Cook Park

Cook Park embodies the seasonal colours of Orange all year round. Summer's arrival brings gardens of stunning and vibrant coloured roses. From February to April, hundreds of begonias bloom in the 'Blowes Conservatory', and in Spring, a burst of colour arrives with masses of tulips and daffodils. This 4.5-hectare parkland in the heart of Orange is named after Captain James Cook and was originally laid out in a traditional Victorian design in 1873, with straight paths and rows of trees. Much of the original design is still in place. This National Trust area is also home to duck ponds, swings (for kids), an aviary featuring predominantly native birdlife (for bird watchers), the peaceful Lattice Fernery and for the craft lover, there is the Cook Park Guildry. The Guildry can be found in 'Bastick Cottage', a Victorian-style heritage building. Visitors will find a wide range of unique handcrafted goods, including pottery, knitting, woodwork, homemade jams and freshly baked goods. Cook Park is an easy 10-minute walk west of the Orange CBD via Summer or Kite Streets. The self-guided heritage walk is very popular with brochures available in the Guildry or from the Orange Visitor Information Centre.