Sydney Jacarandas: Best Streets, Etiquette & Quiet Spots

Nothing says springtime in Sydney/Eora like a street full of jacaranda trees in bloom. Depending on weather conditions, jacaranda season usually peaks in October and November, filling Sydney's laneways, parklands, and roadsides with the lilac coloured blooms. 

Legend has it that in the 1950s, a North Sydney midwife went around gifting jacaranda seedlings to every baby born at her hospital. Whether or not this is the true reason that our city is awash with purple each spring, we'll probably never know—but nothing beats the combo of purple florals backdropped by a bright blue sky, so we certainly aren't complaining. 

After careful deliberation, these are Urban List's picks for the best places to wander among the jacaranda trees in Sydney this spring.

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• Jump To When Do Jacarandas Bloom in Sydney?
• Jump To Low-Crowd Routes by Area
• Jump To CBD Jacaranda Spots 
• Jump To Etiquette & Parking (Read Before You Go)

When Do Jacarandas Bloom in Sydney?

Purple rain isn’t unusual for Sydney’s spring season. Amongst every other flower bud opening petals towards the sun, jacaranda trees are preparing to blossom beautifully along our city’s streets.

October marks the official start to our jacaranda season, with the middle dates of the month often seeing the first trees undergo their vibrant transformations. Lasting until the end of the following month, jacaranda season is at its peak during the first week of November. That crossover period between the end of October and the beginning of November is your best bet to see the most colourful and abundant blooms–that’s also when they’re most photogenic (for that Insta post you’re planning). Start planning your spring day out.

Low-Crowd Routes by Area

Best Jacarandas In Sydney's North

Kirribilli

North Sydney

Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied

McDougall Street in Kirribilli is probably Sydney's most famous jacaranda grove. It turns a magical shade of vibrant violet each spring and is a hot spot for jacaranda devotees trying to get the perfect spring photo.

Low-crowd moments are possible, though; you just need to avoid the busy 10am until 2pm period on weekends. Get up bright and early, or pick a weekday you have off work, and go explore this purple-spotted street—just be mindful of residents and traffic.

Insider Intel

• If you find yourself here on a weekend, it's worth stopping by some of the best markets in Sydney, Kirribilli markets. It's one of my go-to spots to score some secondhand finds (and you'll luck out on wardrobe clear-outs).

Hunters Hill 

North Shore

Hunters Hill is a beautiful leafy suburb at the best of times, but when the jacaranda trees reach peak bloom, it’s even prettier. Our hot tip is to start at the Hunters Hill Club and wander your way down—from here you can walk to any of the surrounding suburbs, or catch the view of the trees that line the water below the Gladesville Bridge.

Insider Intel

• Stop over at the beer garden at the Hunters Hill Hotel for an afternoon pint—it's right in the centre of all the action.

Lavender Bay

North Sydney

Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied

Lavender Bay is aptly named—the entire suburb turns a rich shade of purple in Spring, thanks to its epic Jacaranda trees. The colours have tourists coming from miles, and make for an epic photo opportunity against the pretty Sydney Harbour background.

The trees are pretty abundant around the area, so the crowd doesn’t stick in just one spot, making it that little bit less intense. To secure a more private moment, though, it’s best to schedule your stroll for outside of those busy midday lunch hours. 

Insider Intel

• Stick around until dusk—this is one of our favourite spots to catch the sunset in Sydney.

Woolwich 

Lower North Shore

Woolwich is another Sydney gem if you want to see jacaranda trees in full bloom this spring in Sydney.

Start at The Old School House before heading for an hour-and-a-half walk around Woolwich, complete with harbour views. We suggest you walk through Kelly’s Bush and finish up at the old Woolwich Dock. 

Insider Intel

• If the weather is warm, stop by Woolwich Baths for a quick dip (they're free, and shark netted), and finish up by grabbing a drink at the Woolwich Pier Hotel—it offers a great view of the harbour foreshore.

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Best Jacarandas In Sydney's East

Oxford Street 

Paddington

Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied

The Eastern Suburbs is a regular go-to for any jacaranda fanatic; this is where you come to spend an afternoon meandering down Oxford Street, with a coffee in one hand and a camera in the other.

You’ll want to head off the main drag for a little bit of extra exploring because there are jacaranda trees scattered throughout the entire suburb, like the Barracks Reserve, and that's where the real magic happens.

Insider Intel

• In terms of things to do, Paddington is spoilt for choice—break up the walk by popping into some of Sydney's best boutiques, or grab a liquid lunch at one of the nearby restaurants: we love the pool bar at Oxford House. 

Murray Rose Pool

Double Bay

Image credit: Woollhara Council | Instagram

When the weather starts to warm up, you can't miss the stunning jacaranda display on the fringes of Murray Rose Pool (also known as Redleaf) in Double Bay. Within the shark-netted swimming enclosure, there are multiple pontoons that you can swim out to and chill—the closest thing to a European summer you'll get in Sydney's East. 

Insider Intel

• This spot is easily missed, as it's just off New South Head Road—we recommend finding a park in the surrounding streets opposite the pool, and taking a squiz at the amazing houses as you walk from your car. 

Best Jacarandas In Sydney's West

Glebe

Inner West

With long, winding streets of jacaranda trees and some of the best food in Sydney—including the combined bookstore, cafe and bar that is Sappho’s Cafe—you can consider your afternoon sorted. Glebe is a short walk from plenty of the other spots on this list, so we reckon it's worth setting aside the time to hit them all.

Insider Intel

• Glebe Markets run on Saturday mornings, and are some of the best in Sydney—and yes, you'll be able to catch sight of the purple trees while perusing the stalls.

University of Sydney

Inner West 

Image credit: The University of Sydney | Website

If you’re trying to immerse yourself in the academic mindset, or get some well-earned relief from it, the University of Sydney has multiple jacaranda trees decorating its Camperdown campus. Make some creases in the spine of your newly bought novel while sitting under the purple flowers, with views of the classic Quadrangle building—often compared to Hogwarts—for some extra magical visuals.

Ironically enough, you'll actually have better luck finding smaller crowds here on the weekends, without all of the students bustling around to get to their next classes, so plan accordingly.

Insider Intel

• Head across the road to Broadway, and you'll find the newest Butterboy bakery (and the only one in the inner west). What better than a loaded cookie to fuel your city walking?

Parramatta Park

Parramatta

Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied

Sometimes, you just need a big, wide, leafy space to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban traffic. Parramatta Park is a great place for a post-lunch stroll or reading a book in the sun. Come springtime, Parramatta Park is also a great spot to admire the jacaranda trees' pretty purple blooms. 

Insider intel

• Need a bite? You'll be walking distance to some of the best restaurants in Parramatta. 

Prince Alfred Square

Parramatta

Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied

A small but picturesque spot in the west, Prince Alfred Square becomes a jacaranda haven in the springtime. Plan a detour on your way to see the jacarandas in Parramatta Park, or pack a picnic to enjoy the delicate shower of purple blooms.

Insider Intel

• We suggest making a day out of it and experiencing the best that Parramatta has to offer—trust us, you won't run out of things to do.

Best Jacarandas Out Of Town

Grafton

Northern Rivers NSW

Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied

While it's not technically in Sydney, Grafton is the jacaranda capital of NSW. If you're up for a road trip up the East Coast, Grafton hosts an annual Jacaranda festival when the whole town turns purple in celebration of the famous tree–worth the crowds for this one, although weekdays (during school terms and work hours) might get you less hustle and bustle.

Insider Intel

• While we are road trippin' around the Clarence River Region, a stopover in Yamba is unmissable. You might not get Jacarandas, but they have some of the most unspoilt coastline in NSW.

Best Jacarandas In Sydney's CBD

Sydney’s CBD is always pumping, and adding jacarandas to that mix calls for even more enthusiastic crowds and camera-ready tourists. If you don’t mind the larger crowds so long as you can spot those purple trees, then these CBD jacaranda spots could be your best stops for the bonus of those landmark views.

First Fleet Park

The Rocks

Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied

What's better than dazzling harbour and Opera House views? Soaking up those stunning views while shading yourself under a jacaranda tree, duh. First Fleet Park becomes shrouded in vibrant purple jacaranda blooms each spring, making it a must for tourists and locals alike. 

Insider intel

• We recommend making a day out of it and heading for dinner at one of the surrounding restaurants or bars: The Collective is a great option, and has something for young families and older folks alike.

Royal Botanic Gardens

CBD

Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied

It’s about time you got around to that picnic before the ridiculous summer heat sets in. Stroll through Sydney's iconic harbourside gardens, then settle in under the best jacaranda blooms you can find.

The best part about the Royal Botanic Gardens is that due to their size, you won’t have any problems snagging a stunning spot under a shower of purple blooms.

Insider Intel

• Keep walking on to The Domain, which is often used as a venue for some of your favourite artists, DJs and festivals when they pop up in Sydney. We've put together a list of all the upcoming shows in Sydney this Spring/Summer—who knows, you might be able to kill two weekend activities with one stone.

Macquarie Street 

CBD

Who said the CBD was a concrete jungle? When the jacaranda trees are in full bloom, Macquarie Street turns into a purple oasis. We recommend that you take your lunch break al fresco, and remember to look up. 

Insider Intel

• Talking about lunch breaks: we recommend heading to one of Circular Quay's best restaurants for a bite. Humble Bakery is a personal fave—their pink iced finger buns are the perfect picnic food.

Etiquette & Parking (Read Before You Go)

One of the best parts about Sydney’s jacarandas is that they can be found in both our specially curated parks and also sporadically amongst our streets and buildings. When it comes to public parks, many tourists and locals on their escapades are to be expected–it’s the residential streets that we need to be a little more conscious of. 

When travelling to the purple-filled streets that many people call home, it's important to stay on pedestrian pathways and off residential driveways, fences, and properties when walking– and the same goes for parking. In general, it's a smart idea to park well outside of closure zones, and we recommend keeping a little distance so that you can walk that five or so minutes from your car and pick up some cafe drinks and pastries on the way (check our insider intel notes for recs).

For the more popular jacaranda spots–the ones that are popular enough to warrant tour guides and buses–we suggest bringing out those cameras specifically around golden hour. Not only is the warm light a perfect match for the spring purple, but there are also fewer tour buses and people around during these times. You’ll be guaranteed to get that ideal picture-perfect shot to cherish.

Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied

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