Join Deryn Thorpe on the Spring Garden Exploration of the Blue Mountains, Central NSW and Canberra. The tour will visit magnificent gardens, including the Grandest example of Paul Sorenson’s work, Everglades; one of the original properties of Mt Wilson, Withycombe; and the iconic Nooroo. We will visit the Bathurst, Crookwell and Goulburn Garden Festivals and see some of the beautiful cool climate gardens open for the occasion, including Mayfield Garden, one of the largest privately owned cool climate gardens in the world. We will also visit Canberra and see the National Botanic Gardens, the National Arboretum and more. We have also allowed adequate time for participants to visit attractions independently. This is a tour for fanatical gardeners and people who love beautiful gardens.
Deryn Thorpe is a fanatical gardener, passionate about communicating her love of gardening to others. She has been taking people on specialist garden tours for 25 years. She is an award-winning garden journalist, writing for gardening magazines. She co-presents the multi-award winning 'All The Dirt' www.allthedirt.com.au, one of Australia's most popular gardening podcast with more than two million downloads. Deryn has edited garden books and worked as a garden TV presenter and is a presenter on garden radio and a vivacious and popular speaker at festivals and garden clubs. She works in her family revegetation business which plants 2 million trees for landcare in low rainfall areas each summer. She volunteered for six years with Open Gardens Australia and opened her own beautiful, cottage-style garden to the public.
VIEW ITINERARYDAY 1 Monday 2 November, 2026 Katoomba
Tour members will meet at Sydney Airport early afternoon. We travel by luxury coach to Katoomba. On the journey we will stop to visit The Everglades. This evening, we will enjoy a welcome dinner to meet Deryn Thorpe.
DAY 2 Tuesday 3 November, 2026 Katoomba
This morning, we travel to the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden at Mount Tomah. We travel on to Withycombe at Mt Wilson, one of the original properties of Mt Wilson.
DAY 3 Wednesday 4 November, 2026 Katoomba
We return to Mt Wilson today to visit Nooroo, a wonderful treasure. In the afternoon we visit Hartvale Cottage located in the gorgeous Hartley Valley.
DAY 4 Thursday 5 November, 2026 Katoomba
Today we first visit Highfields Garden, which incorporates Cloverhill rare plants. We continue with a visit to Coryu Japanese Garden, a Japanese inspired garden, which contains the most extensive range of maple varieties from around the world.
DAY 5 Friday 6 November, 2026 Bathurst
We first visit Hillandale, a magnificent rambling country garden. We are in for a treat with a visit to Mayfield Garden this afternoon, one of the world's largest privately owned cool climate gardens.
DAY 6 Saturday 7 November, 2026 Goulburn
Today we travel to Crookwell to visit the Crookwell Garden Festival and the Garden Lovers Market. We'll continue with visits to several of the gorgeous, cool climate gardens open for the festival including the Edna Walling designed garden, Markdale.
DAY 7 Sunday 8 November, 2026 Goulburn
In the morning we travel to visit Red Cow Farm. Its spectacular colour display will impress any garden enthusiast. We will return to Crookwell as there are so many great gardens open for this festival we will choose a couple more to enjoy this afternoon.
DAY 8 Monday 9 November, 2026 Canberra
Today we travel to Canberra. On arrival we will enjoy a sightseeing tour of the National Capital of Australia, Canberra. On our tour we will see Parliament House, the War Memorial and more.
DAY 9 Tuesday 10 November, 2026 Canberra
This morning, we will visit the National Botanic Gardens. In the afternoon, we visit a highly regarded private garden, with a number of garden rooms, a fountain and pool. In the evening, we will come together for a Farewell Dinner to say goodbye to our group and Deryn.
DAY 10 Wednesday 11 November, 2026 Departure
In the morning, we have a guided tour of the National Arboretum. We will travel to the airport late morning. Do not book a flight before 1.30 pm. The tour concludes.
| Price per person twin-share | Single fare |
|---|---|
| $5,690 | $6,640 |
Touring can involve a considerable amount of walking and stair climbing in the places visited and it is important that all tour participants have a level of physical fitness that allows them to take part in this activity without the assistance from others.
TOUR OPERATOR:
Travelrite International Pty Ltd. (ABN 64 005 817 078) (Travelrite) is the tour operator.
TOUR COSTS:
The tour costs are based on general transport and accommodation rates at 28 August 2025. Travelrite reserves the right to alter the costs if any of these factors change, giving any passenger that has booked the right to withdraw with full refund of monies paid or modify arrangements. No alterations to price will be made within 60 days of departure.
Deposits and Payments:
A non-refundable deposit of $500 per passenger is required at the time of booking. Full payment will be required 62 days before departure for the Garden Tour.
Cancellations:
Cancellations within 60 days of departure will result in the loss of all monies paid.
Travel Insurance:
Travel insurance is recommended to cover the costs of cancellation fees due to illness, death in family, etc.
Minimum Tour Numbers and Conditions:
A 1.5% administration fee will be charged on Visa, Mastercard payments and AMEX. Arrangements have been made based on a minimum number of passengers travelling. If less than the required number of passengers have confirmed their booking 62 days from the date of departure, Travelrite International reserves the right to cancel the tour, giving a full refund of monies paid, or offer arrangements to proceed with the tour at a modified fare. The tour is based on arrangements, which do not allow for any refunds in respect to sightseeing, accommodation, meals, airfare or other services not utilized after the tour has commenced.
Tour Organisation:
Travelrite reserves the right to change advertised entrances if necessary for the smooth operation of the tour.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Travelrite International Pty Ltd is the tour organiser. Travelrite International Pty Ltd, it's agents, officers, affiliates, and/or suppliers of services pursuant to or in connection with these fly/cruise/stay holidays shall act only as agents in making arrangements for hotels, transportation including transportation by ship, restaurants, or any other service and do not assume any liability whatsoever for any injury, damage, death, loss, accident or delay to person or property due to an act of negligence or a default of any hotel, carrier restaurant company or person rendering any services included in fly/cruises, or by act of God. Further no responsibilities are accepted for any damage or delay due to sickness, pilferage, labour disputes, machinery break-down, quarantine, government restraints, weather, terrorism or other causes beyond their control. No responsibility is accepted for any additional expense, omission, delays, re-routing or acts of any government authority. Baggage is at owners risk throughout the fly/cruise/stay holiday. The passage contract between the carriers concerned when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the carriers and the purchasers of these fly/cruise/stay holidays and/or the passengers. The right is reserved to withdraw any fly/cruise/stay holiday and/or make such changes in the fly/ cruise/stay holidays as may be found desirable or necessary for the convenience of the parties and the proper carrying out of the fly/cruises. This contract shall be construed in accordance of the laws of the State of Victoria, Australia and any legal action must be undertaken in Victoria.
DELAYS AND UNFORESEEN EVENTS:
You engage Travelrite International to book this tour on your behalf and you acknowledge that Travelrite International acts as your agent for the purpose of making contracts between you and the various providers of accommodation, transportation and other services that comprise the tour. Travelrite may without reference to you provide or make available to you, or may as your agent engage any third party to provide or make available to you, any good or service which Travelrite reasonably believes is necessary for your benefit to maintain the tour itinerary, repatriate you or otherwise accommodate, transport or sustain you in circumstances in which the tour itinerary fails wholly or partly for any reason. You appoint Travelrite International your attorney for this purpose. You agree to pay Travelrite International any cost thereof and you indemnify Travelrite in respect of any cost it incurs in this regard. Travelrite advises you to obtain travel insurance generally including in respect of the risk that any such good or service may become required.
HOW TO BOOK:
Bookings can be made by sending full names and addresses of intending tour members with a non-refundable deposit of $500 for the Garden Exploration of the Blue Mountains, Central NSW and Canberra. Please send to:
Travelrite International Pty Ltd
423 Whitehorse Road,
Balwyn, VIC 3103 Australia
Toll Free: 1800 630 343
Phone: 03 9836 2522
Email: sales@travelrite.com.au
www.travelrite.com.au
ABOUT TRAVELRITE INTERNATIONAL:
Travelrite International Pty Ltd (ABN 64 005 817 078) is a well-established travel company which has been marketing throughout Australia for over 40 years and operating in Victoria for more than 44 years. It has an ATAS accredited offices at Balwyn, which is also accredited with IATA. As such they directly represent the major airlines of the world and all major domestic and international hotel, tour and transport operators. Travelrite International Pty Ltd is a full member of the Australian Travel Industry Association -ATIA.
“The whole tour was wonderful and the group was a good mix of personality. The gardens visited were interesting and varied.”
“Very enjoyable. Good mix of people in the group.”
