Stone Ridge

Perched atop a large hill, this rural property holds its gardens close — sheltered, private, and largely hidden from view until you're within them.

The formal garden is terraced down the slope with dry stone walls, creating defined outdoor rooms anchored by clipped buxus hedging and Italian cypress. A pool runs alongside a rough-cut stone wall, with a rustic timber pergola framing the outdoor living area beyond. Native phormiums, bronze grasses, and mixed planting on the terraced slopes above make the transition toward open bush feel gradual and considered.

Further from the house, the design releases its grip. A rock-edged pond sits within sweeping lawn, bordered by large tussock grasses, clipped topiary balls, and a generous silver-leafed tree. A timber jetty extends over the water into native planting beyond, and the boundary between garden and landscape quietly disappears. The ducks have settled in — which is usually a good sign.