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.

This journey departs:

• 23 September 2025

• 22 September 2026

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 Garden, Retford Park and Bowral Tulip Festival

Today we visit a beautiful private garden and meet the owner. 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: Arthur Boyd Homestead and Merribee Gardens

Depart Bowral 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. Later 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.

Day 4: Floriade and Canberra Sightseeing

Today 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 visit the National Gallery of Australia.

Day 5: 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 6: Kentgrove Garden, Red Cow Farm and Sydney

This morning visit Doug Rawlinson's Kentgrove Garden in Goulburn. Explore the miniature 14th century medieval village, an 800 square meter Japanese garden, then a "B" garden (Bee, Bird and Butterfly garden) with lunch to follow. On our return to Sydney, visit Red Cow Farm, a unique cool climate garden set on 2.5 hectares in the picturesque rural village of Sutton Forest, before arriving back at the post-tour hotel at around 5.00pm.