With over 950,000 tulips spread across 5 acres, it is little wonder that Tesselaar draws large crowds each and every year.

If you are coming from Melbourne side, the transition from city roads into the winding climb of the lower Dandenongs and through to Silvan provides the perfect transition from reality into fairy tale. For those who love wildlife as much as tulips, a stop on-route at Grant’s Picnic Ground to hand-feed the cockatoos, rosella’s and rainbow lorikeets only heightens the experience.

Located at the Tesselaar Flower Farm on Monbulk Road, Silvan, the spectacle of tulips is not to be missed; with blooms of all colours stretching almost as far as the eye can see. Amongst the tulips, young families pose with their children in front of the miniature windmill or one of the various sculptures, and young couples stroll hand in hand. The scene is completely tranquil, and with the cornucopia of traditional Dutch decoration and treats, it feels like a glimpse into another era, or at least another city.

Having never encountered so many flowers of just about any kind; visiting Tesselaar’s this year was something really special.

The perfect day out for young families or couples, the scenic location makes the most optimal spot for Instagram shots or family portraits. For many others, the grounds are the location of wedding shoots, or other professional photo set ups, all of which can be enjoyed at no additional charge.

What’s Happening

Each week and weekend has a slightly different theme, meaning you can pick the days that best suit your interests. For 2018, the schedule is the following;

• 15th – 16th September – Turkish Weekend
• 17th – 20th September – Tulips in Wonderland Week
• 21st – 23rd September – Dutch Weekend
• 28th – 30th September – Food, Wine and Jazz Weekend
• 24th – 27th September – Children’s Week
• 1st – 4th October – Children’s Week (again!)
• 5th – 7th October – Irish Weekend
• 8th – 14th October – Tulip Mania Week

Kid-Friendly Fun

If you are travelling with young children, not to worry! There are a wide range of activities lined up to keep the little ones engaged and having fun.

As I went with my sisters and young nephews, we made the choice of going during Children’s Weekso that the boys could see the Peter Rabbit show (SO MUCH nostalgia watching that!), a performance by The Kazoos, as well as the lingering ‘Alice in Wonderland’ vibe of card soldiers, white rabbits, and themed decorations.

A themed treasure hunt can keep the little ones busy for a few hours; running around the gardens to find the White Rabbits and record the timings on his pocket watch. Fill in all the time slots, and proceed to the Plant Store or Fairy Store for a sweet surprise! (I have to admit, I was a little surprised at how long this took us to complete).

For kids needing something a bit more relaxing, there are stories read to children by the Fairy Mez, hosted in the Fairy Garden, just beside the daffodil plantation. A great option for especially young kids, or those who enjoy using their imaginations.

Food and Drinks

While the kids get involved with the treasure hunts and story time, there is no shortage of food trucks to tempt your taste buds; with delectable snacks ranging from freshly made scones with jam and cream, to burgers, to calamari and seafood to ice-cream. For all the veggies and vegans in attendance, there are also grilled corn and baked potato trucks, with a loaded vegan baked potato option for the veggie-lovers needing something more substantial than fairy floss. If you intend to plant yourself (pun intended) for a few hours while the family explore, there is also plenty of coffee trucks and even an alcohol stand; so you can have a cold drink in the sunshine while watching your kids enjoy the festival.

Costs

Entry costs for the festival are either Adult ($28) or Concession ($24), with children under 16 entering for free. In full recognition of carers and those with limited mobility, Tesselaar recognise the National Companion Card, and carers have free entry to the grounds.

While the food and drinks are wonderful and fresh, they are not cheap. Tesselaar’s fully welcomes guests to bring their own lunch and drinks, however BYO alcohol is not allowed, and only to be purchased from the licensed vendors. I would recommend that you bring the bulk of your lunch with you (some of the wait times for food are tremendous) and then buy a treat on the day, such as fresh gelato or Dutch Poffertjes (those cutie-patootie miniature pancakes!).

At the time of this post, we are in the middle of TULIP MANIA week; the final week of the festival, and the perfect time to visit the gardens without the bustle of school holidays. As with every week, the line-up looks spectacular;

Every Day of Tulipmania

Aside from the fabulous fields of flowers, we have the Findlay Dutch Fairground Organ pipes classic and modern tunes. You can challenge yourself and your friends with our giant garden games, or a round of the Queen’s Croquet. Try your hand at the White Rabbit Treasure Hunt to win a sweet prize. See the fantastic Sculpture amongst the Tulips in our colourful fields, and vote for your favourite. Enjoy a tractor ride throughout our fields ($5pp, $15 for a family, people with limited mobility free). Visit our fairy garden and enjoy some magic. Take your photos in wonderland or amid our card soldiers. – Tesselaar Tulip Festival

If you haven’t yet had the chance to stop by the festival, I strongly recommend you add it to your itinerary, before you miss out until 2019!

Want to see more content like this? Check out our post on express tourism in Kenya, the most underrated park in Tanzania, or sign up to receive updates.