Summer Smiles in Bloom at Hunter Lavender Farm
- Liane Morris
- Dec 15, 2025
- 6 min read
Each December, just beyond the quiet little village of Broke in the Hunter Valley, the landscape softens into a sea of fragrant purple, reminiscent of the lavender fields of Provence, France. This exquisite sight is the Hunter Lavender Farm, open to the public for just four precious weeks per year.
This season is open from 6 December to 4 January, and it’s a fleeting window of beauty that has become one of the most enchanting seasonal experiences in the region. Visitors come to walk among the blooms, breathe in the scent of summer, and enjoy a slower pace in the country. For many, it’s become an annual pilgrimage.
Around 30 per cent of visitors to Hunter Lavender Farm are returning guests - lavender lovers who’ve become part of the farm’s story, eager to see how it grows and changes each year. This year marks the farm’s fourth lavender season, and with it comes a fresh theme: “Summer Smiles in Bloom.” This year’s theme celebrates the joy and colour of summer in full bloom - a time to wander, taste, and smile among the lavender fields.
“We wanted this year’s theme to capture the happiness that lavender brings,” said founder Marianne Villanueva. “It’s about creating moments that make people smile, whether it’s walking through the rows, enjoying a cocktail under the summer sun, or finding the perfect handcrafted gift.”
For Marianne and her husband JR, the sight of their farm bursting with colour is more than a seasonal spectacle; it’s the living result of years of hard work, courage, and vision.
Their story begins far from the Hunter Valley, in the countryside of Zambales in the Philippines, where they both grew up surrounded by nature. The pair first met in high school but followed separate paths for many years. Marianne eventually migrated to Australia in her twenties, building a successful corporate career in finance. JR followed several years later, and in 2014, they married in the Hunter Valley - the very place that would later become the heart of their new life together. It wasn’t until 2018, on their honeymoon in Provence, France, that the seed of Hunter Lavender Farm was planted.
“When we both saw lavender as far as our eyes could see, he was just as captivated as I was,” said Marianne.
“It was surreal, and the memory has become an inspiration for our farm today.”
In 2019, during a weekend visit to the Hunter Valley, Marianne and JR came across a 14-acre property in Broke surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. They saw the potential straight away. “We wanted something unique that would complement the charm of the area while being sustainable,” said Marianne. “Lavender felt right - it’s beautiful, therapeutic, and thrives in this environment.”
They got to work transforming the land, clearing and planting by hand with two small children by their side. What began with a bold one-acre planting of 4,000 lavender bushes has since flourished into 15,000 plants across several varieties, which has become a testament to their hard work and faith in their vision.
“We took a gamble and planted big from the start. Everyone told us to start small, but we went with our instincts, and it paid off. Basically, go big or go home! “We’re focused now on the continuing health of our plants, the efficiency of our maintenance and sustainability, and how to produce more flowers. We may increase the number of plants sometime in the next few years, but for now, we optimise what we’ve planted.”
Hunter Lavender Farm opened to the public for the first time in December 2022, and its popularity was instant. Each summer since, the farm has welcomed more visitors, added new experiences, and introduced a fresh seasonal theme to celebrate the lavender in bloom.
In 2022, the theme was “Summer at Hunter Lavender Farm,” a simple invitation to wander the fields and experience the farm's beauty for the first time. 2023 brought “Family Fun in Full Bloom,” encouraging families to enjoy the lavender season together, while 2024’s “A Sensory Journey” invited guests to immerse themselves in the colour, scent, flavour and benefits of lavender. Timed for the peak of summer, the lavender season is intentionally short - just a few weeks when the flowers are at their most vibrant and fragrant. This season, “Summer Smiles in Bloom” promises to be the most vibrant yet and highlights the sheer joy of the experiences on offer.
More than just a beautiful place to visit, Hunter Lavender Farm has become an authentic sensory experience. It’s a celebration of scent, taste, and sight that captures the essence of summer in the Hunter Valley.
Guests can start their visit with a Lavender Field Walk, winding through rows of soft purple blooms buzzing with bees and filled with the fragrance of fresh lavender. It’s the perfect moment for photos, reflection, or simply soaking up the peaceful atmosphere. To maintain that sense of serenity, visitor numbers are capped at 75 per time slot. For those looking to capture the magic, sunset photo sessions offer golden-hour light over the fields, and professional photography sessions have become a favourite for couples and families alike, celebrating special life moments or simply capturing precious memories.
Where there’s lavender, there are bees, and the farm has embraced this natural connection. With Australian invented beehives, visitors can discover the fascinating world of honey production through two hands-on experiences: the Honey Harvest Experience ($65) or Beekeeping for Beginners ($115). Participants suit up in protective gear, light a bee smoker, and explore an active hive to see firsthand the inner workings of a buzzing colony, finishing with a taste of freshly harvested honey.
At the heart of the experience is the Lavender Bar, where visitors can cool off with a lavender-infused cocktail, or the ever-popular lavender gelato, now available in new flavour combinations. This season’s menu features summer-inspired treats that highlight the farm’s essence - think lavender lemonade, lavender inspired matcha and coffee creations. Guests can enjoy an on-site picnic in the Serenity Square Garden with views over vineyards and mountains and surrounded by cottage gardens brimming with perennial blooms.
The farm shop and distillery have also expanded their retail display this year, featuring their handcrafted lavender products including pure lavender essential oils, bath and body products, candles, dried lavender, lavender sachets, eye pillows, heat packs, and even gourmet food products like lavender tea, lavender simple syrup, lavender rock candy, and lavender honey. There are several themed gift packs available, too. This year sees the launch of their Australian Lavender and Botanicals collection, inspired by Australian native flora. Visitors can learn how essential oils are distilled on-site.
“We love that people take a little piece of the farm home with them."
"Our products remind them of the feeling they had here - calm, relaxed and refreshed. That’s what lavender does.”
More than just the beauty and magical experiences, there are strong therapeutic reasons to visit the farm and enjoy its products. Lavender is more than just a pretty flower - its soothing fragrance is renowned for promoting relaxation and calm. From easing stress and tension to supporting restful sleep, the plant’s benefits have been celebrated for centuries, making a stroll through the blooming fields as restorative for the mind as it is for the senses. It was this very connection between lavender and well-being that first drew Marianne and JR to farming it.
“Before we moved to the Hunter Valley, I worked in a high-pressure corporate job, and lavender was my go-to for calming the mind and recharging the body,” said Marianne. “It’s always been about that connection between mind and body, and everything we create, from our products to our experiences, is rooted in that principle.”
This focus on wellbeing inspired the Lavender Labyrinth, a unique meditative experience based on ancient labyrinth-walking traditions. Guests follow the winding path to the centre, setting an intention as they move. This mindful, movement-based meditation helps clarify thoughts, ease tension, and deepen the sense of calm and joy that comes naturally from a visit to the farm.
Building on the farm’s focus on wellbeing, the Yoga in Lavender Bloom experience on New Year’s Eve has quickly become a highlight of the season. Introduced during our very first season, the session combines a 60-minute yoga flow with a sound bath, set among the fragrant blooms. The response was extraordinary, with guests describing it as “the most beautiful way I’ve ever started a new year,”
“I felt so connected to myself and nature,” and “an experience I’ll never forget.” Marianne says the event complements the farm’s therapeutic ethos perfectly.
“It’s all about slowing down, connecting with yourself and the natural world, and letting the lavender work its calming magic. We’re thrilled to offer it again this year.”
From wandering the lavender fields to tasting seasonal treats, exploring the Lavender Labyrinth, or joining the Yoga in Lavender Bloom, Hunter Lavender Farm is a celebration of the senses and simple summer joys. Set in Broke, it’s the perfect base for exploring nearby vineyards, local restaurants, farm gate producers, and heritage-listed Wonnarua sites, making a visit to the Hunter Lavender Farm a full-day escape where visitors leave refreshed, inspired, and carrying a little lavender-infused happiness.
For more information, visit www.hunterlavenderfarm.com.au.
