Skip to main content
Proudly Australian owned & operated Speak to one of our experienced consultants 1300 414 198 · 7 days a week
Tour · APT · 5 nights

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

  • Guided tour by botanical expert Roger Fox included
  • Accommodation in Canberra and Bowral provided for five nights
  • Access to private gardens not open to the general public
From
$4,995 pp twin share
$6,195 pp solo share
5 nights
Departs 22 September 2026 Returns 26 September 2027
Duration5 nights
OperatorAPT
StyleTour
HighlightSpring garden tour featuring Canberra's Floriade and private heritage gardens across New South Wales
Attend Canberra's Floriade with hundreds of thousands of bulbs. Explore private gardens including Glenmore House and Retford Park. Visit National Arboretum and Australian National Botanic 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.

This journey departs:

  • 22 September 2026

  • 21 September 2027

When & how much

Departures & Pricing

Departs
22 September 2026
Returns 26 September 2027
Returns
26 September 2027
Duration
5 nights
From pp twin share
$4,995 pp
From pp solo cabin
$6,195 pp
  • 22 Sep 2026 - 27 Sep 2026
    from $4,995 pp twin share / $6,195 pp solo *
  • 21 Sep 2027 - 26 Sep 2027
    from $5,995 pp twin share / $7,295 pp solo *

* Prices and category availability are subject to change without notice.

Upgrades, transfers, accommodation and more can be quoted on enquiry — call 1300 414 198.

Day by day

Itinerary

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 3

    Private Gardens and Fedra Olive Grove

    Depart Bowral for a visit to a private garden. Continue to Fedra Olive Grove, strolling across its expansive plantation and learning about the art of producing premium olive oil. Conclude with a guided tour of Helen and Paul Stevens’ Merryway. This uniquely shaped, gently sloping garden blends formal hedged areas, a diverse range of flowering plants, and heritage trees and fruit trees.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 6

    Red Cow Farm, Harper’s Mansion and Sydney

    Depart Canberra and return to Sydney. Along the way, we stop at Red Cow Farm, a cool-climate garden in Sutton Forest. Its historic 1820s cottage is surrounded by 20 distinctive garden ‘rooms’, featuring rare plants, woodlands, and themed spaces. Continue to the elegant Harpers Mansion, where a guided tour reveals the history and stories housed within. Afterwards, enjoy a relaxed lunch in a charming setting. Savour the flavours and the atmosphere of your surroundings before arriving back at the post-tour hotel at around 5:00 pm.

What you get for the price

Inclusions & exclusions

What’s included

  • Attend Floriade.
  • Glenmore House.
  • Retford Park.
  • Botanical Guide - Roger Fox.
Where you’ll stay

Accommodation

  • Three Nights: Canberra, Midnight Hotel or similar
  • Two Nights: Bowral, Briars Country Lodge or similar
From the operator

Common questions about this voyage

How long is this journey?
This itinerary runs for 6 days and 5 nights.
When can I travel?
Departures are currently scheduled between 22 Sep 2026 and 26 Sep 2027, subject to live availability.
Are there different departure options?
Yes, multiple departures may be available depending on your preferred travel period.
Can I travel solo?
Solo pricing may be available on selected departures, and final options can be confirmed at enquiry.
What is generally included?
Inclusions typically cover guided touring and selected experiences, with exact details listed in the itinerary.
Ready to lock in?

Book this tour

Send us an enquiry and a consultant will be in touch, or call 1300 414 198 for personal help choosing a departure.

Enquire about this tour
Travel at 60 Social Getaways

Travel further when you're not travelling alone

Our Social Getaways are small-group holidays designed especially for over-60s Australians who want the freedom of a great trip without the work of planning every detail. A Travel at 60 host travels with the group, the operator handles the logistics, and you get to focus on the bit that matters — the people, the places, and the stories you'll bring home.

Open to solo travellers too. Many of our travellers book on their own and find their feet quickly in a friendly group of like-minded Australians. Reduced single-supplement options are available on most departures — ask one of our consultants and we'll talk you through what's offered on this trip.

  • A friendly Travel at 60 host — an Australian face on the ground, looking out for the group from day one.
  • Curated local guides & boutique suppliers — the same operators we'd book for our own families.
  • Real itineraries, not whirlwind tours — comfortable transfers, breathing room, and the “off the beaten track” stops the big bus tours skip.

Want to talk it through? Call 1300 414 198 7 days a week, Queensland time, and one of our consultants will walk you through it.

— The team at Travel at 60

A Travel at 60 host with travellers on a Social Getaway
From (twin) $4,995 pp
From (solo) $6,195 pp
Enquire