It’s always spring in the heart of Australia’s oldest wine region. Spanning over 25 acres, the Hunter Valley Gardens are home to 10 lovely gardens covered in thousands of trees and over 1 million ground-cover plants, waterfalls, murals and more and a must-visit destination in December for their huge Christmas Lights Spectacular. One flower-filled destination that is about to flood your Instagram is its picturesque Rose Garden, a peaceful spot with around 6,000 sweet-smelling flowers. The garden is home to over 35,000 rose bushes of over 150 different types of roses that visitors can stroll along.
Rose Garden, Hunter Valley
This dreamy, rose-filled spot has everything from classic crimson-coloured roses to stunning purple-mauve blooms. Some varieties you can look forward to include the Double Delight which has large double blooms of white and cream, a deep red edge, and a strong fragrance fitting of its name, the Charles De-Gaulle hybrid tea rose with a lovely lilac hue and the Freesia rose in a bright yellow colour guaranteed to cheer you up. The garden is also home to the Blue Moon variety in an exquisite lavender colour and Bonica, a classic soft pink double bloom.
A lovely touch is the design of the garden which is interestingly corkscrew-shaped to reflect on the location and the nearby Hunter Valley vineyards. As you soak up the sunshine and walk amidst the roses, you’ll also find thirteen bronze statues to admire at the Rose Garden.
There is a lot more to do at the photogenic location including rides like a traditional Venetian carousal, a 35-metre-long superslide and a fun tea cup ride where you can swirl around in giant tea cups. Plus a stunning Italian grotto garden, an Indian mosaic garden with traditional details and a tranquil Oriental garden inspired by Japanese and Korean cultures.
When is the best time to visit?
Spring is naturally the ideal time to visit with thousands of vibrant flowers to see but winter is also an excellent time of year to see the flowers in bloom.
How to get there
The Hunter Valley Gardens are a quick 2-hour drive from Sydney with plenty of lovely scenery on the way. Public transport is trickier but Visit NSW recommends the Regional TrainLink trains which run between Sydney and Maitland, and then a bus to Cessnock to get to the Hunter Valley which would take between 4.5-5 hours.
The gardens are open from 9am to 4pm and then 5pm to 9pm daily. Get more information about the Rose Garden here.