- Sydney’s jacarandas transform the city into a purple paradise each spring.
- From iconic McDougall Street in Kirribilli to Riley Street in Darlinghurst and First Fleet Park in The Rocks, we’ve rounded up the best jacaranda hotspots across Sydney.
- For a longer adventure, explore the blooms in Gladesville along the Ryde River Walk, visit Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden in Lavender Bay or wander the historic grounds of the University of Sydney.
The blooming of the iconic purple jacaranda trees is a signal that Sydney’s summer is just around the corner, as the striking petals transform the city’s streets into distinctive purple dreamscapes.
Everyone’s heard the local lore: Sydney’s jacarandas were spread across the city by a midwife who gifted saplings to new parents.
It’s a lovely story, but the truth is a little less whimsical: the trees were introduced from Rio de Janeiro by British botanist Allan Cunningham in 1818. They were then successfully propagated in Double Bay by nurseryman Michael Guilfoyle, leading to widespread planting across the city by the 1930s.
Since then, Sydney’s jacarandas burst into bloom every October, painting the city purple until late November or early December.
Whether you’re after the perfect shot for your Instagram page or just want to frolic beneath the beautiful blooms, we’ve rounded up all the best places across Sydney to see the jacaranda trees in all their glory.
Riley Street, Darlinghurst
Just moments from Oxford Street’s stellar lineup of cafes and restaurants, Darlo’s Riley Street is awash with jacaranda blooms. Make a pit stop at THEECA, famed for its fluffy pancakes, to fuel up on coffee and a stack of the good stuff before snapping a photo of the purple canopy stretching from Oxford Square down Riley Street.
Where: Riley St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010.
McDougall Street, Kirribilli
Arguably Sydney’s most famous jacaranda-lined street, McDougall Street draws crowds of visitors each spring, all vying for that perfect purple-hued photograph. Just a five-minute walk from Milsons Point Station, it’s easy to reach from the CBD, but we recommend arriving early to beat the crowds and capture the blooms without a cluster of selfie-snapping people in the background.
Where: McDougall Street, Kirribilli, North Sydney, NSW 2061.
First Fleet Park, The Rocks
In late spring, jacarandas burst into bloom above the grassy expanse of First Fleet Park, adding a splash of purple to the unbeatable harbour backdrop. Stop by to admire the blooms before hopping on a ferry to Manly or popping into the nearby Museum of Contemporary Art for your next art fix.
Where: First Fleet Park, The Rocks NSW 2000.
Oxford Street, Paddington
One of the best places to catch jacarandas in the inner city is in the ritzy suburb of Paddington. Head to Oxford Street and peruse the shops at the Intersection, which include some of the best high-end Australian fashion labels, before checking out the jacaranda-lined grassy verge in front of Victoria Barracks on Oxford Street.
Where: Victoria Barracks, Oxford St, Paddington NSW 2021.
Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden, Lavender Bay
Visit Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden during jacaranda season to spot splashes of purple peeking through the greenery, right in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Tucked away in Lavender Bay, this enchanting garden is well worth exploring in its own right, created by Australian cultural figure Wendy Whiteley, the wife of celebrated artist Brett Whiteley.
Where: Lavender St, Lavender Bay NSW 2060.
Gladesville
Gladesville has nearly 500 jacaranda trees scattered across its streets and parks. The waterfront suburb sits on the northern banks of Parramatta River, offering beautiful views (like the one above) made even more striking by the purple blooms.
For a scenic jacaranda-spotting adventure, take on the Ryde River Walk, a 12-kilometre shared pathway tracing the northern shore of the Parramatta River between Gladesville Bridge and Ryde Bridge. Along the way, stop to photograph Gladesville’s purple blooms, soak up the waterfront views and explore the surrounding suburbs at your own pace.
Where: Gladesville, NSW 2111.
University of Sydney, Camperdown
The University of Sydney’s famous jacaranda tree comes with a healthy dose of campus folklore, including a handful of superstitions tied to exam season. Unfortunately, the original jacaranda died in 2016, but luckily there’s a direct successor in its place, plus more blooms scattered around the grounds. It’s a great time to go: you can snap pictures by the jacarandas but also check out the University of Sydney’s beautiful buildings.
Where: University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW 2050.
