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The Grounds is opening a lush cafe in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
Sydney’s much-loved hospitality group will open a new venue in a stunning heritage site.

Cult-favourite The Grounds took Sydney by storm when it first opened its doors in Alexandria in 2012. The cafe, restaurant and market complex quickly became the go-to spot for relaxed hangs, adored for its beautifully plated food posted all over Instagram, lush greenery, rustic-industrial design and adorable farm animals. Now, the hospitality group is set to open its third Sydney outpost in one of the city’s most beautiful locations: The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. And it’s the most exciting news since Putricia bloomed in 2025.

The Grounds in The Domain
The Grounds in The Domain will be set against lush gardens. (Image: Supplied)

The Grounds in The Domain is set to be the group’s most beautiful venue yet. It will sit at the edge of the Botanic Gardens Sydney at the Domain Gateway, a historic precinct once home to a gatekeeper’s cottage and a horticultural workshop area. Chief Executive of Botanic Gardens of Sydney Simon Duffy AM, shared his excitement for the development. “We are delighted to open this precinct to the public for the first time in its 190-year history to enhance our role in Sydney as a place to inspire enjoyment, learning and conservation of nature."

With works scheduled to begin in 2026, The Grounds in The Domain will combine its well-known hospitality with the natural, heritage setting of the Botanic Gardens. Visitors will enjoy seasonal, locally-sourced produce in an elegant space reminiscent of an English country garden. Think manicured lawns, flowerbeds and seasonal blooms framing greenhouses and romantic archways. 

The gatekeeper’s cottage in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
The precinct will be opened to the public for the first time in its 190-year history. (Image: Supplied)

Ramzey Choker, Founder and Director of The Grounds Group, highlighted how the project will elevate the experience of visiting the gardens. “At The Grounds, we’re truly excited to bring a touch of our magic to the Domain Gateway precinct, opening a space that has been largely inaccessible for nearly two centuries. This is a rare opportunity to welcome the public back into one of Sydney’s most historically significant locations, creating a hospitality experience that both respects its heritage and adds new life to the surroundings."

The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney sits along the Sydney Harbour foreshore. (Image: Destination NSW)

Established in 1816, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is Australia’s oldest botanical garden, sweeping across 30 hectares of the Sydney Harbour foreshore. Visitors can make a day of exploring the distinct themed gardens from the Palace Rose Garden and Succulent Garden to the Palm Grove and Jacaranda Walk, while admiring the iconic views of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

The addition of The Grounds in The Domain brings yet another reason to linger longer in these magical gardens. “Through this collaboration with Botanic Gardens of Sydney, we hope to craft a space where people can explore, learn and enjoy the precinct in ways that haven’t been possible before," shared Choker. 

Stay tuned.

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Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is a freelance travel journalist. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to curating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love, Bed Threads and Australian Traveller/International Traveller. When she's not writing, editing or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list is Lord Howe Island.
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3 vintage train journeys to step back in time and explore NSW

(Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Elizabeth Whitehead Elizabeth Whitehead
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    From country landscapes to the coast, Vintage Rail Journeys blends the grandeur of the golden age of rail travel with immersive local experiences.

    Travelling aboard the historic Southern Aurora train is the ultimate scenic journey through regional NSW. Operated by Vintage Rail Journeys, the former Southern Aurora is a step back in time, from the lovingly restored carriages to the Off Train Experiences that spotlight local history, artisanal crafts and regional producers.

    Once the overnight express that ferried passengers between Sydney and Melbourne throughout the 1960s, this train has been revived to its former mid-century glory, from the cabin layouts to the original lettering. Today, the train takes passengers on scenic and historic five-day journeys – starting and ending in Sydney – through three distinct regions of NSW: The Riverina, Golden West and North Coast.

    Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train carriage
    Be transported into the golden age of travel. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    One of the most magical parts of travelling with Vintage Rail Journeys is waking up on the train. Each night, the train stables at a station so guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep in stillness, before departing again at dawn. Passengers awake to the gentle motion of the carriage, flicking open the blinds to watch the landscape unfold at sunrise. There is no better way to start the day.

    The onboard experience come evening time is just as picturesque. Guests enjoy the all-inclusive food and beverages, nursing cocktails in the Art Deco-inspired lounge carriage or lingering over a three-course dinner in the dining carriage. Outside the window, Eastern grey kangaroos bound across open plains and flocks of cockatoos scatter from the gumtrees. It’s an old-world way of travelling, a slower pace that’s increasingly rare amid the frenzy of modern life. From coastal sojourns to adventures through agrarian landscapes, these are the multi-day Vintage Rail Journeys itineraries transporting guests back in time.

    The Riverina

    Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train travelling through nsw
    Travel through the agricultural heartland of NSW. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    The Riverina is the agricultural heartland of NSW. Over five days, Vintage Rail Journeys takes passengers through the region to experience its celebrated produce, wines and local history. Travelling in a loop through the Central West, guests can sample sweets at the Junee Liquorice & Chocolate Factory, housed inside a former flour mill, tour an olive grove alongside a second-generation olive farmer, and enjoy tastings at family-owned wineries where the grapes are harvested mere metres away.

    The Riverina is also a region shaped by passionate local historians. The Fairground Follies museum in Bowral houses one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical music and carnival memorabilia – a riot of colour and nostalgia tucked away where you’d least expect it. Meanwhile, Temora Rural Museum offers a glimpse into the history of everyday life in rural NSW. It’s home to the NSW & ACT Ambulance Museum (yes, a museum within a museum), packed with ambulances that span the past 120 years (including horse-drawn!). And seeing it all aboard a vintage train makes it feel not just like you’re visiting history, but living inside of it.

    North Coast

    Forest Sky Pier
    Take in the views from Forest Sky Pier. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    This five-day journey is all about ocean views and slowing down in tune with the rhythm of coastal life. As you make your way north from Sydney, the water is never too far from sight, whether Vintage Rail Journeys is tracing the Gloucester River or travelling alongside sweeping stretches of coastline. You’ll want to sit by a window as the train passes through the Coffs Harbour region – it’s one of the most scenic stretches of the whole journey.

    Guests can also disembark at Coffs Harbour to take in the beauty of the Great Dividing Range at the Forest Sky Pier – a surreal lookout point that looks like a runway disappearing into the sky. The train continues onward to Byron Bay, where guests can disembark to explore the iconic beach town at their own pace. And on the return journey to Sydney, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins – they’re known to frequent the Kooragang Wetlands near Newcastle, which guests visit on a lunch cruise on the final day.

    Golden West

    winery experience in new south wales
    Jump off the train for a winery experience. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Travelling through the Golden West by rail is like stepping into a Frederick McCubbin painting – a nod to the golden era of rail travel. This five-day journey evokes the era of Australian Impressionism, passing through some of the country’s most painterly landscapes while tracing a path through history.

    Starting in Sydney, the train makes its way to the Hawkesbury River, where the train crosses a historic rail bridge over the bronze, glassy waters below. Guests disembark here to cruise the brackish inlet aboard a historic postal boat before returning to the train to continue into Gold Rush country. Ahead lie grand heritage towns and historic estates, including the 1870s Abercrombie House in Bathurst.

    Special event journeys

    meal onboard Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train
    Enjoy all-inclusive dining and beverages on the way to special events. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Regional NSW is home to some truly one-of-a-kind events, and Vintage Rail Journeys offers a memorable way to get there. Planning a trip to the Bathurst Repco 1000? Vintage Rail Journeys’ special itinerary combines accommodation, dining and transport into one seamless experience. Guests take the scenic route to Bathurst, where the train becomes a unique home base for the event, complete with transfers, all-inclusive dining and beverages, and three days of reserved grandstand seating before returning to Sydney Central Station.

    For something a little more playful, guests can also join fellow Elvis enthusiasts on a special overnight journey to Parkes for the town’s iconic annual Elvis Festival. It’s a vintage rail journey – with a little added rock ‘n’ roll.

    Step back into the golden age of rail travel at vintagerailjourneys.com.au.