Crawleighwood Garden & Nursery

Forty minutes south of Hobart, down in the valley at Nicholls Rivulet, this is a private garden that happens to have a nursery attached — and the two are impossible to separate. The plantings here run from exotic deciduous trees to ancient Gondwanaland species, an idiosyncratic mix built up over years rather than assembled to a plan, and the nursery reflects that same restless curiosity: some stock is genuinely hard to find elsewhere, chosen because it caught someone's eye rather than because it sells easily. Winding paths lead between quiet corners and unexpected outlooks, the kind of garden designed to be strolled rather than toured on a schedule. Pav minds the nursery and is happy to talk plants with anyone who wanders in; the household dog will likely greet you first. Because it's a home as much as a business, opening times flex — visitors are encouraged to call ahead, though dropping by unannounced is clearly part of the culture too. Garden clubs and tour groups can book well in advance to time their visit with a particular season, and the garden has also hosted community events, including a regional plant fair. It's an unhurried, personal kind of place — worth the drive precisely because it isn't trying to be anything other than someone's much-loved garden, shared.