The Story So Far.
The Longest Knight of the Year will be handing out passports for Questers setting out through the lands which appear fleetingly at Everglades for the Winter Solstice before evaporating like mountain mist in the midday sun.

To help questers conquer the unknown at the National Trust gardens in Leura, Merlin will offer an Answer to the Universe picked from the Tree of Knowledge. But what was the question?

On the trail of treasure and the question to their answer, the questers will gather lost property from the Witches Parking Lot in the Forest of Eyes and meet a chilly challenge from the Snow Queen amongst ice stalagmites in the Land of Eternal Winter .

To pass unnoticed through the highly expensive Troll Toll Patrol and reach the dazzling flowers and towers of the Rainbow Glades, they must latch onto the Roving Rainbow Fairies dancing and drumming through the gardens (trolls can’t see rainbows).

In the Kingdom of Gold, King Midas, bored to tears with the most precious metal, will be trading pieces of his glittering realm for rainbow treasure.

There’ll be pillage and plank-walking with the Pirates of Ancient Oceania and harvest and song in the Garden of Edible Delights. The Dancing Maharanis will be holding court in their palace with gifts for those who meet their challenge. On the Terrace of Infinite Reflection, each Quester must capture and carry off their own image. The Tunnel of Eeek will reveal its frights for those who dare pass through on their way to the Theatre of Wings.

Staged by the National Trust at its most magical property, this unique round-garden extravaganza of music, dance, theatre and circus has been created through the energy and talent of over a hundred performers, designers and makers from the Blue Mountains community and beyond.

Sculptor April Erzetich has worked with the volunteer craftswomen of Everglades to create a breathtaking Land of Eternal Winter out of recycled materials. Set and costume designer Doug Denham has refurbished Midas’ palace in giant gold statuary, draped the Maharanis’palace with the mysteries of the East and overseen a mass production of giant mid-winter flowers and mushrooms by Everglades crafters. Everglades Solstice banners created by international designer Sylvia Jahnsons have inspired the volunteers’ elaborate medieval bunting for the Longest Knights’ castle.

There’ll be performances of belly-dancing by Ghawazi Carvan, aboriginal dance-storytelling by Graham King and Co, African drumming and dance by Hands, Heart & Feet, re-telling of Grimms’ fairytales by Katoomba High School drama students, self-portraiture with the Society of Mountain Artists, songs to stir the soul by the Hauntingly Beautiful Mousemoon and rampant garden theatre by the Breezy Pants Brigade, not to mention the broom-twirling of the Ruby Bloomers Women’s Circus.

Bring the whole family – you’re never too old or too young to quest.            

The Quest will be followed by an afternoon of dancing, music, painting and feasting. There’s a prize for the Most Magically Attired, so feel inspired to be suitably (and warmly) dressed.

See related stories “Too Busy to Have Fun” and “Pirates of Oceania“

About the Day
Gates open 10.30 – 4pm. Quest runs 10.30-12.30pm.

Afternoon entertainment 12.30-3pm.

Price $10, National Trust Members $8, Family ticket $35.

Everglades Winter Magic Quest is a part of the Winter Magic Festival which starts on Saturday June 24th in Katoomba. www.wintermagic.com.au

Everglades Winter Magic Quest is supported by the Blue Mountains Cultural Partnership Program 2006

To find out more go to to the Official website for National Trust listed Everglades Gardens website.