If you’re chasing a bloomin’ good time, here’s where you can see flowers in Southern Queensland Country this year during festival month.
In case the warmer weather, longer days, and bursts of colour from fresh blooms hasn’t given it away, Spring has sprung across Toowoomba.
The change of season also heralds one of Toowoomba’s premier events – the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.
What started out as a celebration to boost the Garden City’s economy after the hardships of World War II, is now one of the City’s largest and longest-running festivals, attracting close to 200,000 visitors each year.
If you’re chasing a bloomin’ good time, here’s where you can see flowers in Southern Queensland Country this year during festival month.
If the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers was a movie, the Botanic Gardens in Queens Park would be the main character.
The gardens are pruned, primed, and prepped all year round leading up to its September floral showcase.
Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to marvel at the hundreds and thousands of bright and colourful buds on show at the award-winning gardens surrounded by avenues of stately trees, Wisteria arbours and acres of lush green lawn.
As the sun sets, watch on as the garden begins to glow as an interactive lights display weaving through the plants is switched on.
If you want to take in all the action from above, plan your trip around the Ferris Wheel which will be running from 15 – 30 September 2023.
The Botanic Gardens, Queens Park, Toowoomba
Stop and smell the roses at Laurel Bank Park, which features Scented Gardens, specially designed for the visually impaired.
This fragrant floral oasis features perfectly maintained gardens, Australian native trees, plus two croquet lawns, children’s play areas and plenty of picnic and barbecue spots.
Take in an aerial view of the annual display, which embodies a different theme each year, from the viewing platform in the park.
This garden is open for the entirety of the festival at no extra cost.
Laurel Bank Park, Toowoomba
Put your petal to the metal and make for St Luke’s Anglican Church from 15 – 20 September 2023 for six days of live music.
The concerts are put on daily in the church hall, which also showcases phenomenal floral arrangements hand-crafted by St Luke’s Floral Group.
Be sure to treat yourself to the artisan stalls, relax with a refreshment and take home your own flowerpot.
Bring a gold coin donation to support the show and live entertainment.
If you don’t know your chrysanthemums from your clivias, get ready to learn with a display of world-class clivias at the TAFE Horticultural Pavilion for the 17th Toowoomba Clivia Society Inc Show.
Wander through the spectacular displays and browse an extensive range of plants for sale from 16 – 18 September 2023.
Learn how to pot it like it’s hot from the experts onsite and grow your own South African clivia plant at home.
It’s not just the Garden City’s parks which are transformed for this floral festival, but backyards across Toowoomba.
Meet their makers and learn the secrets from the gurus in charge of Toowoomba’s finest gardens 15 – 24 September 2023.
Purchase your tickets at any of the gardens* on the day.
*Please respect the gardeners’ privacy and only view during the open times.
If you’ve only got enough in the tank for a day trip, make sure you hit the road on 17 September 2023 just in time to say ‘aloe’ to the one-day-only Succulent Fest.
With indoor and outdoor options including lithops, bromeliads, cottage and even edible flowers and herbs on offer – we can almost guarantee you’ll be leaving with a few succulent souvenirs.
Bring along a $2 coin for entry and extra cash for plants.
Want to step away from the hustle and bustle of the festival and take a moment for some R&R?
Make your way to the Ju Raku En Garden at the University of Southern Queensland, best known as Toowoomba’s most tranquil and peaceful garden.
With an exquisite mix of Japanese and native Australian flora, and perfectly manicured hedges, bushes, and lawns everywhere you look, this garden is one of Australia’s largest and most traditionally designed Japanese stroll gardens.
Enjoy the fresh running mountain stream and waterfall, dry garden, central lake, azalea hill, wandering the three kilometres of paths.
Find your inner peace and tranquillity at this site for free and daily during the festival.
Japanese Garden Ju Raku En, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you won’t be-leaf your eyes at this year’s Chronicle Garden Competition entries.
These dedicated home gardeners, businesses and schools work tirelessly to bring the ultimate floral and greenspace experiences to life.
Winners are announced in the 15 September edition of The Chronicle Newspaper, but if you’re feeling spontaneous, pick up a copy when you arrive at any TCOF Info Hubs or at the Visitor Information Centre to map out the must-see gardens from there.
The gardens are open from 15 – 17 September and 22 – 24 September 2023.
For more succulent fun, head to the Toowoomba Bromeliad and Succulent Society Inc Annual Show and Sale.
Keep 16 – 18 September 2023 free, to admire the impressive bromeliads, cacti, succulents, and foliage on show at Sacred Heart Primary School.
Cultivation demonstrations kick-off from 8:00am – 2:00pm daily, with thousands of plants (and tools) on offer to expand your garden at home.
Kids can get in for free, otherwise it’s $3 for adults.
To help you discover the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, here’s everything you need to know before you go.
And while you’re in the region, check out our guide to spend 48 hours in Toowoomba.
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Southern Queensland Country Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waterways that run through these regions. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging.
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