Tours

Deryn first worked as a tour guide in the mid 1980s for Top Deck Travel, taking young people around Europe while sleeping, cooking and travelling on a double decker bus. In the late 1990s Deryn started tour leading around Australia and overseas.

She has maintained her enthusiasm for new adventures and passion for sharing the travel experience, but these days prefers to explore the world of gardens, art and history in a little more comfort.

For more information on her tours visit Travelrite International

Spring Garden Exploration of NSW and Canberra with Deryn Thorpe

2nd – 11th November 2026

Join Deryn Thorpe on the Spring Garden Exploration of the Blue Mountains, Central NSW and Canberra. The tour will visit magnificent gardens, including the Grandest example of Paul Sorenson’s work, Everglades; one of the original properties of Mt Wilson, Withycombe; and the iconic Nooroo. We will visit the Bathurst, Crookwell and Goulburn Garden Festivals and see some of the beautiful cool climate gardens open for the occasion, including Mayfield Garden, one of the largest privately owned cool climate gardens in the world. We will also visit Canberra and see the National Botanic Gardens, the National Arboretum and more. We have also allowed adequate time for participants to visit attractions independently. This is a tour for fanatical gardeners and people who love beautiful gardens.

Tour highlights include:

  • Tour leadership by Deryn Thorpe
  • Visit gardens in the Blue Mountains, Central NSW and Canberra
  • Everglades at Leura
  • Blue Mountains Botanic Garden at Mount Tomah
  • Withycombe and Nooroo at Mt Wilson
  • Hartvale Cottage in the Hartley Valley
  • Highfields Garden and Coryu Japanese Garden
  • Mayfield Garden, one of the world’s largest privately owned cool climate gardens
  • Crookwell Garden Festival and the Garden Lovers Market
  • Red Cow Farm
  • National Botanic Gardens and National Arboretum in Canberra
  • A highly regarded private garden in Canberra

For more information visit:
https://travelrite.com.au/tour/spring-garden-exploration-of-the-blue-mountains-central-nsw-and-canberra-with-deryn-thorpe-2-nov-2026/

Yarra Valley, Daylesford, Mornington and Melbourne Garden Tour with Deryn Thorpe

15th – 25th March 2027

Visit Three Diggers Foundation Gardens and the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show on this magnificent 11-day Victorian horticultural journey. Led by acclaimed landscape expert Deryn Thorpe, you’ll travel through spectacular regional districts including the Yarra Valley, Dandenong Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, and Daylesford Spa Country, culminating at the Southern Hemisphere’s finest flower show in the heart of Melbourne.

Tour highlights include:

  • Tour leadership by Deryn Thorpe
  • Visit three iconic Diggers Foundation Gardens: Cloudehill, Heronswood, and St Erth
  • Full day at the world-renowned Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
  • Explore Paul Bangay’s spectacular private garden, Stonefields
  • See the Chelsea Flower Show award-winning ‘Australian Garden’ recreation
  • Tour historic homestead gardens including Cruden Farm and Rippon Lea Estate
  • Travel in comfort with professional tour management by Travelrite International

For more information visit:
https://travelrite.com.au/tour/yarra-valley-daylesford-mornington-and-melbourne-garden-tour-with-deryn-thorpe-15-mar-2027/

Hi Deryn, a belated thank you for the Ballarat and Melbourne Garden Tour – it didn’t only live up to expectations, it exceeded them! It was a wonderful week, made even better by your expert guidance and relaxed manner. A highlight for me was meeting Phillip Johnson, he is such an inspiration.
Lynne, Fremantle

Thanks for the superb French tour. It was very interesting both historically and horticulturally and you made everyone in the group feel very welcome and relaxed. You managed everything in such a relaxed and friendly way that it felt like we were a group of friends travelling together rather than an ‘organised tour’. I have already recommended your tours to my friends.”A bientot”
Aline, Mosman Park

I booked on to the Melbourne and Ballarat tour rather on a whim, as I wanted to see Paul Bangay’s garden. However our tour took us to so many wonderful gardens, thank you. My sincere thanks for the planning, knowledge and commitment you put into our tour. You are an excellent tour guide, good with a group and not intrusive, and it was a very happy week indeed.
Anne, Melbourne

1. Monumental Garden of Villa Barbarigo, Valsanzibio, Euganean Hills southwest of Padua. Image courtesyTenuta Valsanzibio s.r.l. 2. Villa Melzi, Japanese garden, courtesy of Deryn Thorpe 3. Isola del Garda and its Neo-Gothic Venetian style palace. Image pxhere.
1. The Garden Vineyard, Moorooduc, Australia. Photo courtesy of The Garden Vineyard. 2. Private Garden in Newington (Ballarat), design by Paddy Milne of ‘The Scape Artist’. Photo courtesy of Paddy Milne 3. ‘The Garden at Broughton Hall’, Jindivick. Photo by David Musker.

I had the pleasure of being part of an Italian Garden tour with Deryn as the horticultural guide in May 2014. Deryn’s plant knowledge with historical context complimented the beautiful gardens and places that we visited. Her relaxed style, gentle good humour and sense of fun ensured that we all had a wonderful experience.
Caroline, Mt Lawley