The Hunter Valley Gardens are great for a relaxing outing with the whole family. Located in the heart of a wine region, this attraction with flowers, fountains and an Irish-themed pub adds some variety to a winery-hopping Hunter Valley schedule. Children could spend hours at the themed Storybook Garden and nature lovers will appreciate the 10 themed gardens. Hunter Valley Gardens occupy 25 hectares (60 acres) at the base of the Brokenback Mountains, which provide a scenic backdrop. These innovative gardens opened in 2003 and incorporate 8 kilometres (5 miles) of manicured paths. When you visit the themed gardens, notice how some gardens represent a different corner of the globe. The Chinese Garden incorporates traditional features such as ginkgo trees, bamboo and a Buddha statue. Admire the Indian Mosaic garden and look for the statue of St. Francis of Assisi in the Italian Grotto.
In the Sunken Garden, watch a 10-metre (33-foot) tall waterfall. See 150 specimens of all imaginable colours in the Rose Garden. Don’t forget to breathe in the scent of the flowers the fragrance is the real highlight of this garden!Bring a picnic lunch or enjoy a bistro meal at the on-site Irish-themed pub, which also serves craft beers on tap. You can even stay the night as the pub also offers guest rooms.Children will love playing in the Storybook Garden full of statues and topiary trees in the shape of nursery rhyme characters. Enter by stepping through the pages of the giant storybook and see all the friends of Alice in Wonderland gather around for a cup of tea. Watch Humpty Dumpty on his fence and Jack and Jill on the hill.In winter it’s Snow Time in the garden, a real spectacle with penguin statues and fairy lights at night.The Hunter Valley Gardens are open daily, except on Christmas Day. The site is located in Pokolbin and can be reached by car and the Rover Coaches bus service from Hunter Valley townships. Parking is free, but you pay to enter the gardens. There are considerable discounts for children and all gardens are pram, and wheelchair, accessible.
