15 stunning spring festivals around Australia

Your petal-packed guide to spring’s best festivals awaits.

Shake off the winter chill, spring is here! When the air hums with warmth, the days stretch a little longer and landscapes burst into colour as blossoms unfurl across the country. It’s a season made for sun-dappled mornings and golden afternoons, when Australia’s wild beauty wakes up in spectacular style.

From fields of flowers and alfresco feasts to music-filled markets and seaside celebrations, here’s where to soak up the magic at spring festivals nationwide.

1. CHArts Festival

Stanley, Tas: 31 August – 5 October

Stanley, Tasmania — Welcome spring with a refreshing dip at Godfrey’s Beach. (Image: Poon Wai Nang)

Held in the village of Stanley in Tassie’s rugged north-west, the annual CHArts Festival is a month-long celebration of the region’s culture, heritage and arts scene. It’s all about showcasing local creatives while offering residents and visitors a chance to enjoy exhibitions, mostly displayed by local businesses.

A highlight of the program each year is the Spring Swim – because what better way to farewell winter than a plunge in the Bass Strait? Join the community as they gather to do just that at Godfrey’s Beach, whether you dare to take a dip or just want to watch from the shore.

2. Bloom & Graze

Coldstream, Vic: 6–7 & 13–14 September

CherryHill Orchards in the Yarra Valley, Victoria — You can also pick your own cherries at the Yarra Valley orchard.

In Victoria’s bucolic Yarra Valley, family-run CherryHill Orchards will officially open its gates ahead of harvest season with the inaugural Bloom & Graze festival. Running for the first two weekends of spring, the colourful celebration is all about waving off winter and welcoming the warmth.

A range of market stalls run by local businesses will take over the orchard as it begins to bloom, touting everything from wine and whiskey to cheese and crafts. Each vendor will run its own insightful workshop or demonstration, too. There will also be live music, kids’ entertainment, food trucks and a cherry-inspired farmgate store.

3. Desert Mob

Alice Springs, NT: 11 September – 26 October

Desert Mob in Alice Springs/Mparntwe — See the colours of spring from a new perspective at Desert Mob.

It’s not about flowers at Desert Mob , it’s about something way cooler. Head out to Alice Springs/Mparntwe this September to witness the convergence of more than 30 Art Centres from across Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia.

The result is an unforgettable collection of events – an exhibition, artist talks, after-dark events and a huge artwork marketplace, all celebrating First Nations artists. Guests can participate in an incredible program that also includes workshops, studio tours, live performances and more.

4. Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

Toowoomba, Qld: 12 September – 6 October

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers in Toowoomba, Queensland — Admire incredible gardenscapes at the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.

Toowoomba in Queensland is known for two things: as the home of the Lamington, and the host of the Carnival of Flowers . Held every year at the beginning of spring, this vibrant event brings colour back to Toowoomba in spades, with more than 40 million flowers on display.

Bringing together the region’s best food, wine, flora and entertainment across the city’s public parks and spaces, it showcases all that Toowoomba and its surrounds have to offer. Along with beautiful blooms, guests can enjoy tasting tours, festive feasts, themed parades (there’s even one dedicated to dogs), lawn parties and more.

5. Tulip Time

Bowral, NSW: 12 September – 4 October

Tulip Time Flower Festival in Bowral, NSW — Bowral bursts to life with the colourful Tulip Time festival. (Image: Destination NSW)

Step into a floral wonderland at Bowral’s Corbett Gardens for the Tulip Time Flower Festival this September. Hand-planted tulips and vibrant annuals bursting in every shade creates one of NSW’s most celebrated spring displays – perfect for flower lovers and photographers.

Beyond the blooms, the festival buzzes with live music, boutique markets and food trucks. Stroll the gardens, wander locally run stalls or simply soak up the sun with friends. It’s a joyful celebration of colour, community and all things Southern Highlands.

6. Tesselaar Tulip Festival

Silvan, Vic: 13 September – 12 October

Tesselaar Tulip Festival in Silvan, Victoria — Over a million spring bulbs will flower in Silvan.

The town of Silvan in Victoria’s Yarra Ranges loves its tulips so much, it’s dedicated a whole month to them. Between September and October, over a million bulbs will flower at the Tesselaar Tulip Festival , which celebrates 70 years in 2025.

Grab your nearest and dearest to bask in the spring sunshine with a picnic, listen to live jazz performances and ride the festival tractor, then check out what else the huge program has to offer. There are also themed weekends – a great opportunity to dress up and snap a few colourful photos for your Insta feed.

7. Floriade

Canberra, ACT: 13 September – 12 October

Floriade in Canberra — Floriade is the brainchild of Christiaan Slotemaker de Bruine.

Arguably the biggest celebration of spring around the country, any mention of flower festivals would be incomplete without Floriade . Held for a full month in the nation’s capital, this epic event has been blooming every spring since 1988.

Floriade is the perfect day out for the whole family. Visitors can look forward to live entertainment, music, food and wine, horticultural workshops, market stalls, art displays and more. This year’s theme is ‘Science and Nature’, so get ready to put your thinking cap on!

8. Kakadu Bird Week

Kakadu, NT: 24–28 September

Azure Kingfisher in Kakadu National Park — Spot beautiful birds like the azure kingfisher in Kakadu National Park.

After a long winter cosied away, the hundreds of bird species that call Kakadu National Park home emerge for the spring season. Instead of spotting buds and blooms, you’ll be on the lookout for azure kingfishers, rainbow bee-eaters, partridge pigeons, magpie geese and more.

BYO binoculars to witness how the season comes to life in a different way during Kakadu Bird Week , accompanied by beautiful birdsong, gushing waterfalls, wetland cruises and bush tucker cook-ups. It’s a whole new way to experience spring.

9. Riverland Rose & Garden Festival

Renmark, SA: 10–19 October

Roses in Renmark, South Australia — Renmark and the Riverland region are renowned for its roses. (Image: Coast to Outback)

The Riverland Rose and Garden Festival sees this stunning South Australian region shine in a kaleidoscope of colour. Held over 10 days each October, the festival includes open gardens, markets, floral displays, a four-course gala dinner and the annual Waikerie Flower Show.

While the 2025 program is yet to be announced, the event is known to host talks by horticulturalist superstars from TV programmes like Gardening Australia and Better Homes & Gardens. Local green thumbs would be silly to miss it!

10. Tulip Festival

Wynyard, Tas: 11 October

Table Cape Tulip Farm in Wynyard, Tasmania — Be sure to visit the nearby Table Cape Tulip Farm. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The small town of Wynyard explodes with beauty in October for its annual Tulip Festival , which occurs just as the region’s most coveted flower blossoms. Guests will be treated to plenty of festive fun, from rides and live music to roving entertainment and markets.

Held at Gutteridge Gardens, the event promises a big display of blooms, so be sure to bring your camera! If you have a bit of extra time, be sure to pop over to Table Cape Tulip Farm , too. Just a 10-minute drive away, it’s home to rows of immaculate tulips backdropped by the Bass Strait.

11. Sculpture by the Sea

Bondi, NSW: 17 October – 3 November

Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi, NSW — Admire stunning sculptures backdropped by the ocean. (Image: Destination NSW)

There may not be a festival of flowers, but the iconic Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi is a stalwart on Australia’s springtime calendar. It’s the perfect opportunity to get outside and enjoy the sunshine, all backdropped by one of the best beaches in Sydney.

Instead of admiring floral displays, you’ll be wowed by over 100 unique sculptures by artists from around the world. Not only will you witness the world’s largest free-to-the-public sculpture exhibition, you’ll also experience the Bondi to Tamarama walk, one of the city’s top coastal hikes.

12. Jacaranda Festival

Grafton, NSW: 24 October – 2 November

Jacaranda Festival in Grafton, NSW — Jacarandas have put the town of Grafton on the map. (Image: Destination NSW)

At its core, spring means flowers. And nowhere knows this better than Grafton in NSW’s Clarence Valley. Each year, the town is painted purple with countless jacaranda trees in full bloom, and the Jacaranda Festival is dedicated to honouring them.

Experience Grafton like never before as purple petals rain down across town. And this year, there’s plenty to see and do – from vintage car displays to market stalls touting purple ice-cream – it’s wholesome jacaranda-themed goodness at its best.

13. Spring in the Vines

South Tasmania: 31 October – 2 November

General getty image of wine being poured into glasses — Rosé and roses make for spring’s prettiest pairing. (Image: Liudmila Chernetska)

Presented by Wine South Tasmania, Spring in the Vines (unsurprisingly) spotlights a variety of vineyards from across the region as spring enters full bloom. From Hobart to the Derwent Valley and plenty of places in between, you’re promised the full experience of southern Tassie tipples.

Over 35 of the best wine producers from across southern Tasmania will be participating, opening their cellar doors to the public for tastings, workshops and more. Along with the opportunity to meet local growers and makers, you can also expect food, music and art.

14. Big Pineapple Festival

Sunshine Coast, Qld: 1 November

Big Pineapple Festival on the Sunshine Coast, Qld — The festival is held at one of Australia’s beloved Big Things.

While Australia’s fruit-picking calendar is arguably at its best during spring, this juicy pineapple is certainly not ripe for the picking. But although you can’t take a bite out of it, you can definitely party underneath it at the Big Pineapple Festival in November.

Presented by Triple J, it’s shaping up to be one of Australia’s most iconic music events, at one of our most iconic Big Things. Boogie to artists like Hilltop Hoods, Cat Empire, The Jungle Giants, Thelma Plum and more before camping under the stars with all your best mates.

15. Pair’d

Margaret River, WA: 20–23 November

Pair'd festival in Margaret River, WA — Take part in divine long lunches that highlight the region’s best produce.

Fusing the Margaret River’s extraordinary landscapes with the best of its diverse produce and wine is Pair’d , the latest foodie festival out of Western Australia. The plentiful program, which has been curated through the lens of a sommelier, is overflowing with epic events.

Think wine tastings masked as pottery workshops and Sunday sessions fuelled by good food, great wine and live music to match. Hosted by the region’s top vintners, producers, makers and shakers, Pair’d will make you fall in love with this charming WA region.

Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.

Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.

a beach winter in nsw — From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.

The Tweed

In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.

Inland, find the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre , which is home to a rotating cast of big-name exhibitions (including Monet).

Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .

visitors at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre — Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)

The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.

Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.

End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.

dining room at Bistro Livi — Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.

Blue Mountains

The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.

For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.

Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.

group leader at Blue Mountains Stargazing — Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)

Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.

Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.

Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.

dishes laid out on table at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains — End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Southern Highlands

Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.

Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.

When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.

couple looking through Dirty Janes in bowral — Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)

Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.

Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.

Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.

woman and her dog winter in nsw at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral — Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.

Penrith

Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.

For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.

kayakers on the nepean river in penrith — Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.

Start planning your NSW winter getaway at all.com.