
Happy spring, Sydneysiders! The promise of sunny, flower-filled weeks lies ahead and if you’re itching to get out of the city, there are plenty of places near Sydney where you can get an eyeful of these blossoming beauties. Expect a sea of sunflowers, picturesque lavender fields, elusive cherry blossoms and extraordinary wildflowers around Sydney and NSW and they’re a sight to see. Plus, there’s no denying they look pretty good on the ‘gram too. Wondering where you can get your fill? From gardens in the Blue Mountains to tulip festivals in the Southern Highlands — these are the best places to see colourful spring flowers near Sydney.
1. Blue Mountains Botanic Garden
There’s no better place for a quick getaway from Sydney than the Blue Mountains. Filled with cafes, mountains, lookout spots, waterfalls, and natural landscapes, the stunning NSW spot is the ideal day trip, just 90 minutes from Sydney CBD. The flowers are in peak bloom during spring and one of the spots to take in the sights is The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden in Mount Tomah, Australia’s highest cool-climate botanic garden. Take a picturesque stroll among its manicured lawns or pack a picnic in this tranquil spot. To make things extra pretty this year, the garden is hosting a spectacular display of over 150,000 daffodils and spring bulbs at the Brunet Meadow. Embrace the spirit of spring and head to the botanic gardens as the weather gets warmer. Head here to see what’s on this season.
Planning a trip to the Blue Mountains? Check out this fun day tour adventure which includes guided bush walks and lunch.
2. Tulip Festival, Bowral
Bowral is one of our favourite weekend getaways and one of NSW’s best-known spots to see all of the lovely blooming flowers. With spring upon us, the time is ripe for another day trip to the largest town in the Southern Highlands especially with the popular Tulip Time Festival around the corner from September 12 – 30. The annual springtime event takes place at the Corbett Gardens and has been running for over 60 years. On display are 80,000 hand-planted tulips which will transform the gardens into a floral paradise. You can also enjoy the display after hours and under lights on select days. Walk along the gorgeous tulip trail and shop for local crafts, fashion, produce, and potted plants while there. Light refreshments will also be on-site along with tea rooms serving freshly made scones and finger sandwiches. Get more info and buy your tickets on the Visit Southern Highlands website.
3. Floraide, Canberra
Canberra is around a 3-hour drive from Sydney and well worth visiting for its galleries, parks, and nature reserves. The capital city of Australia also hosts one of the country’s largest spring celebrations at Commonwealth Park in the form of Floraide, an annual flower and entertainment festival showcasing over one million blooms from September 14 to October 13. Take a moment to enjoy a stunning mix of flowers from tulips to English daisies, daffodils, and many more. Floraide is a non-ticketed event and entry is completely free. Visitors can also enjoy food and wine on-site, horticultural workshops, market stalls, and a lot more along with enjoying a special night show for four days from September 28 to October 1. The theme for this year’s event is Art in Bloom so there’s no better place to go if you want your fill of spring flowers. Head here for all the details. Want to make a weekend of it? There are plenty of accommodation options to choose from.
Canberra is also hosting a string of dreamy Candlelight concerts this spring including a tribute to Taylor Swift at NGA. Get your tickets!
4. Hunter Valley Gardens [caption id="attachment_29225" align="alignnone" width="1024"]Hunter Valley is a repeat [trackLink link_url="https://secretsydney.com/winter-getaways-nsw/"]winter destination for Sydneysiders thanks to its pleasant temps and outdoor adventures but it’s even better in spring. A spot not to be missed if you’re after the scent and sight of fresh blooms is the Rose Garden which is lined with over 35,000 rose bushes of over 150 different varieties. Expect varieties such as Blue Moon, Fragrance, Marlena, Double Delight and more. If you want more, explore the romantic Italian Grotto which is filled with red bougainvillea, pink wisteria and more lovely blooms, explore a slice of Japan at the Oriental Garden or enjoy a glimpse of plants and topiary elephants at the Indian Mosiac Garden. Get more info about the Rose Garden here.
5. Leura, Blue Mountains
The 58th edition of the Leura Gardens Festival is set to take place over the October long weekend with a stunning variety of plants and flowers on display including azaleas, rhododendrons, dogwoods, camellias, bulbs and more. Taking over a number of large and small gardens in the quaint village of Leura, the festival is one of the prettiest displays of spring flowers near Sydney. A number of gardens will participate including Karoola, Cherrydell, Tree Tops and more. Aside from the festival, Leura’s main street also comes to life with pretty pink cherry blossoms. The colours in Leura pop throughout spring, summer, autumn, and even winter and it’s one of our go-to spots for enjoying nature’s best blooms.
Read all about the Leura Gardens Festival.
6. Bloom Barn, Central Coast
Keen to pick your own sunflowers? Look no further than the Bloom Barn. The family-owned and operated flower farm in Central Coast features an ocean of sunflowers which they occasionally open to the public for flower-picking days. The lovely spot has been operating for 30 years and many Sydneysiders over the years have enjoyed frolicking in their fields. You can also expect fire pits to cosy up around, marshmallows and coffee on-site. Read all about the Bloom Barn and keep an eye on their website for the next pick-your-own-sunflower day.
Central Coast is also filled with wildflower trails which you can see on the popular Bouddi coastal walk and Burrawang walk among others.
7. Mayfield Garden, Oberon
3 hours from Sydney lies the Mayfield Garden with 65 hectares of garden space waiting to be explored. It is the largest privately owned cool climate garden in Australia so you can happily spend an entire weekend exploring the photogenic space. The gardens feature an English Box Hedge Maze, an 80-metre cascade and waterfall, a chapel, and an amphitheater all of which can be explored all year round. Visitors can also row boats on Mayfield Lake while soaking in the views. See what else is on at the gardens here.
8. Canola Trail
The furthest place from Sydney on this list, at around a 4-4.5 hour drive is the spectacular canola trail. Don’t let the distance discourage you from planning a trip, it’s one of the most spectacular displays of spring blooms you’ll see around NSW with golden canola flowers spread out as far as the eye can see. Spread across the NSW Riverina towns of Junee, Coolamon, and Temora, the canola fields are in full bloom during spring but you’ll have to make haste because peak season only lasts for a short period of time. Start planning your trip here.