A 2.5-hour drive from Sydney lies 65 hectares of spectacular garden, and as of 2022, guests can view them at first and last light, thanks to a limited-time glamping experience. The property, called Mayfield Garden, is in Oberon, a 2.5-hour drive west of Sydney and a 75-minute drive from Katoomba in the Blue Mountains.
The garden’s glamping package starts at $475 per couple per night, which includes garden entry, a three-course, a la carte dinner at the property’s renowned venue Mayfield Garden Restaurant, paired with local wines, and a stay in a luxury tent. Located next to Mayfield’s Obelisk Pong, the tents are fitted with natural fibre rugs and Queen-size beds fitted with high-quality linen.
The property showcases one of the most spectacular European-style gardens in the Southern Hemisphere, and is the largest private garden in Australia, says Chris Muldoon, Mayfield Garden director.
“Mayfield delivers a different experience every few months — the garden has seasonal personalities, which ensures visitors are constantly surprised at both the breadth of horticulture and visibility of the hardscape, including paths, bridges and sculptures,” Muldoon says.
Glamping guests can choose to have an artisanal breakfast delivered to their tent or a catered sunrise or sunset picnic, complete with a bottle of sparkling. Children under aged 16 can share guests’ tent for an additional cost of $105 per child, which includes their stay, garden entry and a two-course dinner.
The garden can also be visited during the day, with entry starting at $15 per person. Fifteen hectares of it is open 363 days a day, while the Hawkins’ Private Family Garden, the remaining 50 hectares, is open to visitors four times a year during seasonal festivals.
In addition to unique flora and fauna, it also features an English Box Hedge Maze, an amphitheatre and an 80-metre cascading waterfall.
Day visitors can rowboat on Mayfield Lake, peek inside the Mayfield Chapel, or play croquet on a court. And after a meal at the property’s restaurant or Maze Café, where much of the produce is grown on-site, they can explore the Walled Kitchen Garden and Glasshouse. Guests also have the option to bring their own picnic lunch or to book a picnic hamper to collect when they visit.
“A stay at Mayfield is a unique experience in Australia, so we hope that our guests get to enjoy the full package — luxury accommodation, amazing food and one of Australia’s most significant horticultural destinations,” says Muldoon.
“And we want people to walk away with the feeling not only that they’ve had an amazing experience, but that it was a visit that was great value for adults and kids alike.”
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