Discover the Magic of Tulip Time Festival in Bowral: A Must-Visit September Adventure
12-30 September 2024
The Southern Highlands are calling – along with over 80,000 tulips in bloom at the Tulip Time Festival in Bowral. Set in the postcard-pretty village of Bowral – think chic cafes, antique stores and gourmet delis – this town transforms into a floral wonderland during the annual flower festival with private and public gardens open to visitors. Best of all, as it’s only an hour’s drive away from Sydney, Bowral is perfect for a short trip or weekend away with the family. Feeling like a hit of flower power this September? Read on for our top picks on how to make the most of this year’s Tulip Time Festival.
Corbett Gardens during the Tulip Festival, Bowral (image courtesy of Wingecarribee Shire Council)
🌷 Tulip Time Festival & Tulip Trail
Imagine stepping into a world where vibrant tulips stretch as far as the eye can see, painting the landscape in hues of pink, purple, yellow and red. The Tulip Time Festival, held from September 13 to 29, showcases over 80,000 tulips in full bloom. It’s a spectacle of colour that’s as invigorating as it is ‘gram-worthy.
The festival’s highlight is the stunning floral display at Corbett Gardens, one the region’s oldest and most beautiful parks. But if you’re keen to head further afield, or want to avoid the crowds, there are a handful of public gardens across the Highlands where you can get your hit of these gorgeous blooms.
Bowral
Corbett Gardens – “the home of Tulip Time – Bendooley Street, Bowral
Tulips After Dark, (image courtesy of Destination Southern Highlands)
🌷 Tulips After Dark, 20-28 September
Imagine this: as twilight descends on Corbett Gardens, hundreds of fairy lights and outdoor illumination start to twinkle to life bathing the tulips in a soft, magical glow. Visitors can experience the festival in a whole new light, quite literally, at the Tulips After Dark experience. With live music, gourmet food stalls, and of course thousands of gorgeous tulips, it’s an after dark experience the whole family will enjoy.
Tulip Festival in Bowral, (image courtesy of Southern Highland News)
🌷 Tulip Time Garden Party, 4-6 October
Fancy your flowers with a side of afternoon tea? Then the Tulip Garden Party is a must-do event. Held over the October long weekend, this event is party British garden party, part community get-together set against a backdrop of thousands of blooming tulips. Expect live entertainment, artisan markets and delectable food stalls to go with your afternoon tea.
Tickets from $11pp. Free entry for Wingacarribbe Shire residents.
Writer, foodie and ideas-sponge, Francesca grew up in the Inner West and loves writing about all things IW related from playgrounds and podcasts, restaurants and retail, bubble tea and basketball courts. Mum to an active child, she also knows a thing or two about keeping a little one entertained on a rainy day.
