Leura Gardens Festival 2025

With a total of eight magical gardens to visit, this year’s Leura Gardens Festival is definitely bigger and better than ever. Friday 3 October Saturday 4 October Sunday 5 October Monday 6 October Gardens open from 9:30am - 4:30pm With a total of eight magical gardens to visit, comprising of three new, Komorebi, Carramar and Westholme, and five returning old-favourites, The Braes, Allawah, Leuralla, Ewanrigg, and Hill Of Grace, this year’s Leura Gardens Festival is definitely bigger and better than ever. Gardeners looking for inspiration or just wanting to experience the beauty of spring in the Upper Blue Mountains, will be treated to glorious cool climate spring gardens, showcasing a particularly wide range of styles and sizes, of new growth, masses of flowers, gorgeous bulbs like tulips, bluebells, and peonies, as well as an amazing variety of plants such as dazzling rhododendrons, azaleas, and including wonderful cool-climate deciduous trees such as maples, dogwoods and ornamental cherries which will just be coming into their full glory. Tickets may also be purchased in person during the Festival at Festival Headquarters located outside Leura Fairways Retirement Village (19-21 Fitzroy Street Leura), at the Festival Stand in Leura Mall near the Station, and at Garden no.1 (The Braes). All gardens ticket: $40 pp entitles you to visit all gardens. 3 Gardens Ticket: $20 pp. 1 garden ticket: $10 pp. Children 16 and under are free. All tickets are valid for the duration of the Festival. Eftpos will be available at Festival Headquarters in Fitzroy Street: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PH1UMg4UxYwuusMdA Or at the Festival Stand in Leura Mall near the Station and at Garden no.1 (The Braes). https://maps.app.goo.gl/JGqL6sTCZtS2WmA29 Tickets may also be purchased at each garden using a QR code. SHUTTLE BUS: The Festival bus service runs between all Leura gardens approximately every 20 - 30 minutes. A bus will also run between Leura Station and the Wentworth Falls gardens. The cost for an all-day ticket is $10. Bus ticket puchase is available online. The first bus leaves Leura Station at 9.30am each day and the last bus departs the station at 4.30pm for the last circuit. BUS BOOKINGS: www.trybooking.com/events/1418201/sessions/5684651

About this web app

Ask Roz Blue Mountains

This Web App gives you turn by turn directions to all gardens in the 2025 Leura Garden Festival. Ask Roz Blue Mountains are the leading provider of visitor information in the greater Blue Mountains region. TO USE: From this menu simply select a garden, have a read about it, and click the Google link for turn by turn directions. 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗲𝗠𝗮𝗴: No.1 Visitor’s Guide Find great things to see & do www.askroz.news/ARBM-Visitor Ask Roz offers a wide range of Web Apps and eMags, including these:- 𝗪𝗘𝗕 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗦 - 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 Mount Victoria Village: www.askroz.news/Mount-Victoria-NSW Katoomba EAT Street: www.askroz.news/Katoomba-EAT-Street Leura Garden Festival 2025: www.askroz.news/Leura-Gardens-Festival-2025-Map Holley House Apartment: www.askroz.news/Holley-House-Appartment-App

LEURA GARDENS

1. The Braes - 64 Grose Street, Leura

The Braes, Leura. Garden courtesy of Margot and John Egan With views to the Southern Highlands, the Braes Heritage Garden Estate is adjacent to the Blue Mountains World Heritage National Park and lies between an urban and a semi-rural environment. The Braes’ original land grants were allocated in 1882.Over the period from 1907 to 1914 it was used primarily as a dairy and poultry farm and market garden for the former Chateau Napier Guest House in Leura which, sadly, was lost in the December 1957 bushfire. www.leuragardensfestival.com.au/our-gardens/the-braes

2. Leuralla Gardens - 43-69 Balmoral Road, Leura

Leuralla Gardens Garden courtesy of Victor Evatt Victor’s great grandfather, Ehenriech Phillip (Harry) Andreas (1879 – 1955), purchased the property he named Leuralla in 1905. Harry set about establishing a European style garden across the 2.5 hectare holding and built a large dwelling for his growing family. In late 1909 an ember from a bushfire landed on the timber shingled roof and burned down the home. Much of the emerging garden was saved from the 1909 bushfire. The current home was completed in 1914 on the previous house site with the garden taking centre stage. The formal garden lay out was originally designed and created by Harry Andreas; then later on, Paul Sorensen worked with Harry to enhance the existing plan. https://www.leuragardenfestival.com.au/our-gardens/leuralla-gardens

3. Komorebi - 296 Leura Mall, Leura

Komorebi - Light filter through trees Garden Courtesy of David and Emma. For the first time in 2025, Komorebi (formerly Oak Lodge) at 296 Leura Mall will be a part of the Leura garden festival. Komorebi’s gardens were designed by James Masters of Masters Landscape by Design in conjunction with Leonie Carrick, a former owner of the home. The garden works were completed in 2005 alongside major renovations to the house. 20 years on, benefiting from the care of consecutive owners, across the seasons it continues to flourish with a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers. The garden features winding paths,sculptures, tree ferns, a huge staghorn fern, and a wealth of azaleas. The home was recently purchased by David and Emma, who see themselves as custodians of this beautiful garden. https://www.leuragardenfestival.com.au/our-gardens/komorebi

4. Westholme - 4 St Andrews Rd, Leura

Westholme Garden courtesy of Michael and Silvia The rear garden was constructed gradually from 2004 onwards, the construction of the stone wall took about a year of part time work, then the lawn construction which involved many truck loads of filling and soil, followed by the boules court and the driveway. It was then disrupted by the house renovation in 2014. Silvia had the idea of constructing a dry creek bed to give the area some interest. I decided that it needed to be a running stream and it has been a lot of work, but worth it. The work started in 2022 and the bridge was finally finished in 2024. The planting is on going. https://www.leuragardenfestival.com.au/our-gardens/westholme

5. Ewanrigg - 100 Gladstone Road, Leura

Ewanrigg Garden courtesy of Matthew and James This ‘magical’ garden is at its most brilliant in spring and is one in which to roam, muse and quietly surrender time. The element of surprise contributes towards a satisfying journey when strolling through Ewanrigg. The planning of the garden must be attributed to Margaret Pratten who, assisted by noted landscape designer, Paul Sorrenson, designed the garden in the 1940s. Sorrenson’s influence can be seen in the rock walls, stone paths and bridge spanning the waterway. In 1978 Mavis and Carl Judd began replanning various facets of the garden, assisted at a very early age by their great grandson, Matthew Clark. The garden is currently being restructured by the new owners with the invaluable assistance of renowned arborist, Jessica Lawn. The history goes on. The word ‘magical’ is often written in the visitors’ book to describe Ewanrigg`s spring garden. True, the garden is at its most brilliant in spring, however, each season offers a unique experience. Autumn arrives with its gold and rust hues; summer offers a myriad of fresh, contrasting green foliage; winter arrives with a cold blast presenting a leafless, skeletal beauty all its own. In all four seasons unexpected seasonal delights appear. The garden is one in which to roam, muse and quietly surrender time. https://www.leuragardenfestival.com.au/our-gardens/ewanrigg

6. Hill of Grace - 52 Sublime Point Road

Hill of Grace Garden courtesy of Sue and Brett The garden was created in the 1970s by Keith Knox, with “crazy paving” stone paths and walls being used to cut across a remarkably steep, east-facing site at the back of the property. The resulting vertical garden is simultaneously beautiful and challenging. The steep gradient brings the plantings very close to eye level as you walk along, creating a feeling of intimacy which is juxtaposed against the long, distant views into Jamieson Valley and the enormity of the opposing Kedumba Walls. From the street, mass plantings of clivias welcome visitors. They are the perfect plant for the situation. Planted by Judy Howarth approximately 15 years ago, they work beautifully due to their toughness; coping with the harsh westerly winds of winter and the constant drought conditions created by overhead pine trees. Flowering in full shade, the bright splash of orange works with the house render, both allude to the natural sandstone colour of the escarpment at sunset. Most plants within the garden are very mature, with maples, azaleas, rhododendrons and camelias being used extensively throughout the entire garden. Plants in Hill of Grace are kept tightly trimmed to give a very sculpted look, reinforcing the Japanese influence created by the plantings. The current owners, along with landscape gardener Dan Townes, continuously renovate and tweak the garden. It is a constant cycle of striving to work harmoniously with the mature existing plants and hard landscaping, while simultaneously inserting our own “personality” into Hill of Grace. Please be aware that Hill of Grace is a steep garden with uneven (and sometimes slippery) paths in the back section. If you have mobility concerns it is recommended that you enjoy the garden and the beautiful view from the terrace. https://www.leuragardenfestival.com.au/our-gardens/hill-of-grace

WENTWORTH FALLS GARDENS

7. Allawah - 31-33 Waratah Rd, Wentworth Falls

Allawah Garden courtesy of Sue and David We inherited this garden from its previous owners in October 2022. It was a case of love at first sight. We are blessed that the design is wonderful and the flora well established.As we welcome you here, we hope you enjoy the garden’s many rooms and the ever-changing colours. Our predecessors were inspired and have given us all a rich display, which manages to exploit the seasons. The style is fairly unique in the Mountains as there are few natives. We think it is full of surprises and delight. It is quite a tough environment and from time to time the rain manages to kill some trees or hedges, but where this has happened we have tried again with different plants. We have enjoyed developing the ideas and trying new ones. We are particularly proud of the stone wall on the west side of the main lawn and the border in front of it, which we planted, and which reminds us of an English country garden. But visitors will be interested in it all, we hope, and trust that you will enjoy it. https://www.leuragardenfestival.com.au/our-gardens/allawah

8. Carramar - 82 Fletcher St, Wentworth Falls

Carramar Garden Courtesy of Liesl Yearsly Carramar is an Aboriginal word meaning "Shade of Trees" Carramar Wentworth Falls was the first home built in Wentworth Falls in 1882, the same year the Carrington Hotel in Katoomba was built. It is a landmark historic estate set on two acres in the Blue Mountains alongside the Empress Canyon and Wentworth Falls- a time and a place away from the world. There is something so magical about arriving at Carramar. Your mind and soul slip into a place of peace, as you hear the birdsong and feel the mountain air. It is a magical and other-worldy place. There are two separate private homes on two acres, each with its own garden and entrance. Carramar is a short stroll to the best lookouts and waterfalls, private forest, and stunning mountain views. Carramar is heritage-listed with many original features intact, including a private forest of ancient trees. The Estate is sited on one of the premium locations in the region, with stunning mountain views, and direct walking access to Wentworth Falls, Empress Canyon, and magical lookouts. https://www.leuragardenfestival.com.au/our-gardens/carramar

CAFES

Gia Cafe & Bistro - Leura

Stunning refreshments served just around the corner of Leura. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559597372125

Pizza Sublime - Leura

Authentic artisan pizza slice in Roman style in Leura, Blue Mountains. https://www.facebook.com/PizzaSublimeLeura

The Wayzgoose Diner - Leura

Your favourite Comfort Food in the Blue Mountains. 🧁 Open Every Day from 9am ‘til 5pm 🐶 Big, Little and Fur kids welcome https://www.facebook.com/TheWayzgooseDiner

PUBLIC TOILETS

Leura Toilet

Located in the Wollies carpark

Wentworth Falls Lake

Gordon Falls Reserve

Shuttle Bus

The Festival bus service runs between all Leura gardens approximately every 20 - 30 minutes. A bus will also run between Leura Station and the Wentworth Falls gardens. The cost for an all-day ticket is $10. Bus ticket puchase is available online. The first bus leaves Leura Station at 9.30am each day and the last bus departs the station at 4.30pm for the last circuit. BOOKINGS: https://www.trybooking.com/events/1418201/sessions/5684651