Hunter Valley Gardens

Hunter Valley Gardens is in the heart of

The gardens are composed of ten individually themed gardens, influenced by different locations around the world, containing both native and exotic flora. The display gardens are divided by eight kilometres of wheelchair accessible walking paths. There are over six thousand trees, six hundred thousand shrubs and one million ground-covers populating the gardens.

The themed gardens are:

• Border Garden – The Border Garden is designed to imitate the classic French Parterre style of garden, with surrounding manicured box hedging, intertwined with Hill's weeping figs and European boxwood to make interesting shapes and designs. Hand-carved Indian Marble water features and statues that represent the four seasons are displayed throughout the Border Garden.^[2]
• Chinese Garden – Patrons enter the Chinese Garden by crossing green Chinese slate and walking through a traditional
  conifers, bamboo, cumquats, persimmons and mulberries.^[3]
• Formal Garden – Influenced by garden designs of France and England, the Formal garden is one of the largest of its type in Australia. Manchurian pear trees border the garden with 3000 bushes of chameleon roses, a variety of topiary and manicured lawns making up the features of the garden. A wishing fountain can also be found in the Formal Garden, with all the proceeds donated to charity.[4]
• Indian Garden – The Indian Garden carries aromas of India, having curry plants filling the garden with their scent when you enter through the 160-year-old antique Indian gates with two bronze elephants standing guard. Paths accompanied with lilly pilly hedges lead to a mosaic of pebbles and ground-covering plants and a garden design, containing purple ajuga and variegated dwarf Agapanthus. An Indian tea house with traditional Indian embellishments has an area to sit allowing the visitors to view the garden and topiary elephants.^[5]
• Italian Grotto – The Italian Grotto features a statue of Saint Francis of Assisi and is lined with pink Wisterias, red Bougainvillea, lemon, orange and olive trees, lavender, and cascading geraniums and pelargoniums.^[6]
• Lakes Walk – The Lakes Walk is surrounded by one and a half kilometres of pathways with the waterway being lined by
  perennial borders, and containing the Lakes Rotunda. This garden is a common place for weddings to be held.^[7]
• Oriental Garden – Influenced by Japanese and Korean gardens, the Oriental Garden contains a two-story traditional Japanese pagoda that is surrounded by a koi pond. Zoysia tenuifolia (Korean velvet grass) fills the garden, mounding itself around rocks and pavers.^[8]
• Rose Garden – In the shape of a corkscrew to honour the neighbouring Hunter Valley
  Imelda Roche and her twelve grandchildren.^[9]
• Storybook Garden – The Storybook Garden contains many statues and
  Alice in Wonderland.^[10]
• Sunken Garden – The Sunken Garden features a 10 metre high waterfall with a pergola on top as well as a display of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, flowers and pathways surrounded with hundreds of roses.^[11]

Shopping Village

The shopping village is located outside the entrance to the gardens and is adjacent to the picnic area, barbecue, playground and the neighbouring Aqua Golf & Putt Putt course. The village contains a collection of bespoke shops, ranging from delicious meals to jewellery and unique clothing.

Accommodation/dining

There are two accommodation venues that Hunter Valley Gardens offers, Harrigan's Irish Pub & Accommodation and Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens.

Weddings

Hunter Valley Gardens offers various settings for wedding ceremonies (including a purpose built chapel), photo opportunities and the assistance of a wedding consultant. There is a number of reception venues and many options for catering.

Events

Hunter Valley Gardens is known worldwide for the many yearly events that they hold. Along with these events, the gardens have horticultural talks, festivals and possess permanent Italian-imported rides.

Christmas Lights Spectacular – The Christmas Lights Spectacular is the largest lights display in the southern hemisphere with over 2 million lights, the event has been held every year since 2007. They begin at the start of November and close at the end of January.

Snow Time – Occurring in winter, the gardens open an ice skating rink, snow toboggan slides and other rides, that are accessible for most ages.

Mega Creatures – During the NSW school holidays, the Hunter Valley Gardens display many Mega Creature statues and animatronics throughout the gardens, including dinosaurs, insects and dragons.

See also

• Mount Annan Botanical Gardens
• Mayfield Garden, another touristy garden in NSW

References

External links

• Official Instagram page