Breenhold Gardens are the most famous of all the gardens in Mount Wilson and if you’ve seen pictures popping up on social media they are usually taken here. The garden is huge and has a mixture of semi manicured areas and large swathes of native bushland, including the parklands opposite the main gardens.
It’s a beautiful place to while away the afternoon and there’s a great photo op around every corner. It becomes incredibly popular during autumn when the leaves become colourful, making it even more photogenic. Breenhold even had a starring role in the Great Gatsby movie!
Although we’d recommend allowing enough time to stroll all the gardens, we’re going to share the top spots you shouldn’t miss if you’re keen on photography.
Here is everything you need to know about visiting Breenhold Gardens.
The best photography spots in Breenhold Gardens
We thought we’d start with the best photography spots as there are a few gems that you don’t want to miss.
We’ve marked them on a photo of the map they give out at the entrance below.
Make sure you continue to the end of the article as we have some tips to ensure you avoid the crowds and make the most of your visit to Breenhold Gardens.
1. Laburnum Steps
The most famous of all the photography spots in the gardens is the Laburnum Steps. If you’ve seen that famous picture of the steps blanketed in red leaves, it’s taken here.
Unfortunately getting this spot in those conditions requires a healthy dose of luck. We spoke to someone working at the garden and they said it needed a sudden and unusually cold snap.
Even if you don’t luck out, as we didn’t, it’s still an undeniably beautiful spot. You want to catch it in autumn when at least one of the maples has turned red for maximum impact.
You can read our guide to autumn colour in Mount Wilson with tips for timing your visit to coincide with the peak colour.
2. Bailey Paths
The Bailey Paths are right beside the Laburnum Steps and it’s a gorgeous sight in its own right. There are several large Maple trees next to each other on the left side of the path, and in autumn they will be either yellow, peach or red depending on the time you catch them.
They sit beside some evergreen trees which adds a deep green for a lovely contrast.
Continuing further down that path there is a fabulous patch of rainforest which is also a great spot for photography - although not rare in Australia of course!
3. Pine Tree Avenue
It’s not actually called Pine Tree Avenue, but it is a pathway lined with pines on both sides, which you’ll see as soon as you walk through the main gates.
This is a spectacular place for photography, particularly if you manage to get a misty atmospheric day. Even if your conditions are clear and sunny like ours, it’s still wonderful.
Ideally you would want to be here in the late afternoon when the light is more even so there is less dappling, although it does look great no matter what.
4. Socrates Garden
The Socrates Garden is a walled garden, which is bigger than the nearby Compass Garden. It’s a beautiful space that has a few areas to sit and relax, as well as some photogenic spots.
There are arches looking out to the pine trees nearby, walls covered in ivy and a huge tree that turns a golden yellow in autumn.
It’s a popular spot for weddings and has an archway that leads to the Daffodil Lawn (which weren’t in bloom when we visited).
5. Compass Garden
The Compass Garden is a beautiful spot with a perfectly placed bench seat underneath a sea of bright yellow autumn leaves. There is also a picturesque water fountain which sits in front of a large Maple tree.
When the maple’s leaves have turned red, it’s a particularly striking scene. If you catch it in the late afternoon light, the rays shine in-between the branches which is very picturesque.
There is also an old fashioned lamp post sitting beside the bush, which is a lovely addition to the garden. The area makes for a really nice picnic spot, and as the bench seat doesn’t have a table, you are probably best off bringing a rug so you can relax and be comfortable.
6. Promontory Lookout
That’s right, as well as gorgeous gardens, Breenhold has its own viewpoints right over Blue Mountains National Park. As the Promontory Lookout is not obviously signposted from the main gardens, very few people seem to visit, so you’ll probably get this incredible view all to yourself.
There’s a pretty bench seat to sit and enjoy the view, which also makes for a lovely photo op. The sun can be a bit harsh in the middle of the day, but it’s still very much worth the visit.
7. Western Gardens
The Western Gardens is another wonderful best picnic spot. This gorgeous open area has a smattering of beautiful Ghost Gums and is a peaceful place to lay out a rug for lunch.
Just as good, is the opening at the western end which looks out to Mount Banks. There’s a perfectly placed bench to admire the stunning view.
Tips for visiting Breenhold Gardens
Special events aside, Breenhold is only open during autumn and spring, and as it is the most well known garden in the area, it gets incredibly busy.
If you possibly can we’d recommend visiting midweek to avoid the worst of the crowds, particularly if you like getting photos with nobody in them.
It does mean that the parklands opposite won’t be open (as they only open on weekends), but it’s worth the trade off for less crowds in the main gardens (plus you could always ask nicely and see if you would be let into the parklands if you’re really keen).
If your primary objective is visiting for autumn colour or when certain blooms are happening in spring, I’d recommend checking their website for the up to the moment photos. They don’t answer their telephone (I tried) but they do begin updating their website/Facebook page when peak trees come into bloom.
Bring a picnic! Not only is the garden a glorious place for a picnic, but there aren’t actually any cafes or shops in Mount Wilson, so it’s more or less a necessity!
Just remember to take all your rubbish home with you because Mount Wilson doesn’t have the capacity to deal with all the extra rubbish that comes from visitors in spring and autumn.
Allow at least three hours if you want to see all of the gardens without rushing. If you just want to see the top spots you could do it in an hour, but it wouldn’t leave time for a picnic or exploring all the gardens. It’s also $15 pp to get into the garden so you may as well make the most of it!
Consider also visiting one of the smaller gardens nearby, which are incredibly beautiful and have a very different feel to Breenhold.
Essential information about visitIng Breenhold Gardens
Entry fee
The current entry fee for the gardens is $15pp and $5 for children over 5. You can get a family rate for two adults plus three or more children for $40. They accept cash and card.
Opening periods
Breenhold Gardens are open in autumn and spring only, appointments can be made outside of these times.
For this year, the dates are:
Autumn 2021: 2nd April – 30th May
Spring 2021: 23rd August – 31st October
Time: 10.00am to 4.00pm.
Getting to Breenhold Gardens
Breenhold Gardens are located on the main avenue running through Mount Wilson. Mount Wilson is located in the Blue Mountains, 125km and roughly a two hour drive from Sydney. It is 34km and just over half an hour from Bilpin and half an hour from Lithgow.
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