Perfect picnic spots

Everglades House & Gardens is famous for its spring tulips and cherry blossoms, but summer truly is the season of green at this iconic Blue Mountains garden. Have a picnic on the emerald lawns under one of the many heritage trees, then explore the ‘garden rooms’ around the property, including an alpine garden, Asian-inspired glades, and even a fern-filled grotto.

If you have children in tow, they’ll love the winding paths, statues and many secret nooks in this heritage-listed garden. For history buffs, the original Art Deco house was commissioned by the original owner, Henri Van de Velde, who worked with landscape gardener Paul Sorensen to transform over five hectares of dense bushland into what is now one of Australia’s most spectacular examples of inter-war garden design.

Down south, Retford Park is also a great picnic spot to meet up with family and friends. In summer, the vast arboretum is the perfect shady place for a picnic, and there’s even a 1960s pool pavilion to marvel at (no swimming in these blue waters though).

Once you’ve seen the gardens, you can easily spend a good few hours exploring the rest of the estate as well. Book a tour of the house – the former home of James Fairfax AC. The interiors were designed by famous decorator Leslie Walford in the 1960s and there’s a fascinating collection of furniture, art and textiles in the many colourful rooms. Spot two works from James Fairfax’s remarkable art collection, hanging in their former home once more, thanks to a partnership with the National Gallery of Australia.

This summer, enjoy the rare opportunity to see two acclaimed exhibitions – Salon des Refusés and the Archibald Prize 2024 – on display within walking distance of each other for the very first time at Retford Park and Ngununggula. Both exhibitions open 30 November and run through until 27 January. Plan your visit.

Outdoor events

The outdoor amphitheatre at Everglades House & Gardens will come to life in January with the Leura Shakespeare Festival. There will be special outdoor performances of Much Ado About Nothing, staged by Sport for Jove Theatre Company within the spectacular garden setting. Bring some wine, pack a picnic, and get outdoors to immerse yourself in one of the world’s most joyous and entertaining stories. From 4 to 19 January 2025. Buy tickets.

Flex your creative muscles in a two-day life drawing workshop hosted at the iconic Norman Lindsay Gallery on 11 – 12 January 2025. Be immersed in the beautiful gardens and inspired by Norman Lindsay’s evocative sculptures as you are guided in figurative drawing by professional artist and drawing tutor, Anthony Cahill. Tuition is from 9am-3pm daily and the ticket includes models, tuition, use of easels, morning and afternoon tea. Book your spot.

Off the beaten track

A heritage garden, vintage ceramics, horse racing memorabilia … Miss Traill’s House in Bathurst packs a lot into one delightful Victorian-era bungalow.  Built in 1845, the house was left to the National Trust by its last resident, Miss Ida Traill in 1976, and contains a fascinating collection of pieces that once belonged to some of the original settlers of the district.

Another house museum to explore during summer is Dundullimal Homestead in Dubbo. The wide verandahs and cool rooms inside the 1840s homestead are a great retreat from the sun and offer a rare glimpse into Australia’s rural past. “Thunthullimal” is an Aboriginal word meaning “hailstorm,” and the surrounding land has strong connections with local Aboriginal history.  Bring a picnic and sit under a tree in the surrounding parkland to soak up the area’s history, or drop into Dundullimal Homestead’s Shed Café for Devonshire teas and ice cream.

Have you considered a National Trust (NSW) membership?

With an annual membership, you can explore beautiful, historic places in Australia and around the world.  Find out more about membership.