Camellia Gardens

Located in Caringbah and overlooking the beautiful Yowie Bay, the EG Waterhouse National Camellia Gardens are a favourite with Shire residents and visitors alike.

The Gardens began as a project under the 1970 Captain Cook Bicentenary program, and the first plantings were made in 1969. They are named after the late Professor EG Waterhouse, a leading world authority on camellias, who lived in Sydney. The garden has grown over the years into its present beauty, in part due to the generous donations by numerous groups and individuals.

Access for people with disability

The establishment of the gardens on a steeply sloping site makes sections inaccessible or difficult to access for people with disability or who have limited mobility. Access is available from the top gates to the lawn and teahouse areas; from the lower gates access is available to the specially designed Senses Garden and to most of the lower sections of the garden. Accessible toilet facilities are available adjacent to the lower entrance, and in the teahouse adjacent to the top gates (which has an MLAK).

Teahouse

The teahouse is located near the top gates, off President Avenue.

Playgrounds

There are two playgrounds located within the garden grounds.  One is situated near the teahouse at the top of the gardens while the other is located at the lower section of the gardens near the BBQ area.  The lower playground is currently under review for replacement.

Phone (02) 9540 2018

Teahouse hours Monday - Friday 10.00am - 3.30pm

Saturday - Sunday 10.00am - 4.30pm

Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Please note: The teahouse is operated independently of the gardens, and teahouse staff cannot answer questions about the garden.

Walks at the gardens

The Gardens have something for all seasons. The camellias are in season during autumn and winter. Camellia sasanqua blooms in early spring followed by Camellia japonica in February, with Camellia reticulata in bloom from mid winter to September/October. During springtime the spring annuals are in bloom, these are followed by roses during the summer months.

A brochure detailing a series of suggested walks that show off many of the garden's best features, is available at the gardens for a suggested donation of $1 - all funds raised are returned to the garden's management committee to assist in the garden's maintenance and improvements.

Weddings and Other Ceremonies at the Gardens

To hold a ceremony or have related photography at the garden you must contact the council to make a booking to reserve an area. Fees charged for these bookings go to help fund the upkeep of the garden.

There are four areas in the E G Waterhouse National Camellia Garden available for weddings, wedding photographs, christenings and naming ceremonies as shown in the Location Map.

Download a brochure

 Download booking conditions & information