The Southern Highlands, with its four distinct seasons, is famous for its gardens.
Spring brings a display of annual and perennial flowers and bulbs, and the widespread plantings of European trees - many over a century old - and shrubs, allows nature to clothe autumn with its manifold colours. The Australian landscape itself also blossoms throughout the year with Native Flora.
The Highland's horticultural heritage goes back to the late 19th century, and early 20th century when the nurseries of some of Australia's most famous seed producers were housed here. And over the years, some of Australia's most famous landscape and garden designers have worked on local properties.
Today the miracle of the seasons is celebrated by thousands of local gardeners in their plantings, a wide range of specialist NURSERIES and garden suppliers, spectacular and famous private gardens, and the annual Bowral Tulip Time Festival.
Private Gardens usually open in spring and autumn - although many also open by arrangement at other times of the year. Dates for Open Gardens are listed under garden entries below - link to Map here.
See also our Events and Festivals pages for other occasional Garden Events in the Highlands
| OPEN GARDENS |
| BOWRAL |
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24 SEP - 7 OCT: BOWRAL TULIP TIME
Tulip Time at Bowral is one of Australia's biggest floral festivals, attracting tens of thousands of visitors.
The centrepiece to festivities is a massed display of 100,000 tulips in Corbett Gardens, Bowral.
There are also private gardens open for inspection - including tours and talks, and a shuttle bus which runs from Bowral station (weekends); a street fair; window displays; and entertainment throughout the festival in Corbett Gardens.
Group and coach bookings are welcome. Contact Tourism Southern Highlands on 1300 657 559. |
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CORBETT GARDENS
Corbett Gardens is a public park in the centre of Bowral, open free except during Tulip Time when an entrance fee applies.
The Wingecarribee Shire Council maintains floral displays in the park
throughout most of the year. In spring it is the focus of the Tulip Time Festival, when tens of thousands of tulips are on display. (The Council also maintains floral displays at Winifred West Park, Mittagong; and at Leighton Gardens, Argyle Street Moss Vale.)
Cnr. Wingecarribee & Bendooley Streets, Bowral |
| Corbett Gardens is open every day from 9.00am to 4.00pm during Tulip Time: September & October.
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| BUNDANOON |
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26 - 27 OCT: BUNDANOON GARDEN RAMBLE
Enjoy private village gardens opened specially for this weekend and featuring an abundance of Spring flowering cold climate plants. Browse the Garden Market where plants and gifts are for sale. Visit the Craft and Textile exhibition.
See the scarecrows throughout the town, floral display and a working display of old farm engines. Hire a bicycle or bring your own for the day. Stay for the weekend and explore the many delights that Bundanoon offers.
Bundanoon Memorial Hall and Village. |
| Bundanoon Garden Ramble is on the weekend of 26th and 27th October only. Gardens open 9.30 to 4.30 both days. Tickets, garden descriptions and map from the Soldiers' Memorial Hall. A charge of $20 per person or $15 concession covers entry to all of the open gardens for both days. $5 single garden. Free shuttle to gardens. Group enquiries email info@bundanoongardenramble.org.au. |
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| BURRADOO |
Click here to visit our webpage. |
MOIDART
Arguably the best garden in the Highlands, Moidart's gardens were laid out in the 1930s.
Five acres of beautifully structured gardens with many mature specimen trees, a Sunken Rose Garden, Terraces with perennial borders, Woodland Garden, and garden walks through bulbs and blooms in spring.
A delight in spring, the 70 year old deciduous trees make Moidart one of the best gardens to see in autumn also.
Eridge Park Road, Bowral 2576.
Phone: (02) 4861 2600 - Fax: (02) 4862 1572 |
| Moidart is open daily in 2013 during Spring - dates to be advised. Coaches welcome at other times by prior arrangement.
Entrance fee $7.00 (Concession for coach loads over 20 people). Coach parking available; plants for sale.
For more information see our webpage. |
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| MITTAGONG |
Click here to visit our website.
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CHINOISERIE
A colourful perennial garden set in 1.25 acres with informal plantings
in a formal setting consisting of herbaceous borders, potager, angel
garden, stream and pond, peony garden, alpine troughs, rare plants and a
developing woodland garden.
Note: For peonies, best time to see blooms of 100 varieties is mid
October to early November. We also have tree peonies and other rare plants for sale.
Chinoiserie also has B&B accommodation - garden lovers welcome - click here to visit our webpage.
23 Webb Street, Mittagong 2575.
Phone: (02) 4872 3003 - Fax: (02) 4872 1808
email: cstyles@ozemail.com.au |
| Chinoiserie is open in Autumn 2013 10.00am to 4.30pm from 24 March to 7 April. Spring dates to be advised. Other times by appointment. Entrance fee $6.
For more information see our webpage. |
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Winifred West Park
Public park open free all year round. Display of tulips during Tulip Time.
Old Hume Highway, Mittagong.
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| MOSS VALE |
Click here to visit our website.
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BACK O' THE MOON
3 acres of park-like gardens on the edge of Moss Vale set against a backdrop of rolling farmlands.
16th century design parterre, lilac walk, woodland garden, pond, extensive borders of perennials and annuals, specimen trees, formal garden with 300 roses. Garden blooms from spring through autumn.
Art exhibition on display and art sale. Coaches welcome. Also available for garden weddings.
6380 Illawarra Highway, Moss Vale NSW 2577.
Phone: (02) 4868 2046 - email: bdayman@dodo.com.au |
| Back O' The Moon is open in Autumn 29 March to 1 April 10.00am to 4.00pm: Spring dates to be advised. (Other times by appointment. Entrance fee $6.)
For more information see our webpage.
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27 - 28 APR: AUTUMN GARDEN TOURS
Supporters of the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens project offer tours of 7 well known local gardens over the weekend.
Gardens include Retford Park, Wilderwood, Birchbeck, Bellagio, Windrush, Quindalup and Prittlewell.
Admission $5 each garden or $25 per person for all gardens, all weekend (school children accompanied, free) available from any of the gardens.
Brochure, map and group bookings available from www.shbg.com.au.
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| NURSERIES & GARDEN SUPPLIES |
Visit our website.
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TREEKEEPERS NURSERIES
Our in-ground nursery is a traditional nursery in the European sense with 3 large blocks of mature field grown trees ranging from 3 to nearly 40 years old.
As well as growing, we harvest and plant trees during their dormant period of the year, and specialise in re-locating mature trees in winter only. We are happy to advise on planning and planting, as well as direct full design and implementation projects.
Treekeepers In-Ground Nursery, Oxley Hill Road, Bowral. (past Bowral Bricks).
Open from April - October on Thursdays and weekends from 10am to 3pm or by appointment.
Treekeepers Container Nursery, Eridge Park Road, Bowral.
Open from October - March on Wednesdays and weekends from 10am to 3pm.
Phone/Fax: (02) 4861 1349; Mobile 0407 611 349 - email: trees@treekeepers.com.au |
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Visit our website.
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WARIAPENDI NURSERY
AUSTRALIAN NATIVE PLANT SPECIALISTS
- Design & establishment of rural landscapes & revegetation
- Suppliers of quality plants for farms & gardens
- Wholesale and retail sales
In an environmentally precarious age, when much of our natural vegetation has been lost, Wariapendi specialises in the propagation of native trees, shrubs, plants, and flowers suitable for revegetating rural properties, parks, and home gardens. Our natural wildlife, birds, and insects depend on such vegetation for survival, as does our unique ecology.
We also specialise in flora native to the Southern Highlands region. Open Monday to Saturday 8.30 am - 4.00pm; closed Sundays
Church Avenue, Colo Vale (12km north of Mittagong - Colo Vale exit off F5 Freeway)
(PO Box 138 Mittagong 2575)
Phone: (02) 4889 4327 - Fax: (02) 4889 4092 - email: sales@wariapendi.com.au |
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| also:
Bundanoon Bloomery; Bundanoon Village Nursery; Established Landscape Trees, Burrawang; Gardens R Us, Bowral; Mittagong Garden Centre; Robertson Village Nursery; Welby Garden Centre
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