Tulip Time Festival

Each spring, tens of thousands of bulbs burst into bloom for the Tulip Time Festival in the Southern Highlands. One of Australia’s oldest flower festivals, Tulip Time has been running for more than 60 years, transforming the beautiful Corbett Gardens in Bowral in a sea of colour. Visit on the weekend to enjoy special events including markets, long lunches and a country fair.

Bowral's festival of flowers

Tulip Time will be held from 12 September to 6 October 2025. More than 80,000 tulip bulbs and annuals are planted in Corbett Gardens creating fields of blooms and spectacular floral patterns. There are also market stalls, art installations, live music and roving performers. The gardens are open 9.30am - 4.30pm every day during the festival with extended hours each Saturday from 9.30am - 6pm.

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Tulip Time Festival, Bowral
Tulips in full bloom and colour at the annual Tulip Time Festival in Corbett Gardens in Bowral, Southern Highlands
Tulip Time Festival in Corbett Gardens - Bowral
Tulip Time Festival - Bowral

Enjoy markets and events each weekend

Enjoy Blooming Weekend events including a market at a manor, a country fair celebrating the 30th anniversary of the film Babe, live music at a distillery and high tea. Join a local beekeeper and his foodie friends for a locavore long lunch, harvesting honey and learning to sketch. Feast your way through Horizontal Festival, a food and wine festival that also celebrates music and art.

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Couple enjoying a Pinot Masterclass experience at Centennial Vineyards, Bowral

Follow the Tulip Trail

More tulip bulbs are planted across the Southern Highlands. Follow the Tulip Trail to other sites across the area including the Southern Highlands Visitor Information Centre in Mittagong and Leighton Gardens in Moss Vale. As you walk through the villages, you can admire the many gorgeous private gardens residents have planted in front of their homes that are also brimming with tulips. 

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Tulip Time Festival
Tulip Time - one of Australia's oldest and leading floral festivals blooms, Bowral
Tulip Time - Bowral - Southern Highlands
Children viewing the tulips in full bloom and colour at the annual Tulip Time Festival at Corbett Gardens in Bowral, Southern Highlands
Tulip Time Festival - Bowral

A stylish 72-hour stay in the Southern Highlands

Itinerary

For more than 150 years, travellers have been drawn to the quiet country charms of the Southern Highlands. Today, it’s still the perfect pastoral retreat for busy city folk looking for a weekend of good food, great wine and southern style.

Follow our guide
Dirty Janes - Bowral - home to over 75 independent dealers - Southern Highlands
Wine being poured for tasting at St. Maur Wines in Exeter, Southern Highlands
Summer 2020 - Plated dish of goose at Birch, Moss Vale
Shop interior at Bespoke Letterpress, Mittagong