Tulip Time Flower Festival Bowral 2025

Spring in the Highlands doesn’t whisper — it shouts in technicolour. Bowral’s Tulip Time Flower Festival is the annual floral takeover where more than 80,000 tulips explode into bloom, wrapping Corbett Gardens in colour so bright you’ll forget winter ever happened. From morning coffee under blossom-lined paths to twilight light shows where tulips glow like neon cocktails, this is a spring fling you’ll actually want to commit to.

Video

Video Credit: Visit Southern Highlands — Tulip Time in Corbett Gardens. Video courtesy of Kramer Photography.

Location

Address: Corbett Gardens, Wingecarribee Street, Bowral, NSW 2576

Dates

Next Event: Friday 12 September – Monday 6 October 2025
Frequency: Annual
Duration: 25 Days
Website: tuliptime.net.au

Price

Online Tickets (plus booking fee):

Adults: $18.50
Concession: $12.50
Youth (13–17): $12.50
Children under 12: Free

At the Gate (card only, no cash):

Adults: $20
Concession: $13.50
Youth (13–17): $13.50
Children under 12: Free

Group / Coaches (20+ online booking): $12.50 per person

The BioHax Take

Forget Instagram filters — the Southern Highlands has built one out of tulips. Tulip Time isn’t just about flowers; it’s a full-scale spring reset. You’ll find yourself strolling through rainbow-striped garden beds, cocktail in hand, while local choirs belt it out from the bandstand. Saturday nights go longer, markets spill into the streets, and yes, there’s even a day where dogs get their own runway among the blooms. Call it flower power with an actual pulse: colour, culture, food, wine, and the occasional picnic train pulling up with day-trippers.

Who It’s For

Couples chasing the ultimate spring date backdrop
Families who want gardens big enough for prams and photo bombs
Instagram addicts who never met a tulip bed they didn’t like
Foodies sniffing out stalls, wine tastings, and Highlands produce
Locals who know this is the Southern Highlands’ Mardi Gras — but for flowers

What’s On Offer

Tulips After Dark – Gardens illuminated, live music, food, wine, and tulips glowing under the stars
Blooming Weekends – Extended Saturday hours (open until 6pm) with bigger crowds and more entertainment
Dogs Day Out (29 September) – Corbett Gardens goes canine-friendly
Picnic Train – Heritage train journeys delivering guests right into Bowral for festival days
Markets & Food Stalls – Artisan makers, gourmet food, Highland wines
Live Entertainment – Daily music, choirs, roving performers, Victorian bandstand shows
Open Gardens & Tulip Trail – Wander beyond Corbett Gardens into hidden Highlands gardens and public tulip plantings across Bowral and surrounds

Sustainability Snapshot

No single-use cash handling: card/EFTPOS only
Community volunteers as Tulip Time Greeters
Integration of local growers and seasonal produce stalls
Encouragement of public transport via Picnic Train & coaches

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Tulip Time 2025?
From Friday 12 September to Monday 6 October 2025.

Where is Tulip Time held?
At Corbett Gardens, Wingecarribee Street, Bowral, NSW.

How many tulips are on display?
Over 80,000 tulips and seasonal annuals are planted each year.

What are the opening hours?
Daily from 9:30am to 4:30pm, extended until 6:00pm on Saturdays.

Are tickets cheaper online?
Yes, online prices are discounted compared to at-the-gate prices.

Can I bring my kids?
Yes, children under 12 enter free and the gardens are family-friendly.

What’s Tulips After Dark?
A special after-hours event with illuminated gardens, live music, and food.

Is there parking at Corbett Gardens?
Limited. Visitors are encouraged to use public transport or coaches.

Are dogs allowed?
Dogs are only permitted on Dogs Day Out (29 September).

What’s new in 2025?
More Blooming Weekends, expanded Tulips After Dark program, and upgraded market spaces.