Buckle up for a road trip packed with autumnal delights. Mayfield Garden on the NSW Central Tablelands is bursting with late-autumn colour, and it’s the perfect place to visit before winter sets in. The 65-hectare garden space just so happens to be surrounded by the most vivid foliage and deciduous trees currently putting on a spectacular show. Early May is the ideal time to visit if you’re after quintessential autumn scenery, vivid trees, peaceful walking trails, and plenty of outdoorsy fun, so don’t miss out. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Mayfield Garden in autumn.
Autumn in Mayfield Garden
Mayfield is Australia’s largest privately owned, cool climate garden filled with picturesque corners, native plants and colourful blooms — the perfect backdrop for your autumn rambles. In addition to bountiful seasonal hues, you’ll also find tranquil ponds, picture-perfect bridges, fountains, lakes and even a gallery showcasing the history of the garden. Plus, find a 13-metre-tall Obelisk, a waterfall grotto, and interactive garden games to keep the little ones busy. For an easy stroll, follow the mobility-friendly Camellia Walk, which winds through many of the garden’s most scenic spots.
As you wander through, you’re bound to stumble upon a hidden gem or two — it is a garden, after all. In autumn, Mayfield comes alive with soft oranges, vivid reds, cheery yellows, and lush greens, as the deciduous trees go through their seasonal transformation. It’s a full colour palette made for Instagram and slow strolls.
And that’s only half the garden’s allure. It also features Australia’s second-largest English Box Hedge Maze, a rose garden, a grand amphitheatre, a family chapel, and a striking Chinese Pagoda overlooking Mayfield Lake. With so much to see, you’ll never run out of things to do — and when the day is over, you can bunk down in one of their chic glamping tents.
The best time to visit Mayfield Garden
As one of the largest cool-climate gardens in the Southern Hemisphere, Mayfield offers something special in every season. The garden bursts with colour and pretty blooms in spring, and summer brings a refreshing inland escape from the beach crowds. If you get lucky, you might even catch a dusting of snow in winter. But arguably, autumn is the best time to visit — perfect for walks, rich seasonal colour, pleasantly cool temps and fewer crowds.
Read more about Mayfield Garden and book a glamping experience here.
How to get there
Mayfield Garden is open 363 days a year, except on Christmas and Boxing Day. It’s a 2 to 3-hour drive from Sydney, depending on your starting point, and just a 75-minute drive from Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. The closest train station is in Bathurst, with regular services departing from Central Station. Plan your travel on Transport for NSW.