Hunter Region Botanic
Gardens: North of Sydney, between Newcastle and Raymond Terrace, on the
Pacific Highway is the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens. The gardens are quite
extensive and preserve some of the original Hunter Valley flora as well as
having large cultivated areas featuring both native and exotic plants. We have
visited the gardens on a number of occasions and have not managed to explore
all of the area. The Protea Garden is one area of great interest, featuring
plants from South Africa. We always visit the Grevillea and Acacia Gardens.
They both feature many species from both these genera. The majority of plants
are labeled which is a great help with identification. Two Grevilleas were of
particular interest. Grevillea beadleana and Grevillea mollis are
both rare species from our part of the world on the Northern Tablelands of
NSW. The photograph shows a large
Grevillea (probably Moonlight) near the Garden's carpark.
The Hunter Region Botanic Gardens have an information
centre, picnic areas and a café. The Gardens are an ideal place to
Stop, Revive and Survive.