Canberra’s Floriade, New South Wales Tulips & Private Gardens

Travel during spring on this short tour, featuring Canberra’s Floriade. Intended as a one-off celebration of Australia’s bicentennial, Floriade has become a highlight on the country’s garden calendar, with hundreds of thousands of bulbs planted each year. Elsewhere, the private gardens we visit benefit from a cool climate and are complemented by their historic homes. Travel along the Central Coast to visit the home and studio of artist Arthur Boyd and marvel at the striking hedges and topiary of Merribee.

Itinerary

Day 1: Sydney, Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, Glenmore House and Bowral

Depart your Sydney hotel at 8.30am and travel to Bowral in the Southern Highlands. On the way, visit the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan. Next, visit the private garden of Mickey Robertson, Glenmore House. After Mickey and her husband, Larry, purchased the original farmhouse, they gradually restored and extended it, with the various outbuildings being repurposed to fit in with the gardens. Enjoy lunch at the garden before travelling on to Bowral. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner this evening. 

Day 2: Bowral Private Gardens, Retford Park and Bowral Tulip Festival

Today we visit two beautiful private gardens and meet their owners. Explore Retford Park, owned by the Fairfax family for over 50 years. The family played host to notable visitors here, including members of the British and European royal families. This afternoon, enjoy Bowral’s Tulip Festival, an annual event of spring blooms.

Day 3: Floriade and Canberra Sightseeing

Arrive in Canberra and visit Floriade, the annual flower and entertainment festival. We then enjoy a sightseeing tour of Canberra, culminating in spectacular views as we approach the peak of Mt Ainslie. This afternoon, we will visit the National Gallery of Australia.

Day 4: Tulip Top Gardens, National Arboretum and Australian National Botanic Gardens

This morning, visit the private Tulip Top Gardens, which has one of the best bulb displays in Australia. Afterwards, take a tour of the National Arboretum, one of the world’s largest living collections of rare trees. This afternoon, visit the Australian National Botanic Gardens, featuring a scientific collection of native plants from all parts of Australia.

Day 5: Bundanon – Arthur Boyd Gallery and Homestead

Depart Canberra for Bundanon to visit the gallery and homestead of Australian artist Arthur Boyd. Wander through the English-style gardens and iconic landscape that inspired Boyd. View artworks from the collection in the original 19th-century Bundanon Homestead and in Arthur Boyd’s studio. 

Day 6: Merribee Garden, Private Garden and Sydney

This morning we visit the impressive gardens at Merribee. Explore the series of formal garden rooms, including the Rose Garden, the hedged Potager Garden, the walled Snow Pear Garden, the Cottage Garden, Crepe Myrtle Walk, the Herb Garden, the Lavender Paddock and the Bunya Bunya Copse. On our return to Sydney, we will visit another private garden before arriving back at the post-tour hotel at around 5.00pm.