Australia beckons garden enthusiasts

A new range of holidays is encouraging avid gardeners to take time out from their backyards to enjoy Australia's garden states – Victoria and Tasmania.

The packages are detailed in a new brochure entitled 'Gardens of Tasmania and Victoria,' designed to make it easier to enjoy the states' diverse collection of garden styles, both traditional and innovative.

The brochure provides a variety of selected accommodation, tours and year-round must-see sights including renowned garden festivals. The options are flexible and convenient, allowing the design of itineraries to suit individual interests from guided tours to independent self-driving off the beaten track.

Whatever the style of travel, visitors are guaranteed days wandering through memorable gardens and nights unwinding over first class food and wine.

The suggested sights are varied, from designer inner-city gardens and courtyards to country heritage landscapes and gardens showcasing unique flora and fauna. A popular open garden scheme operates in both states allowing visitors to access spectacular private gardens, opened for viewing by their owners for a nominal fee.

The cosmopolitan city of Melbourne offers almost 40 hectares of parks and gardens. The city's gardens are home to a wealth of special sights all easily accessed from the central city area.

Any visitor will enjoy getting lost in Australia's oldest hedge maze and unique rose maze at Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. The Ashcombe Maze and Water Gardens are set in 25 acres of stunning scenery including an exotic tree forest.

Those visiting Melbourne in April next year can attend the famous International Flower and Garden Show which continues to attract worldwide interest each year.

Tasmania's diverse garden experiences include spectacular grand estate and historic cottage gardens. Outside the cities, Tasmania's wilderness beckons with flowering alpine shrubs promising something different for New Zealand gardeners.

In Northwest Tasmania, a true showcase is the Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden, nestled in a natural amphitheatre with a series of lakes surrounded by rhododendron and companion plants. There are more than 15,000 plants to view on easy walking tracks over 13 hectares.

A copy of the new Gardens of Tasmania and Victoria brochure is available by calling 0800 733 842. To learn more about Australia visit Welcome to Australia, featuring over 10,000 pages of information to help you plan your holiday.

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