It’s rhododendron season and you can see them in their full glory at the Rhododendron and Rainforest Gardens at Mt Pleasant. The 14-hectare gardens are part of the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area, with the land leased from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Rhododendrons are mostly known as a cool climate species with spectacular displays at this time of year in the upper Blue Mountains, but you don’t need to travel that far. The Illawarra garden is in a sheltered valley south of Mt Ousley Road about 250 metres above sea level and supports many types of rhododendrons, including tropical varieties known as vireyas.

Developed and maintained exclusively by volunteers on the site of an old coal mine, the gardens began in 1969 when a local rhododendron aficionado, Donald Stanton, joined forces with the then curator of the Wollongong Botanic Garden, Bill Mearns, and other enthusiasts to establish the garden on a treeless overgrown patch of land.

The lower gardens have the rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, other exotics and native plants protected by a deer fence. A swampy low-lying area converted into a lake in 1987 provides a haven for birds, water dragons and frogs. The upper section preserves the endangered Illawarra subtropical rainforest, supporting majestic trees such as red cedar, giant stinging tree, small leafed figs and cabbage tree palms.

The gardens are open Tuesdays, weekends and public holidays. There is a small entry fee that helps with ongoing maintenance. Bring your picnic and throw your rug on the lawns or use the picnic shelter and barbecues. The gardens welcome new members and volunteers. For more information head to their website.

Fun fact – according to the Australian Native Plant Society, there are 1000 species of rhododendron worldwide with one species native to Australia, Rhododendron lochiae, found in the high mountains of far north Queensland.