Botanica
Cool-Climate Gardens in the Blue Mountains & Southern Highlands in Autumn
Sydney Return
Trip Highlights
Visit Private Gardens
Explore a variety of private gardens, including the exclusive Olde Savannah garden.
Savour autumn splendour
See the Blue Mountains region in full autumn splendour, and visit Mayfield Garden's autumn festival.
Enjoy a Fork-to-Fork Lunch
Visit the property of Mickey Robertson, Glenmore House, and enjoy lunch with ingredients sourced from her garden.
Trip Inclusions
- Travel with a small group of 20-25 guests, escorted by an expert Botanical Guide
- Includes seven nights’ accommodation in centrally located four-star hotels, return private airport-to-hotel transfers, plus 17 meals and select beverages
- Relax aboard a spacious coach with an experienced and informative Coach Captain
- All sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Learn about the history of the region from your local Coach Captain and see the Blue Mountains, including Scenic World and a high tea
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Explore private gardens and meet their owners, as well as the botanic gardens at Mt Tomah and Mt Annan
- Visit the incredible cool-climate Mayfield Garden in full autumn colour, as well as Mickey Robertson’s Glenmore House
- Discover Retford Park, the former home of the Fairfax family, as well as gardens of the Southern Highlands
Map & Itinerary
Trip Notes
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Prices are for land only, flights not included
- Fitness Rating: Low - involves walking on uneven surfaces and stairs, and being able to stand up for up to one hour, while keeping up with the pace of the group
- Group Size – 20-25 guests
Sydney, Hills District Private Gardens – Guestlands & Uralla, Windsor and Hawkesbury Valley
Depart the Sydney hotel for Dural in Sydney’s Hills District. Here you will visit the exclusive private garden of Olde Savannah, before visiting the Tuscan-inspired private garden, Guestlands. We will also visit the private garden of Uralla, inspired by French and English country gardens. Continue to the historic town of Windsor, founded in 1794, before arriving at our hotel for a Welcome Dinner.
Stay: Hawkesbury Valley, Crowne Plaza Hotel or similar
Daily :Woodgreen Garden, Mt Tomah Botanic Garden, Nooroo Private Garden and Katoomba
Travel to Bilpin, where we visit Woodgreen, the garden of Peta Trahar. This two-acre perennial garden has been intensely planted and is beautiful in all seasons. Continue to Wildwood Garden, with its glorious collection of cool climate plants in a natural woodland. Following lunch in this beautiful setting, we visit the Mt Tomah Botanic Garden, located on the boundary of the World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains area. Afterwards, visit the beautiful private garden of Nooroo, which showcases plant and flower species from around the world, as well as Australian native plants.
Stay: Four Nights, Katoomba, Carrington Hotel or similar
Daily :Hartley, Gory'u Japanese Garden and Highfield Garden
Today we travel to the historic township of Hartley, a well-preserved town featuring colonial-era buildings, including the Greek-Revival-styled courthouse, which once tried bushrangers, convicts and cattle thieves. Here we visit some beautiful cool-climate gardens, including Gory’u Japanese Gardens, which showcases Japanese maples and conifers. Next, we visit Highfield Gardens, the newest creation by David Kennedy, who is also the creator of Clover Hill Garden. In its short life, Highfield has already captured the horticultural world’s attention, and is featured in Claire Takacs’ book Australian Dreamscapes, also appearing on its front cover.
Daily :Mayfield Garden and Gairloch Garden
Today, visit Mayfield Garden, the largest privately owned, cool-climate garden in Australia. Spanning 39 acres, the garden has an array of features to explore, including the water garden, with its Impressionist-influenced water lilies; while also having one of the largest collections of maple trees and shrubs in Australia. Spend time exploring the garden during its annual Autumn Festival, when the garden is alive with red, orange and yellow autumnal colours. We also visit the garden of Gairloch.
Daily :Blue Mountains Sightseeing and Gardens – Leura, Tea Pot Museum and Scenic World
This morning, visit another beautiful perennial garden, then enjoy some free time in Leura to discover its quaint village setting and boutique stores. Enjoy high tea at the charming Tea Pot Museum before a visit to the spectacular Scenic World to enjoy incredible views of the temperate rainforest.
Daily :Norman Lindsay Gallery, Bowral and Retford Park
Depart the Blue Mountains for the Southern Highlands today. Visit the former home of one of Australia’s most iconic artists, writers and personalities, Norman Lindsay. View his famous paintings and see his sculptural works set among the sprawling garden. See where the characters of the children’s classic The Magic Pudding were created. We then continue to Bowral’s Retford Park, owned by the Fairfax family for more than 50 years. This is where they played host to notable visitors, including members of the British and European royal families. The property includes an arboretum of evergreen and deciduous trees, some both rare and unique. Hedged gardens and a detailed knot garden are also featured.
Stay: Two Nights, Bowral, Briars Country Lodge or similar
Daily :Southern Highlands Gardens including Greenbrier Park
Enjoy some beautiful private gardens today, including Upper Woodlands. Described as a ‘stroll garden’, it has many features, including ponds and vistas. We then finish the day with a Farewell Dinner at our hotel.
Daily :Glenmore House Private Garden, The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan and Sydney
Depart Bowral for the private garden of Mickey Robertson, Glenmore House. After Mickey and her husband, Larry, purchased the original farmhouse, they gradually restored and extended it, with the various outbuildings repurposed to fit in with the gardens. We then visit The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, which boasts almost 900 acres of natural woodland and stunning gardens. As the Australian native plant garden of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, it is also home to the Connections Garden, regarded as the premier garden in the state. Later, return to Sydney for your onward journey.
Daily :Price & Availability
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April 2025 - April 2025
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