Highfield Gardens

Little Hartley, NSW, 2790

Highfield Gardens

Highfield Gardens has featured in the book by Claire Takacs 'Australian Dreamscapes' as well as other publications and media. This large garden is being extended to include formal gardens, a Pottage and lavender field. There are many garden rooms within the gardens. The Dry Garden, Prairie Garden, Birch Grove, Rock garden/Water garden with two Waterfalls, the long border (AKA Barry Manilow border) and single coloured borders. Over 600 roses and the garden is filled with many unusual plants.

Open Garden Dates/Times

Last open March 2024 Check later for future dates

Entry Fee: $15

children under 16 free. Toilets available.
All children must be supervised by an adult at all times. Children like running around on our grass paths. But please keep them in your sight, we have wild life that may not be that friendly! We have ponds in the gardens,we wish all to be safe.
There is a Treasure Hunt for children,always a hit for the kids.
Bus groups of over 25 people receive a guided tour included.
We have various packages available for groups. no thongs or slip on shoes.

Warning: Water in the garden, Uneven surfaces, Trip hazards

Location & Contact Info

  • Little Hartley, NSW, 2790

Note: 1.5 hrs from Sydney. 15mins from Blackheath.turn into Baaners Lane, travel for 2km approx then turn right into John Grant Road,travel for 1 Km'Highfields'is on the left.Parking is within the property. please refrain from parking on the road side. no thongs or slip on shoes

Local Climate Zone: 8-9 - Cool Temperate to Alpine

Summer avg. Max: 24°C Winter avg. Min: 2°C
Avg Frost Days:57
 
Annual Rainfall avg: 1120mm. Summer avg. 361mm.
No. of rainy days: 51 Winter avg. 199mm.

Regularly Open Gardens (<100km)

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Garden Guide

The gardens are now just seven years old. The stone walls, ponds and rock garden have been completed and thousands and thousands of plants have been planted to adorn this large garden.

Soil is silt with a clay underlay. We experience hot Summers ...

The dry garden.

The dry garden is at it's peak from mid October till early December.
This part of the garden features plants from the drier parts of the world. Nepeta, Phlomis, Varbascums, Verbena, bulbs and many other unusual plants.
This has been our experiment in gardening in dry conditions.
This part of the garden is not watered so needs to stand on it's own!

We have many bulbs through this area which flower early in the season.  More Info »

The Prairie garden and Birch Grove

The prairie garden is full of the thousands of plants needed to make up this style of planting. Autumn colours are beautifully featured in this part of the garden in April/May.

Many bulbs are under planted for early spring colour before the perennials start their growth..

The Birch Grove is full of rare bulbs like Galanthus and other bulbs. The red and yellow stems of Cornus siberica add interest in winter. Hellebores are a feature with Galanthus in mid/late winter. Some very rare plants are found in this area.  More Info »

Rock and water garden.

The rock and water garden is split over two levels. There are two ponds - a top and lower pond. This area features many Peonies, maples, conifers, water lilies, water iris, rare bulbs and alpine plants.

A row of beautiful Mount Fiji cherries flower late Sept/early Oct

Peonies are at their best in mid to late October.

Long border

The long Border, AKA the Barry Manilow Border, is a garden border full of colour and comprises, bulbs, perennials, shrubs, roses and grasses that combine to make a very colourful garden area.

This is an all seasons border. The Dahlias and Canna's take centre stage in late summer and into Autumn.
The roses and annuals are best in spring.

Coloured borders.

The single coloured borders are an experiment with colour.
We are using a main colour, eg. pink then adding a back up colour like plum.
We are experimenting with blue, red, orange, apricot, peach and yellow and of course plum!

We have now added bulbs to these areas for early spring colour.  More Info »

Visitor Comments

Knocks the socks off Mayfield! This is a real, gardeners garden. Always a delight to visit.
Judith - October 2023
You have to visit Highfields. A gardeners vision is there for us to enjoy. Take a picnic or enjoy the complimentary coffee. The gardens and colour combinations created within are absolutely inspiring. Well worth a repeated visit.
Charmian - November 2021
The garden is spectacular and the hospitality was absolutely amazing. We will definitely be visiting again.
Patricia - November 2021
We went to Highfield on 3/10. They made us feel extremely welcome and allowed me to roam in the gardens taking photographs to undisturbed. The flowers were magnificent as well as rare. I would say to anyone thinking of going there, it's well worth the money.
Glynis - October 2020
Visited this morning and what an inspiration! We were seized with the Vision Splendid for our garden. Give us a minute however. When I get Up From My Chair by Pam Ayres Quiet please! Kindly dont impede my concentration I am sitting in the garden thinking thoughts of propagation Of sowing and of nurturing the fruits my work will bear And the place wont know whats hit it Once I get up from my chair. It's lovely to see a garden with the hard yards put in. WE WILL BE BACK.
Heather - August 2020

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