It’s that time of year, when Floriade heads in to full bloom and a nation of green thumbs heads to the capital to observe the Southern Hemisphere’s largest flower festival. Aside from Floriade there is plenty o offer this Spring, and Australian Parliament House is pulling out all stops to give locals and guests alike a treat when it comes the House on the Hill and its gardens.
For the next two weeks of the Floriade festival (until 11 October 2013) there is a great opportunity to wander through the courtyards of Parliament House to see the cavalcade of colour that appears this time of year. Every day, tours will be conducted to show off 12 of the 17 courtyards within Parliament House (the others are out-of-bounds due to security issues).
The majority of the courtyards were established in time fir the opening of the building in May 1988, however there are a couple of areas that were left unfinished due to budget blowouts. These were completed for the Centenary of Federation in 2001. Only a keen eye might tell the difference, however it all contributes to the story of the building over its 25 years.
As for the gardens themselves, visitors are likely to see Mount Fuji Flowering Cherry Blossoms, White Bouquet (and Red Wind) Azaleas, Sweet Emily Kate Camellias and a whole lot more….
Outside of the great ring road, Parliament Drive, there are formal gardens that serve a very different purpose to those within the building’s curved walls. The garden located on the eastern (House of Representatives) side is set out very much in the English traditions, with terraces making their way down from the road under trellis covered in vines.
One interesting feature of the formal garden is the presence of a series of yellow roses running in line with the road above. With a new strain of yellow rose developed every ten years, the women’s group Zonta International gifted the latest version to Australian Parliament. It’s a lovely addition to the building and its surrounds.
Use the link on this page to book in now. Spaces are strictly limited.
Tour dates and times
Garden tours run for 90 minutes on:
Weekends (from 11.00am and 1.30pm)
5–6 October
12–13 October
Weekdays (from 11.00am)
1–4 October
8–11 October
Public holidays (from 11.00am and 1.30pm)
7 October
Tour prices
Adults – $15
Concession – $10
Children under 12 – $5
Family (up to two adults and three children) – $40
