One of the great joys of travelling through Australia is our abundance of natural beauty. From late October to November jacaranda season is in full swing in Sydney, and other states across the country.
According to Sydney Living Museums, there are many stories behind the purple haze that fills the city’s streets late in the year. One story credits a hospital matron who sent each newborn home with a jacaranda seedling. A less romantic explanation lies in the fact the trees were a popular civic planting in the beautification programs of the early 20th century and interwar years, right up to the 1950s and 1960s.
Although indigenous to Brazil, the jacaranda has certainly found a home here in Australia, and the effects of the tree in full bloom are truly a sight to see. Here’s where you can see the best of the blooms in Australia this spring, and grab a sneaky snapshot for Instagram while you’re at it.
New South Wales
Sydney City
You can see jacaranda trees in the Royal Botanic Gardens, plus a few trees around Circular Quay and the Rocks.
Eastern Suburbs
Just outside Victoria barracks is Oxford Street where you’ll find some of the most famous jacaranda sights in the suburban backstreets of Paddington. Walk towards the Five Ways in Paddington, then venture into Woollahra and Double Bay for more purple jacaranda trees. Head up to the suburb of Vaucluse for some purply harbour views.
North shore
Go for a trip towards Lavender Bay on Sydney’s lower north shore to see a purple haze hovering above the streets of Wollstonecraft and Waverton. Kirribilli’s jacaranda ‘tunnel’ on McDougall Street is considered to be one of the best displays across the country. If you venture west towards Mosman or further to Hunters Hill, the trees line the streets in a riot of colour,
Inner west
If you’re keen to get a great snap of the purple blooms, try taking a walk through the University of Sydney campus. It’s well known among students that when the flowers begin to bloom, it’s exam time!
You can also take a stroll through Glebe, Camperdown and Erskineville for dots of purple amongst the hustle of the inner west suburbia.
Camden
Around an hour’s drive from Sydney is a little suburb called Camden, where 39 jacaranda trees were planted in the town centre during the 1920s. Thanks to that, every November the township is blessed with a bounty of purple blossoms.
Grafton
Although a hefty six-hour drive from Sydney, every year the city of Grafton hosts the Jacaranda Festival, and this year the festival takes place from October 28 to November 6. For more information, visit the Jacaranda Festival website.
Brisbane
Further north, in Brisbane, you will find jacaranda trees blooming throughout October, and many of the city’s streets are framed by a sea of purple.
The University of Queensland has a spectacular display of purple blooms. New Farm Park, Woolloongabba and the Botanic Gardens are other places where you can find fabulous jacaranda trees in Brisbane.
Perth
The jacarandas start to flower in November and peak in December in Perth. Try the suburbs north of the river such as Inglewood and Subiaco, or south of the river, where Applecross has spectacular jacaranda-lined avenues.
Adelaide
The jacaranda season starts in November in Adelaide and you can find the best sights in the suburbs south of the Botanic Gardens such as Millswood, Goodwood and Unley.
Melbourne
CBD
Although you won’t see any jacaranda trees bloom until December in Melbourne, once they do, the whole city is awash with them. The Royal Botanic Gardens are one of the more popular places to view these pretty blooms, but there are several dotted throughout the CBD, including Parliament House and other historic sandstone buildings.
Fitzroy North
In the heart of Fitzroy North lies the beautiful Edinburgh Gardens, which are home to lines of Jacaranda trees. Perfect for a picnic in the park under a purple canopy, with heaps of amenities like barbecues, picnic tables and pavilions.
Parkville
The University of Melbourne is one of the more famous areas to spot the purple flowers of the Jacaranda. Surrounded by Victorian-era buildings, the contrast is astounding to look at. And if you haven’t had enough in Parkville, head to Royal Parade and Royal Park for more!
