OUR TRIP TO CACTUS COUNTRY & TIPS BEFORE YOU VISIT
Carl and I took a trip to Cactus Country, Australia’s largest Cactus farm located in Strathmerton, Victoria, and I have to say, it was a succulent experience (tehe).
From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by the unique and otherworldly beauty of this place.
Now, this wasn't our first visit to Cactus Country; we had visited over seven years ago when we were starting up our first boutique store.
We originally visited for inspiration and boy did it deliver! I remember we both left filled with eagerness and courage to continue building
our very own cactus vision.
But a lot can change in eight years, after all, plants grow! We can confirm that our second trip in 2023, in this wondrous garden, was even better than the first in 2015! There are lots of cool upgrades to the place since we last visited, like the observation dome, and this trip, we were stoked to meet Jim, the founder of Cactus Country himself!
Jim, the creative force behind the prickly madness, patiently led us giddy children on a tour. He's joined in his massive task of caretaking for these plants by his wife Julie, son John, right-hand man, and the amazing team at the cafe. This small tribe has done an amazing job of making this place all that it is.
As seasoned cactus collectors and landscapers, we can attest that managing this 12-hectare desert oasis would be challenging work in a garden of this scale. Weeds can be unruly from time to time, and cacti that take a tumble are to be expected and embraced. The plants here are like what you would find in the “wild” (just not in the Australian “wild”). It’s a true privilege to be graced with so many varieties and sizes in one showcase, so far from their natural habitat but in a place that mimics nature's raw beauty.
We enjoy seeing how these plants flower, scar, heal, mutate, hybridize, collapse, and regrow. These are the reasons we LOVE cacti
(and Cactus Country has allowed space for all of this rawness to be witnessed and appreciated👏).
If you're planning a visit,
here are a few tips:
1. Wear closed shoes to protect your feet from the prickly ground.
I LEFT MY SHOES AT THE FRONT DOOR OF OUR AIR BNB, and Carl made sure to laugh-out-loud when I got poked within the first 5 minutes of drooling near the c.c entry.
2. Take a self-guided book or follow the map on your phone to help identify the plants and prevent missing any of the displays.
3. Bring water and a hat. Expect it to get hot if you're going DURING the peak of summer.
A metal spray bottle of cold water is a great hack on a hot day to cool off!
4. You might not get service, so you have every reason to be present.
By "present," I mean you can take lots of photos and footage to later upload onto the wide web during the drive home…
No trip to Cactus Country would be complete without trying the food and bevies. Between 12-2 weekdays and 12-3 weekends, you can grab Nachos! The on-site café also serves cactus ice cream, cakes, and frozen cocktails. Being vegan, we ate before we arrived, but we were impressed to learn that they have prickly pear gin and cool drinks to try. If you’ve driven a fair distance to visit, treat yourself to a drink before walking around the gardens so you have time to sober up again before driving back! And grab a coffee before you head. Vegan milk is available 👌.
Pro Tip: Adaptations to the Nachos is doable for vegans, but bring a snack if you’re a big eater or call ahead to see whats available.
"I've been doing this for over 30 years,
and one thing I know for sure
is that I am always learning.
I am forever THE student."
Despite being cactus specialists, Carl and I often find ourselves in situations that remind us that the path to becoming experts is a lifelong journey. During our tour, Jim shared a valuable reminder with us that spoke to this point: "I've been doing this for over 30 years, and one thing I know for sure is that I am always learning. I am forever a student."
Jim’s words of wisdom spoke volumes to us, and it was evident that he was eager to continue learning and sharing, even after decades of being a national leader in his field. He exhibited no ego, only a love for his passion. What an inspiration!
Humility is essential when working with these prickly living works of art.
We are constantly amazed and humbled by the intricacies and complexities of caring for these rare plants, and we could see that Jim felt
the same way.
It was no surprise that we gained a wealth of knowledge during our visit.
As our day trip drew to a close, I felt grateful to have met Jim and some of my favorite plant species, all of which were older than me!
Keep an eye out for our favorites, like the branching old man of the Andes (Oreocereus), the 4m tall Pachycereus, the old twisting Fereocactus, the Tricocereus Pasacana, and the mammoth Agave Salmaina.
It's also worth mentioning that some pretty hectic Hybrids can be found here, such as the CC Trichocereus Bridgesii and Oreocereus hybrids. For those of you who don’t know, hybridization occurs naturally in the wild when differing plants are close enough for bees to cross-pollinate species. This adaptation increases the plant's survival, and the results are epic!
If you plan on visiting, make sure to leave some space in your car for a prickly buddy to take home with you,
as they have some fantastic "carry-away-sized" plants in their gift shop.
Overall, Cactus Country is a true gem, a place of natural wonder and richness that should’nt be missed by any plant lover.
We highly recommend Cactus Country to anyone who loves nature, adventure, or a good dose of the unexpected. Thank you for reading about our cactus journey, and I hope you have the opportunity to experience Cactus Country for yourself someday!