Sunshine Coast wildflower festival
The Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival is a community-led celebration of native wildflowers, wallum heathlands and natural areas. Held annually over the last two weeks of August, the festival features guided walks, workshops, talks, exhibitions and nature-based activities hosted by community groups across the region.
Celebrate the Sunshine Coast in bloom
The Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival is a community-led festival held each year over the last two weeks of August.
The festival celebrates the native wildflowers, bushland, and natural places that make our region unique. It is best known for showcasing the colourful wildflowers of the coastal wallum heathlands, one of South East Queensland's most distinctive ecosystems. The festival also highlights forests, wetlands, dunes, conservation reserves and national parks that support a rich diversity of native plants and wildlife.
Across the festival, community groups, environmental organisations, volunteers, artists, educators and government agencies host a wide range of activities that help people connect with nature and learn more about the region's unique flora and landscapes.
Activities are held across the region, from Bribie Island and the Glass House Mountains to Noosa and beyond.
The Story Behind the festival
The Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival began in 1967 through the efforts of Kathleen McArthur, a renowned botanical artist, author, environmental educator and conservation advocate who lived at Caloundra. She was a founding member of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland and dedicated much of her life to helping people discover and appreciate Australia's native wildflowers.
Kathleen was widely known for her detailed botanical paintings and illustrations, which she created to help everyday people identify and understand native plants. Through her artwork, books, wildflower walks, talks and community events, she encouraged Queenslanders to value and protect the natural environment. She described her work as bridging the gap between science and the public.
She was especially passionate about conserving wallum heathlands and other coastal ecosystems of South East Queensland. Her advocacy helped build awareness of the importance of protecting these landscapes and the wildflowers they support.
Today, the festival continues Kathleen's legacy by inspiring people to explore, appreciate and care for the Sunshine Coast's natural environment and native wildflowers.
When is the festival?
The Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival is held annually over the last two weeks of August.
Festival activities are hosted by participating organisations and may occur on different days throughout this period.
What to Expect
Festival activities may include:
- Guided wildflower walks
- Nature talks and presentations
- Workshops and demonstrations
- Art exhibitions and creative experiences
- Citizen science activities
- Family-friendly nature experiences
- Conservation and restoration projects
- Cultural and environmental learning opportunities
Many events are free or low cost, making them accessible to the wider community.
Where can I find festival activities?
The Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival does not have a central booking system or annual printed program.
Participating organisations list and manage their own activities throughout the festival period. To discover upcoming events:
- Follow the Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival Facebook Page
- Search the Sunshine Coast Events website
- Follow participating environmental and community organisations
New events are added by activity hosts as they are confirmed, so check regularly for updates.
Community-led festival
The Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival is a community-led initiative.
The festival is not coordinated or managed by Sunshine Coast Council. While some Council teams may choose to host activities as participants in the festival, Council does not operate the festival on behalf of the wider community.
The festival is supported by a collaborative network of community groups, volunteers, environmental organisations and partner agencies that independently plan and deliver their own activities.
For general festival enquiries, please contact the Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival collaborative via the Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival Facebook Page.
Host an activity
Community groups, environmental organisations, educators, artists, First Nations organisations, volunteers and government agencies are welcome to participate in the festival.
Activity hosts independently plan, permit, insure, promote and deliver their own activities while contributing to the shared celebration of the Sunshine Coast's native wildflowers and natural areas.
If your organisation would like to host a Wildflower Festival activity for the first time, please send a message to the Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival Facebook Page and request a copy of the Activity Host Guide.
The guide provides information on:
- Festival objectives
- Activity host responsibilities
- Planning and approvals
- Risk management considerations
- Event promotion
- Community-led festival governance
The guide is maintained by the festival community and is available to organisations interested in becoming activity hosts.
Keeping Kathleen's vision alive
For almost 60 years, the Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival has helped people discover the beauty of native wildflowers and the importance of protecting the places where they grow.
Whether you're joining a walk, attending a workshop, volunteering, or hosting an activity, you're helping continue a tradition that began with Kathleen McArthur's vision of a community connected to its natural environment.
The 2025 Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival was delivered in partnership with: Sunshine Coast Council, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service & Partnerships, Bribie Island Environmental Protection Association Inc. (BIEPA), Coolum Community Native Nursery, Coolum & North Shore Coast Care, Jen Jay Art, Mooloolah River Landcare, Native Plants Qld (Sunshine Coast Branch), Native Plants Qld (Wallum and Coastal Heathland Study Group), Noosa and District Landcare, Noosa Integrated Catchment Association, Queensland Threatened Plant Network, Sunshine Coast Nature Sketchers, Urban Wildlife Gardens, Wildlife Preservation Society of Qld - Sunshine Coast & Hinterland and Wild/flower Women and Wild/flower Lovers.
Sunshine Coast wildflower identification
Explore the rich biodiversity of Sunshine Coast native wildflowers during the months of July, August and September each year.
Identify a selection of wallum wildflowers with the wildflowers of the Sunshine Coast brochure (PDF, 560KB).
View the Sunshine Coast wildflower festival self-guided walks brochure (PDF, 4192KB) to discover 10 trails you can explore at your own pace. Trails highlighted in this brochure are managed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
Before heading out on your walk please check current information on trail condition, or alerts on their website.
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