Bowral Tulip Festival 2011

I have just returned from my trip to Bowral in the Southern Highlands of NSW for their annual Tulip Festival which is held the end of September and early October.  It is Spring in Australia and the gardens are starting to look very pretty.

I went this time with my mother and sisters for a girls long weekend and we really enjoyed it in spite of the weather which ranged from raining to overcast to a few sunny periods.  Luckily we decided to go to the main garden, Corbett Gardens in the afternoon that we arrived and enjoyed the time there amongst the tulips.

We were fortunate we did as it rained on and off all the next day.  We spent the time talking and catching up though so we still enjoyed ourselves.  We stayed at a B & B and as one of the rooms was very large so we hung out there most of the time.  They also had a lovely common lounge room with a fire burning which was very inviting but we decided we were a bit loud for the other guests and had more privacy to talk in our own room.  You can see my review of the B & B called Strathbourn House (coming soon).

My Mum & Sisters (I am on the right)

We still got out and around the town the day it rained but it was more difficult for my elderly mother with her walking frame so we limited ourselves a bit and so we took her back to our accommodation for a rest and explored the town again ourselves.  We bought some lovely earings at one of the boutique type shops in Bowral.

The tulips were good this year but many had already flowered and after the rain a lot were damaged.  There were beds of tulips though that were just glorious and some were very big.  Overall they were a lovely display.  The only negative really was the admission fee of $8 which I thought was a bit much for a public garden that size.  I realize though that tulips are expensive but they do sell the bulbs off afterwards so that should recoup some money and the area does great business during the festival. Anyway that is my own whinge of the day.

We had a lovely time at the Bowral Tulip Festival this year but we would have had a great time anyway because we were all together to spend some quality time with each other which we did.  I treasure all the time I can get with my mother now as she will be 88 this Christmas time.

If you haven't experienced a Tulip Festival wherever you live then you must go next Spring.....you will love it.