Dog Friendly Table Cape Tulip Farm

There is nothing like a field of one type of flower enmasse creating an endless carpet of colour. What gives me a huge smile is when that field of flowers belongs to a flower farm that is dog friendly!

Here in Tassie we have several wonderful dog friendly flower farms. I’m going to tell you about the first one on the North West Coast that accepts dogs and actively encourages you to bring your dog along for a bloomin’ time!

Table Cape Tulip Farm

Set just out of the township of Wynyard on the top of what is left of a 12 million year old volcano known as Table Cape, which dominates the coastline (you can’t miss Table Cape when driving along the Bass Highway to the West, it is 180 metres high!), is Table Cape Tulip Farm. I have been going to the tulip farm since 2014 with my dogs and it is one of my favourite flower farms along the coast to visit with George and Inca.

The flowers are always in one or two fields and look stunning with the various bright colours all enmasse, creating a striking view flowing down towards Table Cape Lighthouse and the blue of Bass Strait sea beyond. The size of the field makes for a great dog friendly walk around the edge, through the middle or up and down the various rows of colourful tulips.

When to Visit

The best time to visit is usually the first two weeks of October with a few days either side, this is when the flowers are at their best creating a stunning display. When the farm opens, is weather dependent, sometimes the tulips can be early or late. If it has rained be prepared with gumboots, wellingtons or boots you won’t mind getting clogged with the rich red soil, your pooch is not going to stay clean long either! I find that if it has rained in the morning I’ll wait until the afternoon when the wind and sun has dried the ground out and I don’t need to worry about the red mud. The farm does provide gumboots if you don’t have any.

Things to do at the Tulip Farm

Apart from taking your time with your dog walking around the tulips and taking loads of photos, Table Cape Tulip Farm usually has various events scheduled throughout the short weeks it is open that you can go along too with your dog.

• Tunes in the Tulips – we attended one year with 5 dogs and had the most marvellous time with a picnic for us and the dogs on the grass with a glass of wine. It is a ticketed event usually advertised on Table Cape Tulips Farms website.
• Sunrise Photography – as the name suggests, a perfect opportunity to take photos of the tulips as the sun rises on the horizon and splashes the fields with that glorious early morning light. another ticketed event.
• Art display – this is inside the big shed and unfortunately the shed is not dog friendly, so you will need to take turns going inside to look.
• Table Cape Lighthouse and walk – not really at the tulip farm but the fields of flowers look down to the Lighthouse which is dog friendly. You can also take a short stroll from the lighthouse along the cliff-top to the lookout and back again. An easy 1.6km walk on well maintained gravel path.

Bloomin’ Tulips Festival

Although not located at the tulip farm but in Wynyard itself down along the water front in Gutteridge Gardens, this year (2024) the festival is set for October 12th Saturday, the festival is dog friendly. It can get very crowded so ensure your dog is fine with walking in crowds. You will need to bring water and poo bags with you. We had a lovely time attending with five dogs one year, and there was plenty of space to get away from the crowds to give the dogs a break from all the petting and admiration. There are craft stalls, food stalls, music and rides to entertain you and give your dog something to sniff at. The festival is free to attend.

Wynyard Foreshore Tulip Market

Like the Bloomin’ Tulips Festival another dog friendly place to visit is the Wynyard Foreshore Market. The Tulip Market is on this year (2024) October 12th, Saturday from 8am-2pm. Although not at the tulip farm the Foreshore Market is located in Wynyard along the foreshore on the Old Bass Highway (C240), and is on at the same time as the Festival. It is a popular market, outside of the tulip festival time it’s regularly held the first and third Sunday of every month. If you are looking for some early Christmas presents or some pooch treats then take a stroll along the foreshore through the stalls. Keep dogs on lead and be mindful of others, picking up any mess your pup may decide to drop along the way. Directly opposite the market is a beach which is off lead before 10am, perfect to tire your dog out and get rid of any excess energy before the stroll through the market or the festival.