Spring Festival Gets Under Way with Tulip Sunday

Spring Festival gets under way at the Botanic Garden next weekend with the ever popular Tulip Sunday – a great opportunity to enjoy one of the country’s biggest and best tulip displays as well as music, Dutch dancing and food.


The annual festival (23 September – 7 October) is the time to enjoy the Garden at its most colourful and includes more than 40 events and activities. Children take centre-stage as the festival runs throughout the school holidays but there is something for everyone from Tulip Sunday on 23 September (11:00am to 3:00pm) through to the family picnic on 7 October.

As well as some 24,000 tulips, other spring flowers including magnolias and azaleas will be blooming and visitors will also be able to check out the stone, wood, steel and willow sculptures and artworks being displayed among the tulips as part of this year's Spring Festival Sculpture Showcase.

Acting Botanic Gardens Manager Leanne Killalea says the Botanic Garden is a great place to "recharge your batteries," get some fresh air and a change of scene and is easily accessible from Lambton Quay.

"For that reason we are delighted that Wellington Cable Car Ltd has agreed to support the festival by allowing people to exchange the voucher in this year's festival brochure for one free uphill ride on weekdays between midday and 2pm," she says. "They will be able to follow the signs from the top of the Cable Car downhill to the tulips and back to the city via Bolton Street Memorial Park, which is a great walk at any time of the year."

This year's festival has plenty for children including tree climbing, craft sessions and stargazing in the Carter Observatory's Cosmodome in the Begonia House. Children can meet farm animals, go on glow-worm tours or blow off steam on the bouncy castle. Those interested in the stars, planets or rockets may want to book for one of the hour-long sessions on rocket-making.

Also on this year's programme is an organised buggy walk, a walk through the fragrant garden for those with a visual impairment, a guided tour for people with limited mobility and a special walk for grandparents to help them plan future visits with grandchildren.

Most events are free, though some are by donation or have a small charge, and bookings are required in some cases. Full details are available at www.Wellington.govt.nz or in brochures available from libraries or by phoning 499 4444.