The Best Autumn Gardens in Victoria

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Posted 2020-03-08 by Lorraine A ⇒ follow

Whilst I compiled a list of ten autumn gardens to visit a few years ago here , my collection to share has since grown. So I not only wanted to update my list, but to also put the question out there 'Where is the best Autumn garden?'... I'm really looking forward to hearing your suggestions, and hopefully, together we can add a few more to this list.

The Gardens of St Erth are located in the Daylesford/Ballarat region at Blackwood. "The garden culminates in an extravagant display in March for our Autumn Festival. May marks the end of our gardening year with a blaze of autumn-coloured trees and late perennials." - from the Diggers website. To read a WeekendNotes review of St Erth Garden click here .
Address: 189 Simmons Reef Rd Blackwood, Victoria
Website: www.diggers.com.au/our-gardens/st-erth
Cost: $10 for non Digger's club members, free for kids under 16y
Phone: 03 5368 6514
Open: 7 days a week 9-5pm

Dandenong Ranges:

Cloudehill is a magnificent garden to visit all year round, but particularly so in autumn. This 10 acre garden also has an onsite restaurant, nursery and gift store. For my full review click here .
Website: www.cloudehill.com.au
Address: 89 Olinda-Monulk Rd, Olinda
Open: 7 days 9am-5pm
Cost: $10 adults, free for children.

Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens, previously known as the National Rhododendron Gardens is a lovely spot for an autumn picnic. These gardens are expansive enough to offer a 25min Garden Explorer tour every 30 min (tickets available at the gift store $10 adults, $25 for a family). If you have the time tough, you can clock up well over 5km strolling through these 100 acre gardens. For my full review click here .
Website: www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/dandenong-ranges-botanic-garden
Address: The Georgian Road, Olinda
Open: 10am - 5pm Daily
Cost: Free

Alfred Nicholas Garden is absolutely stunning down by the lake when the ginkgo leaves are bright yellow and masses cover the still water. For my full review on these gardens click here or here for my autumn review.
Address: Sherbrooke Road, Sherbrooke
Website: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/sites/alfred-nicholas-memorial-garden
Open: 10am - 5pm Daily
Cost: Free

George Tindale Gardens has some pretty colour if you catch it at the right time. This garden is steep in sections, but the flatter top section is more accessible if you have mobility issues. Make sure you have a look at the spinning rock. To read my full reviews on this garden click here and here for my autumn review.
Address: 33 Sherbrooke Rd, Sherbrooke
Website: N/A
Open: 10am-5pm daily
Cost: Free

Pirianda Gardens was a little disappointing when I went last year as the leaves had turned brown before they had coloured... Perhaps it was the weather and the position of the garden on the hill? I have been before though when it was lovely... so still worth considering. Read my full review on Pirianda Gardens here .
Address: 9 Hackett Rd, Olinda
Website: www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/sites/pirianda-garden
Open: Daily 10am-5pm
Cost: Free

Also take a look at the R J Hamer Arboretum , Skyhigh Mount Dandenong gardens, and Silvan Reservoir .

Macedon Ranges Gardens:

Forest Glade is a private garden on a grand scale that covers some 14 acres (5.6 hectares). Magnificent at any time of year, it peaks during autumn and spring.
Phone: 0354261323
Website:[Linkwww.forestgladegardens.com.au/]https://www.forestgladegardens.com.au/[/LINK]
Address: 816 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon
Cost: $10 per adult, children under 16 are free.
Open daily: 10am - 4pm
For my full review of Forest Glade click here

Gardens of Tieve Tara is a private garden that opens to the public during autumn, spring, and various times throughout the year.
Open: Daily from the 1st March – 31st May between 10am - 4pm weekdays and 10:30am - 4:30pm weekends and public holidays.
Website: http://gardensoftievetara.com.au/
Address: 751 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon
Cost: $10 adults, free for children 12 and under.

Yarra Valley Gardens

Alowyn Gardens is a relatively young garden when compared to the likes of gardens in the Dandenong and Macedon Ranges when it comes to long-established autumn trees. The first tree planted here was in 1999, though what they have achieved in this short amount of time is nothing short of incredible! I always have this garden on the top of my list when I'm visiting the Yarra Valley. Read my full review, and see pictures of Alowyn Gardens here .
Address: 1210 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen
Cost: $10 Adults, $8 pensioners, children are free
Website: www.alowyngardens.com.au
Phone: (03) 9730 2400

Blue Lotus Water Gardens is not an 'autumn colour' garden so to speak but is still well worth a look if you're heading for a day trip towards Warburton. The gardens here are at their best in summer when the lilies are at their peak flowering time.
For my full review of the Blue Lotus Water Gardens and what you can do in the nearby area, click here
Website: https://www.bluelotusfarm.com.au/
Address: 2628 Warburton HWY, Yarra Junction, Victoria 3797, Australia
Cost: $20 adults, $17.50 concession/pensioners, kids are free.
Open: Dec 26th - 13th April 10am-5pm

Gippsland:

Broughton Hall is the only garden on this list that I've not been to yet. It's been on my radar for some time now, so this autumn, I'm definitely making the trip over after hearing so many impressive stories about this garden. The garden and nursery featured on TV shows including Postcards (watch the clip on their website) and Gardening Australia. If the garden inspires you and you want to purchase some plants, they have a rare plant nursery.
Also nearby is Country Farm Perennials , a nursery with attached gardens to look at.
Website: muskersbroughtonhall.com.au/broughtonhall
Address: 125 Palmer Rd, Jindivick, VIC
Open: 2nd April - 14th June, Thurs- Sunday, 10am - 4pm
Cost: $20 adults

In November each year an event called Gardivalia sees dozens of private gardens in this region, open to the public. Make sure you take a look at the website here .

Mornington Peninsula:

Cruden Farm is the spectacular estate of the late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch. You can visit these gardens without booking during the week, or you can book an online garden tour on Sundays (once per month). The admission costs help keep this property open to the public.
Address: Enter via Cranhaven Road gate
(located opposite 10 Cranhaven Rd)
Website: www.crudenfarm.com.au/
Open: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, once a month on a Sunday, and special occasions (check website)
Cost: $20 adults, $35 with a guided tour
Contact: 03 9789 1676

Seawinds Gardens is worth a visit if you're heading down to the Mornington Peninsula. The views across the bay are lovely, and a nice spot for a picnic or a BBQ. To read my full review of Seawinds Gardens click here .
Address: Purves Rd Arthurs Seat
Website: www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/sites/seawinds-garden
Cost: Free

Heronswood offers more stunning views across the bay, and has a cafe and nursery. This garden is suited to its coastal conditions with plantings reflecting that. For my full review on Heronswood click here .
Address: 105 Latrobe Parade Dromana
Website:https://www.diggers.com.au/our-gardens/heronswood/
Open: 9am-5pm 7 days
Cost: $10 for non Diggers club members, kids under 16