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One of the many tasks the Friends of Maroochy Botanic Gardens has undertaken since the gardens were opened is improving the facilities for visitors.
In cooperation with the Maroochy Shire Council, and in recent years with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, the Friends have been quite successful in planning and implementing visitor facilities. Some of the major tasks such as sealing the roadways and establishing car parking have been achieved through substantial donations from private citizens, while other facilities have been achieved through funding from local, state and Commonwealth governments. The Friends have been able to finance some of the facility projects, as well as supplying labour for many projects to reduce costs and achieve more from the funds available.

Car and Coach Parking
There are several sealed parking areas near to other facilities. Many of the car spaces are in areas that are shady for much of the day. Access to other facilities such as picnic shelters and toilets are 'wheel chair friendly' from the car parks. There are a small number of car spaces reserved for disability parking that are very close to other visitor facilities.

Coach parking is available and easily accessed even by very large coaches.

The number of car parking spaces has recently been temporarily reduced due to the building site works for the new Arts and ecology centre being built in the gardens. On completion (July 2011) there will be increased car parking but in the mean time visitors to the gardens may find parking in short supply during busy times.

Picnic Shelters

There are two large picnic shelters, each with tables and chairs for 30+ visitors.

These are mainly designed for use in wet weather, but offer shade during hot sunny weather.

Water tanks harvesting rainwater from the roof adjoin the shelters, but caution is advised in drinking the unfiltered, untreated water from these tanks.

During 2010 four new shelters were completed. These are smaller than the original shelters, and are located near the sculpture garden, near the whipbird walk, near the ephemeral wetlands and near the friendship colonnade. These also offer shelter in rainy conditions, and shade on hot sunny days and are great for picnics.

Picnic Tables

These are many picnic tables scattered throughout the gardens.

Many but not all are easily accessed by wheelchair.

Visitors are asked not to feed fauna such as the goannas, scrub turkeys and other birds. We are trying to establish a balance of species in the gardens without favouring the scavenging species. This is why no rubbish bins are provided in the gardens - visitors are asked to take all rubbish away with them.

Providing these picnic tables and improving their surroundings has been a major project of the Friends over many years. Several local rotary service clubs have also donated picnic tables.

Toilets

As visitor numbers increased, a second public toilet block (near the car parks) was completed during 2009.

Toilets in the gardens are cleaned daily and maintained by staff and contractors from the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

Toilet design has been 'environmentally friendly' with rainwater being harvested from the toilet roofs for use in the buildings, and waste water given primary treatment and safely used to to nurture nearby plantings.