Every spring, Araluen Botanic Park in Perth, Western Australia, transforms into a vibrant paradise of colour during the much-awaited Springtime Tulip Festival.
Over 120,000 tulips blossom here in late August and September, making this without a doubt the best place to see tulips in Perth and the whole of Western Australia! The displays here are truly impressive and definitely worth the trip!
The Tulip Festival is held every year and is a great addition to your list of places in Perth to visit this spring! It draws plenty of locals from Perth, as well as visitors from further afield.
Whether you’re a flower enthusiast, a photographer, or just looking for somewhere different to bring the family, a visit to the Tulip Festival makes for a great day out in Perth.
Enjoy the stunning spectacle of the tulips, as well as the other thousands of blooming beauties in the gardens! 
In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about the Perth Springtime Tulip Festival, from entry fees to the best photography spots and how to make the most of your visit.
Getting To Araluen Botanic Park
Araluen Botanic Park is located in Roleystone in the picturesque Darling Ranges (Perth Hills), southeast of Perth’s city center.
If driving, Araluen Botanic Park is around 50km from Perth CBD, and it should take just under an hour to get there.
Travelling to Araluen Botanic Park by public transport is a little more tricky and time-consuming – it will take just over 2 hours to get there from Perth CBD by public transport (train from Perth to Kelmscott on the Armadale line, then the bus, then a very very long walk!), so definitely go by car if possible! 
Araluen Botanic Park Opening Times
During the Tulip Festival, Araluen Botanic Park is open every day from 9 am until 6 pm (last entry 5 pm).
Araluen Botanic Park is open year-round, not just for the Tulip Festival (although the best time to visit is definitely during the Tulip Festival). Outside of the Tulip Festival, it’s open every day from 9 am until 5 pm, excluding Christmas Day.
It’s recommended to spend at least two hours at Araluen Botanic Park to enjoy all it has to offer. The gardens are very big!
Entry Fee For The Tulip Festival At Araluen Botanic Park, Perth
Normally, entry to Araluen Botanic Park is $12 for adults, $10 for concessions, $8 for children, and free for children under 6.
However, during the Springtime Tulip Festival, the admission fee goes up to $20 for adults, $15 for concessions, and $10 for children.
Entry fees have been slowly increasing over the years, so these prices may change in the future!
Cash is not accepted, so you’ll need to pay by card or electronically. You can buy tickets online – either at home beforehand, or by using the QR codes when you arrive.
There is free wifi available, however it wouldn’t let me connect, so it’s best to buy your tickets online at home as the signal at Araluen Botanic Park wasn’t great!
What Time Of The Year Do Tulips Bloom In Australia?
Tulips in Australia bloom at the beginning of spring – usually in September, and flower for around six weeks.
The tulips in Western Australia bloom slightly easier than the tulips in the Eastern Australian states due to the slight difference in climate, so you’ll see tulips in bloom as early as August at Araluen Botanic Park.
Blooming also depends on how much rainfall there has been in the winter, and a dry and warm winter will mean the flowers will bloom earlier.
If you’re keen to visit other tulip festivals in Australia, why not check out Tulip Time Festival in Bowral, Southern Highlands NSW (usually held during the last 2 weeks of September), the Tesselaar Tulip Festival in Melbourne (mid September to mid October), Floriade Festival in Canberra (mid September to mid October) or the Tulip Festival in Tasmania throughout October.
What Is The Best Time To Go To The Perth Tulip Festival?
The Springtime Tulip Festival at Araluen Botanic Park typically takes place from the middle of August until early October each year.
However the season often ends early if the tulips are no longer there, so don’t wait until October to visit!
I found it’s better to go towards the start of the season – during August or early September, than towards the end as you’ll get to see more tulips this way.
I would advise visiting no later than mid-September as sadly some tulips get picked or damaged as the weeks go on, and there aren’t as many tulips in full bloom later on in the season.
As the winter of 2023 was fairly dry and warm, it meant the tulips blossomed early this year, and by the end of September, all the tulips at Araluen Botanic Park were gone!
Therefore it’s a good idea to keep up to date and informed about the blooming status before you visit.
As Araluen Botanic Park is famous for its spectacular tulip displays, it can get really busy, especially on weekends.
To avoid the crowds and fully enjoy the gardens, it’s best to visit on a weekday morning or late afternoon, and avoid the September school holidays!
You may wish to arrive as close to opening time as possible so you can get a good parking spot.
The Tulip Festival is a great event for the whole family, so if you’ll be visiting with children, weekends throughout September are the best time to visit.
There are plenty of families around, and children can experience face painting and bubble shows, as well as performers from 11 am until 2 pm on the weekends.
You can also buy a Children’s Activity Pack at the gate for $5 if you need to keep the children entertained!
There is a vintage train that goes around the park on weekends throughout the festival too – this costs $5 per adult for a ride and $2 for children under 5 years old. Sometimes the queue for the train can be very long though!
And for the adults, Cabernet and Canvas painting classes are held on some Saturdays!
If you visit on weekends, it does however mean that the gardens are really busy, and you’ll also have to park your car much further away from the entrance at one of the overflow car parks!
If you can only visit on the weekend, don’t worry though, as even though it is busy, you’ll find lots of quiet and peaceful spots away from the Concourse to enjoy, such as by the terraced gardens and under some of the pergolas.
The majority of families seemed to stay on the lawn near the Concourse, so if you wander away from there up the hills you’ll find lots of quiet spots!
How Long Do The Tulips Last At Araluen Botanic Park
The tulips are usually in bloom at Araluen Botanic Park for just six weeks – usually starting in August and ending at the end of September (weather dependent!), so definitely try to visit Araluen Botanic Park during this time! 
Where Is The Best Place in Araluen Botanic Park To See The Tulips?
The team at Araluen Botanic Park (which includes hundreds of volunteers!) plant early, mid and late flowering tulips around the gardens so visitors can enjoy the tulips throughout the whole Tulip Festival.
The tulips on the flower beds at Centenary Lawn are the first to bloom, and they make for some fantastic photos!
Being the first to bloom also means sadly that they are the first to wither, so if you visit later than mid September, chances are that you won’t be able to see these tulips in full bloom.
There are also some lovely early blooming tulip displays by the Concourse and the Roundhouse.
Underneath the Margaret Simons Pergola are many late flowering tulips, perfect if you don’t get a chance to see the other tulips in their full glory.
What Else To Do At Araluen Botanic Park
Besides the stunning tulip displays, there are so many things to see and places to explore around Araluen Botanic Park. It’s great to just walk around the gardens and see what you stumble upon!
You’ll be given a map of Araluen Botanic Park as you arrive, which is great so you can see all the areas of the gardens and where they are. Things not to miss are:
- Other Springtime Flowers: There are lots of other lovely springtime flowers blooming at the same time as the tulips – over 36,000 in fact! My favourite was the purple wisteria surrounding the pergolas.
- The Historic Log Cabin: Check out the quaint and charming historic log cabin dating back to the 1930s.
- The Amphitheatre: Often hosting live performances and events against a stunning natural backdrop.
- Stream And Waterfalls: Admire the stream and gentle waterfalls by the Roundhouse Lawn.
- The Grove of the Unforgotten and the Pool of Reflection: Located just behind the Concourse, The Grove of the Unforgotten and the Pool of Reflection are beautiful and definitely worth a look.They were built in honour of the soldiers who lost their lives during the War. The Grove of the Unforgotten is made from a series of terraces, with water flowing down from the terraces into the Pool of Reflection.
Food And Drink At Araluen Botanic Garden Tulip Festival, Perth
There are plenty of places on the lawns to enjoy a picnic whilst soaking up the beautiful scenery, plus there are lots of electric BBQs so you can bring your own food and enjoy it here.
Alternatively, there are several food vans by the Concourse if you don’t fancy bringing a picnic, plus the Roundhouse Cafe serves coffee and cakes (open between 10 am and 2 pm).
The Chalet Healy Cafe has some great breakfast and lunch options, and is built in a charming log cabin style surrounded by a beautiful wisteria pergola!
Tips For Photographing The Tulips
To capture some great photographs of tulips and other flowers at Araluen Botanic Park, consider taking photos in the soft morning or afternoon light.
This will enhance the colours and textures of the flowers and ensure you don’t capture the harsh midday sun.
You may also wish to use a macro lens on your camera (or the zoom on your phone camera) to get some great upclose photos of the tulips. Experiment with different angles and heights to create depth and perspective in your photos!
Make sure to not damage any of the tulips – there are plenty of ways to get those Instagrammable photos and make it look like you’re surrounded by tulips if you lower the angle of your phone/camera.
The tulips near the Concourse have ropes around them, so if you’re after an authentic photo without ropes head to the other tulip beds further away from the entrance!
Additional Useful Information For Visiting Araluen Botanic Park
Pets and bicycles aren’t allowed at Araluen Botanic Park!
Allow yourself at least two hours here to explore and enjoy all Araluen Botanic Park has to offer.
Araluen Botanic Park spans 14 hectares so it’s quite big! It’s best to wear comfortable shoes as there is lots of walking and things to see at Araluen Botanic Park!
Parts of Araluen Botanic Park are a little hilly so you’ll get a good workout walking around!
If you want to purchase a souvenir from Araluen Botanic Park, head to the Armadale and Perth Hills Visitor Centre pop-up on the Forest View Deck.
Things To Do Near Araluen Botanic Park
Not far from Araluen Botanic Park in Roleystone is the beautiful Raeburn Orchards. They also have a spring festival here, where you can see lots of pink and white blossoms at the beginning of September.
You can walk around the orchards for $5, as well as bring your own picnics or buy some fresh artisan produce.
The Naked Apple Cider House nearby is also a great place to visit for a drink and some lunch!
And another stunning springtime place to visit blooming flowers is the S&R Orchard in the Perth Hills – around a 20 minute drive from Araluen Botanic Park.
See the pink cherry blossoms here during September and get some fantastic Instagrammable photos! They also have the lovely S&R Orchard Autumn Festival if you can’t get to visit during spring.
Overall, a visit to the Tulip Festival is a great way to spend a few hours, relaxing and getting some stunning photos of the tulips.
Plus, you can really make the most of your trip out to the hills by combining it with a visit to some other springtime blooming places nearby!