Macedon Ranges gardens
The Macedon Ranges is home to many historic and heritage private properties offering seasonal and year-round open garden experiences.
Autumn and spring are particularly popular months to visit. However the region’s four distinct seasons produce unique and beautiful garden landscapes at any time of year.
Mt Macedon open gardens
Behind the walls of impressive Mount Macedon mansions are some of Victoria’s finest gardens, many National Trust-listed.
The iconic Forest Glade on Mount Macedon is open year-round (except for total fire ban days), while the Gardens of Tieve Tara are currently open for a limited time during Spring 2021.
During April, a number of private gardens open their doors to the public as part of the annual Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival. Or you can join a small group private tour of Mt Macedon’s historic hill-station gardens with Mount Macedon Tours in autumn or spring. Your guides will share their knowledge and experience in Mount Macedon history, horticulture and garden design. Tour options also include experiences at local wineries and cafes.
Many people also visit the annual Garden Lovers’ Fair each October, held on the grounds of the magnificent garden estate of Bolobek.
Forest Glade Garden
Open gardens beyond Mt Macedon
The wild and rambling country garden of Bringalbit in Sidonia (not far from Kyneton), is open to the public on weekends for much of the year. They also have accommodation on-site for the full garden-immersion experience.
Other private Macedon Ranges open gardens are often held in conjunction with events such as the annual Kyneton Daffodil & Arts Festival in September.
Open Gardens Victoria works with private gardens in the Macedon Ranges. These one-off events are typically held in autumn and spring. You can find these on our What’s On page when dates are made public.
Botanical gardens in the Macedon Ranges
Kyneton, Malmsbury and Gisborne boast botanic gardens perfect for a leisurely stroll and picnic. The Kyneton and Malmsbury Botanic Gardens are both heritage gardens, with many original cuttings from the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne.
September is a particularly lovely time to enjoy a massive display of daffodils throughout Kyneton Botanic Garden. Or go back in time in Malmsbury Botanic Garden, with views to a historic bluestone viaduct.
Tip – time your visits with Kyneton and Malmsbury’s monthly farmers’ markets for a great day out.
Malmsbury Viaduct and Botanical Gardens
Plant nurseries in the Macedon Ranges
Where there are keen gardeners there are great nurseries, and the Macedon Ranges has an overwhelming array. Stephen Ryan’s nursery in Mount Macedon, Dicksonia Rare Plants, is well-known for rare and exotic plants. While Spring Hill Nursery & Cafe a short drive from Kyneton is rated by locals for its practical and extensive selection of seasonal plants (their cafe also serves great coffees and local artisan pastries).
In Kyneton, the Garden Tap Nursery is situated just off historic Piper Street is next to fantastic cafes and shops, so you can really make a day of it.
There’s so many plant nurseries in the Macedon Ranges, you could easily spend a couple of days visiting them all.
Download our Complete Guide to Macedon Ranges Plant Nurseries
Floral workshops and peony picking
Love peonies? They love the Macedon Ranges climate and peony farms are springing up throughout the shire. On select dates during November you can pick them directly from the fields at Romswood Peony Farm and Spring Hill Peony Farm (while enjoying a picnic).
Check our ‘What’s On’ page for the most current floral workshops and flower farm open days in the Macedon Ranges.
