The Tesselaar Tulip Festival runs from Saturday 12 September to Sunday 11 October 2026 at Tesselaar Flower Farm in Silvan, with over a million tulips in bloom, free kids’ shows, and Dutch food and games for the whole family.
Tesselaar Tulip Festival Melbourne
Spring means our annual trip to the Tesselaar Tulip Festival, and it’s become a bit of a tradition for our family. Every year there’s something new added to the program, on top of the parts we’ve come to expect and love.
The festival runs for a full month, from 12 September to 11 October 2026, at Tesselaar Flower Farm, 357 Monbulk Road, Silvan, in the Dandenong Ranges. It’s about an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s CBD, and open daily from 10am to 5pm.
The tulips are roped off to protect them, so you can’t wander through the rows the way people did decades ago. But there are plenty of low-rope crossings and photo spots dotted through the fields, so you’ll still get your shot without trampling anyone’s flowers.
Children’s Week at Tesselaar Flower Farm
During the September and October school holidays, Children’s Weeks bring a full program of free entertainment:
- Week One: 21–24 September — headline show is The Octonauts Present: Captain Barnacles and the Octopod Rescue
- Week Two: 28 September–2 October — Peppa Pig takes over the stage
Both headline shows run three times a day (roughly 11:30am, 12:30pm and 2pm), and they’re free with festival entry. Alongside the shows, there’s a Black Snake Productions wildlife show where kids get up close to reptiles and native animals, a Fairy Garden with storytelling sessions, a clog dancing workshop, a drumming workshop, and a Historic Cheese Market re-enactment. Most of this is included in your ticket. Face painting is $18pp and craft workshops range from $6 to $15.
If you’re visiting outside these two weeks, you’ll miss the character shows, but the tulip fields, tractor rides, Dutch food stalls, Fairy Garden and giant clog are there every single day of the festival. There are also themed weekends throughout the run — Turkish, Dutch, jazz, “Rock the Fields” and Irish — each with its own flavour of live entertainment.
Find the full program here.
What to Expect
This is a full day out, not a quick stop. Most families spend three to four hours on site once you factor in the fields, the shows, lunch and a wander through the market stalls.
The top section, near the entrance, is flat with paved and bitumen paths — this is where you’ll find the show gardens, food court, souvenir shops and the main stage. The tulip fields themselves sit on a slope, with grass, mulch and loose rock paths. It’s manageable for most kids and adults, but it’s not pram or wheelchair-friendly territory, and it gets muddy fast if there’s been any rain.
A tractor train loops continuously through the flower fields if you’d rather not walk the hill, and it’s wheelchair accessible, with free rides for visitors with limited mobility and their carers.
Highlights for Kids
- Free character shows during Children’s Weeks — Octonauts in week one, Peppa Pig in week two
- Black Snake Productions wildlife show, where kids can get close to reptiles, owls and marsupials
- The Fairy Garden, with storytelling sessions running through the day
- Treasure hunt through the grounds
- Dutch and garden games, plus an obstacle course
- The world’s biggest clog — great for a photo, and the kids love climbing in
- Tulip tractor ride, touring the farm with commentary on how the flowers are grown
What Parents Need to Know
- Tickets: Adults $39.50, concession $35.00. Off-peak “Spring Fever” tickets (14–18 September and 5–9 October, outside school holidays and weekends) are $27.50 for adults and $24.50 concession.
- Kids: Under-16s get in free. Buy online in advance through tulipfestival.com.au — resale tickets bought elsewhere won’t be accepted at the gate.
- Parking: Free, with accessible parking near the main entrance.
- Prams: Fine for the top section, but tricky once you’re down on the sloped, grassy flower fields, especially after rain. If your child can walk steadily, that’s the easiest way to explore.
- Food: Dutch treats like poffertjes, kibbeling and oliebollen, plus more familiar options. Food prices range from $5 to $25. BYO picnic is welcome too.
- Toilets and baby care: Accessible bathrooms are in the upper area and lower food court. A baby change table is available in the main women’s restroom.
- Dogs: Well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome.
- Public transport: Train to Lilydale or Belgrave, then the Route 663 bus, which stops right at the festival entrance.
Our Experience
For our family, the highlight is always the Tulip Train — hopping on for a lap around the fields, then off again to explore on foot, is the easiest way to see everything without little legs getting tired.
We always try to arrive close to opening. It means better photos without crowds in the background, easier parking, and cooler conditions before the midday sun hits. By midday, it’s peak hour, and the queues for food and photo spots get long.
Gumboots are non-negotiable in our house for this one. The red clay soil turns to mud fast once a few thousand people have walked through it, and it marks everything. We also pack warm layers, even on a mild spring day — the valley gets a breeze that catches you off guard.
The kids’ favourite part, hands down, is the Black Snake Productions wildlife show. Getting to hold or stand near a python or a lizard is the kind of thing they still talk about weeks later.
Is It Worth Visiting?
Yes, particularly if you go during Children’s Weeks and can make the most of the free shows and activities. It suits families with kids from toddler age through to around 10 or 11, though younger children will get more out of it if they’re confident walkers, given the terrain.
Allow half a day at least. Value for money is solid if you’re visiting during school holidays, since most of the extra entertainment is included in your ticket. Outside those two weeks, you’re paying the same price for a quieter, more flower-focused visit — still lovely, just without the character shows.
It’s worth going even if the forecast isn’t perfect. Wet-weather visits mean smaller crowds, and it’s easier to get a clear photo without a queue of people waiting for the same shot.
HOT Tips
- Arrive close to 10am opening for better photos, easier parking and no crowds.
- Buy tickets online in advance to skip the ticket counter queue.
- Midday is peak hour — go earlier or later if you can.
- Wear gumboots and clothes you don’t mind getting muddy.
- Avoid taking a pram if you can. The fields are on a slope and get soggy fast.
- If your kids are old enough, hand them a phone camera. It’s hard to take a bad photo here.
- Children’s Weeks (21–24 September and 28 September–2 October) bring free shows, wildlife encounters and music at no extra cost.
- Check the Children’s Weeks program before you go so you don’t miss the show times.
FAQs
When is the Tesselaar Tulip Festival in 2026? The festival runs from Saturday 12 September to Sunday 11 October 2026, daily from 10am to 5pm.
How much are tickets? Adult tickets are $39.50, concession is $35.00. Off-peak “Spring Fever” tickets (14–18 September and 5–9 October) are $27.50 for adults. Kids under 16 get in free.
Is the Tulip Festival good for toddlers? It can be, but the flower fields are on a sloped, grassy path that isn’t pram-friendly. It suits confident walkers best. The top section near the entrance is flat and easier for younger kids.
What’s on for kids during the school holidays? Children’s Weeks run 21–24 September and 28 September–2 October, with free shows (Octonauts, then Peppa Pig), a wildlife show, fairy storytelling, clog dancing and craft activities.
How do I get there without a car? Take the train to Lilydale or Belgrave Station, then the Route 663 bus, which stops directly at the festival entrance.
Read more:
Visiting Rochford Winery with Kids
Day Out with Thomas on Puffing Billy Railway in Gembrook
35 Best Things to Do in the Yarra Valley with Kids
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