Situated in the foothills of the Brokenback Ranges, right in the middle of Pokolbin Village, Hunter Valley Gardens is a large display garden (Australia's largest) created on a grand scale to delight tourists and garden lovers alike.

Spanning over 25 hectares, there's a great deal to see on a visit including great swathes of colourful borders, neatly cut hedging and characterful topiary along with a wide selection of trees and flowering shrubs, all beautifully presented over ten feature gardens.

This is a tourist attraction - but there's also much to enjoy for the serious garden lover and botanist too as the team apply vast amounts of skillful attention to planting and maintaining these very impressive gardens.

If there is any criticism its that there is quite a lot of 'commercial thinking' on display in colourful statues, lighting and 'attractions' - which when there is so much natural attraction competing then you do wonder why there is the need. 

But I guess it's the lure of the 'Wedding' and Events' market which of course pays for all the excellent horticulture on display for the rest of us.

As the staff reminded me 'its not a botanic garden', though some of their skills on display clearly outdo some of the more conservative (and lesser funded) botanic gardens in Australia.

The overall layout is very good and flows extremely well from precinct to precinct, though it does perhaps lack some of the exquisite charm of some of the better English Gardens. 

However the very impressive formal parterre garden outdoes most of its global competitors by providing a raised viewing platform to truly appreciate the graphic nature of the symmetry and colour combinations.

Hunter Valley Gardens have carved out an impressive chunk of the tourist market, especially with coach trips to see the night lights and Christmas Light Displays. 

But if that also succeeds in drawing millions of visitors a year to experience the delight of well presented plants in artful garden settings - then good luck to them and a hearty congratulations from us.