MOIDART
Arguably the best garden in the Highlands, Moidart is a classic garden of 5 acres of rare and specimen plants.
The name 'Moidart' comes from a district on the west coast of Scotland. Built by Mr. James Burns in the early 1930s, Moidart remains in the family to this day.
The garden at Moidart was started at the same time as the house and remains true to the original design of the landscape gardener Mr. Buckingham and the designer of the house, Mr. Laidley Dowling.
Selection of the tree species for the garden was made by family friend and amateur botanist, Mr. D.W.C. Shiress.
Many of the trees in the garden were planted by long time Mittagong resident, the late Clarrie Worner. He tells the story of digging a small hole, throwing in a stick of dynamite, and "running like hell".
This broke up the solid layer of shale under the surface, and judging by the size of the trees after 70 years this method of planting was very successful.
The classic layout of Moidart's gardens has attracted visitors from all over the world.
Specimen Trees.
Moidart abounds in mature deciduous trees which provide welcome shade in summer, and a dazzling display of colour in autumn - making it one of the best gardens in the Highlands to visit in that season.
Specimens include giant sequoia, red oaks, golden elms, chestnuts, london plane trees, copper beech, dogwood, tulip trees and cypress.
The garden also features many mature conifers, underplanted with rare and colectable shade plants.
Sunken Rose Garden.
To the east of the house, surrounded by manicured hedges, is the famous sunken rose garden.
Here a formal layout of beds bordered by box hedges, a central flowering crabapple and gravel paths provide a setting for a magnificent display of classic roses from spring through to autumn.
The Terraces.
From the Rose Garden, visitors are afforded a series of delightful and leisurely walks.
Trimmed hedges surround the Daffodil Walk, the Silver Garden with its distinctive plantings, leading down to three levels of terraces with lawns and perennial borders (including azaleas, rhodendrons and cammellias), and the Bluebell Walk and the Hellebore Walk under arching trees.
The Woodland Garden
To the west of the house is a large lawn flanked by elm, beech, and plane trees which leads up to the woodland garden - a secluded parkland surrounded by conifers.
The deciduous trees make a classic display of colour during autumn.
Wholesale Nursery
Moidart also has a wholesale nursery (not open to the public) propagating rare, unusual and collectable plants.
However, there is a sales stall in the car park from which visitors can purchase some of these rare plants throughout the year (9.30am to 2.00pm Monday to Friday) or buy direct on-line at www.moidart.com.au.
When to visit.
Moidart is open to the general public daily from 10.00am to 4.00pm during Spring (last entry 3.30pm) - dates as shown at right. Special opening 11 - 12 November for Peony, Rose and Hydrangea weekend.
Coaches welcome at any time by prior arrangement.
Entry fee is $7.00 (concession for coach loads over 21 people - $6.50pp. in one payment; busdriver and/or guide free). Groups also welcome weekdays outside of these dates by appointment only.
Car and coach parking is available - entrance off Eridge Park Road.
How to get there:
From Bowral head towards Moss Vale. Turn left at Charlotte St (about 3 km. south of Bowral on the left between Harbison Care and Chevalier College), then right at the end of the street into Eridge Park Road. Moidart is about 150 metres on the left.
From Moss Vale head towards Bowral. Take the first turn to the right past The Briars (about 5kms from Moss Vale) into Eridge Park Road. Moidart is about 600 metres further along on the right just past the entrance to Chevalier College. (Link to road map at right.)
