Getting to Floriade

Floriade will be 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.


Plan Your Floriade Trip Before You Arrive

To help you find your way around Floriade, we’ve put together a Floriade site map. Review the map below and plot your path to all that is on offer or download and save for later.

Floriade site map image

Parking

There is very limited parking available at Regatta Point and at Acton Park across from Commonwealth Park. We recommend that motorists utilise other parking areas, including the National Triangle, London Circuit, Canberra Centre, Canberra Institute of Technology and the National Convention Centre car parks. Fees may apply.

Starting at the end of September, construction work will begin on Raising London Circuit and to accommodate this the below car parks will be impacted, reducing overall parking capacity:

  • Corner of Constitution Avenue and London Circuit car park
  • Acton Waterfront car park
  • Corner of London Circuit and Edinburgh Avenue

The map below identifies the parking options around the city. A free shuttle bus service will operate from the city to Floriade and return every day, and an additional service will operate from the National Triangle to Floriade and return on weekends. We encourage you to park closer to this route and take advantage of riding this free service.Scroll down to the Shuttle Bus section for more details.

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.

An accessible parking map is available on the Accessibility page. Click here.

Coranderrk Street and Parkes Way – Weekends only

On weekends only throughout Floriade there will be no right turn onto Coranderrk St from the Parkes Way roundabout. Please use Anzac Parade and Constitution Avenue, or Edinburgh Avenue to access the city carparks.

London Circuit

From 8pm Friday 30 September to 6am Tuesday 4 October, London Circuit eastbound between Northbourne Avenue and East Row will be closed, and from 8pm Friday 7 October to 6am Monday 10 October, London Circuit eastbound between West Row and Northbourne Avenue will be closed.

Starting at the end of September, construction work will begin on Raising London Circuit and to accommodate this the below car parks will be impacted, reducing overall parking capacity:

  • Corner of Constitution Avenue and London Circuit car park
  • Acton Waterfront car park
  • Corner of London Circuit and Edinburgh Avenue.

A FREE shuttle will loop the city every day of the event and also from the National Triangle (Parkes) on weekends. We encourage you to park closer to this route and take advantage of riding this free service. More information and schedules can be found here.

Alternatively if you wish to drive and park yourself, alternate parking can be found nearby.

Car parks closest to the corner of Constitution Avenue and London Circuit, and instructions on how to get to Floriade from there.

1. Canberra Olympic Pool 36 Constitution Avenue – Walk over the Parkes Way footbridge to enter Floriade through Parkes Way Gate

2. CIT Reid at the corner of Constitution Avenue and Coranderrk Street – Cross over Coranderrk Street at the lights heading west to the Civic Pool, then walk over the Parkes Way footbridge at the end of Allara Street. This will allow you to enter Floriade through the Parkes Way Gate. OR Head east and go through the underpass under Parkes Way in front of the new Griffin Development and enter Floriade through Nerang Pool Gate.

3. National Convention Centre multi-storey car park on Constitution Avenue – Walk over the Parkes Way footbridge to enter Floriade through Parkes Way Gate

4. Wilson New Action carpark at 1Phillip Law St – Cross over the Parkway footbridge at the end of Kendal Lane and follow the bike route around to the main entrance at Regatta Point.

For an overview of all the parking and traffic changes please click here.

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) where there is ample coach parking.

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, which is located within the visitors center.

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 be converted into accessible parking and therefore will not be available for the use of buses or coaches.

Due to construction works, no coach and bus parking is available at Acton Park carpark, West Basin. 

Public Transport

Courtesy of the Canberra Centre and the City Renewal Authority, a dedicated Floriade shuttle bus service will run to and from the city every day of Floriade, and on weekends a second route will also cover the National Triangle. 

NightFest 29 September – 2 October

During NightFest three shuttle buses will be running. The first shuttle will leave from the Mooseheads stop on 29 September, or the alternate stop on Platform 9 in the City Bus interchange from 30 September – 2 October at 6pm. The last bus will depart NightFest at 10.45pm.

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.

Pickup and Dropoff Points

  • Mooseheads, 105 London Circuit – Please note – From 6pm Friday 30th September until the last shuttle on Monday 3rd October, the Mooseheads stop (A) will temporarily be moved to Platform 9 in the City Interchange, due to construction.
  • Canberra Centre, Petrie Street
  • Legislative Assembly, London Circuit (on map above as Canberra Museum and Gallery)
  • Floriade Regatta Point Gate, Commonwealth Park

Times:

  • 9am to 5:15pm, Monday to Sunday
  • Approx very 40 minutes weekdays
  • Approx very 20 minutes weekends and public holidays
  • Dates: Saturday 17th September to Sunday 16th October

NightFest Extended Service:

  • 6pm – 10:45pm, Thursday to Sunday
  • Every 20 minutes
  • Dates: 29th September – 2nd October

Route 2 – National Triangle

NIghtFest Update

This service WILL operate during NightFest with 2 shuttles on the route. The first bus will depart from the National Library Stop on King Edward Terrace at 6pm. The last bus will depart NightFest at 10.45pm. (Please disregard notation on map saying this route does not run during NightFest)

National Triangle to Floriade Shuttle Bus: NightFest, Weekends and Public Holidays

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:

  • 9am to 5:15pm, NightFest, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
  • Every 20 minutes
  • Dates: 17-18th September, 24-25th September, 1-3 October, 8-9 October, 15-16th October

NightFest

This service WILL operate during NightFest (29 September – 2 October) with 2 shuttles on the route. the first bus will depart from the National Library Stop on King Edward Terrace at 6pm.

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.

Walk, Ride or Scoot

Floriade is a pleasant walk from the City Centre. Follow the City Renewal Authority’s Floriade walking trail to discover a 15 minute walk from the City Centre to Floriade via City Walk and Allara Street, and across the Parkes Way pedestrian bridge. A digital copy of the route is available so pedestrians can follow the path in person and on a device. You can view this map here or below.

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.

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.