Local tour company puts packages together for Toowoomba’s debut at iconic travel destination

A boutique Toowoomba travel company is partnering with Queensland Country Tourism on a range of travel packages for Australians wanting to experience an utterly unique Singaporean getaway.

The three, five and seven-night packages will run between September 23 and November 17 and coincide with an Australian-first display in the Gardens by The Bay Flower Dome.

The collaborative project between Gardens by the Bay and Toowoomba Regional Council, with industry support from Toowoomba Surat Basin Enterprise and Queensland Country Tourism (QCT), will see an 850m² horticulture display commemorate the 75th anniversary of Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald said this was the first time an Australian location would feature in the coveted pop-up displays which rotate through the world-renowned Gardens by the Bay.

“The Gardens by the Bay is one of the most visited destinations in the world and the pop-up display depicting the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, regional fresh produce, and First Nations culture will show to more than 500,000 people over two months,” Mayor McDonald said.

“This is the first time any Australian location has been offered an opportunity to be on display at the Gardens by the Bay. The honour is normally reserved for countries, not cities or regions like ours,” he said.

“It is a coup for our region and has come about through building a relationship based on collaboration and respect between ourselves as the Garden City of Australia and Singapore’s premier world-renowned garden attraction, Gardens by the Bay.

“This will put Toowoomba on a world stage and has enormous potential for our local economy through generating awareness of Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers and our city more broadly.”

The Gardens by the Bay is a nature park spanning 105 hectares (260 acres) in the Central Region of Singapore featuring the largest greenhouse in the world called The Flower Dome which will host the Toowoomba pop-up exhibit.

“We are taking a taste of Australia’s longest-running flower show to Singapore with unique Australian plants, a little bit of whimsy and the fun-filled atmosphere of what we create here each year,” Mayor McDonald said.

“By leveraging our unique assets and identifying opportunities to collaborate with global cities I think there is an opportunity for us to find a niche to thrive in the global economy,” he said.

“It is also great that a locally owned and operated tour company has seized the initiative and brought their experience to the table to offer bespoke tours for residents who want to see Toowoomba debut at one of the iconic destinations of the world.

“What an amazing moment in time it will be. Standing in an iconic garden 6000km away from home looking at plants that were shipped from Toowoomba as part of this incredible opportunity.”

Toowoomba-based travel firm Icon Adventures have the Singapore packages listed at Gardens by the Bay - Icon Adventures