WORKSHOPS
Check out our exciting selection of Workshops.
Numbers are strictly limited at each workshop and bookings have to be made directly with the workshop convener – so make sure you get in early and pre-book via the link in the particular workshop details below. Unless otherwise specified, workshops will be held in the Workshop Shelters – the area at the Northern end of the Children’s Playground.
**Remember – you must also purchase a Botanical Bazaar festival entry ticket to attend these workshops.
Native Flower Arrangement Workshop
Saturday
2 August
1pm to 2pm
Sunday
3 August
11am to 12pm
$30 per person
Join Flowers by Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens for a demonstration/ workshop to be guided through effective techniques to create your own floral arrangement using our beautiful Australian native flowers and foliage.
Create Your Own Bonsai
Saturday
2 August &
Sunday 3 August
12pm to 2pm
$80 per person
Learn the history, care and styling rules of bonsai with Kim from Lilliannah Bonsai. With over 35 years experience and a qualified Japanese teacher, your lesson will include all the vital steps to create and maintain a healthy tree. Choose 1 from 3 species of tree ( Clerodendron, Japanese Box or a Murraya- Mock Orange )
Grow Your own Dragon Fruit
Saturday
2 August
11am to 12pm
Sunday
3 August
12pm to 1pm
$35 per person
Introduction to Dragon Fruit – Brief overview of varieties, benefits, and why they’re great for home growers.
Potting Demonstration – Step-by-step guide on choosing the right pot, soil mix, and planting techniques.
Care Tips – Watering, fertilizing, sunlight needs, and common issues.
Take-Home Planting – Each participant pots their own dragon fruit cutting to take home.
Q&A & Resources – Answer questions and provide a care guide.
Bee all Natural - Make a Seed Bomb
Saturday
2 August
11am to 12 pm
$10 per person
Join us for a fun and educational hands-on workshop to make your own seed bomb with clay and soil to plant in your garden.
Saturday
2 August &
Sunday 3 August
10am to 11 am
Free of Charge
Discover how to cultivate rich, vibrant soil teeming with life in this hands-on demonstration focused on organic soil-building techniques. Learn the essential role of organic amendments and cover crops in restoring and maintaining long-term soil health. We’ll explore practical methods like composting, using worm castings, mulching, and effective watering strategies—all rooted in organic principles. We also cover integrated pest management and how your soil health plays a role in mitigating pests and disease. Whether you’re growing in small pots and containers, or in garden beds in the ground, this session will give you actionable insights into creating and nurturing living soil systems that support healthy plants, resilient ecosystems, and sustainable growing practices. Presented by The Shed Organics.
Bee a bee Keeper
Saturday
2 August &
Sunday
3 August
10am to 11am
$10 per person
Join us for a fun and educational hands-on workshop where kids can become junior beekeepers for the day! At “Bee A Beekeeper,” children will explore the fascinating world of honeybees, learn how honey is made, and discover the vital role bees play in our ecosystem. Through interactive activities, they will get to see, feel and taste honeycomb and honey that they will hand extract. Guided by experienced educational beekeepers, kids will gain insights into hive maintenance, bee behavior, and honey extraction. Each participant will take home a newfound appreciation for these incredible insects. Perfect for curious minds and nature lovers, this workshop promises a buzz-worthy adventure! Presented by Bee All Natural.
Grow your own Microgreens
Saturday 2 August
10am to 11.30am
Sunday 3 August
1pm to 2.30pm
$55 per person
In this fun and informative workshop Paula from Grow Wise Microgreens will tell you all about these tiny veggies, provide tastings and then walk you through sowing your own microgreens. You will take home your sown cup along with a beautiful pottery piece to display it in and extra supplies to continue growing microgreens at home. Suitable for green thumbs and newbies alike, ages from 8 to 98!
Paper Leaf Printing
Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 August
10am to 11am
$10 per person
Suzeela’s unique botanical artworks are by and about plants, using paper created from plants and decorated with botanical images and inserts and motifs created with inks also made from plants.
Recycling Small Things
Saturday 2 August
3pm to 3.30pm
Free of Charge
Workshop on recycling with props and ideas on how to get the most out of your recycling. How to help the planet with recycling ideas and where to recycle. Presented by Frank Sauter from Rotary Rotate program.
Extracting Eucalyptus from Leaves
Saturday 2 August
12.30pm to 1.30pm
Sunday 3 August
1pm to 2pm
Free of Charge
Extract essential oil from eucalyptus leaves through distillation. This process captures the aromatic compounds, creating a concentrated oil used for various therapeutic and aromatic applications. Presented by Snowy Mountains Eucalyptus.
Biodiversity Collage Workshop
Saturday 2 August
2pm to 4pm
$20 per adult
$10 per student
Dive into the wonders of biodiversity with an interactive, collaborative session designed to deepen your understanding and inspire action. Through a fun and engaging card game, we’ll explore:
What biodiversity is and why it matters
The vital role biodiversity plays in our lives
The challenges biodiversity faces today
Practical actions we can take to protect it
All about Bromeliads
Saturday 2 August
2pm to 3pm
Sunday 3 August
10am to 11am
Gold Coin Donation for Cancer
Learn the different types of bromeliads and how to grow and care for them with Greg Aizlewood from Greg and Narelles’s Bromeliads
Bokashi Bucket Workshop
Saturday 2 August
1pm to 2pm
$60 per person
Participants would make a bokashi bin from a bucket and learn how Bokashi works as well as methods of disposing of Bokashi watse , such as a soil factory.
Intro to Home Mushroom Growing
Saturday 2 August &
Sunday 3 August
12pm to 1pm
$50 per person
Perfect for total newbies, this introductory workshop will give you a taste of mushroom growing.
You’ll learn the easiest technique to grow mushrooms at home and leave with your very own mushroom bucket you make during the workshop.
This in-person workshop is taught by industry experts with many years of growing experience – you’ll leave feeling confident and equipped with the best advice on how to successfully grow mushrooms at home.
Gold Coast 2035 Workshop - Creating Positive Futures Together
Saturday 2 August
2pm to 3.30pm
Sunday 3 August
1pm to 2.30pm
$5 per person
Come along for fun and creative conversations to dream up a future Gold Coast full of possibilities!
Together we’ll learn about what it might take to run our city – The Gold Coast on renewable energy and discuss positive local solutions in a climate changing world.
Using props and uplifting conversations, we’ll build visions for a more connected and resilient community, cheap clean energy for all, active transport, a nature-loving Goldie protected with more positive looking future.
Come and join this relaxed mini-workshop for a fresh vision of what your life could look like in 2035, and fun conversations!
Numbers are strictly limited at each workshop and bookings have to be made so make sure you get in early and pre-book below.
Make your own Aglaonema Slump Bowl
Saturday 2 August
1pm to 2pm
$60 - Bowl
These Aglaonema Slump Bowls are Super Resilient! Learn how and why to layer your bowls with Leca, Geo Fabric and Specialised Soilless Media to create and sustainable indoor and patio plant that only needs the occasional water!
We show you why its important to create a little reservoir at the bottom and teach you how to look after your slump bowl plant and why it works so well!
The work shop includes 1 choice from 2x types of slumps bowls and 2x types of Aglaonemas. Leka, Geo Fabric, Soilless Mix, a pinch of We the Wild Slow Release Pellets and Mycos (beneficial fungi) ALL INCLUDED! A fertilising reservoir with multiple liquid fertilisers will also be made up and available for you to give your Aglaonema its first water!
How to Care for Your Pruning Tools
Saturday 2 August
2.30pm to 3.30pm
Sunday 3 August
11am to 12pm
Free of Charge
How to Care for Your Pruning Tools
Learn how to clean, sharpen and lubricate your pruning tools including secateurs, loppers and shears. Tony from CutAbove Tools will demonstrate how to clean and sharpen your tools without having to pull them apart. Bring in two of your tools (eg. Secateurs) and you can effectively service them during this workshop. All cleaning materials and sharpening tools provided. This workshop is extremely well received at Garden Clubs so get in quickly – spaces are limited.
