Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden
تعليقات حول - Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden, شمال سيدني
Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden
Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden
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Mairwen1
المملكة المتحدة6,324 مساهمة
مارس 2022
This is a really magical place. As if walking through this sanctuary-like garden wasn’t already uplifting, the story behind it is totally inspiring.
It was an unlikely project at the start. The neglected government-owned land had been a long-standing eyesore and was covered by a tangle of lantana, vines, invasive weeds and illegally dumped rubbish.
When her husband, the famous artist, Brett Whiteley died in 1992, Wendy Whiteley threw herself into clearing the unloved area and began to re-imagine it as a garden retreat and a refuge.
Starting with 2 gardeners, the project drew a swell of community support and volunteers started putting on their gumboots and picking up their spades to help turn the ugly area into a much-loved and precious community space.
It is a surprisingly small area, but it is covered with a maze-like set of criss-crossing paths and stairs with gnarly wooden railings.
For those without much time, you can visit in just 15 or 20 minutes but it’s a garden that encourages you to linger and to look for unexpected surprises.
Sculptures are secreted amongst the foliage (there’s a cherub by the famous Margaret Olley).
Eclectic pieces, including several vintage tricycles and scooters are whimsically arranged and tucked into various nooks.
Down the very bottom of the block, you’ll find an assortment of donated tables and chairs. The whole thing is quite marvellous.
For tourists, this can easily be combined with sightseeing around Sydney Harbour and the Rocks. An excellent plan is to catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Milsons Point across the harbour. Follow the public pathway along the harbour shoreline, past Luna Park to reach the garden. Afterwards, head back towards the train station, and head up the stairs to walk across the Harbour Bridge. Stopping on the way to climb the south Pylon and visit the small, free museum there.
You will finish at the Rocks and Circular Quay where you can find any number of places to eat or drink or you can keep exploring. This is a very efficient itinerary plan which will pack an awful lot into a short time.
NOTES:
* Entry to the garden is free.
* It is a short 5 - 7 minute walk from the Harbour Bridge.
* There are a lot of stairs so it’s not really suitable for anyone with knee or mobility issues or pushchairs.
It was an unlikely project at the start. The neglected government-owned land had been a long-standing eyesore and was covered by a tangle of lantana, vines, invasive weeds and illegally dumped rubbish.
When her husband, the famous artist, Brett Whiteley died in 1992, Wendy Whiteley threw herself into clearing the unloved area and began to re-imagine it as a garden retreat and a refuge.
Starting with 2 gardeners, the project drew a swell of community support and volunteers started putting on their gumboots and picking up their spades to help turn the ugly area into a much-loved and precious community space.
It is a surprisingly small area, but it is covered with a maze-like set of criss-crossing paths and stairs with gnarly wooden railings.
For those without much time, you can visit in just 15 or 20 minutes but it’s a garden that encourages you to linger and to look for unexpected surprises.
Sculptures are secreted amongst the foliage (there’s a cherub by the famous Margaret Olley).
Eclectic pieces, including several vintage tricycles and scooters are whimsically arranged and tucked into various nooks.
Down the very bottom of the block, you’ll find an assortment of donated tables and chairs. The whole thing is quite marvellous.
For tourists, this can easily be combined with sightseeing around Sydney Harbour and the Rocks. An excellent plan is to catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Milsons Point across the harbour. Follow the public pathway along the harbour shoreline, past Luna Park to reach the garden. Afterwards, head back towards the train station, and head up the stairs to walk across the Harbour Bridge. Stopping on the way to climb the south Pylon and visit the small, free museum there.
You will finish at the Rocks and Circular Quay where you can find any number of places to eat or drink or you can keep exploring. This is a very efficient itinerary plan which will pack an awful lot into a short time.
NOTES:
* Entry to the garden is free.
* It is a short 5 - 7 minute walk from the Harbour Bridge.
* There are a lot of stairs so it’s not really suitable for anyone with knee or mobility issues or pushchairs.
كُتب بتاريخ 27 مارس 2022
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Elizabeth A
Bowral6 مساهمات
نوفمبر 2021
Thank you to all the people who created and continue to maintain this lovely tranquil garden haven in the heart of Sydney.
I loved the tropical flowers, the dense shade, branch handrails and the quirky seating scattered throughout the garden. Visiting was a delight.
I loved the tropical flowers, the dense shade, branch handrails and the quirky seating scattered throughout the garden. Visiting was a delight.
كُتب بتاريخ 12 يناير 2022
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Tenterfieldrover
Tenterfield, أستراليا118 مساهمة
ديسمبر 2021
Spent several hours wandering around, easy to get to by train, or ferry. When you think you have seen it all there is always something else. A thoroughly enjoyable experience
كُتب بتاريخ 2 يناير 2022
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Polley
Ashfield, أستراليا252 مساهمة
زوجان • ديسمبر 2021
We ripped into Loulou for some coffee and croissants and walked down to this little sanctuary in the city. How amazing! It was raining so we took shelter under the canopy looking out over Lavender Bay. Bush Turkey babies everywhere and not scared of humans. A beautiful rainforest, wow
كُتب بتاريخ 30 ديسمبر 2021
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blackeldo
Kiama, أستراليا2,171 مساهمة
نوفمبر 2021
.…...BUT I KNOW WHAT I LIKE….
….and I do like bushland. WSG seems like a patch of superior Aussie bush which has been further improved by judicious planting and a lot of other work.
I use “superior” above because normal bush in the Sydney area is dry Eucalypt forest whereas this seems a hybrid of wet Eucalypt and the rare sub-tropical rainforest. To get these you need sheltered pockets from the dry cold westerlies and southerlies oriented to catch more rain than normal – the garden has enough to ensure a patch of wet eucalypt but not enough for sub tropical rainforest. I figure superior planting may have provided the extra shelter needed.
This place is special. It’s some makeover. A good idea is to find a BEFORE photo on the ‘net and compare it with the present. I was under the impression that the before thing was a harbourside gully vegetated with the usual dry eucalypt forest, but found a pic showing that it had been cleared for railway purposes and then abandoned, meaning immediately before Wendy’s magic it was largely a regrowth-scrub covered gully littered with dumped railway bits and other junk.
I’m not a horticultural person but I do like wandering around forest areas – that Wendy and her assistants have managed to convert this former scrubby, daggy hillside covered with junk into a patch of sub-tropical rainforest- like^^ garden is pretty cool. And inspiring – Australia has heaps of these places: formerly forest, cleared for some purpose and then abandoned to become junk laden scrubby wildernesses. Wendy shows they can be transformed.
There are lots of paths, specially planted areas of sub-tropical and other stuff, some idyllic places where people can sit and read/chill etc, some places where you can see the harbour and bridge thru gaps, clearings for picnics, outdoor tables and chairs suited to same, a few samples of the junk cleared out (some industrial and household stuff) plus a few statues and object d’art contributed over time by Wendy and artist friends. And over all this is Wendy’s sense of artistic layout. There are some remnants of the original forest in a few huge Moreton Bay Figs which have been cleverly integrated into the garden theme.
TIPS
- there are several paths witin the garden, zig-zagging across rhe steep hillside, forming kind of terraces, sometimes moving to the next levels by a short steep set of stairs or up/downslope, other times by a simple hairpin in the pathway.
Surfaces seemed in good repair but the stair sections will make it difficult for wheelchairs
Slopes were reasonable, apart from a few very short sections of connecting stairs between the terraced pathways. Plus the long LAVENDER BAY STAIRWAY at the western side of the garden, the quickest way from bottom to top. Fit people will do it in one hit, people of normal fitness may need a short stop to rest. Unfit people more.
Harborside RAILWAY AVE the other side of the railway tracks at the bottom (there is an underpass) is pedestrianised – you could order a water-taxi to pick up from LAVENDER BAY JETTY opposite the underpass but the nearest public ferry stop is 10mins walk to left at MILSONS POINT. You can also access from MILSONS POINT or NTH SYDNEY stations – or maybe walk across the bride from the CITY to MILSONS POINT...and onward.
- there is a public toilet near the LAVENDER BAY JETTY.
- visit in the day time if possible: there is no lighting.
- this would be a great area for tweeters: bird life was everywhere. Lotsa BUSH TURKEYS. Didn’t see other animal life but I reckon quite a lot of nocturnal critters including ferals might be seen after dark. Perhaps a SPOTLIGHTING EXPEDITION (spotlight only, no guns!) would not be a waste of time for animal buffs.
….and I do like bushland. WSG seems like a patch of superior Aussie bush which has been further improved by judicious planting and a lot of other work.
I use “superior” above because normal bush in the Sydney area is dry Eucalypt forest whereas this seems a hybrid of wet Eucalypt and the rare sub-tropical rainforest. To get these you need sheltered pockets from the dry cold westerlies and southerlies oriented to catch more rain than normal – the garden has enough to ensure a patch of wet eucalypt but not enough for sub tropical rainforest. I figure superior planting may have provided the extra shelter needed.
This place is special. It’s some makeover. A good idea is to find a BEFORE photo on the ‘net and compare it with the present. I was under the impression that the before thing was a harbourside gully vegetated with the usual dry eucalypt forest, but found a pic showing that it had been cleared for railway purposes and then abandoned, meaning immediately before Wendy’s magic it was largely a regrowth-scrub covered gully littered with dumped railway bits and other junk.
I’m not a horticultural person but I do like wandering around forest areas – that Wendy and her assistants have managed to convert this former scrubby, daggy hillside covered with junk into a patch of sub-tropical rainforest- like^^ garden is pretty cool. And inspiring – Australia has heaps of these places: formerly forest, cleared for some purpose and then abandoned to become junk laden scrubby wildernesses. Wendy shows they can be transformed.
There are lots of paths, specially planted areas of sub-tropical and other stuff, some idyllic places where people can sit and read/chill etc, some places where you can see the harbour and bridge thru gaps, clearings for picnics, outdoor tables and chairs suited to same, a few samples of the junk cleared out (some industrial and household stuff) plus a few statues and object d’art contributed over time by Wendy and artist friends. And over all this is Wendy’s sense of artistic layout. There are some remnants of the original forest in a few huge Moreton Bay Figs which have been cleverly integrated into the garden theme.
TIPS
- there are several paths witin the garden, zig-zagging across rhe steep hillside, forming kind of terraces, sometimes moving to the next levels by a short steep set of stairs or up/downslope, other times by a simple hairpin in the pathway.
Surfaces seemed in good repair but the stair sections will make it difficult for wheelchairs
Slopes were reasonable, apart from a few very short sections of connecting stairs between the terraced pathways. Plus the long LAVENDER BAY STAIRWAY at the western side of the garden, the quickest way from bottom to top. Fit people will do it in one hit, people of normal fitness may need a short stop to rest. Unfit people more.
Harborside RAILWAY AVE the other side of the railway tracks at the bottom (there is an underpass) is pedestrianised – you could order a water-taxi to pick up from LAVENDER BAY JETTY opposite the underpass but the nearest public ferry stop is 10mins walk to left at MILSONS POINT. You can also access from MILSONS POINT or NTH SYDNEY stations – or maybe walk across the bride from the CITY to MILSONS POINT...and onward.
- there is a public toilet near the LAVENDER BAY JETTY.
- visit in the day time if possible: there is no lighting.
- this would be a great area for tweeters: bird life was everywhere. Lotsa BUSH TURKEYS. Didn’t see other animal life but I reckon quite a lot of nocturnal critters including ferals might be seen after dark. Perhaps a SPOTLIGHTING EXPEDITION (spotlight only, no guns!) would not be a waste of time for animal buffs.
كُتب بتاريخ 13 نوفمبر 2021
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Teresa C
منطقة العاصمة الوطنية, الفلبين1,243 مساهمة
سبتمبر 2021
Well landscaped with plenty of colourful and green plants to enjoy. Love the big, generous shady trees.
كُتب بتاريخ 27 سبتمبر 2021
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Terrazio T
Kiama, أستراليا12 مساهمة
مايو 2021
WANDERING WENDY’S WONDROUS WILDERNESS CREATES SOME HOWS AS WELL AS WOWS
WOW!
This place is special. It’s some makeover. A good idea is to find a BEFORE photo on the ‘net and compare it with the present. I was under the impression that the before thing was a harbourside gully vegetated with the usual dry eucalypt forest, but found a pic showing that it had been cleared for railway purposes and then abandoned, meaning immediately before Wendy’s magic it was largely a regrowth-scrub covered gully littered with dumped railway bits and other junk.
I’m not a horticultural person but I do like wandering around forest areas – that Wendy and her assistants have managed to convert this former scrubby, daggy hillside covered with junk into a patch of sub-tropical rainforest- like^^ garden is pretty cool. And inspiring – Australia has heaps of these places: formerly forest, cleared for some purpose and then abandoned to become junk laden scrubby wildernesses. Wendy shows they can be transformed.
There are lots of paths, specially planted areas of sub-tropical and other stuff, some idyllic places where people can sit and read/chill etc, some places where you can see the harbour and bridge thru gaps, clearings for picnics, outdoor tables and chairs suited to same, a few samples of the junk cleared out (some industrial and household stuff) plus a few statues and object d’art contributed over time by Wendy and artist friends. And over all this is Wendy’s sense of artistic layout. There are some remnants of the original forest in a few huge Moreton Bay Figs which have been cleverly integrated into the garden theme.
HOW?
I also left with a few questions:
1 – HOW COME IT’S LOCATED HERE?:
SUB-TROPICAL RAINFOREST is not endemic to this area. Instead ,DRY EUCALYPT FOREST is the go. But the former can be found in patches – these tend to be gullies with an easterly aspect, well sheltered from the cold and desiccating westerly and southerly winds frequent in he region.
Wendy’s gully doesn’t fit this aspect. True, it is protected from the westerlies by the ridge immediately that side. But it is pretty open to the south and sou’east. Winds from those directions often bring heavy rainfall which sub-tropical rainforest needs, but they can also be pretty desiccating at times.
Yes the south-easterly aspect is a bit of a conundrum, but I reckon there might be something in the NURTURE v NATURE thing – plant things strategically and you can cut exposure to damaging winds. Certainly the area is nicely protected from the dry cold westerlies. I visited on a late autumn afternoon with such a wind blowing but within the garden it was pretty still and definitely warmer, encouraging quite a few people to picnic or sit and read in some idyllic location. I think it was possibly more humid too, which micro-climates sheltered from drying winds are supposed to be.
2 – H0W CAN SO MUCH WORK BE DOWN TO SO FEW?
This is a reasonably big area and I was amazed by the amount of work which had been done. The gardens have been given TV and press coverage and my impression (I admit I don’t always pay attention closely) was that it was mainly the work of one person.
Reservations about the number of people needed to create and maintain the area were partly dispelled by reading the spiel taped to the fence of one of the houses near the northern entrance. Apparently Wendy threw herself into cleaning up this NSW RailCorp land immediately south of her Lavender Bay house on which all sorts of rubbish had been dumped This to distract her grief after the deaths of her husband and daughter. She then started applying her love of art to planting and improving the area. Locals were impressed and joined in. Later North Sydney council threw its support behind the gardens, Finally the NSW govt. came good in 2019 with a special Trust providing a 30/30 year lease of the railway land and a small grant. Prior to this, all funding had come from Wendy. She and two permanent employees assisted by volunteers provide the labour. With the Trust and grant the future of the gardens seems assured.
All the same, it is a bit gob-smacking that so much work has been done by so few people.
TIPS
- that popular online mapping outfit shows only two or three paths within the garden. In fact there are many – they tend to zig-zag across rhe steep hillside, forming kind of terraces, sometimes moving to the next levels by a short steep set of stairs or up/downslope, other times by a simple hairpin in the pathway.
Surfaces seemed in good repair.
Slopes were reasonable, apart from a few very short sections of connecting stairs between the terraced pathways and the long LAVENDER BAY STAIRWAY at the western side of the garden. The latter is the quickest way from bottom to top – fit people will have no problem doing it in one hit, people of normal fitness may need a short stop to rest. Unfit people more. Grossly unfit dudes like my online buddy KANANGA (aka SINGAPORE SLIM), the only person (still alive) who has completely surrounded a 20inch/50cm cream pie in under a minute, will not try – he will simply walk DOWN thru the garden from the highest LAVENDER ST entrance.
However Ks demographic needs to plan ahead. RAILWAY AVE the other side of the railway tracks at the bottom (there is an underpass) is pedestrianised – so grossly unfit dudes need to pre-order a water-taxi to pick up from LAVENDER BAY JETTY opposite the underpass. The nearest public ferry stop is a bit of a walk away at MILSONS POINT.
- there is a public toilet near the LAVENDER BAY JETTY
- visit in the day time if possible: there is no lighting.
- this would be a great area for tweeters: bird life was everywhere. Want to get close and personal with a BUSH TURKEY? This is the place. Didn’t see other animal life but I reckon quite a lot of nocturnal critters including ferals might be seen after dark. Perhaps a SPOTLIGHTING EXPEDITION (spotlight only, no guns!) would not be a waste of time for animal buffs.
- NEARBY are: THE ROYAL ART SOCIETY’S GALLERY** 1OOM up WALKER ST from the top of LAVENDER BAY STAIRS), the THE VIEW HOTEL** (southern entrance another 50 M up the road). If you fancy a tipple and a good-value meal BILLY BARRY’S old style pub** is 250m from the garden - just across DAY STREET north-west of THE VIEW. Note there are dozens of other cafes, restaurants and watering holes in North Sydney, but I found BB’s very good value.
- ACCESS is pretty good. NORTH SYDNEY STATION is a 300m downhill walk – turn right from the DAY STREET exit then after 50m take the stairs/walkway on the west side of THE VIEW which dump you at the top of the WAKER ST which leads down to the top of the LAVENDER BAY STAIRWAY.
A WHOLE BUNCH OF BUSES from all-over call in/terminate at the station.
FERRY TERMINALS can be found about 10mins walk from the bottom of the stairs at MCMAHON’s POINT (turn left) and MILSON’s POINT ferry stops. (The latter walk is far more straightforward along the harbour-side and avoids backstreets. 10 minutes or so will get you from these terminals to either DARLING HARBOUR** or CIRCULAR QUAY**.
DRIVERS will find plenty of parking stations in North Sydney although curbside parking near the garden varies and is often scarce.
PEOPLE INTO WALKING and with plenty of time on their hands will find one of the most scenic in Sydney is from CIRCULAR QUAY** about 3kms away. This goes across the bridge** and alongside the harbour via MILSON’s POINT and LUNA PARK**.
- GO ONLINE before you visit. I was so impressed after visiting that I hit the ‘net for more information – there is so much good stuff there that I’m intent on revisiting next Sydney trip to check out things I’d missed.
SUM UP – This is a good one for people like me who see conundrums and like to ponder answers; for horticultural nerds; and for those of us who just like to wander or sit in some idyllic setting.
A great half-day itinerary would be a ferry from THE QUAY or DARLING HARBOUR to MILSON’s POINT, a stroll around the SECRET GARDENS, followed by the short walk up to the gallery.
^^ this is not a classical sub-tropical rainforest area in that Wendy’s ministrations have made it more garden-like than the natural. There is also a lot of non-tropical vegetation.
**TRIPADVISOR has reader review pages on all.
WOW!
This place is special. It’s some makeover. A good idea is to find a BEFORE photo on the ‘net and compare it with the present. I was under the impression that the before thing was a harbourside gully vegetated with the usual dry eucalypt forest, but found a pic showing that it had been cleared for railway purposes and then abandoned, meaning immediately before Wendy’s magic it was largely a regrowth-scrub covered gully littered with dumped railway bits and other junk.
I’m not a horticultural person but I do like wandering around forest areas – that Wendy and her assistants have managed to convert this former scrubby, daggy hillside covered with junk into a patch of sub-tropical rainforest- like^^ garden is pretty cool. And inspiring – Australia has heaps of these places: formerly forest, cleared for some purpose and then abandoned to become junk laden scrubby wildernesses. Wendy shows they can be transformed.
There are lots of paths, specially planted areas of sub-tropical and other stuff, some idyllic places where people can sit and read/chill etc, some places where you can see the harbour and bridge thru gaps, clearings for picnics, outdoor tables and chairs suited to same, a few samples of the junk cleared out (some industrial and household stuff) plus a few statues and object d’art contributed over time by Wendy and artist friends. And over all this is Wendy’s sense of artistic layout. There are some remnants of the original forest in a few huge Moreton Bay Figs which have been cleverly integrated into the garden theme.
HOW?
I also left with a few questions:
1 – HOW COME IT’S LOCATED HERE?:
SUB-TROPICAL RAINFOREST is not endemic to this area. Instead ,DRY EUCALYPT FOREST is the go. But the former can be found in patches – these tend to be gullies with an easterly aspect, well sheltered from the cold and desiccating westerly and southerly winds frequent in he region.
Wendy’s gully doesn’t fit this aspect. True, it is protected from the westerlies by the ridge immediately that side. But it is pretty open to the south and sou’east. Winds from those directions often bring heavy rainfall which sub-tropical rainforest needs, but they can also be pretty desiccating at times.
Yes the south-easterly aspect is a bit of a conundrum, but I reckon there might be something in the NURTURE v NATURE thing – plant things strategically and you can cut exposure to damaging winds. Certainly the area is nicely protected from the dry cold westerlies. I visited on a late autumn afternoon with such a wind blowing but within the garden it was pretty still and definitely warmer, encouraging quite a few people to picnic or sit and read in some idyllic location. I think it was possibly more humid too, which micro-climates sheltered from drying winds are supposed to be.
2 – H0W CAN SO MUCH WORK BE DOWN TO SO FEW?
This is a reasonably big area and I was amazed by the amount of work which had been done. The gardens have been given TV and press coverage and my impression (I admit I don’t always pay attention closely) was that it was mainly the work of one person.
Reservations about the number of people needed to create and maintain the area were partly dispelled by reading the spiel taped to the fence of one of the houses near the northern entrance. Apparently Wendy threw herself into cleaning up this NSW RailCorp land immediately south of her Lavender Bay house on which all sorts of rubbish had been dumped This to distract her grief after the deaths of her husband and daughter. She then started applying her love of art to planting and improving the area. Locals were impressed and joined in. Later North Sydney council threw its support behind the gardens, Finally the NSW govt. came good in 2019 with a special Trust providing a 30/30 year lease of the railway land and a small grant. Prior to this, all funding had come from Wendy. She and two permanent employees assisted by volunteers provide the labour. With the Trust and grant the future of the gardens seems assured.
All the same, it is a bit gob-smacking that so much work has been done by so few people.
TIPS
- that popular online mapping outfit shows only two or three paths within the garden. In fact there are many – they tend to zig-zag across rhe steep hillside, forming kind of terraces, sometimes moving to the next levels by a short steep set of stairs or up/downslope, other times by a simple hairpin in the pathway.
Surfaces seemed in good repair.
Slopes were reasonable, apart from a few very short sections of connecting stairs between the terraced pathways and the long LAVENDER BAY STAIRWAY at the western side of the garden. The latter is the quickest way from bottom to top – fit people will have no problem doing it in one hit, people of normal fitness may need a short stop to rest. Unfit people more. Grossly unfit dudes like my online buddy KANANGA (aka SINGAPORE SLIM), the only person (still alive) who has completely surrounded a 20inch/50cm cream pie in under a minute, will not try – he will simply walk DOWN thru the garden from the highest LAVENDER ST entrance.
However Ks demographic needs to plan ahead. RAILWAY AVE the other side of the railway tracks at the bottom (there is an underpass) is pedestrianised – so grossly unfit dudes need to pre-order a water-taxi to pick up from LAVENDER BAY JETTY opposite the underpass. The nearest public ferry stop is a bit of a walk away at MILSONS POINT.
- there is a public toilet near the LAVENDER BAY JETTY
- visit in the day time if possible: there is no lighting.
- this would be a great area for tweeters: bird life was everywhere. Want to get close and personal with a BUSH TURKEY? This is the place. Didn’t see other animal life but I reckon quite a lot of nocturnal critters including ferals might be seen after dark. Perhaps a SPOTLIGHTING EXPEDITION (spotlight only, no guns!) would not be a waste of time for animal buffs.
- NEARBY are: THE ROYAL ART SOCIETY’S GALLERY** 1OOM up WALKER ST from the top of LAVENDER BAY STAIRS), the THE VIEW HOTEL** (southern entrance another 50 M up the road). If you fancy a tipple and a good-value meal BILLY BARRY’S old style pub** is 250m from the garden - just across DAY STREET north-west of THE VIEW. Note there are dozens of other cafes, restaurants and watering holes in North Sydney, but I found BB’s very good value.
- ACCESS is pretty good. NORTH SYDNEY STATION is a 300m downhill walk – turn right from the DAY STREET exit then after 50m take the stairs/walkway on the west side of THE VIEW which dump you at the top of the WAKER ST which leads down to the top of the LAVENDER BAY STAIRWAY.
A WHOLE BUNCH OF BUSES from all-over call in/terminate at the station.
FERRY TERMINALS can be found about 10mins walk from the bottom of the stairs at MCMAHON’s POINT (turn left) and MILSON’s POINT ferry stops. (The latter walk is far more straightforward along the harbour-side and avoids backstreets. 10 minutes or so will get you from these terminals to either DARLING HARBOUR** or CIRCULAR QUAY**.
DRIVERS will find plenty of parking stations in North Sydney although curbside parking near the garden varies and is often scarce.
PEOPLE INTO WALKING and with plenty of time on their hands will find one of the most scenic in Sydney is from CIRCULAR QUAY** about 3kms away. This goes across the bridge** and alongside the harbour via MILSON’s POINT and LUNA PARK**.
- GO ONLINE before you visit. I was so impressed after visiting that I hit the ‘net for more information – there is so much good stuff there that I’m intent on revisiting next Sydney trip to check out things I’d missed.
SUM UP – This is a good one for people like me who see conundrums and like to ponder answers; for horticultural nerds; and for those of us who just like to wander or sit in some idyllic setting.
A great half-day itinerary would be a ferry from THE QUAY or DARLING HARBOUR to MILSON’s POINT, a stroll around the SECRET GARDENS, followed by the short walk up to the gallery.
^^ this is not a classical sub-tropical rainforest area in that Wendy’s ministrations have made it more garden-like than the natural. There is also a lot of non-tropical vegetation.
**TRIPADVISOR has reader review pages on all.
كُتب بتاريخ 9 يونيو 2021
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Rotiman1
سيدني, أستراليا1,484 مساهمة
زوجان • مايو 2021
Enjoyed a relaxed walk and explore of the garden. It is much more extensive than it looks from above, with meandering paths and nooks and crannies hiding artworks. It was a great place to sit and contemplate what Wendy Whitely has achieved through determination, hard work and vision. It is a great gift to Sydney. The harbour views are an added bonus.
A further bonus is the exit to the Harbourside walkway with its small statues celebrating Australians children literature.
A further bonus is the exit to the Harbourside walkway with its small statues celebrating Australians children literature.
كُتب بتاريخ 17 مايو 2021
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Di Robbo
6 مساهمات
العائلة • أبريل 2021
A lovely garden for children’s and adults to explore, run, walk or relax in, it is surprisingly large! Great views of the harbour, peaceful and beautiful.
كُتب بتاريخ 9 أبريل 2021
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M4verick14
سيدني, أستراليا35 مساهمة
زوجان • مارس 2021
This was the perfect way to start a romantic Sunday.
We arrived around 9am or a little before and the garden was virtually empty. Queue many photo opportunities and discussions about future visits to enjoy picnics and the possibility of hosting a wedding in the garden (we aren’t engaged as yet but maybe it’s just the magic of the garden...). Every little nook and cranny of the garden is just beautiful. And what better way to start the day than gorgeous harbour views as the sun rises.
I’ve also been told I need to buy us a house in Lavender Bay to go with that preemptive wedding so I imagine if I’m that fortunate I’ll be here on the daily
We arrived around 9am or a little before and the garden was virtually empty. Queue many photo opportunities and discussions about future visits to enjoy picnics and the possibility of hosting a wedding in the garden (we aren’t engaged as yet but maybe it’s just the magic of the garden...). Every little nook and cranny of the garden is just beautiful. And what better way to start the day than gorgeous harbour views as the sun rises.
I’ve also been told I need to buy us a house in Lavender Bay to go with that preemptive wedding so I imagine if I’m that fortunate I’ll be here on the daily
كُتب بتاريخ 7 مارس 2021
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Smileymelly70
درومويني, أستراليا33 مساهمة
Are dogs allowed in this garden
Teresa C
منطقة العاصمة الوطنية, الفلبين1,243 مساهمة
Yes
Hi, We are staying near to the Opera House later in the year. Would we be able to walk over the bridge to the gardens or is it too far? Also, are there any other places to visit near to the gardens?
Flipper9593
سيدني, أستراليا54 مساهمة
Yes, its a good walk over the bridge- probably take you 20- 30 minutes depending on what pace you're going at.
The other fun place just close by and especially if you have children with you in Luna Park. Wendy's Garden is surrounded by beautiful parks, and you could just sit in the grounds with a picnic and watch the sunset.
There's also a sweet modern Indian restaurant at the top of the garden which is open for dinner from 5 pm called Lavendra, which is at 5, Walker Street.
Goingwell2019
كاليفورنيا53 مساهمة
staying in St Leonards near train station. should we walk to the garden or take the train to the North Sydney stop?
raura
Canberra, أستراليا604 مساهمات
I would catch the train. A long walk from St Leonards.
Katie_em
سيدني, أستراليا58 مساهمة
Got a question about visiting Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden?
Visit our website for directions, accessibility and other Frequently Asked Questions.
pappi_chris
بريسبان, أستراليا50 مساهمة
Unsure of question sorry?
sallyherath
Mildura, أستراليا
is there a cafe or restaurant on site?
Katie_em
سيدني, أستراليا58 مساهمة
There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and pubs within close walking distance in Milsons Point, McMahons Point and Kirribilli. If you visit the Wendys Secret Garden website you can find links to local eateries.
Is it free entry?
Vikki P
جولد كوست, أستراليا65 مساهمة
Sorry, so long ago you asked the question!
Yes it is free
RinnoTuatagaloa
Kurunjang47 مساهمة
Is OK to go as a group, would be about maybe 80 people kids and adults? If so do you think we can drive there on a bus??
bpmsmith
سيدني, أستراليا6 مساهمات
North Sydney Council requires bookings for all groups at the Wendy Whiteley garden.
Further details can be found at the North Sydney Council website > Recreation & Facilities > Parks & Reserves > Parks & Reserves Hire & Fees
