Kaydale Lodge: Four Seasons in One… Garden!
October 25th, 2011 | 
Author: Four Seasons of Beauty: Kaydale Lodge Gardens
by Michelle Kneipp Pegler
Kaydale Lodge Gardens in the north west of Tasmania, 30mins from Ulverstone
The wonderful Kaydale Lodge is situated on the road to Leven Canyon in Gunns Plains, in the north west region of Tasmania. The Lodge and Gardens are owned and operated by Kay and Robert Crowden and their daughters Lesley and Amarlie. In 1979 on their 70-hectare farming property, Kay and Robert built Kaydale Lodge as a private guesthouse and restaurant, one of the very first B&B accommodation places in Tasmania.
In the very early stages of garden development the family had to overcome many difficulties including native animals and farm stock invading the newly planted gardens, as well as a very basic water supply, which meant the use of buckets to water the plants and lots of trips backwards and forwards.
During the early years of Kaydale Lodge, there were no gardens at all
Showing a dramatic transformation, Kaydale Lodge Gardens as they are now
Over many years of hard work the family have dug, planted and designed everything in this two-hectare garden. Constructing a garden 550 metres above sea level would have been too much of a challenge for most people. But not for this family whose love of gardening never stopped them creating their dream. It is still a work in progress as more seeds, plants and bulbs are added each year. For such keen gardeners, it’s hard to resist the temptation of adding new and interesting plants.
Fritillaria flowers in the gardens of Kaydale Lodge near Ulverstone, Tasmania
Spring Gardens
Spring at Kaydale Lodge is a colourful surprise of different flowering bulbs including the rare Fritillaria, which take over four years to flower, as well as Trilliums and Erythroniums. Over 1800 different varieties of Daffodils are bursting with colour and every spring over 1,000 bunches of Daffodils are given to visitors to take home and enjoy. Spring begins a little slower here (around three weeks later than on the coast). Plants usually start bursting into colour around late September.
Gardens in full spring flower in the north west of Tasmania at Kaydale
Summer Gardens
Summer brings the warmer weather and with it comes the display of beautiful Peonies, which are breathtaking. They flower profusely from mid November until Christmas. The Waratahs are in bloom and the Rockery is looking lovely with pretty flowering plants growing in and out of the rocks. There’s a large waterfall flowing through the middle, which adds to the peace and tranquility of this area. It’s a nice place to sit and contemplate the beauty of it all.
Kaydale Lodge gardens are a burst of colour right through to summer
Autumn Gardens
Autumn is full of dazzling colour with the gorgeous leaves of over 200 Maples; and Birch trees in shades of yellow, orange and red. Walking along the paths amongst the colours of fallen autumn leaves is a delight. Kaydale Lodge has one of Tasmania’s best private collections of deciduous trees. Also flowering at this time of the year are the Cyclamens, Crocus and Nerines.
Autumn colours to rival Tasmania's New Norfolk at Kaydale Lodge Gardens
Winter Gardens
Winter puts on an enchanting show with Kaydale Lodge receiving four or five snowfalls every winter, which generally last for a couple of days. If you think nothing grows during this season you’d be wrong! The Hellebores flower from August through to September, and the Galanthus or Snowdrops flower July to August.
A gorgeous scene: a sprinkling of snow covers the gardens during Winter
Kay & Robert Crowden’s Garden Zones
There are a series of different areas to explore and enjoy in the gardens including the Woodland Garden, Wisteria Pavilion, the Pear Walk (which features 27 pear trees espaliered over a curved frame), Bulb Rockery, Vegetable Gardens, Zen Garden, Fernery, Rockery, Memorial Garden and the Thyme Lawn and Fritillaria Lawn.
The Zen Garden at Kaydale Lodge... peaceful and tranquil surrounds
Kaydale Lodge: Country House Accommodation
These impressive gardens are a real credit to the Crowden family who have put so much time and hard work into them over the years. The family enjoy sharing their experience and knowledge with visitors and are only too happy to help with any questions you may have about their garden or gardening in general.
Not only are these gardens charming enough to entice you to visit, you can also stay for the night and experience luxury country house accommodation. There’s homemade morning and afternoon teas and light lunches available as well.
Kaydale Lodge is located at 250 Loongana Road Nietta, a 30-minute drive
inland from Ulverstone. Just follow the Leven Canyon signs.
For more information phone (03) 6429 1293 or visit their very
informative website. Entry fee into the gardens is $5-00.
Gardens Photo Credit: some of these photos have been supplied to Michelle by the owners of Kaydale Lodge to highlight the transformation of the grounds between seasons in Tasmania.
Michelle Kneipp Pegler writes a blog called Leven River Farm
about the ups and downs of her Good Life
and occasional forays delving into the lessons of the past.
Map: Kaydale Lodge Gardens Tasmania…
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That’s the good thing about Tasmania. You don’t have to travel far to see things of exceptional beauty. This place is right on your doorstep, Michelle. Do you get any snow where you live?
Yes Roger it’s fantastic living here where we have great things are right on our doorstep. No we don’t get snow here in Gunns Plains but we do get a fall or two just down the road a bit to the south of us on the hills that join Loyetea Peak. It’s almost in our backyard which is great because I get a good view of it from our place.