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More than a million sunflowers will bloom at this Scenic Rim festival in May 

Credit: Getty/Gaitanides

Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
This feel-good festival offers dazzling golden fields, family-friendly fun and the chance to pick your own blooms – all for a charitable cause.

Fields of sunshine yellow will once again light up the Scenic Rim this autumn as the Kalbar Sunflower Festival returns from 1–3 May 2026. 

Held in the country town of Kalbar, around an hour and 15 minutes south-west of Brisbane, the much-loved event transforms eight hectares of farmland into a sea of more than one million sunflowers, all backdropped by the Scenic Rim’s gorgeous mountain scenery. Attracting more than 13,000 visitors each year, the festival makes for a vibrant and memorable day trip from Brisbane.  

This year’s program promises a giant sunflower maze and all-new Dinosaur Land activation, plus live music, food trucks, educational community workshops and a range of free children’s activities. 

A festival with heart

kalbar sunflower festival
Snap a pic among more than one million blooms. (Credit: Kalbar Sunflowers)

Beyond the beautiful blooms, the event has a deeper purpose: honouring community, generosity and togetherness in times of hardship. Since its beginnings, Kalbar Sunflower Festival has raised funds for cancer and palliative care across south-east Queensland. Visitors can pick their own sunflowers for $2 a stem (or purchase a pre-cut bunch), with all proceeds from sunflowers, raffles and certain activations donated to charity partners. This year, organisers are focusing on raising money to provide cuddle beds for hospitals across the region – special beds that allow families to lie together during palliative care, creating precious moments of closeness when they matter most. 

The festival’s story itself is rooted in resilience. In 2021, local farmers Jenny and Russell Jenner were facing one of Queensland’s longest droughts in living memory. With their usual crops struggling in the dry conditions, a simple idea sparked inspiration: sunflowers thrive with little water and their vibrant colour brings instant joy. From that moment, the seeds of the festival were planted. 

Later that year, Russell was diagnosed with Stage 4 Oesophageal Cancer. Rather than step back, he became even more driven to foster positivity, raising more than $115,000 for cancer care at the 2022 and 2023 festivals. While Russell sadly passed away in 2023, Jenny remains determined to continue farming, supporting the personal cause and bringing joy to visitors through the annual festival. Since 2022, Jenny and the team have raised more than $435,000. 

“This event showcases the unique connection between our state’s vibrant communities and the diverse regions they call home," says Andrew Powell MP, the Queensland Minister for the Environment and Tourism. “Events like the Kalbar Sunflower Festival bring people together, celebrate local culture and contribute significantly to the community’s pride and economy." 

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The 2026 festival program

kalbar sunflower festival installation
The festival brings together community engagement, creativity and nature. (Credit: Kalbar Sunflowers)

From murals to reflection gardens, petting farms to photo ops, the Kalbar Sunflower Festival offers buckets of entertainment for all ages.  

Kids will be heading straight for the Children’s Hub, where they can meet furry friends at the petting farm, enjoy a range of creative crafts and take snaps in the dedicated kids’ photo booths. There will also be face painting, Carissa the Bubble Princess and a station for making seed bombs under the guidance of the Urban Utilities team. Plus, an all-new Dinosaur Land area and a sensory and fairy garden will bring extra enchantment. 

But there’s plenty of fun for adults, too. Find your way through the sunflower maze, add your own flourish to the community mural painting and check out the variety of food and drink vendors, as well as the revamped market stalls. Also new this year is the paid Sunflower Stage area ($15 per person), where visitors can bring a picnic blanket or camp chair, enjoy a drink from Boonah Brewery Co and listen to a lineup of talented musos.  

Ticket information

Tickets go on sale in March 2026. With visitor numbers capped and previous years selling out quickly, organisers recommend booking early to secure your spot. 

Entry is $35 for adults (18+) and $15 for teens aged 15 to 17, while children aged 14 and under attend free (no ticket required). 

Tickets include entry to the farm, access to the sunflower fields, free children’s activities and a range of festival activations throughout the grounds. 

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Eleanor Edström
Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or hunting down Sydney's cosiest cafes.
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From reef to rainforest: Discover the best Port Douglas experiences

(Credit: TTNQ)

    Lucy Cousins Lucy Cousins
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    Ancient rainforest, coral reefs, laid-back luxury and adrenaline-fuelled adventures, Port Douglas offers a side of Australia unlike anywhere else.

    Mornings in Port Douglas start with a beautiful symphony. As day breaks, the lyrical calls of Rainbow Lorikeets, cries of the sulphur-crested cockatoos and rhythmic Coral Sea waves create a colourful soundtrack for Tropical North Queensland’s sunrise. If there’s one place in Australia that captures the sweet spot between luxury and laid-back living, it’s here. This small, seaside village has just enough glamour to feel indulgent and just enough barefoot charm to make you feel like you’ve escaped the chaos of everyday life.

    Whether you’re diving into the warm waters on Four Mile Beach or enjoying an ice-cold drink and a Barramundi burger overlooking the marina, Port Douglas offers more than just a seaside holiday.

    Local gourmet goodies

    Nautilus restaurant port douglas
    Nab an open-air table beneath a canopy of palms at Nautilus. (Image: Toby Stanley)

    The tropical food scene in Port Douglas is influenced by the rich agricultural regions surrounding it, with fresh produce arriving daily from nearby farms and tropical growers across the region. At Nautilus – a hidden, palm-fringed restaurant just off Macrossan Street – the menu showcases regional flavours. Its Signature Nautilus Mango Soufflé is a long-time favourite.

    Nearby, Hi-Tide by the Beach offers a relaxed way beachfront dining experience overlooking the Coral Sea. From crocodile and lemon myrtle spring rolls to wild barramundi and a volcanic hot stone steak, taste the diverse flavours of Tropical North Queensland.

    Visitors can also explore the region’s local markets. Port Douglas Markets offers artisan products and tropical treats each Sunday, while the Saturday morning Mossman Markets is the place for fresh local produce from the surrounding farming community.

    Just outside of Port Douglas, Ospreys at Thala Beach Nature Reserve has one of the region’s most memorable dining outlooks. Perched on a small headland between rainforest and sea, take in views across the coastline and mountains while you dine. The seasonal menu highlights local seafood, tropical fruits and native ingredients sourced from across the region

    Travelling with young humans

    Hartley's Crocodile Adventures port douglas
    Catch a spectacle at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. (Credit: TTNQ)

    Port Douglas caters for all types of visitors, but families especially love the walkable streets, wide beaches and range of activities nearby. An attraction that never fails to delight all ages is Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures – a wildlife sanctuary and ecotourism park with some of the region’s largest crocodiles. Here, you’ll also find koalas, cassowaries, turtles and other Australian wildlife.

    For something slower paced, sit back and enjoy a tranquil visit aboard the historic Lady Douglas River Cruise. Glide along the calm waters of Dickson Inlet, keeping an eye out for birdlife and estuarine crocodiles along the mangroves. Children can take part in activity sheets onboard and even have the opportunity to help steer the boat.

    This region is also deeply connected to Indigenous culture, and a Dreamtime Walk is one way to learn about it. Discover the stories, traditions and connection to Country of the local Kuku Yalanji people from local Indigenous guides, while exploring the rainforest and waters of Mossman Gorge.

    Exploring local waterways

    Coya Beach port douglas
    Walk along the peaceful Cooya Beach. (Credit: TTNQ)

    Join a guided tour with Walkabout Cultural Adventures to explore the peaceful Cooya Beach. Led by deeply knowledgeable local Aboriginal guides, try seasonal local bush tucker, take in the beautiful landscape and gain insight into the history, culture and traditions of this land.

    Surrounded by dense canopy and ancient species, nearby Hartley’s Creek Falls are at their finest after rain. These beautiful falls are reached via a lush rainforest walk that winds through creek crossings, towering greenery and moss-covered boulders.

    To swim where the locals swim, head out past local farms and into the foothills of the Mossman River to Shannonvale – a low-key freshwater swimming hole surrounded by sun-warmed rocks and deep pockets of clear water. It’s a quiet area to spend a few hours retreating from the world.

    Adrenaline adventures

    Sailaway Port Douglas
    Take to the ocean with Sailaway Port Douglas. (Credit: TTNQ)

    One of the most high-octane ways to enjoy the nature of Tropical North Queensland is white-water rafting down the impressive Barron River. With Grade two and Grade three rapids, expect plenty of splashing, some teamwork, and a few moments where everyone in the raft screams and laughs at the same time.

    Join Back Country Bliss for the most unique floating experience you’ll ever encounter. Head into the rainforest and float along the serene Mossman River on your individual board, taking in the sights and sounds of the ancient landscape around you.

    If you prefer ocean swimming, Sailaway Port Douglas explores the idyllic Low Isles and the outer reef on their snorkelling tours. Enjoy the Great Barrier Reef from above or below and look out for coral gardens, giant clams, colourful reef fish and, if you’re lucky, sea turtles.

    For land-lovers, the Devil’s Thumb is a challenging but rewarding hike with incredible views over the coast and endless cane fields. This 10km return hike will take around six to eight hours, so leave a whole day and pack snacks!

    Experiences that give back

    Skyrail Rainforest Cableway port douglas experiences
    See the rainforest from above on The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. (Credit: TTNQ)

    With two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites – the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics of Queensland rainforest region – it’s not surprising Tropical North Queensland is a hub for eco-tourism. The stunning Daintree Ecolodge was founded on the principles of minimising environmental impact, supporting the local community and teaching guests about the local Indigenous culture. Their elevated rainforest-style ‘bayans’ are tucked among the trees, bringing nature into every part of a guest’s stay.

    Further down the coast, the luxury bungalows and treetop hideaways of Thala Beach Nature Reserve are dotted across 45 acres of protected headland, forest and beach. The property’s design intentionally preserves large areas of native vegetation and beachfront ecosystem, while conserving the surrounding habitat. The private beach and various swimming pools offer a cool retreat from the heat of the day, while the main lodge offers the perfect place to read and relax.

    The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, a 7.5-kilometre cableway between Cairns and nearby Kuranda, has won multiple tourism and environmental awards. It’s also the first tourism attraction in the world to achieve Platinum EarthCheck Accreditation, for its long-term environmental management and sustainability initiatives.

    Start planning your Port Douglas adventure at tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au.

    More than a million sunflowers will bloom in the Scenic Rim in May  - Australian Traveller