Oedo Island Drive: Geoje's Stunning Botanical Garden in the Sea

Imagine a botanical garden planted on a rocky island rising out of the South Sea, connected to the mainland only by ferry. That's Oedo Botanic Garden (외도 보타니아) — and it's reached by renting a car, crossing the Geoje Bridge from Busan, and driving through one of Korea's most dramatic coastal landscapes. This route is compact enough for a full day trip, but spectacular enough to justify an overnight stay.

Getting to Geoje Island by Car

Geoje Island sits about 70 km east of Busan, connected to the mainland via the Geoje-Busan Underwater Tunnel and the Geoje Grand Bridge — both free to use, no toll required. From Busan, the drive takes roughly 1 to 1.5 hours depending on traffic. From Seoul, plan for 4 to 4.5 hours via the Gyeongbu Expressway to Busan, then south along Route 14.

• From Busan: ~70 km, 1–1.5 hours via Geoje-Busan Underwater Tunnel
• From Seoul: ~430 km, 4–4.5 hours via Gyeongbu Expressway → Route 14
• Toll: No toll on the Geoje Bridge itself; Seoul–Busan expressway tolls ~20,000–25,000 KRW
• Fuel stop: Fill up in Busan or Geoje-si city center before the southern cliff drive
• Parking near Gujora Harbor: Free or ~1,000 KRW/hour in paid lots

The Geoje Coastal Loop: Windy Hill and the South Cliffs

Before boarding the ferry to Oedo, drive Geoje's southern coastal loop — it's one of the best scenic drives in Korea that most foreign visitors skip entirely. Head south from Geoje-si city center toward Windy Hill (바람의 언덕) in Dojanpo village. The drive takes you along narrow cliff roads with the open South Sea on your left and forested ridges on your right.

Windy Hill itself is a free viewpoint — park at the small lot below and walk five minutes up to the white windmill and sweeping panoramas across the island-dotted bay. From there, continue the loop through Hakdong Pebble Beach (학동 몽돌해변), where rounded black stones replace the usual sand and the sound of waves rolling over pebbles is oddly hypnotic. Allow 2 to 3 hours for this southern loop before you head to the ferry.

Taking the Ferry to Oedo Island

The ferry to Oedo Botanic Garden departs from Gujora Harbor (구조라항), which sits on the east coast of Geoje Island. This is the closest and most popular departure point. Your car stays parked at the harbor — the island itself is too small for vehicles. The ferry ride takes about 30 minutes each way.

• Ferry operator: Several companies operate from Gujora Harbor (구조라항)
• Return ferry ticket: ~18,000–22,000 KRW adults (includes island entry fee)
• Departure times: First ferry around 8:00–8:30 AM; last return ~16:00–17:00 (seasonal variation)
• Time on island: Allow 1.5–2 hours to explore the gardens properly
• Book ahead on weekends: Ferries fill quickly in summer and during golden week

Oedo Botanic Garden: A Garden Floating in the South Sea

Oedo Botanic Garden (외도 보타니아) is the centrepiece of the trip — a private island garden that took nearly 30 years to build, transforming a barren rocky outcrop into terraced lawns, subtropical plants, and sculptures. The most famous corner is Venus Garden (비너스 가든), a French-style parterre of carefully trimmed hedges and flower beds overlooking the open sea on three sides.

The garden covers about 100,000 m² and is planted with over 3,000 species — camellia, century plants, dragon blood trees, and many subtropical species you won't see on the Korean mainland. Wander the terraced paths up to the island's ridge and you get views in every direction: the open South Sea one way, the Geoje coastline the other. It's genuinely stunning in spring (April–May, camellias and wildflowers) and again in autumn.

• Highlight: Venus Garden — France-style formal hedgerow parterre with sea views on three sides
• Best season: April–May (camellias + wildflowers) and October–November (autumn foliage)
• Photography tip: Arrive on the first morning ferry — the light is best before noon and crowds are smaller
• Food: A café and snack bar operate on the island; bring your own water if you prefer
• Accessibility: The island paths involve steps and inclines — not suitable for wheelchairs

Geoje Natural Forest: A Quiet Finale

After returning from Oedo, if you have daylight left, loop north toward Geoje Natural Recreation Forest (거제자연휴양림) near Dongbu-myeon. The mountain forest has short hiking trails and a quieter energy than the coastal viewpoints. It's a good place to decompress before the drive back to Busan.

Full Day Itinerary

1. 17:00 AM — Depart Busan (or overnight in Geoje)
2. 28:30 AM — Arrive Windy Hill / Hakdong Pebble Beach — walk the cliff views
3. 310:30 AM — Drive to Gujora Harbor, catch the 11:00 AM ferry
4. 411:30 AM–1:30 PM — Explore Oedo Botanic Garden
5. 52:00 PM — Return ferry to Gujora Harbor
6. 62:30–4:00 PM — Optional: Geoje Natural Recreation Forest
7. 74:30 PM — Begin drive back to Busan

FAQ

The Geoje–Oedo loop is one of the most rewarding drives in southern Korea — a coastal cliff road, a windmill viewpoint, a black pebble beach, and a botanical island that feels like it belongs in the Mediterranean. Rent a car in Busan, clear a full day, and go.