinese Garden of Friendship Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

  • Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Address: Pier Street, Cnr Harbour St, Darling Harbour NSW 2000, Australia

Phone: (02) 9240 8888

Official Website: Chinese Garden of Friendship

Chinese Garden of Friendship Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating A very tranquil, beautiful Chinese landscape garden. Definitely one of the best designed and best maintained I've ever seen outside of China. Maybe the largest I've been ever seen as well, although I'm sure it's not the largest outside of China. Lots of lizards enjoying it here as well. Only downside: on a hot day, it's a bitter hotter in the garden than outside of it, but there are plenty of shaded spots and there's some wind despite the walls and buildings surrounding it. It took me around 1 hour to very leisurely walk through the whole garden, take in the views and take scenic pictures. And another hour to really enjoy it, sit down here and there, etc. So if you're just here for sightseeing, 1 hour will be plenty of time, everyone else should probably plan 2-3 hours or more if you plan to enjoy a meal or some afternoon tea in the tea room.
Sandro Mathys - 2 weeks ago

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3 Star Rating It is a nice garden set up with typical traditional Chinese architecture, bonsai plants and water features. However the $12 entry is steep given the size and state of maintenance (for example the water is all very green and has a film on top). The opening hours are also a negative, coming into summer in Sydney it would be quite a nice place to relax into golden hour but they have a strict 5pm closing time. The water dragons are everywhere and quite comfortable with people.
Trevor Anderson - a week ago

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5 Star Rating Absolutely gorgeous gardens. So much to see, I spent hours in there walking around and finding all kinds of hidden little spots to view. A great place to have a picnic as there are little areas with seating to sit back and enjoy and listen to the sounds. I can't believe that it is surrounded by the city. It's so peaceful and beautiful.
Karen Dellaway - 6 months ago

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4 Star Rating Lovely garden, very tranquil and relaxing with several small waterfalls. Around the paths there are many different types of flowers and trees, some ducks, turtles, dragonfly, koi fish and lots of lizards. That would be 5/5. However at exactly 4:29 a staff walked up and said that they were closing in 3 minutes. I noted the time and rushed through the final area and took a few more photos, he came up and said "Well get a move on" so I checked the time, it hasn't even been 1 minute. So I'm reducing a star for not telling us they close early, no reason given, and rushing us out in less time than he said. This happened on Saturday 27 Sept 2025.
Patrick Law - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating Such a beautiful and peaceful place. An abundance of plants with Information signs about them. Pavilions to sit in and relax, ponder. A pavilion for dining is there and I highly recommend it. The food is extremely tasty.
Wegmann Heidi (Witelite) - 4 weeks ago

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Directions

Train Line Nearest Station Walking Time
Light Rail L1Exhibition2 minutes
T2, T3, or T8Museum Station5 minutes

How to get to Chinese Garden of Friendship by Train

By Light Rail: exit at Exhibition Stop, walk down the ramp on the east side of the station and cross Darling Drive. Continue east through the pedestrian path lined with palm trees until you reach the plaza on the east side of Sydney Theatre. The entrance to Chinese Garden of Friendship is across the plaza from the ICC Sydney Theatre.

By Train: exit at Museum Station and proceed west on Liverpool Street crossing Harbour Street via the elevated pedestrian overpass. Go left at Tumbalong Park and follow the garden wall through the pedestrian plaza until you reach the entrance.

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