In a country famous for its great outdoors, you can bet Australia is home to an abundance of remarkable green spaces. From adorable urban parks and sprawling community gardens to tranquil waterfront reserves, these nature spots offer a breath of fresh air from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you’re looking for more greenery in your life, new research has revealed the 100 cities with the most green spaces in the world – and four Aussie cities made the list.
To rank the cities with the highest number of green spaces, researchers at Freepik analysed Google reviews for 2,300 parks and green attractions across the world's 100 most populous cities. Only green spaces with more than ten reviews on TripAdvisor were included, ensuring they focused on popular spots rather than each and every tiny neighbourhood park – giving a clearer picture of the top green spaces worth visiting.
Sydney knocked it out of the park, ranking 16th as the city with the highest number of green spaces in the world and topping the list in Australia. The fittingly-coloured Emerald City boasts 30 notable green spots to stretch your legs, walk the dog, have a sedate picnic or simply take a break from your four walls. The grand 189-hectare Centennial Park is Sydney’s largest park for outdoor adventures, while Hyde Park in the middle of the city is the country’s oldest. But if you’re looking for our top pick, we can’t go past the harbourside Royal Botanic Gardens, which offers a pretty backdrop no matter the season.
The next city with the most green spaces in Australia is Melbourne, which ranked 31st worldwide, offering 21 spots to get in touch with your green side. The concrete jungle is offset by gorgeous parks dotted in and around the CBD – from the world-class Royal Botanic Gardens (named the fourth best garden in the world) to the 150-year-old Fitzroy Gardens and gorgeously landscaped Victorian-era Carlton Gardens.
Adelaide claimed the title of Australia’s third greenest city, ranking 59th overall with 12 green spaces and attractions. Adelaide Botanic Gardens is undoubtedly the crown jewel of its green scene, boasting 51 hectares of public space to relax away from the city’s buzz.
The final Aussie city to make the list was Perth, which ranked as Australia’s fourth best city for green spaces and 68th worldwide. Among its 12 green attractions, Kings Park and Botanic Garden is easily the best and one of the world’s largest inner-city parks, spanning an impressive 400 hectares. You can check out the top 100 cities with the most green spaces in the world here.