Jacarandas, Sydney HarbourCredit: Destination NSW
View over the jacarandas from First Fleet Park to Sydney Harbour Bridge.
#ilovesydney
Come October, pockets of Sydney bloom in a delightful sea of purple, as the city’s famously beautiful jacaranda trees flower from late October to November across New South Wales. Early in the season the trees are a deep purple, but they take on a deeper shade of blue before covering lawns and footpaths with a mauve carpet. Here’s where to get a hit of lilac.
Eastern Suburbs
For luxury shopping with your lavender hues, head to Oxford Street, Glenmore Road and Five Ways in Paddington, a 10-minute drive from the city centre. Don’t miss The Intersection — the tree-lined point where Glenmore Road meets Oxford Street. This chic enclave is home to high-end Australian designer boutiques and sits opposite the sprawling jacarandas on the Victoria Barracks lawn. Drop into Jackies café for a sunlit brunch in the leafy courtyard.
Guilfoyle Park in Double Bay, a 10-minute drive from central Sydney, makes a nice rest stop under the jacarandas and there’s an organic food market if you visit on a Thursday morning. Or head to harbourside Murray Rose Pool for a swim with a view to the slopes dotted with jacarandas. Nearby Woollahra also boasts a stunning purple haze, and so does the courtyard at historic Vaucluse House in neighbouring Vaucluse.
North Shore
Pack a picnic and head to Sydney’s North Shore for a long lunch under the trees. The leafy suburb of Hunters Hill is awash with bloom in season. Start your walk at the Hunters Hill Club and follow the purple trail wherever it leads. In the heart of Lavender Bay is heritage-listed Wendy’s Secret Garden, which has a spectacular view back to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the foreshore dotted with jacarandas.
Go snap-happy in a little piece of magic by the name of McDougall Street in Kirribilli. In springtime, tourists and locals alike flock to this fairytale avenue, where the splendid arch of jacaranda trees creates a lavender-coloured tunnel, perfect for spring selfies. Just remember to be road-safety aware at all times and mindful of residents.
A 20-minute drive or ferry ride from the city, Woolwich has one of the best jacaranda walks in Sydney. From Woolwich Dock head around Clarkes Point Reserve and across to Kellys Bush Park, perhaps stopping for lunch at the Woolwich Pier Hotel.
Jacaranda Season Sydney Highlights Credit: Destination NSW
A highlight reel of Jacarandas in Sydney.
#Ilovesydney
Jacaranda Season Sydney Highlights Credit: Destination NSW
A highlight reel of Jacarandas in Sydney.
Jacarandas, Paddington Credit: Destination NSW
Jacaranda trees in full bloom along Oxford Street, Paddington.
#ilovesydney
Jacarandas, Paddington Credit: Destination NSW
Jacaranda trees in full bloom along Oxford Street, Paddington.
Jacarandas, Kirribilli Credit: Destination NSW
McDougall Street, Kirribilli.
#ilovesydney
Jacarandas, Kirribilli Credit: Destination NSW
McDougall Street, Kirribilli.
Sydney Harbour
Take a do-it-yourself jacaranda walking tour through the city starting at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, where the most iconic tree is near Farm Cove. From the gardens, pass through Circular Quay and The Rocks to view the trees set against the backdrop of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour and the historic cobblestone streets of The Rocks.
Inner West
Take in some tree history in Sydney’s funky Inner West, where the fashionable streets also pop with jacarandas. Head down Physics Road and Carillon Avenue to see lovely rows of jacarandas on campus at the University of Sydney.
For a brunch or lunch stop, pop into Camperdown’s farm-to-table restaurant Acre or head to nearby Glebe. The streets here are worth a wander for more jacaranda photographs, or head to the Saturday Glebe Markets and enjoy the vibrant Inner West community.
South-West Sydney
Branch out and head southwest to Camden, less than an hour’s drive from Sydney’s centre, where bustling Argyle Street boasts an iconic line of jacaranda trees. The streetscape was brightened in 2017, when eight mature jacarandas were planted in addition to the 39 remaining 90-year-old jacarandas along the strip.
Camden has a three-day Jacaranda Festival in November to celebrate its wonderful lilac gateway, with the lighting of the jacaranda trees, performances from local schools and the chance to sample the delicious fresh produce from the Macarthur region.
Jacarandas, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Jacaranda trees in full bloom in Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
#ilovesydney
Jacarandas, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Jacaranda trees in full bloom in Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
Jacarandas in Spring bloom, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Jacarandas bloom in Glebe.
#ilovesydney
Jacarandas in Spring bloom, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Jacarandas bloom in Glebe.
Victoria and Albert Guesthouse, Mount VictoriaCredit: Blue Mountains City Council
Exterior view of the Victoria and Albert Guesthouse in Mount Victoria.
