With the theme Science and Nature, Floriade 2025 welcomed a preview on a sunny, cloudless day ahead of its opening on Saturday. 

Attracting 470,000 visitors last year, this year, event organisers hope to ratchet up their support to more than half a million.

“We will exceed this number if it gets a run of good weather, but that’s our ballpark for this year,” says Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

“As the gates prepare to swing open for the opening weekend, we not only warmly welcome the arrival of spring in Canberra, but the beginning of a blockbuster season of events for our city, our peak tourist period.

In addition to 12 garden bed displays, all structured and designed by local designers and CIT students, 300,000 additional bulbs have been distributed to more than 100 local community groups to celebrate spring.

Floriade figures show that 46 per cent of its income comes locally, with 54 per cent of tourists travelling from Sydney, regional NSW, Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Construction upheaval around Civic and Commonwealth Park may be an impediment on parking due to Stage 2B of the light rail.

“There will be extra parking for those with disabled permits at the gate,” says Mr Barr.

“There’s also hundreds of new car parks on Constitution Avenue and a new structured car park in the city within walking distance of the footbridge.”

Shuttle busses will run frequently from the surrounding car parks within the Parliamentary Triangle and the CBD on weekends and express buses will be travelling from town centres.

Floriade 2025 will feature the annual Great Bulb Dig as well as the Dogs’ Day Out on October 12.

Floriade, Commonwealth Park, September 13-October 12.