Commonwealth Park — Attraction in District of Canberra Central

Floriade 2023 (attended Thurs 28 Sept) was very enjoyable, immersive & gobsmacking!! Could not get over that it is FREE entry. Also free courtesy Floriade buses every 10 mins or so from city pick up points which are well signposted.

My 1st ever awesome Floriade but do scroll down to end for the opposite Nightfest experience.

Having attended Melb's fee payable Tesselaar's Tulip festival years ago - I could not help marvelling the effort landscape designers have put into Floriade.

2023 Wonderland theme is showcased in myriad floral displays & as a keen visitor of gardens in every place I visit - I was blown away by the visual feast in the combination & explosion of colours which had Tulips, Irises, pansies, poppies, daffodils, jonquils, daisies etc etc in every imaginable variety.

The stalls, fun rides, dedicated kids play areas, music stages & food trucks are well spaced & placed throughout - making the flow & dispersion of crowds seamless. Weekday is less frenetic obviously. Pick a day, a week after event opens when flowers are almost in full bloom & not jaded.

There are fun activities to do - so come prepared with fore-planning & make a whole day of it with a picnic. Joy rides, games, Circus, Spiegeltent etc - tix can be bought on site or online.

I just rocked up & did whatever took my fancy & the easy chairs overlooking lake area was a welcome reprieve.

Fun features scattered around plus Lake Burley Griffin backdrop makes Floriade really unique. Toilets are easy to find - the temp type.

COMPLAINTS: (got to be some!) is the total lack of raised viewing areas to appreciate the themes presented. Hellooo!! we are not walking on stilts & no way anyone wants to pay & q-up to get on the Ferris Wheel which will only cover one area..

NIGHTFEST: Opposite to the day experience. Lighting is totally inadequate to showcase blooms. No spotlight on the unique features - just hopeless array of disco style mounted lighting & dazzling laser beams that did nothing to enhance the Wonderland theme. Gave you a strobe lighting visual throb. Only the Butterfly lit walk is...

We recently visited Commonwealth Park in Canberra during October spring, and it was an absolutely delightful experience. The park was bursting with colorful, blooming flowers, creating a vibrant and picturesque setting that felt like walking through a living painting. The floral arrangements were beautifully designed, showcasing a wide variety of flowers in full bloom. The combination of colors, patterns, and landscaping made it a perfect spot for photography and simply soaking in the natural beauty.

The atmosphere was calm and refreshing, with plenty of open spaces for kids to run around, making it a family-friendly destination. We saw many families enjoying picnics, children playing, and people strolling along the well-maintained paths. The park’s layout is very well thought out, with benches, shaded areas, and clear walkways, which makes it accessible and comfortable for visitors of all ages.

October is definitely one of the best times to visit, as the spring season brings out the very best of the park’s gardens. It’s also a great spot for a peaceful walk, relaxing by the lake, or just spending quality time outdoors. Commonwealth Park is truly a gem in Canberra, offering natural beauty and a welcoming environment...

Take off one star for the nearby toilet block that was filthy, in the park about 50mtres away. Staff nearby said they werent aware of its existance. Was apparently trashed months ago, or used by a large group, apparently a millions march, but for some reason looked like it was never cleaned after. Very lazy cleaners or left of a schedule for cleaning on purpose - were not sure. It was so bad on two days you didn't want to go in, but being the building isn't open early or late for walkers we had no choice. The carpark was dirty in some areas. My partner picked up the rubbish birds were eating, and binned it while we waited for the restaurant to open. The menu was poor, tradies said the coffee was bad. The man in the exhibition building with grey hair was fantastic and Visitor Centre has H2O and a good camping list. We frequented the park every day as good place to take a walk. Staff getting ready for Floriad and looks like it will be amazing. Hope the toilets are cleaned up by then. Regular protests begin here, it's no excuse to never clean the toilets - they're...