Two-Day Pre-Conference Tour leaving and returning to Marcoola

Dates: 12-13th August 2026

This tour, led by Jeremy Smith, respected horticulture instructor, consultant and wildflower grower, is limited to only 21 people who have full Conference or partner registrations. Travelling by minibus, participants will depart from the SurfAir Events Centre at Marcoola on the Sunshine Coast early on 12 August and journey inland for an overnight stay outside Brisbane (location to be advised) before returning in time for the Registration Reception on 13 August.

The tour has been designed to deliver a concise yet highly informative snapshot of a diverse range of operations from propagation media production all the way to flower wholesaling.

The tour will visit:

• Bugs for Bugs (Commercial predator production site)

• Cedar Hill Group - Woombye (Premium Greens and Australian Plants Online)

• The Cotton Bunch – Hampton Wildflower Farm site

• A major Brisbane flower wholesaler

• Proptec (Wholesale nursery / horticultural products)

Given the distance to be covered and the number of properties to be visited, attendees should expect to be in the bus for around four hours each day and be prepared for early starts. You are responsible for booking and paying for your own accommodation on this tour and for paying for most meals.

Registration

To register, you must already have full Conference or partner registration.

WildFlowers Australia Member - $355

Must be a fully-paid, current member of WildFlowers Australia

Non Members - $475

Non-refundable after 4th August 2026

Please note, the tour may be altered or cancelled in the case of forecast adverse weather conditions that could impact road and access safety and/ or other unforeseen circumstances.

Four-day Pre-Conference Tour from Sydney to Marcoola

Dates: 10-13th August 2026

This Four-Day Pre-Conference Tour is a high-intensity, self-drive tour led by Jonathan Lidbetter of East Coast Wildflowers. Limited to 25 people who have full Conference or partner registrations, the tour starts on Monday 10th August in Sydney, New South Wales, and travels more than 1,400km to finish on the Sunshine Coast in time for the Registration Reception on Thursday 13th August.

The tour has been designed to expand the knowledge of participants by visiting operations that span the industry, from propagation media through nursery production to farms and a flower wholesaler, with a look at associated activities including the incorporation of wedding venues and holiday accommodation. Wild harvest processing, online wholesale nursery operations and a visit to one of Australia’s leading producers of biological control agents and beneficial insects are also included.

Some of the locations to be visited include:

• East Coast Wildflowers (Mangrove Mountain production farm)

• Mountain Nursery

• The Barn (Flower farm also offering a wedding venue and holiday accommodation)

• Gondwana Wholesale Nursery

• A major Brisbane wholesaler

• Proptec (Wholesale nursery / horticultural products)

• Bugs for Bugs (Predator production site)

• Cedar Hill Group (Woombye site - Premium Greens and Australian Plants online)

• Some other sites yet to be finalised

Optional bonus! A visit to Sydney Flower Market and East Coast Wildflowers’ wholesale warehouse at Sydney’s Flemington Markets: starts 5:30 am on the morning of the first day (Monday August 10).

We have worked hard to ensure the daily program can generally be completed in daylight hours, but it includes days of up to 6 hours of driving. This will mean early starts on most days.

You are responsible for booking and paying for your own accommodation on the pre_ conference tour and for paying for most meals.

Recommended accommodation locations will be provided once the final program is confirmed.

Registration

To register, you must already have full Conference or partner registration.

WildFlowers Australia Member - $345

Must be a fully-paid, current member of WildFlowers Australia

Non Members - $460

Non-refundable after 2nd August 2026

Please note, the tour may be altered or cancelled in the case of forecast adverse weather conditions that could impact road and access safety and/ or other unforeseen circumstances.