Red Hill Peony Estate

I attended the first open day here on 4th November and it was lovely. Please note I am a friend of the owner, but honestly the gardens are just beautiful. They are immaculately maintained, almost manicured, and the multiple individual garden designs are quite charming.There is a quite modest entry fee of about $12 just per adult, and this allowed entry to all the gardens, not just the peony garden. The main attraction is of course the peony garden (which is blooming really frustratingly late this year due to the October cold spell) but there are two rose gardens, substantial parklands, a kitchen vegetable garden, a chicken coop, a small espaliered orchard, a berry orchard, and a private walled garden.The history of the property is interesting and family and friends are all working together to make a visit a memorable and pleasurable experience. And answer all the questions visitors ask.At the beginning of the 800 metre drive is a 1959 era apple coolstore converted into a peony and farm products shop. Those farm products include not just fresh cut flower bunches of peonies but also Jillian Holmes-Smith glorious original moody giant paintings of peonies. Also on very reasonable offer are prints on canvas and prints on archival paper, and reproductions on greeting cards. Next year other farm produce is looking to be added as well.This farm estate is well worth a visit. It is just so beautiful.At the moment there are literally thousands of cool weather buds on those recalcitrant bushes but I reckon that the peonies will be in full bloom by the end of November (providing we get a decent few days of warm to hot weather between now and then). So consider planning a visit .. you won't be disappointed.Just check the website for open days and hours before you decide on a visit.

Thanks to the lovely couple who waited until I got there on the afternoon of the 24th to pick up my Mum's Christmas gift, and for the excellent conversation before I headed home to my parents for Christmas. See you next year (and apologies for the late review, I remembered when I was earring peony jam this morning).

Great visit! We were forewarned at the shop that due to the cold start to spring the peonies were mostly buds rather than blooms so very happy to get down to the 3acre peony paddock and find several dozen blooming and evidence of more to come! Lots of other gardens to explore too-a favourite was the barn garden. Loved the bunch we bought to take home- $5 a stem certainly beats city florist prices!

Where do I start! This place is amazing. We recently stayed at the cottage, The pictures do not do it justice. I have stayed at some remarkable placed but this is now a new favorite.The whole booking and arrival process was easy and flawless.The attention to detail and the personal touches made the entire experience so warm and inviting. We didn't meet our hosts, and didn't need to as everything you could want, was already thought of and provided for you.We had an amazing time and will certainly be back again soon.We could not rate this property highly enough. Seriously book it, you wont be disappointedTo our hosts - Thank you for sharing this awesome property with us. see you again soon.RegardsChris

Absolutely beautiful!The Estate, the Peonies, the Family, the Service.Definitely worth a visit during Peony Season!

Drove 40 minutes to get there, when we walked in to the barn, no greeting or direction of what to do. Saw a group of people at a table where a lady was talking about the gardens so we waited there. After about a long speech, she stated that entry included a platter and it was $70 per person. We stated we only wanted to walk around the garden. She said “well that’s not an option”. We have dietary requirements and couldn’t consume the platters, but we would have still had to pay the $70 just to walk around the garden. As we were leaving, my mother tripped into a huge hole in the grassed walkway, where she twisted her ankle and fell over onto her knee. We altered a young boy that was sitting on a chair by the wooden gate further up. He told us that he would let someone know, but no one came to check on her. They have no care in the world. Great waste of time. Rang the phone number and nobody answered.

Exquisite blooms & peony products in an idyllic setting on the Mornington Peninsula.

Total waste of money. Was very excited about visiting. Never again - peonni farm - no peonni’s - really !

We had the most lovely time, it was such a beautiful afternoon strolling the gardens with a tasty pimms cup in hand that we purchased there. The lupine, bearded iris’, foxgloves and orange blossom scent in the air from the citrus garden was just as much of a highlight as the peony gardens. Would definitely recommend and will definitely go again!

A wonderful place to visit and explore all the beautiful gardens. Well worth a trip down to the peninsula