Tulip Top Gardens Festival

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Wed 11 Sep 2024 - Sun 13 Oct 2024

From the calming sound of a waterfall in the hidden valley to magnificent blossoming trees and flowers, Tulip Top Gardens is a spectacular sight in spring that lends itself to a unique tranquil peace of paradise.

The Rhodin family are the team behind these gardens, established back in 1997. When the property was purchased it was a bare grassy field and with development over the years, today you can see almost a million bulbs and other flowering types planted by hand each year.

Throughout the 10 acres of the property, the tulips are the heroes and namesake of the gardens with a variety of types and colours that make them worthy of a trip to Sutton (not to be confused with Sutton Forest in the Southern Highlands). Other beauty lies in the pansies, in English daisies, daffodils, viola, polyanthus, poppies and peonies, amongst weeping willows and cherry blossom trees, and a whole lot more.


For keen gardeners, you can learn more about the gardens’ planting and care program, along with the history of the gardens, in the garden information marquee. Specialty stalls in the nursery have colourful potted plants and bulbs to purchase to enhance your own garden, whilst a funky garden gift shop is the place for picking up plants growing out of retro suitcases and other objects, as well as hats, bags, scarves and curios.

The festival provides not only tulip heaven but entertainment on select days in the form of classical music wafting through the trees, as well as high-quality fun that will have you all shaken up with rhythm as you sing and sway.

Refreshments include free tea and coffee, a free sandwich from the barbecue, the Eat Inc Cafe serving up cold & hot food for purchase, and a Dutch pancake & barista coffee parlour. Our Australian Honey will also be onsite with honey tastings and product sales.

You can sit in the cafe or on the garden lawns to enjoy all the deliciousness. For something more, there’s two delightful picnic hampers from Contentious Characters that you can purchase - Fromage only (5 cheeses) or Fromage (3 cheeses) + charcuterie (3 meats). Both include pickles, Contentious condiments, dips, house-made focaccia, Falwasser crackers and a combination of seasonal dry and fresh fruits. Each hamper is $80 and they come with cutlery and enough food for 2 people. You can order them online and pick them up at the Contentious wine bar that will also have wine tastings and sales of the complete range of Contentious brand wines.


Facilities at the gardens include toilets, free parking spaces (including disabled parking) and EFTPOS at the main entry point.

Dogs (maximum of 2 per person) are welcome on a leash to enjoy the good old-fashioned fresh country air with their fellow humans.

Don’t forget to bring your picnic blanket, hat and sunblock for a wonderful day out that can be done in a day trip from Sydney (2hrs, 45mins each way) or with an overnighter in Canberra (the gardens being only 13kms from Canberra Exhibition Park).

Admission: Adult $22, Concession $20, Children 16yrs & under free
Open: 9am-5pm, with last entry at 4.15pm
Address: 20 Old Federal Hwy Sutton, NSW
Ph: 02 6230 3077
Website: www.tuliptopgardens.com.au

(All images are those of the author)

#gardens
#festivals
#events
#music
#food_drink
#family_friendly
#dog_friendly
#outdoor
#day_trip
%wnsydney
%wncanberra