Spring has sprung, so gather your bunch for some blooming great days out in gardens around Central New South Wales. From lilacs and azaleas to berry-picking and sheep dogs, your sunny weekends will be complete with this floral agenda of spring festivals in Cowra, Bathurst, Orange and beyond.
Sakura Matsuri: Cowra Cherry Blossom Festival, 28th September
This annual homage to the Japanese history of Cowra coincides with the blossoming of the Japanese Garden cherry blossoms. Wander the picturesque gardens before enjoying celebrations of Japanese culture such as ikebana demonstrations, taiko drumming, martial arts and tea ceremonies.
The serene Japanese Gardens at Cowra turn fun and festive for Sakura Matsuri Credit: Edward Haylan Shutterstock
Bathurst Spring Spectacular, 26th to 27th October
This aromatic event sees ten of the region’s historic gardens open to the public. Enjoy live music, market stalls and art installations among the lilacs, irises and rhododendrons. Here’s a clue – there may well be a prize if you can find all the music symbols across each garden.
Orange Wine Festival, 18th to 27th October
Grown-ups should peruse the wine festival line-up for this year, which includes tastings and even a Vino Express. But the family-friendly highlight is sure to be the Night Market on October 25th. More than 50 stalls will set up in Robertson Park, some of which host special children’s catering and activities. Spread out on long tables to enjoy good food with family and friends, to the backing track of local music.
Mayfield Spring Festival, 6th to 27th October
All 160 acres of this delightful garden turn up the charm for the changing of the season. Try your luck in the English-style box hedge maze, snap a photo of the cascade and temple, and even row a boat across the lake! After exploring, tuck in to a picnic or enjoy the choices from the restaurant and café.
You won’t recognise Robertson Park with the tables and stalls laid out for Night Markets Credit: Tony Ng Shutterstock
Australian Field Day, 24th to 26th October
Round up your herd and head to Borenore, 15 kilometres west of Orange. Here, you’ll stumble across machinery demonstrations, sheepdog trials, fashion parades, cooking shows, racing pigs, live music, art displays and even a jumping castle.
Huntley Berry Farm strawberry season, from November
Flowers aren’t all that’s a-growing this spring. Need to refuel before your next spring festival? Grab a bucket to collect the 11 varieties of berry coming into season at Huntley Berry Farm near Orange.
Feel your taste buds tingling for spring strawberries Credit: FamVeld Shutterstock
Sophie is a die-hard pasta lover, beach-goer and theatre fanatic hit hard with the travel bug. When exploring new places, Sophie loves straying from the beaten path and chatting with locals about the best places to grab a bite to eat.