Our early childhood programs are perfect for 3-5 year olds who want to have fun and learn about nature.
These activities let them explore the Garden with games, songs and movement.
Sessions usually run for 30 to 40 minutes, but we can shorten the time to suit different needs. We also keep class sizes small so everyone is safe and gets the most out of their visit.
Available activities
Choose from the following activities, or talk to us about your needs:
Follow Captain Compost on an adventure to uncover the little creatures who live in compost. You’ll meet bugs, beetles and other creepy crawlies.
Search for seeds in the Garden, then learn how to plant them and care for your growing plant.
Look closely at our plants, and see how many leaf shapes you can match on your journey through the Garden.
Smell, touch and look at the exciting plants in our herb, citrus and myrtle gardens.
Learn how worms from the compost heap magically turn food scraps into fertilizer!
Booking information
Minimum students: 15
Maximum group size: no more than two groups of 30 students per day
Please note: no education bookings are available on Fridays.
Class size will be limited for certain activities due to safety considerations and staffing resources.
Excursion cost is $14 (incl. GST) per student per day, and includes two activities. Carers and teachers are free.
In line with new Education Department policy, we are requesting the pre-payment of your attendance by credit card. This will be emailed to you as soon as we have confirmed your education date and you have confirmed your numbers. (Please note we cannot amend numbers after an invoice has been generated).
If payment before attendance is not possible you will be required to send us a PO number so we can send the invoice to EDConnect, to be paid prior to attendance.
Please book at least two months before your visit.
Use the button on this page to request an excursion booking, or call us during business hours on (02) 4227 7667.
If your request is accepted, we'll send you a booking confirmation letter, risk assessment, garden map and instructions for your visit (including wet weather plan).
Once your payment is made we will issue a confirmation, along with Council risk assessments covering safety for garden excursions.
Please meet at the Discovery Centre, located at the north eastern corner of Wollongong Botanic Garden.
Buses can drop students off at either the bus bay located at the University of Wollongong on Northfields Avenue or at our Murphys Avenue car park.
If your activity is being held at one of the Garden Annexes, such as Mount Keira or Puckeys Estate, please meet at the designated located specified on your booking confirmation.
We have a minimal waste policy and ask that packaging of food items brought to the Garden are minimised.
Most activities can still go ahead in light rain. In this case, please make sure students, teachers and accompanying parents wear appropriate wet weather clothes and shoes.
Our activities may need to be cancelled in heavy rain or high winds.
Please call us on the excursion day to confirm whether the program can continue or if your excursion needs to be rescheduled.