Tours with Sandra McMahon

Sandra’s decades of extensive travel have not only greatly informed and influenced her work as a landscape designer but have also enabled her to ponder and distil the notion of beauty in the landscape. She joined ASA as a garden tour leader in 2018, combining her passion for landscape design and exploring this within other cultures around the world.

She is excited to share her very broad knowledge and appreciation of plants, combined with a deep understanding of the history of landscape design through the ages.

Upcoming Garden Tours:

Spring Garden Masterpieces of England and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 13 - 23 May 2025
Limited places remaining

Belgium: Art, Architecture & Garden Design 27 May - 11 June 2026
Accepting bookings

Spring Garden Masterpieces of England and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
13 - 23 May 2025

Join horticulturalist and landscape designer, Sandra McMahon, on this tour of England that combines a day at the renowned Chelsea Flower Show with some of England’s finest gardens such as Rousham, Hidcote, Kiftsgate, Bourton, Sezincote, Great Dixter, Sissinghurst & Highgrove Gardens.

Immerse yourself in the lovely medieval city of Oxford and visit Magdalen College gardens.
Study the development of the English country house from 17th-century Rousham House to 20th-century Great Dixter.
Be treated to the contemporary gardens of Pettifers and Tom Stuart-Smith’s Broughton Grange, partly influenced by the Dutch Wave movement.
Visit private gardens including those at Througham Court and Highgrove, the private residence of Their Majesties The King Charles III and The Queen Camilla.
Make a special visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, with Richard Barley MBE, Director of Horticulture.
Explore Australian Marylyn Abbott’s award-winning West Green House Gardens; and visit Ightham Mote, a wonderful example of a small medieval moated manor house, perfectly located within a peaceful garden surrounded by woodland.
Wander through picturesque Cotswold villages including Stow-on-the-Wold.

PDF day-by-day itinerary & reservation application: Click here
View itinerary, image gallery, map and more: Click Here

For more information or if you wish to secure a place on this tour please contact
Australians Studying Abroad T – (0)3 9822 6899 E info@asatours.com.au

Belgium: Art, Architecture & Garden Design
27 May - 11 June 2026

Join horticulturalist and landscape designer Sandra McMahon, and native French and Flemish speaker, Diane Perelsztejn, this tour is a feast of splendid classic and contemporary private gardens, great museums and natural landscapes of Belgium.

In Antwerp, Brussels and Bruges visit world-class art collections; we view works by Peter Paul Rubens, Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, Hans Memling, Frans Hals, Peter Bruegel, Jan Brueghel the Elder, Anthony van Dyck and René Magritte.
Explore the Art Deco home of David and Alice van Buuren; the house and studio of Art Nouveau Architect, Victor Horta and the UNESCO-Heritage listed Hôtel Van Eetvelde and Hôtel Solvay.
Visit Gothic churches, town halls and merchant palaces in Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp.
View the work of leading Flemish landscape architects including Erik Dhont and Piet Blanckaert; and meet Chris Ghyselen, known for his use of fine grasses and perennials, who will show us a number of his projects including his own garden.
Explore the private garden of Jacques Wirtz featured in Monty Don’s Around the World in 80 Gardens.
Visit the Arboretum Kalmthout, the former private garden of Robert and Jelena de Belder designed with the support of their close friend, Russell Page.
Visit the gardens of the 14th-century Kasteel van Oostkerke, restored with the aid of Mien Ruys; and Morishof, the private garden of landscape designer Marc Moris.
View the famed rose collections at Lens Roses nursery and the traditional ‘kasteel’ gardens of Hex.
Dine at the 2-star Michelin Le Chalet de la Forêt and enjoy an aperitif in their vegetable garden designed by Erik Dhont.

PDF day-by-day itinerary & Intention to travel application: Click here
View itinerary, image gallery, map and more: Click Here

For more information or if you wish to secure a place on this tour please contact
Australians Studying Abroad T – (0)3 9822 6899 E info@asatours.com.au