Getting to Floriade
Plan your trip before you arrive
Floriade is held in Commonwealth Park, Regatta Place, Parkes, Canberra. We would like your visit to Floriade to be as enjoyable as possible, so please check the details below to make your arrival and departure hassle free.
Parking
The ACT Government is expanding the light rail network to help keep Canberra a connected, sustainable, and vibrant city. Parking has changed around the Commonwealth Park area due to construction activities. Thank you for your patience.
For an overview of all the parking and traffic changes, visit the Built for CBR website.
See the carpark options and details here.
Free parking for people with limited mobility is available adjacent to the Regatta Point Entry Gate (access off Commonwealth Avenue). Parking is limited and vehicles must display an authorised disability parking permit.
Pick-up and set-down at the Regatta Point Entry Gate is permitted for passengers with restricted mobility. Parking in the pick-up and set-down zone is strictly prohibited.
The accessible parking is marked on the Floriade Map.
More information on road closures will be available soon.
Pickup & Set Down
There will be restricted drop off/pickup spaces outside the Floriade main Gate on Regatta Place in front of the Canberra Visitors Centre, to enable coaches to drop off and pick up. Vehicles will be required to turn off Barrine Drive onto Regatta Place.
Signage will be positioned to guide vehicles and designate the drop off/pick up area. A Traffic Controller will also be positioned at the intersection of Regatta Point and the designated thoroughfare parking bay to communicate the process to vehicles.
Set-down and pick-up is permitted at Regatta Point however coach and bus parking in this location is prohibited.
Bus/Coach Parking
After dropping off passengers, buses and coaches are being encouraged to seek parking at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in bays 11 and 12.
The entrance to the coach parking is on Braybrooke Street which can be accessed either via Battye Street or Ginninderra Drive.
The AIS has a café onsite, as well as public restroom facilities, which is located within the visitors’ centre.
Alternatively, you can try the below coach bays which have limited first come-first served parking.
- Mall Road West, behind Questacon | 7-8 spaces
- Lennox Crossing, National Museum of Australia| 3-4 spaces
- Akuna Street, adjacent to Glebe Park | 3-4 spaces
- Alinga Street, behind the Novotel | 3 spaces
- Museum of Australian Democracy, King George Terrace | 5-6 spaces
During the event, the Regatta Point bus and coach parking will not be available for use.
Due to construction works, no coach and bus parking is available at Acton Park carpark, West Basin.
Public Transport
City and National Triangle Service
Courtesy of the Canberra Centre and the City Renewal Authority, a dedicated Floriade shuttle bus service will run once again in the city and National Triangle.
Floriade Route 1 – City
City to Floriade Free Shuttle Bus: Monday-Sunday
The City to Floriade Shuttle is your complimentary loop service to the front gates of Floriade. The Shuttle will run in a continuous loop, leaving stop A at the Sydney Building at 9.30am.
Pickup and Dropoff Points
- Stop A – Sydney Building, 105 London Circuit
- Stop B – Canberra Centre, Petrie Street
- Stop C – Legislative Assembly, London Circuit
- Stop D – Floriade Regatta Point Gate, Commonwealth Park
Times:
- 9.30am to 5:30pm, Monday to Sunday
- Approx every 40 minutes weekdays
- Approx every 20 minutes weekends and public holidays
- Dates: Saturday 16 September to Sunday 15 October
Floriade Route 2 – National Triangle
National Triangle to Floriade Shuttle Bus: NightFest, Weekends and Public Holidays only
The National Triangle Floriade Shuttle is your complimentary loop service to the front gates of Floriade.
Pickup and Dropoff Points
- National Library, King Edward Terrace
- John Gorton Building, Parkes Place
- Museum of Australian Democracy, King George Terrace
- Parliament House, Federation Mall Southbound
- Albert Hall, Commonwealth Avenue
- Floriade Regatta Point Gate, Commonwealth Park
Times:
- 9:30am to 5:30pm, NightFest, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
- Every 20 minutes
- Dates: 16-17 September, 23-24 September, 30 September, 1-2 October, 7-8 October, 14-15th October
NightFest Extended Service:
During NightFest both shuttle routes will be running. The first F1 shuttle will leave from the Sydney Building, 105 London Circuit at 6pm. The first F2 shuttle will leave from the National Library, King Edward Terrace at 6pm.
- 6pm – 10:45pm
- The shuttle will run in an approximate 20 minute loop
- Every 20 minutes
- The last shuttle for both F1 and F2 will depart Regatta Point Gate at 10.45pm.
- Dates: 28 September – 1 October
The ACT Government is expanding the light rail network to help keep Canberra a connected, sustainable, and vibrant city, and to make it even easier to travel to Floriade in the future.
Due to this construction work happening in the parking areas around Commonwealth Park and the southern end of the city, the ACT Government will be providing additional transport options to make the commute to Floriade on the weekends, public holidays and during NightFest a little easier.
These services are in addition to the existing free Floriade Shuttle Bus service which runs from the city to Floriade daily, and from the National Triangle to Floriade on weekends.
Floriade visitors can now leave their cars at home or park near one of the bus stops on any of the routes from Belconnen, Woden, Tuggeranong, Kingston and Queanbeyan, and catch the free service to Floriade.
This year will also see the introduction of a ticketed ferry service from Kingston.
WEEKENDS, NIGHTFEST AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ONLY
Route F4 Belconnen – Floriade – Belconnen
Shuttles will run hourly as per the timetables below.
Route F4 Tuggeranong – Floriade – Tuggeranong
Shuttles will run hourly as per the timetables below.
Route F6 Queanbeyan – Floriade – Queanbeyan
Shuttles will run hourly as per the timetables below.
Bus stops are located on both sides of Commonwealth Avenue, close to the Regatta Point Entry Gate. Transport Canberra buses provide regular bus services between Floriade and the city’s main town centres.
For timetable information, including details regarding accessible buses, ring Transport Canberra on 13 17 10 or visit their website.
The drop off point is at the Regatta Point Entry.
The Light Rail stops in the city one block from London Circuit. From there you can walk down to London Circuit to catch the Floriade Shuttle, or you can follow the Floriade walk to Commonwealth Park.
Going to Floriade? Leave the car at home and arrive in style on the Floriade Ferry! Enjoy the sights of Lake Burley Griffin as you cruise to Australia’s Biggest Celebration of Spring!
Book here
Walk, Ride or Scoot
Floriade is a pleasant walk from the City Centre. The City Renewal Authority will once again have a 15 minute Floriade walking trail visitors can follow from the City Centre to Floriade.
Walking from the Commonwealth Avenue bus stop near Albert Street will get you to the Regatta Point Entry in about 5 minutes. You can also park in the National Triangle and walk to Floriade in about 20 minutes.
The National Capital Authority has also introduced a ‘Find Your Way to Floriade” scavenger hunt with lots of clues to keep everyone entertained as they walk from the National Triangle to Floriade. Park at Questacon, National Library, Treasury or any other National Triangle carparks and answer all the clues to pick up a temporary flower tattoo from the National Capital Exhibition at Regatta Point.
Please note that pedestrian access along Commonwealth Avenue from the city has changed, for more information, visit the Built for CBR website.
Ride to Floriade and enjoy the fresh spring air. Bicycle racks are located at the Parkes Way and Regatta Point entrance gates to Floriade.
Make sure you bring your own chain and lock, as bicycles and tricycles (including hand propelled tricycles for young children) must be left at the gate.
Scooters are another great option to get to Floriade from your car park or bus stop. Please be aware though that scooters are not allowed to be ridden in the Floriade site.
Coming from out of town?
Canberra Airport is located a short 25 minute drive from Commonwealth Park.
Driving to Canberra is a breeze. Australia’s capital is a three hour drive from Sydney and an eight hour drive from Melbourne. Once in Canberra, visitors to Floriade can walk, ride bikes, catch public transport or the Floriade Shuttle, drive, take a taxi or rideshare to Commonwealth Park.
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