australia's desert oases : cacti chasing across the country

the wild west : you may have seen it in the movies but you may be surprised to learn that australia is home to some stunning oases of desert studded with towering cacti and exotic flowers bigger than your head. as australia’s roadmap to reopening continues and we excitedly plan our regional holidays, we’re highlighting some of the prickliest and most photogenic cactus farms that prove you don’t need to travel far for a slice of mexicana.

orana cactusworld, nsw

if you happen to be visiting dubbo, or fancy a weekend trip out of sydney, then orana cactusworld is a must-see. tucked away in the tiny town of gilgandra, the garden is a spectacular escape into another world. green, grey, long, short …. orana cactusworld is home to some rare species that you won’t find in many other parts of australia. run by cactus-enthusiast lester meyers since 1972, many of the cacti you’ll find have been there for more than 40 years. with no website, this little secret hideaway relies on word of mouth to attract its visitors.

cactus country, victoria

a scenic three-hours drive from melbourne, you might be surprised to find australia’s largest explorable cactus collection. run by the hall family since 1988, cactus country is a little oasis of exotic cactus species that’s become wildly popular amongst instagram influencers and newlyweds. “a little piece of mexico on the murray”, here you’ll find 12 acres of gardens ripe for exploration. once you’ve tired of snapping instagram photos and wandering the prickly avenues, the garden’s onsite cafe offers sheparton roaster GB, cactus-themed snacks (including some adorable cactus cupcakes), frozen margaritas and mexican jarritos soda. the cactus farm is also behind some delicious boozy creations - imbue distillery has a bitter sweet apertivo and suburban gin made with the family’s prickly pear.

south plantations, wa

14 years ago, robert ellis westcott planted a single cactus in his front garden. it’s unlikely that the cactus-enthusiast could have dreamed that his front yard would become a tourist-attraction and instagram-famous spot. 900 kilometres north of perth and on the famous ‘fruit loop’, this little cactus garden of 30 plants attracts visitors from all across the country. aside from the towering five-metre cacti, the garden is located on beautiful scenic drive that’s well worth the road trip. named for its many roadside vendors, the fruit loop boasts some of the best produce in the country.

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