A Journey Through Australia’s Most Beautiful Gardens
Australia is a land of diverse landscapes, and its gardens reflect the unique beauty of the environment. From serene country retreats to vibrant urban escapes, these gardens are more than just spaces for plants—they are living works of art that blend nature with design. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or simply want to experience the magic of a well-designed garden, there’s something here for everyone.
Collette Dinnigan’s Enchanting Gardens
Collette Dinnigan’s homestead in Bowral, NSW, was once an unremarkable property when she purchased it in 2018. However, her intuitive style transformed it into a whimsical Eden. “I wanted my garden to be charming, enchanting, and effortless,” she says. Her vision brought together chaos and order, creating a space that feels natural yet meticulously crafted.
The Manicured Gardens of Lancemore Lindenderry
Jan Clark’s dream of reliving childhood summers on the Mornington Peninsula became a reality at Lancemore Lindenderry. Surrounded by young vines, towering eucalyptus, and a small lake, this three-hectare property offered a sense of peace and connection to nature. “It felt like coming home to my special place,” Jan recalls.
A Landscape Designer’s Sydney Home
For landscape designer Matt Leacy, the connection between his beachside home and the outdoors was essential. His design features a cantilevered pool, large-foliage plants, a green roof, and a double-height glassed void. “All the living spaces are connected to the garden, so a day indoors feels like you have been outside,” he explains.
A Sydney Garden Inspired by Southern Spain
This sunny beachside home in Sydney’s east draws inspiration from the concept of la buena vida. A sunsoaked courtyard draped in bougainvillea, an Andalusian-inspired patio, and Mediterranean influences create a warm and inviting space that blends tradition with modernity.
A Designer’s Restored Federation Home and Garden
A once-neglected Federation gem, shrouded by overgrown bushes and a dead acacia, was transformed into a picture-perfect family home. Post-renovation, the property now features a lush landscaped garden with a sprawling green lawn that honours its history.
A Peaceful Country Weekender
Architect Ben Robertson’s circa 1900 house in Daylesford has become his favourite place to watch the sun set. With a lush winding garden, an old oak tree, and the state forest behind, this garden offers a peaceful retreat that changes with the seasons.
A Beachside Bungalow Embraces the Outdoors
This Edwardian bungalow in Melbourne’s south-west seamlessly flows from inside to outside. Its neutral palette, materiality, and relaxed design create a solid and restrained home that celebrates the outdoors.
A Terrace Garden
An architect’s large semi-detached, late-Victorian boom-style terrace features grand proportions and heritage detailing. The garden, with bush-hammered granite pavers and colourful outdoor furniture, complements the greenery and adds a touch of elegance.
A Secluded Cabin in Byron Bay
Nestled in the Byron Bay hinterland, this nature-soaked property includes a guest house and overflow space. Heaters, cross ventilation, and built-in daybeds make it suitable for all seasons, while metal trellis, timber screens, and stone walls help the structures blend into the landscape.
A Country-Style Garden in Suburban Melbourne
Landscape designer Inge Jabara created a “country garden in the city” using a green-and-white palette and enveloping masses of tiered planting. This suburban garden brings the charm of the countryside to an urban setting.
A Family-Friendly Garden That Fits Its Home Perfectly
A traditional, pretty landscape with seasonal flowering interest was the plan for this 1940s home on Sydney’s North Shore. A low-maintenance design with a balance of hard surfaces and greenery ensures the garden complements the home perfectly.
A Flowering Perennial Garden in NSW
Sarah Ryan’s 2.4ha flowering garden at Yetholme is a popular destination for visitors worldwide. Covering 69ha of land, this garden is a wonderland of layered, flowering perennials and ornamental grasses.
Mayfield Garden in Oberon: An Expansive Formal Masterpiece
Mayfield Garden, created by Sydney-based businessman Garrick Hawkins, spans 800ha and is a grand vision of formal beauty. Originally a rolling countryside, the garden has grown over time to become a masterpiece of horticultural artistry.
A Romantic Country Garden That Transports You
The Coopers’ 15ha property in the countryside has become a magical place for their family. The garden, transformed into something truly special, offers a glimpse into rural life and a sense of enchantment.
A Traditional Front Garden with a Contemporary Twist
Melbourne landscape architect Bethany Williamson uses traditional plants in unexpected ways, blending manicured and wild elements to create a character-rich garden that feels both familiar and fresh.
A Winding Winery Garden
Clematis thrives in the lush, sprawling garden of an Adelaide Hills winery. Designed by Susie Nugent, this garden spans 19 distinct spaces, each balancing chaos and order inspired by Dutch and UK designers.
A Magical Northern Beaches Front Garden
Once a wallflower, this beachside escape has blossomed into a lush tropical oasis. Architect Blake Letnic’s design connects the front and back gardens seamlessly, creating a space filled with light and openness.
An Avalon Beach Home Channels Palm Springs
Mid-century coastal style takes center stage in this heartfelt revamp of a fifties home. Established palm trees and lush tropical plantings provide privacy and a sense of elevated coastal living.
A Gravity-Defying Clifftop Garden
This tiered coastal garden, suspended above Sydney’s Northern Beaches, is a stunning example of landscape design. Drawing inspiration from the Amalfi Coast, it spills down the slope with lush greenery and breathtaking views.
A Lush Gothic Oasis
In this lush Sydney Harbour oasis, garden and architectural grandeur engage in an alluring dialogue. Exuberant foliage contrasts with manicured detail, complementing the grand Gothic-style home.
A Victorian Sydney Garden with a Tranquil Pond
Smart plantings bring energy and softness to this Victorian home in Sydney. The garden is layered densely with romantic plantings, creating a tranquil and inviting space.
A Private European-Style Courtyard Garden
This private European-style courtyard garden disappears into a world of luminous greens and wondrous shapes. Layered plants and clever paving enhance the sense of depth and make the space feel larger.
A Garden of Contrasts That Works Harmoniously
This Melbourne garden looks as though it has been the life-long companion to the Victorian-era weatherboard home. Despite being a recent development, it blends seamlessly with the renovation.
A Formal Cottage Garden Filled with Earthly Delights
This edible garden on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is a mix of textures, fragrances, and colors. Rosemary, mint, and Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ mingle with citrus and roses, creating a sensory-rich space.
An English-Meets-Australian Garden in Northern NSW
Carolyn Robinson started this biodiverse paradise from scratch, creating a garden that attracts an increasing range of bird species. A gravel path winds past statice, adding a touch of beauty to the landscape.
A Naturalistic Inner-City Garden Inspired by the Australian Bush
Garden designer Sam Cox created a slice of inner-city bushland that thrums with life. This naturalistic garden brings the essence of the Australian bush into an urban setting.
Ripe for the Picking: A Productive Urban Garden
Beauty and bounty go hand in hand in this suburban Melbourne produce garden. Created by horticulturist Hendrik Van Leeuwen, it offers both visual appeal and practical harvests.
A Sydney Family Gives Their Heritage Home the Garden It Deserves
Foxgloves stand out in this Sydney storybook garden imagined by landscape architect Hugh Burnett. The front garden honors the heritage of the building, while the rear focuses on functionality and lifestyle.
A Manicured Garden on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula
Designed as a journey of interconnected zones, this minimalist, manicured garden provides the perfect spot for meditation. Clipped balls of Westringia and Buxus give it a sculptural appeal.
A Semi-Formal Garden Restoration Reflecting a Historic Home
Once a barren stretch of lawn, this Melbourne garden has been expertly shaped into a layered wonderland. A bronze sculpture and carefully chosen plants add to the garden’s charm.
A Layered Green-on-Green Palette Has Transformed This Garden Into a Shaded Sanctuary
This garden is a private oasis with plenty of vantage points. Benches are sprinkled throughout, encouraging the owners to sit and immerse themselves in the space.
Sophisticated Family Backyard Revamp in Melbourne
Making an evergreen garden a top priority paid off for this Melbourne family. A leafy outdoor dining area and a canopy of Gleditsia foliage create a shaded and inviting space.
A Show-Stopping Sustainable Garden
Horticulturist Mark Paul created a sustainable Sydney garden using zero soil. Most of the plants grow in a patented soil-less medium made from waste materials, making it an innovative and eco-friendly space.
A Coastal Home’s Luscious Front Garden Design
This Sydney garden features a mix of circular lawn, modern coastal planting, and a wonderful palette of silver and green. Flowing over the wall is Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’, adding a touch of elegance.
A Lush and Layered Launceston Garden
Layers of textured foliage give this evergreen Launceston garden its magnificence, perfectly suited to the Regency-style home. Rich bursts of color from gladioli and white dame’s rocket peek through the green.
A 19th Century Garden Pays Homage to Its Heritage
For Marg and Rob, this restored 19th Century garden has been a 30-year pursuit. The garden features an ever-changing display of fragrant roses, azaleas, lavender, and camellias, along with citrus trees and herbs.
A Rambling Rural Retreat in Central Victoria
Named Laikithi, this rural garden in central Victoria features an abundance of plants that change with the seasons. A bird house peeks out from the garden bed, surrounded by a variety of colorful flora.
A Family-Friendly Heritage Home with a Mediterranean Influence
Peter Fudge reorganized the outdoor areas of this heritage home into a series of relaxation zones. A beautifully landscaped pool area, a cosy conversation spot with a firepit, and wide sandstone paths lined with layered greenery create a welcoming space.
A Former Macadamia Farm Provides a Luxurious Escape
Gem-like flowers, verdant lawns, and towering foliage combine in this tropical Queensland garden. A pathway laid with local river rocks leads through the lush garden, flanked by flowering cordylines and rows of aloe trees.
A Tropical Garden in the Heart of Melbourne
This Melbourne garden is a tale of the unexpected. From the street, there is little hint of what lies beyond the tall front fence. Push through the gate and you open a portal to another world—a tropical garden full of lush, emerald foliage that transports you to North Queensland or Bali.
An Exceptional 19th Century Garden at Bronte House
The 19th Century garden at Bronte House was restored by custodian Anna van der Gardner. Strolling along one of the historic pathways under arches laden with roses and other sweet-smelling climbers, it feels like stepping back in time.
An Inner-City Terrace Garden
Clever use of space and a green-on-green palette has transformed this inner-city terrace into a private oasis. The journey from the dining area to the sitting zone is enveloped by lovely layers of green.
South Australian Garden Bristles with Life
Evandale, in South Australia, is a garden nurtured for decades by fifth-generation graziers Jenni and Dick Evans. Some of the loveliest gardens are those shaped by years of dedication and gentle persistence.
A Small Tropical Garden with Low-Maintenance Plants
This small tropical garden features award-winning design in the way it transformed a petite patch into an inviting, tropical-themed outdoor room filled with low-maintenance plants.
A Tropical Oasis on the NSW North Coast
Working with a large sloping site, landscape designer Claudia Nevell shaped a many-layered tropical wonderland at her home on the NSW North Coast. Towering palms and vast thickets of tropical plants give the impression of a luxurious tract of natural rainforest.
A Grand Garden Reimagined for the 21st Century
Uniting a house and its garden in a harmonious composition is at the heart of good landscape schemes, says Melbourne designer Lachie Anderson. His reworking of this garden in Ballarat exemplifies this philosophy.
A Bushland Retreat 30 Minutes Out of Melbourne’s CBD
This basalt waterfall creates a soothing soundscape in a bushland retreat 30 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD. When the owners purchased the property in 1997, it was a bare paddock without a single tree on it. These days, the bush garden has the atmosphere of a national park.
