The 8 Best Places To See Jacarandas Around Australia

From Sydney to the Scenic Rim, the purple haze of jacaranda trees is synonymous with Australian spring.

Every spring, Australian social media accounts become flooded with purple as people line up in front of vibrant jacaranda trees in full bloom. Despite being imported, over the last 100 years or so, they’ve become a symbol of Australian spring, and their popularity only seems to increase yearly. Heck, they even have a 90-year-long annual festival in their honour. Read on for the best places around Australia to see jacarandas and join in the purple craze.

History

view of Lavender Bay with jacarandas in the spring — Sydney is taken over by purple in spring. (Image: Destination NSW)

Endemic to South America, the first jacaranda specimens were sent to British shores by Botanist Alan Cunningham from Rio de Janeiro. They were planted in Kew Gardens in 1818, and one theory of how they got into Australia is that they were brought from these very gardens during colonisation. But it’s also possible Cunningham himself brought them here during his later postings.

So, who got the first jacaranda tree in Australia? Brisbane claims the titles with its earliest tree being planted in 1864, but records show that the Sydney Botanic Garden jacaranda is dated to about 1850. Not to mention, jacarandas were listed for sale around Sydney in 1861. Sorry, Brisbane.

1. Grafton, NSW

Jacarandas Grafton Roches Family Hotel — Grafton is arguably Australia’s most famous destination for jacaranda trees. (Image: My Clarence Valley)

It would be remiss not to start with Grafton, arguably Australia’s most famous destination for jacaranda trees and home to the Jacaranda Festival, which turns 90 this year (making it the country’s longest-running floral festival). Join in long lunch events, stay after dark to see the purple trees in lights, learn from the three Traditional Custodians of the Clarence Valley and bring the kids for plenty of family-friendly events.

2. Sydney, NSW

view of Circular Quay from The Rocks with jacarandas in the spring — Sydney is awash with purple as it dusts off the chill of winter. (Image: Destination NSW)

It’s hard to avoid jacaranda trees in Sydney, the city is awash with purple as it dusts off the chill of winter. Inner-city areas like Circular Quay and The Rocks, Paddington and Kirribilli are all very popular photo spots and tend to provide beautiful Harbour Bridge and city or sandstone backdrops for the trees. Lavender Bay, Hunters Hill and the lower North Shore also put on a show, though they’re harder to get around if you’re relying on public transport. The University of Sydney has a beautiful campus already, and it becomes dotted with purple each year.

The Inner West joins in the show, especially around Camperdown, Newtown and Glebe. Out west, Parramatta isn’t to be outdone, especially around the popular River Walk. A little further afield of the city, Argyle Street in Camden is popular for jacaranda photos, as is Macarthur.

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3. Brisbane, Qld

Jacaranda at Brisbane's Wilsons Lookout — Jacarandas can be spotted all around Brisbane. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Queensland’s capital has proven itself to be just as jacaranda happy as its southern counterpart. The first stop for those hoping to see jacarandas must be Brisbane City Botanic Gardens. In fact, this is where the state’s first Jacaranda tree was planted, in 1864 (as we know, Queensland does claim this is the first in Australia, but it seems unlikely). It was blown down by weather events, but these days, plenty bloom in its place.

Also around the city, the University of Queensland campus, Princess Street in the CBD, Goodna and New Farm all fill with a purple haze. While the Dockside walk at Kangaroo Point is the perfect way to enjoy these trees, Yeronga even has an aptly named Jacaranda Park.

If you have the time (and you should make time), Leis Park in Lawnton is an hour out of the CBD and doesn’t play with its jacaranda display, while sipping local wine and looking out at a purple Mt Tamborine is pretty spectacular.

4. Melbourne, Vic

Jacaranda tree in Park in Melbourne — See jacarandas dot Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens in spring. (Image: Getty Images / Zoya Avenirovna)

Melbourne may already draw crowds keen to sip its world-renowned coffee while they gaze at its plentiful and colourful street art. But come spring, there’s one more, purple, reason to visit. Head to the Royal Botanical Gardens to wander through a range of stunning florals, see jacarandas against the historic sandstone Parliament House and the University of Melbourne buildings, or drive a little further out of the CBD to see the impressive display in Fitzroy North’s Edinburgh Gardens.

5. Perth, WA

Beautiful Jacaranda trees are reaching out to sky on a sunny blue sky day, Perth, Australia — Perth is not to be left out in the jacaranda season. (Image: Getty Images / Hideaki Edo)

Home to another jacaranda festival, Perth is not to be left out in the jacaranda season. Head to Applecross for the annual Rotary Jacaranda Festival to find stalls and live entertainment to celebrate these beauties, as well as all things community. Elsewhere around the capital, Highgate, Inglewood and Marlborough Street in East Perth all present photo opportunities. While Old Jacaranda Way in Subiaco is famous for these trees, it was even named after them.

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6. Adelaide, SA

Jacarandas in Adelaide North Terrace — Seek out jacarandas in Adelaide. (Image: Michael Waterhouse Photography)

Perhaps not as filled with these purple trees as other capital cities, you’ll still find a decent smattering of purple all around the Adelaide CBD, as we as throughout the suburbs of Goodwood, Blair Athol, Blackforest, Beulah Park, Clarence Gardens and Clarence Park.

7. Southeast Queensland

a jacaranda tree in bloom in front of glasshouse mountains queensland — View jacarandas and the usual stunning view from the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve lookout.

The Glasshouse Mountains in Sunshine Coast’s hinterlands, seen from the lookout by Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, are a stunning sight year-round, but over spring, when the foreground becomes dotted with purple jacaranda flowers, the colour palette becomes unbeatable. A quaint country town, Boonah, also has a reputation for its purple blooms (and its world heritage-listed surrounds), and the adorable Scenic Rim Farm Shop & Cafe sits in the shade of a giant jacaranda. Here, you can taste an ever-changing menu that champions local ingredients, and a particularly popular range of house-made cakes.

8. Herberton, Qld

train and stalls at Herberton Jacaranda Festival in queensland — Head to Herberton in October for the Jacaranda Festival.

Further north, near Atherton and its famous Tablelands in Tropical North Queensland, Herberton also puts on a seasonal festival . During October, one weekend is filled with live music, entertainment, food trucks and even competitions, all in the name of jacaranda trees.

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Victoria’s sweeping landscapes hold stories far older than any road map can trace – stories etched into stone, sung through generations and woven into every bend of river and rise of hill. From the lava flows of Budj Bim to the ancient middens of Moyjil/Point Ritchie and the volcanic crater of Tower Hill, the state is home to some of the most significant First Peoples cultural sites in Australia. These places, along with other immersive experiences, offer not only a window into a 60,000-year legacy, but a profound way of understanding Country itself. As more travellers seek connection over checklists, guided tours by Traditional Owners offer respectful, unforgettable insights into a living culture that continues to shape the land and the people who walk it.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Venture beyond the surf and sand of the Great Ocean Road to discover a deeper story etched into the volcanic landscape. At Budj Bim , ancient aquaculture channels built by the Gunditjmara people to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel) reveal one of the world’s oldest living cultures. While you’re in the area, head over to the state-of-the-art Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre, where you can observe the eels in a special tank, wander the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah), and enjoy a bite at the Bush Tucker Cafe. Also nearby is Tower Hill, a dormant volcano reborn as a wildlife reserve, offering trails through bushland teeming with emus and koalas.

eel tank — The kooyang (eel) tank at Tae Rak. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Dumawul walkingtour — Guests are guided through Kooyoora State Park on the Dumawul walking tour. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Step into a timeless landscape with Dumawul’s guided tour through Kooyoora State Park, around an hour’s drive west of Bendigo in north-central Victoria. Led by Djaara guides, this immersive half-day journey breathes life into Country, weaving together stories, bush tucker and ancient rock art. Known to the Dja Dja Wurrung people as Guyura – the ‘mountain of light’ – this dramatic granite range is rich with cultural and spiritual significance. The adventure begins with a meet-up at the Bridgewater Hotel on the banks of the Loddon River, before guests are welcomed onto Country with a traditional Smoking Ceremony – a powerful ritual that honours ancestors and cleanses those who walk the land. From there, it’s a gentle wander through rugged outcrops and open bushland, with sweeping vistas unfolding at every turn. Along the way, guides share their knowledge of how the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples have cared for and adapted with this land for generations, offering a rare and moving window into an ancient way of life that continues to thrive today.

Kooyoora walking tour — Knowledge of the Dja Dja Wurrung is shared on the trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Kingfisher Cruises

Glide quietly through the Barmah-Millewa forest – the nation’s largest river red gum ecosystem – on a scenic journey along the Murray River and into the Barmah Lakes with Kingfisher Cruises . Led by passionate guides who share stories of the cultural significance of this ancient landscape, these cruises reveal the stories, totems and traditional knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people. As you navigate narrow waterways and spot native birds, you’ll gain a richer understanding of how First Peoples have lived in harmony with this floodplain for tens of thousands of years. It’s a gentle, immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression – one where every bend in the river carries echoes of culture, connection and Country.

wawa biik

Exploring Nagambie with Taungurung leaders. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Translating to ‘hello, Country’ in the language of the First Nations People and Custodians of the rivers and mountains of Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, wawa biik guides a range of authentic and deeply immersive experiences. Leaving from either Nagambie or Euroa, the tours are woven with ancient stories of the Taungurung, telling how a sustained connection and responsibility ensures the continued health of biik – benefitting the people, animals and plants that live in and around the Goulburn River. During the wawa Nagambie experience, guests participate in a Welcome Smoking Ceremony, and enjoy lunch and conversation with two Taungurung leaders as they cruise through the wetlands of tabilk-tabilk (place of many waterholes). The 4.5-hour tour begins at Tahbilk Winery, which is set in the wetlands of Nagambie on Taungurung Country and collaborates with Taungurung Elders to share knowledge of biik.

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Cape Conran on the Bataluk Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The Bataluk Cultural Trail winds through East Gippsland like a thread stitching past to present, tracing the deep connection between the Gunaikurnai people and their land. Starting at the Knob Reserve in Stratford, visitors walk among scarred trees and ancient stone tools once used for survival and ceremony. At the Den of Nargun near Mitchell River, the earth holds stories of women’s sacred spaces, cloaked in myth and legend. Further along, Legend Rock at Metung tells of greed and consequence, its surface etched with ancient lore. At Cape Conran, shell middens lie scattered like breadcrumbs of history – 10,000 years of gatherings, stories and saltwater songs still echoing in the wind.

Healesville Sanctuary

Set on the historic grounds of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station, Healesville Sanctuary honours the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation through immersive storytelling and connection to Country. Along Wurundjeri Walk, visitors are invited to reflect on the land’s rich First Peoples history, with native plants revealing their traditional uses. Wurundjeri Elder and educator Murrundindi shares culture in-person with the Wominjeka Aboriginal Cultural Experience every Sunday, and most days during Victorian school holidays. Murrundindi’s smoking ceremonies, storytelling and bush tucker knowledge reveal the sacred relationship between people, animals and the environment. Bird-lovers can’t miss the incredible Spirits of the Sky show featuring native birds daily at 12pm and 3pm.

The Grampians

Known as Gariwerd to Traditional Owners, the Grampians is a place of immense cultural and spiritual significance. This rugged landscape holds more than 80 per cent of Victoria’s known First Peoples rock art, offering a powerful window into the region’s deep heritage. Visitors can respectfully explore five remarkable rock art sites: Billimina and Ngamadjidj in the Wartook Valley, Manja Shelter near Hamilton, Gulgurn Manja shelter near Laharum, and the Bunjil Shelter near Stawell, where the creator spirit is depicted. Each site tells a unique story of connection to Country, shared through ancient handprints, dancing figures and Dreaming narratives etched into stone.

The 8 best places to see jacarandas around Australia

From Sydney to the Scenic Rim, the purple haze of jacaranda trees is synonymous with Australian spring.

History

1. Grafton, NSW

2. Sydney, NSW

3. Brisbane, Qld

4. Melbourne, Vic

5. Perth, WA

6. Adelaide, SA

7. Southeast Queensland

8. Herberton, Qld

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Unforgettable First Peoples tours and experiences in Victoria

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Kingfisher Cruises

wawa biik

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Healesville Sanctuary

The Grampians

From Sydney to the Scenic Rim, the purple haze of jacaranda trees is synonymous with Australian spring.

History

1. Grafton, NSW

2. Sydney, NSW

AI Prompt

3. Brisbane, Qld

4. Melbourne, Vic

5. Perth, WA

6. Adelaide, SA

7. Southeast Queensland

8. Herberton, Qld

This app can predict flight delays up to 25 hours in advance

Why you shouldn’t bother looking for a pink moon tonight

Australia’s most delayed flight routes revealed

Affordable Easter getaways in every state to beat soaring fuel costs

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Kingfisher Cruises

wawa biik

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Healesville Sanctuary

The Grampians

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.