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Step into a breathtaking celebration of spring as we journey through Australia’s most spectacular floral events, from the charming Southern Highlands to the heart of the nation’s capital. This vibrant escape brings together the Bowral Tulip Festival, Canberra’s world-famous Floriade, and the stunning Tulip Top Gardens, where rolling landscapes burst into colour with millions of blooms. Along the way, enjoy beautifully curated gardens, historic homes, iconic Canberra landmarks, and relaxed country hospitality, all while travelling in comfort and style. With a perfect balance of guided experiences and free time to wander, this tour is a feast for the senses—rich in colour, fragrance, history, and unforgettable springtime beauty. 🌷🌼DAY 1 (MT.L.D): PORT TO SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS Friday 18 September 2026
Welcome to our 6-day tour to Canberra and the Southern Highlands. Once comfortable in our seats, we begin our holiday by heading to the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens. Meeting our guide, we are led on an interesting botanical walking tour of the gardens before enjoying lunch set amidst the serene gardens. After this pleasant break, we continue to Mittagong for two nights.
Morning Tea from the coach | Lunch at Hunter Region Botanic Gardens | Dinner in Mittagong RSL Club
Springs Mittagong | 2 nights
Day 02 (B.D): TULIP TOP FESTIVAL
Saturday 19 September 2026
Following breakfast, we make our way to Bowral, where we will be enchanted by the sights and sounds of Fairground Follies, akin to visiting an old-fashioned amusement park with its collection of self-playing instruments and mechanical music, fair organs, street organs and a 100-year-old steam carousel. We enjoy morning tea here before visiting the vibrant Corbett gardens. During the Tulip Festival, over 100,000 tulips and 25,000 annuals are planted each year to transform Corbett Gardens and other parks across the shire into stunning displays of sweeping spring colour. This afternoon we visit Red Cow Farm, a lovely garden set on 6 acres of picturesque gardens. The garden is divided into different garden areas or 'rooms', with new vistas and surprises around every corner. Red Cow Farm is a dream for anyone with a green thumb!
Breakfast and dinner at Mittagong RSL club | lunch on own cost from Corbett Gardens
DAY 03 (BLD): CANBERRA’S FAMOUS LANDMARKS Sunday 20 September 2026
Today we farewell the Southern Highlands and head to Goulburn, where we stop at the beautiful, privately owned Garroorigang Historic Home. Here we’ll enjoy morning tea before being personally led through 157 years of living Australian history in the unique setting of a lived-in family home. Arriving in Canberra, we enjoy lunch at George Harcourt's Inn, then just across the road, we discover Cockington Green Gardens. This award-winning attraction takes its name from the township of Cockington in Devon, a historic English Village, and is a one 12th scale reproduction of buildings and gardens in this English village - thatched cottages, a tiny church, the village green, an oats house in Kent, a riverside inn, castles and even Stonehenge. We have time to look through the gardens and imagine walking through an English village.
Breakfast and dinner in the hotel, Morning Tea at Garroorigang Historic Home | lunch at George Harcourts Inn
Mercure Canberra | 3 nights
DAY 4 (BD): CANBERRA FLORA
Monday 21 September 2026
Following breakfast, we make our way to the Mt Ainslie Lookout for some of the best views of Canberra. Canberra is a truly unique city and one of only a few planned cities in the world. From our vantage point, we have a clear view of Parliament House and Anzac Parade. Next, we are off to Canberra’s Commonwealth Park, the centre of the 2026 Floriade Festival. The flower display is the largest of its type in the southern hemisphere. There are some 150,000 annuals, 65,000 tulips, 20,000 daffodils, 9,000 each of hyacinths and ranunculus and 200,000 muscari – an abundance of bloom and colour! We spend the morning here with free time to wander around at our leisure and to purchase lunch. This afternoon we visit the Australian War Memorial. The Australian War Memorial commemorates the sacrifice of the Australian men and women who have served in war through its ceremonial areas, extensive exhibitions, and research facilities. The focus of the commemoration is the Hall of Memory together with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Pool of Reflection and the Roll of Honour that lists the names of over 102,000 Australian servicemen and women who have died in war. Over the past few years, the Memorial has undergone extensive redevelopment, resulting in new galleries and displays. The largest of these is the very impressive Anzac Hall. On display in Anzac Hall is a vast collection of historic military technology,y including Australia’s oldest military aircraft – the Deperdussin, a First World War Mark IV Tank and a virtual re-enactment of Australia’s first naval victory in 1914. On the conclusion of the Last Post ceremony.
Breakfast and dinner in the hotel | lunch on your own arrangements and cost
DAY 05 (BD): TULIP TOP GARDENS
Tuesday 22 September 2026
This morning’s visit is just out of Canberra, at the Tulip Top Gardens. We can meander around the 10-acre garden, enjoying the beautiful scents of magnificent tulips, daffodils, and other spring flowers that create the spectacular display. There are hundreds of blossom trees nestling between the flowers, providing a magic pathway to the cascading waterfall and watercourse, with classical music wafting through the air in the hidden valley. Take the popular pathway past the rosemary field framed by unique blossom trees to the 70-metre-high viewing platform for the perfect photo. Arriving at the internationally renowned National Arboretum Canberra, we have time to purchase lunch before exploring some more. Created as a place of breathtaking beauty, you’ll experience the world’s largest living collections of rare, endangered, and significant trees. And the views over Lake Burley Griffin and Government House are sensational! Returning to the hotel, we have time to relax before our last night in Canberra.
Breakfast and dinner in the hotel | lunch on your own arrangements and cost
Day 06 (BMTLD): CANBERRA TO CENTRAL COAST
Wednesday 23 September 2026
Setting off eager to experience this unique getaway, we head to the Campbelltown Catholic Club. Here you’ll enjoy a lovely lunch before continuing to Gosford for a visit to the Chocolate & Nougat Factory, home of renowned Australian confectionary produces Nougat Limar, Bon Bon Fine Chocolate and The Sydney Marshmallow Co. We have a chance to stock up on their wonderful products. We make our way to our motel for our final night on tour.
Breakfast and dinner hotel | Lunch Campbelltown Catholic Club
Galaxy RSL Motel, Central Coast |1 night
Day 07 (B): HEADING HOME
Thursday 24th September 2026
With our bags packed full of memories, we make our way home. Stopping along the way for convenience stops and to purchase lunch. Arriving with many wonderful memories, travelling with friends.
Breakfast in motel | lunch at own arrangements and cost
Tour Inclusions
• 6 nights’ motel accommodation
• 6 cooked breakfasts
• 6 dinners
• 3 included lunches – see below
• Entry, walking tour and lunch at the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens
• Group entry, talk, tour, demonstrations, and morning tea at Fairground Follies, Bowral
• Entry to Corbett Gardens Grand Floral Display, Bowral
• Entry to Red Cow Farm Garden, Southern Highlands
• Entry, Tour and Morning Tea at Garroorigang Historic Home, Goulburn
• Lunch at The George Harcourt Inn, Canberra
• Entry to Cockington Green Gardens, Canberra
• Visit Floriade
• Visit the Australian War Memorial and the Last Post Ceremony, Canberra
• Entry to Tulip Festival at Tulip Top Gardens
• Guided tour at the National Arboretum Canberra
• Lunch at the Campbelltown Catholic Club
• Visit the Chocolate and Nougat Factory, Central Coast
Confirmed Accommodation
• Springs Mittagong Resort (2 nights)
• Mercure Canberra (3 nights)
• Galaxy RSL Motel, Central Coast (1 night)
$3,544 pp twin
+ $951 pp single sup
$650 deposit pp
For more information or to book;
Phone: 02 6583 3330
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.portbus.com.au
Please Note
• Price is based on a minimum of 20 paying passengers. If numbers fall below 20 passengers, this tour may need to be recosted.
• Price is valid for the above tour dates only and includes GST.
• Morning teas or afternoon teas are not included unless specified.
Cancellation fees will be levied relative to the amount of notice given:
42 days or more—loss of deposit
29-41 days: 50% of fare plus deposit
30 days before and the Day of departure: 100% of the fare.
In the case of concert or sporting tours, where admission tickets are purchased in advance, a minimum cancellation fee equivalent to the cost of admission ticket fees will apply.
Some accommodation requires prepayment, and refunds will be subject to their conditions.
The itinerary may be subject to change without notice. Whilst every effort is made to adhere to the itinerary as provided, Port Bus reserves the right to alter the touring and attractions as dictated by circumstances and conditions that may arise. Alterations may be made to ensure the smooth running of the tour. Every attempt will be made to ensure alterations do not adversely affect the operation of the tour. Port Bus will not be held responsible for weather-based cancellations or those closures made at the venue’s discretion.
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Event Venue
Tulip Time Southern Highlands, 21 Merrigang St, Bowral NSW 2576, Australia, Bowral
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.