Gather round for a green extravaganza

Queensland’s biggest gardening event is a riot of colour, fun and inspiration

Queensland’s biggest gardening event is a riot of colour, fun and inspiration

TEQ IT’S LIVE! | NATIVE CONTENT | EAST | JUNE

Gather round for a green extravaganza

Queensland’s biggest gardening event is a riot of colour, fun and inspiration

Angela Saurine

We partnered with IT’S LIVE! in Queensland to discover the state’s best events

Famously green and fertile, Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is the perfect location for the state’s biggest gardening event.

Green thumbs from around the country flock to the Queensland Garden Expo (July 12-14), with Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis and presenters Sophie Thomson and Jerry Coleby-Williams among this year’s speakers.

Event manager Marion Beazley says the expo, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2019, has the largest speaker program of any gardening event in the country, offering more than 120 lectures, demonstrations and workshops across eight stages in three days.

Held at Nambour Showgrounds, it covers everything from optimising conditions to help gardens thrive to the latest gardening trends.

“It’s a very hands-on event,” Ms Beazley says. “The audience is very engaged – they come along with questions and notebooks and they’re really interested in getting information.” There are also plenty of opportunities to buy plants, with more than 55 nurseries and 360 exhibitors represented.

This year’s new Sunday program will include a series of creative classes and practical workshops. Another highlight is the Reflection Gardens, which showcases the works of several nurseries, landscapers and artists centred around a theme. This year’s theme is ‘a burst of orange’. The designs are independently judged by a panel of experts and the public also has the opportunity to choose their favourite in the People’s Choice Award.

Need help identifying a plant or tackling a gardening problem? The Plant Clinic is the place for you, while the Cook’s Garden Stage will offer advice on growing your own produce and turning it into delicious everyday meals. The Giant Kitchen Garden feature area will showcase an organic food court complete with a sustainable garden.

The iconic Glass House Mountains on the Sunshine Coast.

“These days the expo is attrac­ting a lot of young people and families who are into sustainable gardening and indoor plants, which are really trendy at the moment,” Ms Beazley says. “They’re really getting into gardening on their balconies.”

If you’re planning a visit to the Sunshine Coast for the expo, take a few days to explore other parts of the region, with Queensland’s capital a great place to start.

Brisbane is experiencing a flurry of new bars, eateries, smart hotels and cool cultural attractions, all contributing to a vibrant mix.

To get a perspective of the city, the Story Bridge Adventure Climb is a great place to start. On a clear day, you can see over the skyscrapers all the way to the Glass House Mountains in the north, Moreton Bay in the east and the Scenic Rim mountains in the south from atop the iconic steel structure. You can also go kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding on the Brisbane River with Riverlife Brisbane, or abseil or rock climb beside the waterway on Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

A less energetic option is the exciting new riverside precinct at Howard Smith Wharves, directly under the Story Bridge. A brand-new Art Series hotel, The Fantauzzo, has just opened, while you’ll need to show up early to snag a spot at the bars and restaurants.

Felons Brewing Co, Mr Percival’s and GRECA have established themselves as foodie favourites since opening late in 2018.

 The new Howard Smith Wharves precinct.

For shopping, James Street in Fortitude Valley is a chic, ever-expanding enclave of boutique fashion and homewares stores, with brands such as Pottery Barn, Aje, Bec + Bridge and Queensland’s only boutique David Jones store. Edward Street in the city remains a hub for international designer brands. For quirky boutiques, Paddington, West End and Fortitude Valley are your best bet.

Brisbane has accommodation options to suit all budgets, but for a special occasion visit, consider one of the clutch of five-star hotels that have opened their doors in the past 12 months. Try W Brisbane or The Westin Brisbane in the city, The Calile on James Street, or Emporium Hotel South Bank next to the popular South Bank Parklands.

North of the city lies D’Aguilar National Park, which offers visitors plenty of accessible walking tracks and inviting rainforest swimming holes. While you’re in the area, pop by the cellar door or craft brewery at Ocean View Estates Winery and Restaurant for a tasting. The Sandstone Point Hotel is a popular live music venue.

East of Ocean View lies Moreton Bay, Brisbane’s sheltered aquatic playground. Head to the Sandstone Point Hotel near Bribie Island in the north for a beer and fresh seafood from The Oyster Shed; see the walkway dedicated to the Bee Gees at Redcliffe, where they grew up; and stroll along the iconic pier at Shorncliffe.

Further south are the luxury yachts, boutique stores, farmers and craft markets at Manly, and families will enjoy the tidal wading pool and waterpark at Wynnum.

Visitors can also take a cruise to spot dolphins, dugongs, turtles and whales in the bay or visit one of the nearby islands. Catch a ferry to Moreton Island and explore it on a 4WD tour, go sandboarding, snorkel among shipwrecks and hand-feed wild dolphins at Tangalooma Island Resort.

MORE EVENTS IN 2019

Planning ahead? Here are some more events around which to plan a Queensland holiday this year:

Quandamooka Festival, Brisbane region, June 1-August 31
Held over three months each winter, Quandamooka returns in 2019 with up to 55 events held across Brisbane’s Redlands and on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) including whale watching, cultural tours, Indigenous sports, music, eco boat tours, art exhibitions, fibre art and weaving workshops, bush tucker dining, arts and cultural talks and new events featuring international acts and First Nations dancers and performances.

Mary Poppins Festival, Fraser Coast, June 28-July 6
The heritage town of Maryborough celebrates its most famous export every year in this popular school holiday festival. Locally born author PL Travers created the practically perfect nanny while living in London in 1934, eventually producing eight Mary Poppins books. During the festival, fans participate in chimney sweep competitions, nanny races and drama workshops. Street theatre, art installations and a literary and poetry competition are also part of the program.

Scenic Rim Eat Local Week, Brisbane region, June 29-July 7
This festival of food and farming is held during the school holidays at various locations around the Scenic Rim region, just one hour’s drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast. It includes farm tours, cooking classes and exclusive dining experiences hosted by some of the state’s best chefs.

BIGSOUND Festival, Brisbane, September 3-6
Now in its 18th year, BIGSOUND is an annual event which allows patrons to discover the future of Australian music over four days and nights. The festival has been instrumental in launching the careers of Australian acts such as Flume, Megan Washington, Gang of Youths and Courtney Barnett.

Learn more about Queensland's best events here.

Originally published as Gather round for a green extravaganza