Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha are the city's larger, more relaxed botanic gardens, spread below the slopes of Mt Coot-tha west of the centre. They are different from the City Botanic Gardens: less lunch-break lawn, more destination garden, with rainforest sections, arid plants, bamboo groves, lagoons, and themed collections.
They pair naturally with the Mt Coot-tha Lookout, especially if you want a half-day that mixes views with shade and slower walking. The gardens are also a good choice in hot weather because there is enough space to avoid the crushed feeling that central parks can have on weekends.