Spring is when Hunter Valley Gardens has what it calls the "first flush of Roses for the year", and the Gardens sit on Broke Road, Pokolbin, in the middle of wine country. That makes a rose morning and a tasting afternoon one of the easiest pairings in the Hunter. The roses come first because the light is softer and your legs are fresher. The cellar doors come after.
Here's how the Gardens work in rose season, what to check if anyone in your group uses a wheelchair, and the ticketing rules that trip people up.
Why spring is the time to see the roses
The numbers are big. Hunter Valley Gardens has 35,000 rose bushes across the property, and the dedicated Rose Garden alone has over 6,000 roses.
The first flush is the season's opening bloom. It's why the Gardens run Rose Week in spring, with the plants putting on their first show after winter. We can't promise perfect blooms on a given day, because the weather decides that, but mid-spring is when the Gardens choose to celebrate them.
Varieties you might find on the labels include Double Delight, Charles De-Gaulle, Marlena, Bonica and Blue Moon. One rose you won't see anywhere else is Rosa Imelda, which is unique to the Gardens.
What makes the Rose Garden different
Most rose gardens are laid out in beds and borders. This one is a spiral. The Rose Garden is corkscrew-shaped, a nod to the surrounding vineyards, so walking it means coiling inward through the roses.
At the centre are 13 bronze statues of Imelda Roche and her twelve grandchildren, known as the Grandmothers Garden. It's a fitting spot for a group photo at the end of the spiral, and a natural place to pause before heading back out.
When Rose Week runs, and what comes next at the Gardens
Rose Week is the Gardens' dedicated rose event. Rose Week 2026 runs from Monday 12 October to Sunday 18 October, with the Gardens open daily from 9am to 5pm. VisitNSW's listing carries the same dates. It's one week, not a month-long season, so watch the Gardens' events page for next spring's dates.
During Rose Week, a Rose Talk and Demonstration runs at 12pm each day. It covers the history of the Gardens' roses and includes a Q&A, followed by a demonstration of taking cuttings from a mother rose, a winter cut-back, and how pruning encourages blooms the following season. If you grow roses at home, that last part alone is worth the visit. The venue says every attendee receives a complimentary "Roses of Hunter Valley Gardens" book.
The Gardens' calendar runs on from there. The Christmas Lights Spectacular is listed from 30 October 2026 to 31 January 2027, so the same Broke Road address gives you a second reason to come back in summer, this time after dark.
Pairing the roses with an afternoon of cellar doors
The rhythm that works is simple: Gardens in the morning, lunch, then tastings.
- Morning. The Gardens open at 9am. Arriving early gives you the Rose Garden before it fills and leaves time for the wider grounds.
- Midday. On Rose Weekdays, the 12pm Rose Talk is a good anchor before you leave.
- Lunch. The Garden Terrace Café is open 9am to 4:30pm during Rose Week, or you can head to a winery restaurant.
- Afternoon. Cellar doors, with nobody in your group needing to drive.
Doing it in this order has a practical edge. The Gardens allow no picnics or outside food or drink, except sealed bottled water, so it's easier to arrive with nothing but water and save the bottle shopping for later in the day.
For choosing the afternoon's stops, our guide to 9 of the best wineries in the Hunter Valley and our piece on the best time of day for wine tours are good starting points. If an afternoon of tasting suits your group, see our Afternoon Half Day Wine Adventure page.
Getting around with a wheelchair, walker or pram
This is the section our guests ask about first, and the Gardens publish clear answers.
The site covers 25 hectares, with about 8km of garden paths. The paths are loose granite, which the venue says wheelchairs can navigate, and paths and ramps are wide enough for wheelchairs and strollers. Loose granite is firmer than sand but softer than concrete, so a manual chair takes more effort than on a footpath. Plan rest stops and don't try to cover all 8km.
What to sort out before the day:
- Bring your own chair. The Gardens don't hire out wheelchairs, though visitors may bring their own.
- Parking. Parking is free, but disabled parking is limited and a disability parking permit must be displayed.
- Companion Card. The Companion Card is accepted. The registered companion must present the photo ID card when buying tickets at Garden Entry.
- Assistance dogs. Pets aren't allowed, but registered guide and companion dogs are admitted with documentation.
- Scooters. The FAQ lists drones, scooters, e-bikes and similar items as prohibited. If you rely on a mobility scooter, confirm with the Gardens directly before you set out.
HV Tours runs wheelchair-accessible wine tasting tours, and our accessible wine tours page and our guide for seniors and guests with mobility needs cover the tasting side of an accessible day.
Rules that catch visitors out
Tickets first. Admission charges apply, and the venue recommends buying tickets on its website before you arrive.
Pensioner cards aren't accepted, and the Gardens' Seniors discounted price covers Garden entry only and isn't valid for events, so don't count on it for Rose Week.
A few more to know:
- Groups. Group rates for 12 or more adults are only available through the Group Sales Team, booked in advance, and never at the entry gate.
- Rides. Rides are not available during Rose Week, though the entire Garden is open.
- Late arrivals. Entry closes one hour before the session ends. With the Gardens open to 5pm, that puts last entry at about 4pm.
- Weather. Activities run during event hours only, and some may not open in bad weather.
The Gardens' roses at a glance
Six figures worth having on your phone: 35,000 rose bushes, over 6,000 in the corkscrew Rose Garden, about 8km of paths on 25 hectares, 9am to 5pm opening during Rose Week, the 12pm daily Rose Talk, and Rose Week 2026's 12 to 18 October dates.
Planning your Pokolbin tasting day with HV Tours
HV Tours has run small group, private and couples wine tasting tours through Pokolbin, Lovedale and Cessnock since 2015, including wheelchair-accessible tours. If you're planning a spring day that ends among the cellar doors, tell us who's coming, what access needs your group has and which day suits, and we'll talk through the options.
You can get in touch through our contact page, call 0456 737 888 or email info@hvtours.com.au. If you'd like to see how booking works first, read how to book private wine tours in the Hunter Valley.
Sources
- https://www.huntervalleygardens.com.au/events/rose-week/
- https://www.huntervalleygardens.com.au/attractions/gardens/rose-garden/
- https://www.huntervalleygardens.com.au/frequently-asked-questions/
- https://www.huntervalleygardens.com.au/events/
- https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/hunter/hunter-valley/pokolbin/events/rose-week-hunter-valley-gardens
