Mayfield Garden, NSW: Is this Oberon garden worth seeing?

Mayfield Garden near Oberon, NSW, does a splendid job. Highlights include the hedge maze, Chinese pagoda and waterfall.

Amid plenty of competition, Mayfield Garden is one of the finest gardens in the Blue Mountains region. It’s near Oberon, at the western end of the Blue Mountains.

The transformation of this former sheep farm into a spectacular cool climate garden began in 1984. Inspired by the grand gardens of Europe, it now covers more the 64 hectares. It’s not just about planting flowers, either – strong efforts have been put into centrepiece follies that attract the eye.

Mayfield Garden follies

For example, you can head past an 80 metre cascade that leads to a walled kitchen garden. There’s also a 2.5 hectare water garden, and a cute grotto with a waterfall you can walk behind.

There are also elaborate buildings, such as the sandstone exhibition centre, the bluestone chapel and a Chinese pagoda next to Mayfield Lake. There’s also a hedge maze, which is notoriously tricky to get out of.

Hawkins Family Garden

It’s not just one garden either. Next to Mayfield Garden is the Hawkins Family Garden, which is open for 16 days per season at extra cost. The Hawkins Family Garden features a fruit orchard with apple and pears trees, plus mulberry bushes. There’s also a nuttery with almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts.

In the pine forest section, you’ll find rhododendrons and ferns. And in the cut flower garden, there are lupins, lilies, hollyhocks, poppies and dahlias.

The Formal Garden section has a rose garden, a rhododendron dell and a heath and heather section. There are also beds by the lake, where you can head out on a rowboat during the spring, summer and autumn months.

Glamping at Mayfield Garden

Mayfield Garden also has a nursery selling plants and seeds and a café selling meals and local produce. From the end of December to the end of January, you can also try the glamping experience. Glamping in the Garden includes a luxury tent, dinner and full access to the gardens, costing $385 for two adults. For more information, visit the Mayfield Garden website.

Where is Mayfield Garden?

Mayfield Garden is a 10 minute drive from Oberon, a 40 minute drive from Bathurst and a 2h45m drive from Sydney. The Sydney to Oberon drive takes about three hours. Other highlights nearby are truffle-hunting tours at RedGround and the Jenolan Caves.

More New South Wales travel

Taste cider amongst the gardens at Bilpin Cider in Bilpin, the Blue Mountains.

Take a brewery tour at Stone and Wood in Byron Bay.

Stay in an off-grid ‘eco hut’ at Kimo Estate near Gundagai.

Take the Cockatoo Island ferry to the biggest island in Sydney Harbour.

See animals at the Symbio Wildlife Park on the drive from Sydney to Wollongong.