Cloudehill Gardens

Cloudehill Gardens is a cool-climate garden in Olinda where clipped hedges, stone terraces and mature trees frame changing displays of flowers. Its sequence of garden rooms creates a different view at each turn, from structured borders near the entrance to looser planting further down the slope.

A visit combines garden design, seasonal colour and sculpture, with a plant nursery and Seasons Restaurant alongside. Allow around one to two hours for the garden, with extra time if you want lunch or a careful browse through the plants.

Terraces, Garden Rooms and Mature Trees

Cloudehill’s layout draws on the Arts and Crafts tradition, pairing formal lines with abundant planting. Paths, hedges and terraces help organise the space, while the plants soften the edges and change its appearance through the year.

Maple Court and the Flower Borders

The Maple Court is a central feature, shaped around two Japanese maples brought from Yokohama in 1928. Take time to look at the relationship between their spreading forms, surrounding beds and connecting steps rather than simply moving through to the next display.

The summer borders provide another major focus. Warm colours gather in one section, while cooler flowers and ornamental grasses create different combinations elsewhere. For gardeners, the interest includes how plants are layered and supported by hedges, not just which species happen to be flowering.

Woodland Corners and Garden Sculpture

Lower and quieter areas reveal bulb meadows, shaded planting and mature beeches. Notice the contrast between enclosed hedge rooms and softer woodland, which gives a walk changing moods as well as seasonal colour. The paths lead between intimate spaces and more open lawns, so a leisurely circuit is more rewarding than looking only at the entrance beds.

Sculpture is integrated into the landscape, giving the garden additional points of interest when flowers are less prominent. Notice how a work relates to the surrounding foliage, a clearing or the end of a sightline. Stay on the paths and treat both plants and artworks as part of the garden.

What Changes Through the Seasons

Spring is associated with bulb meadows, fresh maple leaves, rhododendrons and tree peonies. Different plant groups flower at different times, so the garden’s spring display develops rather than appearing all at once.

Summer is a strong season for herbaceous borders, with flowering perennials and ornamental grasses providing height and texture. It is a useful time to see how the formal framework supports fuller planting.

Autumn brings colour to maples and beeches, while the grasses and later flowers extend interest in the borders. Winter offers a clearer view of the garden’s structure, along with seasonal plants such as cyclamens, hellebores and witch hazels.

Choose a season according to the experience you want: flowers and fresh growth, rich borders, autumn foliage or quieter architectural views. Exact flowering and leaf-colour dates depend on weather, and repeat visits can reveal very different combinations.

Nursery Browsing and Seasons Restaurant

The Diggers Garden Shop specialises in heirloom seeds, cottage flowers, edible plants and cool-climate trees and shrubs. Browsing after the garden walk lets you connect planting ideas with what might suit your own garden.

There is no entry charge simply to visit the shop, nursery or cafe. Paid garden admission applies when entering the garden itself. Plant purchases and dining are separate costs, so these can be planned as additions to a garden visit or as shorter independent stops.

Seasons Restaurant overlooks the gardens and has indoor dining and terrace seating. Book directly on (03) 9751 0168 if a meal is central to your outing, especially for a group or weekend visit. Its dining hours and kitchen service should be checked separately from the garden’s closing time.

Chojo Feature Trees adds bonsai, niwaki and Japanese-garden interest to the precinct. Its opening schedule differs from the main nursery, so check availability if this is a particular reason for visiting.

Admission, Opening Hours and Practical Access

Garden entry is $15 for visitors, with free entry for children under 16 and Diggers Club members. Bring membership identification if using that benefit; tours, workshops and special events may have their own arrangements.

The garden, nursery and shop open daily from 10am-5pm from September to May, and 10am-4pm from June to August. Good Friday, New Year’s Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are listed closures. The precinct also closes for Catastrophic fire danger, and operator heat or fire-weather warnings can affect access. Check current advice before travelling in hot conditions.

Cloudehill is at 89 Olinda-Monbulk Road, a short drive from Olinda village. Use the on-site parking and leave enough time for winding roads and busy village traffic. If travelling by bus, plan the current service and the walk from your stop rather than assuming every bus through Olinda passes the garden entrance.

Parts of the garden have steps, slopes and uneven paths. Wear comfortable shoes with grip, particularly after rain. The shop, restaurant areas and accessible parking are easier to reach, but the full garden is not a level wheelchair circuit. Contact the precinct before arrival to arrange a suitable visit.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome on a lead in the gardens. Clean up after your dog, keep it out of beds and remain considerate of other visitors on narrower paths.

Cloudehill Gardens FAQs

What makes Cloudehill different from a forest garden?
Its Arts and Crafts layout uses clipped hedges, stone terraces and distinct garden rooms around abundant planting. Maple Court, perennial borders, woodland corners and sculpture offer changing views, so a slow circuit reveals more than a brief look at the entrance beds.

How much is garden admission?
Garden entry is $15, with children under 16 and Diggers Club members free. Bring membership identification if using that benefit, and check separate arrangements for a tour, workshop or special event.

Can I visit the nursery or restaurant without a garden ticket?
Diggers Garden Shop, Chojo and Seasons Restaurant can be visited without paying garden admission. Plants and meals are separate purchases, letting you choose a shorter shopping or dining stop as well as a full garden outing.

Which season should I choose?
Spring brings bulbs and flowering shrubs, summer emphasises perennial borders, and autumn colours the maples and beeches. Winter reveals garden structure and seasonal flowers; weather changes exact timing, so choose the type of experience you want rather than one guaranteed bloom date.

What are the opening hours and closures?
Garden and shop hours are 10am-5pm from September to May and 10am-4pm from June to August. Good Friday, New Year’s Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are listed closures, with fire and heat warnings also relevant; dining and Chojo have separate schedules.

Is the full garden wheelchair accessible?
Steps between garden rooms and sloping earthen paths limit access, especially in lower areas. Designated parking bays, the shop and restaurant are more accessible, so contact staff about the precise route and facilities needed before booking a garden-focused visit.

Can I bring a dog and stay for lunch?
Well-behaved dogs are welcome on lead in the gardens and the restaurant's outside deck area. Book dining directly, ask about suitable seating and keep the dog out of beds and clear of other visitors on narrow paths.