Private Gardens to Explore in Castlemaine

A spring garden trail around Castlemaine

The Castlemaine and District Festival of Gardens is a self-guided opportunity to visit private gardens across Castlemaine and nearby parts of the Mount Alexander Shire. The 2026 festival runs from 24 October to 3 November, with 19 gardens taking part. This guide focuses on eight of them, each offering a different setting, from cottage-style flower beds to wooded paths and a garden beside a pond.

Eight gardens to consider

• Forest Edge — pond and flower borders：Roses and perennial flowers frame a pond, paths and stone walls. Find it at 140 Butchers Road, Muckleford.
• Mossbank — mud-brick cottage garden：Flower beds surround a mud-brick cottage, with purple-pink flower spikes and dry-stone walls. Find it at 81 Odgers Road, Castlemaine.
• Nanowie — garden beside a historic home：A varied garden beside a 1927 house, with roses, bulbs and potted plants. Find it at 128 Hargraves Street, Castlemaine.
• Holloway House — water-wise garden：This one-acre garden uses water-conscious planting and reused materials in its landscaping. Find it at 136 Rowley Park Road, Campbells Creek.
• It's a Duck's Garden — rose arch：Pink roses climb over an arch, while paths pass through hedges and connect a series of small garden spaces. Find it at 12 Pitman Street, Chewton.
• London House Emporium — purple-toned planting：Behind an old shop, the courtyard features stone-edged beds, purple flower spikes and vintage-style lamp posts. Find it at 39 Fryers Street, Guildford.
• Glovers on Merrifield — waterside views：Look across purple and pink flowers towards open water, with trees reflected in the pond. Find it at 13 Merrifield Street, Castlemaine.
• Congdon — garden paths in woodland：Blue-purple flower spikes, gravel paths and stone planting terraces sit among the woodland around the home. Find it at 107 Congdon Road, Barkers Creek.

Dates, entry and closures

The festival’s official site describes the experience as self-guided and says visitors should check the garden schedule before setting out. For these eight gardens, the supplied program information lists entry at A$5 per adult per garden, with children free; payment is cash at the gate. No advance booking is listed for ordinary visitors. This is garden-by-garden entry, not a pass covering all 19 gardens.

All gardens are closed on 28 October 2026. Holloway House is also closed on 26 and 27 October. Congdon is open only on 24, 25 and 31 October, and 1 November. Check the official festival schedule before travelling, as dates and arrangements can differ between gardens.