The Rotary Botanical Bazaar is more than a garden festival. It is a vibrant community celebration where plants, people and purpose come together in the heart of the Gold Coast. Held at the beautiful Country Paradise Parklands in Nerang, the event invites visitors to learn new skills, discover sustainable living ideas, and reconnect with the simple joy of growing fresh food and beautiful gardens.
This year’s theme, Garden to Plate, celebrates the journey from seed to harvest and highlights the growing importance of local food, sustainable gardening and healthy living. From edible gardens and expert talks to fresh produce, workshops and hands-on experiences, Botanical Bazaar inspires people to grow their own, share knowledge and create stronger connections with nature and community.
Run by volunteers from the Rotary Club of Gold Coast, Botanical Bazaar brings together gardeners, families, artisans, educators, musicians and sustainability advocates for one unforgettable day of learning, entertainment and community spirit. More than 50 Rotary volunteers, alongside local community groups and not-for-profit organisations, help create an event that is warm, welcoming and filled with purpose.
The event proudly lives by its tagline: Learn, Grow and Thrive. Visitors can learn from leading gardening experts and sustainability educators, grow their knowledge and confidence through practical workshops and demonstrations, and thrive through stronger community connections and healthier, more sustainable lifestyles.
Importantly, every ticket sold helps give back to the Gold Coast community. Funds raised support youth programs, scholarships, community gardens, environmental initiatives, domestic violence support services and volunteer organisations including the Volunteer Coast Guard.
Country Paradise Parklands is a wonderful, open space, community-managed parklands situated in Nerang, including an adventure playground for the kids. The centrepiece of the adventure playground is the 11.5m windmill with mega slide, accessed via a water-tank tunnel and swing bridge. Wrapping around the entire playground space is a creek bed with water play elements. There are toddler and primary schooler play spaces, as well as the central playground for everyone to enjoy. The water play area features water pumps, troughs and ramps, encouraging the kids to build natural channels for the water to flow. There is also a wide concrete path that circles the playground, with a few ramps and jumps built in for scooter riding.