Tulip Top Gardens
Tulip Top Gardens
5
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
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5.0
201 reviews
Excellent
168
Very good
25
Average
5
Poor
3
Terrible
0
Ru pa
22 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Amazing as always. This is a family run business, with no government funding so of course they have to charge admission, which is very reasonable at $20 for seniors. You can also get a season pass, go several times and watch the gardens evolve over the season. Early in the season you have all the spectacular blossom trees, which Floriade does not have. They are as spectacular as the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival.
It is tranquil and beautiful, with a traditional layout, and calming piped music. It does NOT have the annoying hustle & bustle and commercialism of Floriade, which means you can enjoy the flowers in peace. There are extensive lawns as well as tables & chairs so you can take a picnic, which is especially lovely if you go as a group, and a good idea if you have dietary issues. Dogs on leads are permitted, and I have never in all the years seen a badly behaved dog. Also it is flat, with well maintained oaths so is easy for those with mobility challenges to negotiate, the exception being the path up to the lookout.
It is tranquil and beautiful, with a traditional layout, and calming piped music. It does NOT have the annoying hustle & bustle and commercialism of Floriade, which means you can enjoy the flowers in peace. There are extensive lawns as well as tables & chairs so you can take a picnic, which is especially lovely if you go as a group, and a good idea if you have dietary issues. Dogs on leads are permitted, and I have never in all the years seen a badly behaved dog. Also it is flat, with well maintained oaths so is easy for those with mobility challenges to negotiate, the exception being the path up to the lookout.
Written 19 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janet P
14 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
This was such a wonderful experience. A feast for the eyes and the soul. The tulips were so beautiful and it was made better by the musical accompaniment. My husband and I enjoyed sitting listening to the music and looking at the tulips while sampling a glass of Pricilla Queen of the Pinot Gris. To our delight, the Trumpet Voluntary played which was the bridal entrance at our wedding, our 35th wedding anniversary is 8/10/23, next Sunday. Thank you Tulip Top Gardens.
Written 1 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda
11 contributions
Sept 2020 • Solo
Tulip Top Gardens are a beautiful, less commercial option to Floriade and only a short drive out of Canberra. I went for the first time in Spring 2019 and wish I'd discovered it earlier! I love Floriade, but the location of the Gardens amongst the hills, with the small stream/pond, was such a tranquil spot away from the city.
It was busy, but not as crowded as Floriade and, with fewer shops/stalls, meant it was very easy to focus on the flowers. The range of flowers and trees was lovely and large. The different types of tulips were clearly signposted, so it was easy to identify each one.
Unfortunately unable to open in 2020 due to Covid19 restrictions, the family owners have put together a digital season pass. For only $20, you get access to professional quality videos of the Gardens, including aerial shots giving a viewpoint you wouldn't get from visiting the Gardens in person. The first video was a great mix of footage of the flowers and the gardener/owner introducing the videos and explaining some of the plants.
I'm so glad the digital option is available, so that I can both support this family-owned business and see beautiful flowers. I highly recommend the digital pass for anyone who appreciates beautiful gardens and flowers.
It was busy, but not as crowded as Floriade and, with fewer shops/stalls, meant it was very easy to focus on the flowers. The range of flowers and trees was lovely and large. The different types of tulips were clearly signposted, so it was easy to identify each one.
Unfortunately unable to open in 2020 due to Covid19 restrictions, the family owners have put together a digital season pass. For only $20, you get access to professional quality videos of the Gardens, including aerial shots giving a viewpoint you wouldn't get from visiting the Gardens in person. The first video was a great mix of footage of the flowers and the gardener/owner introducing the videos and explaining some of the plants.
I'm so glad the digital option is available, so that I can both support this family-owned business and see beautiful flowers. I highly recommend the digital pass for anyone who appreciates beautiful gardens and flowers.
Written 26 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dreamer49552
23 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
Magnificent Tulip Top gardens capturing the essence of tulips, flowers, fauna and surrounding landscape whilst classical music plays ambient in the background. Facilities are excellent with clean accessible bathrooms. Plenty of comfortable seating throughout the gardens that are well spaced.
Activities include famous artists as well as great musicians. A wonderful atmosphere for families, couples and elderly persons.
Thank you to all involved in the creation of the Tulip Top Gardens as you create magic through flowers.
Activities include famous artists as well as great musicians. A wonderful atmosphere for families, couples and elderly persons.
Thank you to all involved in the creation of the Tulip Top Gardens as you create magic through flowers.
Written 8 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angie63Canberra
Canberra, Australia100 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
Today I visited Tulip Top Gardens. I was hesitant when arriving and finding out it was $20 admission per adult.
The gardens were beautiful but small. There were plenty of people visiting but the facilities were very poor and light in.
Toilets not flushing, one one barista coffee spot, one only pancakes ( Dutch) spot. Free instant tea or coffee in another shed. There was one wine stall there to taste of purchase. No volunteers available to assist with anything.
The waterfall area has a vulgar smell to it. We didn’t stay long at all. I couldn’t wait to leave actually.
Perfect weather, lovely bulbs, magnificent blossoms.
Take your own food and drinks.
The gardens were beautiful but small. There were plenty of people visiting but the facilities were very poor and light in.
Toilets not flushing, one one barista coffee spot, one only pancakes ( Dutch) spot. Free instant tea or coffee in another shed. There was one wine stall there to taste of purchase. No volunteers available to assist with anything.
The waterfall area has a vulgar smell to it. We didn’t stay long at all. I couldn’t wait to leave actually.
Perfect weather, lovely bulbs, magnificent blossoms.
Take your own food and drinks.
Written 3 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MarggyCanberra
Canberra, Australia657 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
Whilst I live in Canberra, today is the first time I have been to Tulip Top Gardens. What a disappointment!
The gardens were much smaller than I expected and there was very little creativity with the layout of the tulips.
We walked up the hill for the view and again it was very disappointing. Not much of a view at all. The only positive was that the walk up the hill got my heart pumping.
It cost $20 (seniors price) and was certainly not worth the money.
This will be my first and last visit to Tulip Top Gardens.
The gardens were much smaller than I expected and there was very little creativity with the layout of the tulips.
We walked up the hill for the view and again it was very disappointing. Not much of a view at all. The only positive was that the walk up the hill got my heart pumping.
It cost $20 (seniors price) and was certainly not worth the money.
This will be my first and last visit to Tulip Top Gardens.
Written 3 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ru pa
22 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
This place is amazing, especially when you realise it is a private concern with only 3 gardeners doing everything, (the owners aged in their late 70s and their son aged in his 50s). The poor family had to miss 2 seasons during the pandemic when the gardens were all ready to go, & this year the bizarre weather has really hammered the plants- lucky there is such a variety there is always something to see. We get a season ticket & go several times to see it as it evolves through the season. Sure the admission isn’t cheap but you get what you pay for. Much better than Floriade, restful, no fairgrounds & hype, no competing private retail outlets, just flowers. Careful planting means when one variety is past it’s best there is something else to see: blossom trees & daffodils morph into tulips & pansies, and the spot plantings & borders of other annuals. They have a refreshment tent where you can buy basic food, and also supply free self serve instant coffee & tea which is a lovely bonus. There is also a dutch pancake stall, and a local winery tent where you can sample & purchase. But the best way to go is to take yourself a picnic and spread out in the grass or the tables. The access for those with walking aids & mobility challenges is good, well maintained granite paths, disability access toilets and with a disabled parking area /drop off area at the bottom of the hill. Watching it evolve over the years from an empty valley to the current miracle is amazing.
Written 6 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bindi B
Hobart, Australia161 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
Absolutely the most magnificent gardens ever. We went to Floriart a few days ago and it was lovely, but the Tulip Top Gardens are so much better. Concrete paths and many beautiful trees still with blossoms on them. Such a huge variety of flowers & trees that are not at Floriat. All privately owned with so much love put into it all. Lovely pancakes for sale. Dog friendly.
Written 24 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen J
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia902 contributions
Sept 2022 • Family
Have visited both Floriade and this garden in the last week. The Tulip Top Farm has a far superior display in my view. There are more varieties and they are better displayed. One gets the impression of more space and less commercial intrusion. Many of the Floriade displays seemed tired whereas these gardens were more vibrant and the blooms were in better condition. In short they are doing a lot of things right, a very enjoyable visit.
Written 29 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Meg V
3 contributions
Sept 2018
We arrived before 8.30am on Sunday to wait behind the closed gates in our car for a 9am opening time.
Some staff arrived in their cars and drove up to gates and opened/closed the gate with no problems. About 8.40am, a female staff member arrived zooming down in between the parked cars and opened the gate to let herself in… but wait she didn’t just do that she also decided to put on a great show for all to see. She was screaming at the people in the cars who were waiting to get in, waving her hands in the air, and then bashing on our window demanding we wind it down to hear what she had to say.
For some bizarre reason she told us to move our cars as we were holding up the traffic and no-one could get through. All the previous staff, as well as herself had managed go get to the front and open the gates without any problems. Therefore, in order to stop her from screaming at everyone we had to move our cars over to one side even though we were all lined in in an orderly fashion patiently waiting for the gates to open. To set the scene, the entrance is via a dirt and gravel road that ends with a double-wired gate. There are no signs saying which side of the road customers are to park on so we all take the lead of the first to arrive. Undoubtedly, this women staff member was running late for work and decided to take out her frustrations at the customers lined up to enter – quite an unacceptable and uncalled for behaviour. By the time we had shuffled the cars around to meet her requirements it was less than 10 minutes before the gates were opened by a male staff member who just gave us a thumbs-up and left us to work out where to park the car, they used to have staff directing the cars on where to park, but not yesterday. Perhaps a better solution would be to have the gates open from about 8.15am, then guests can go and park their cars and then line up close to the ticket windows. Oh, and by the way, the free sausage sandwich that was previously included with the entrance fee is no more either. The $18 admission now only includes an instant coffee that you have to make yourself from hot water urns. (The cafeteria is where the rude staff member is located). Overall the gardens are very beautiful. We have been coming here for a few years now, but because of this bizarre, rude and humiliating incident as well as the cost we will not be back. In future we will just go to Floriade, which has free admission and I’m sure I could find something better to drink/eat for under $18.
Some staff arrived in their cars and drove up to gates and opened/closed the gate with no problems. About 8.40am, a female staff member arrived zooming down in between the parked cars and opened the gate to let herself in… but wait she didn’t just do that she also decided to put on a great show for all to see. She was screaming at the people in the cars who were waiting to get in, waving her hands in the air, and then bashing on our window demanding we wind it down to hear what she had to say.
For some bizarre reason she told us to move our cars as we were holding up the traffic and no-one could get through. All the previous staff, as well as herself had managed go get to the front and open the gates without any problems. Therefore, in order to stop her from screaming at everyone we had to move our cars over to one side even though we were all lined in in an orderly fashion patiently waiting for the gates to open. To set the scene, the entrance is via a dirt and gravel road that ends with a double-wired gate. There are no signs saying which side of the road customers are to park on so we all take the lead of the first to arrive. Undoubtedly, this women staff member was running late for work and decided to take out her frustrations at the customers lined up to enter – quite an unacceptable and uncalled for behaviour. By the time we had shuffled the cars around to meet her requirements it was less than 10 minutes before the gates were opened by a male staff member who just gave us a thumbs-up and left us to work out where to park the car, they used to have staff directing the cars on where to park, but not yesterday. Perhaps a better solution would be to have the gates open from about 8.15am, then guests can go and park their cars and then line up close to the ticket windows. Oh, and by the way, the free sausage sandwich that was previously included with the entrance fee is no more either. The $18 admission now only includes an instant coffee that you have to make yourself from hot water urns. (The cafeteria is where the rude staff member is located). Overall the gardens are very beautiful. We have been coming here for a few years now, but because of this bizarre, rude and humiliating incident as well as the cost we will not be back. In future we will just go to Floriade, which has free admission and I’m sure I could find something better to drink/eat for under $18.
Written 30 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Staff ... could advise what dates the Tulip gardens are open ... we are planning going on Sat 14 or Sun 15 October?
Thank you
John
Written 7 October 2017
Hi, Im not sure, I'm not the owner of the garden just an ex visitor. if its o
pen it will be splendid as the tulips are very late this year. they were a poor show for the Bowral tulip festival.
Written 10 October 2017
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