The Six Best Spots to Capture Jacaranda Season in Sydney

October, mid-springtime, marks the start of jacaranda season in Sydney. For a few precious weeks a year, Sydney city is blanketed in the distinctive lilac blossoms from hundreds of Jacaranda trees creating a magical and Instagram-worthy display for locals and visitors alike.

We have curated the six best spots to snap the perfect picture or savour the tranquil atmosphere of jacaranda season in Sydney, all either close-by or easily accessible from Four Seasons Hotel Sydney.  

Circular Quay and The Rocks

A stone’s throw from Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, jacaranda blooms line the foreshore around Circular Quay and are scattered throughout the cobblestone streets of the historic Rocks District. Enjoy a morning stroll or hop from cafés to wine or cocktail bars following their trail through First Fleet Park past the Museum of Contemporary Art onwards.

North Shore

McDougall Street, Kirribilli in Sydney’s North Shore, a quiet residential lane, turns on one of the most impressive displays of jacarandas in Sydney city. Bracketing the street, the blooms create a vibrant canopy that becomes a haven for tourists and photographers throughout the season - make sure not to forget the selfie stick. From there head on to areas including the aptly named Lavender Bay, McMahons Point and Waverton for more colourful displays.

Royal Botanic Gardens

A short walk from the hotel, Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, one of the oldest botanic gardens in the southern hemisphere, are a must-visit on any Sydney staycation. Home to some of the oldest jacaranda trees in Sydney, these mature varieties date all the way back to the 1850s and make for a vibrant spectacle against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour.  

Eastern Suburbs

The Eastern Sydney suburbs of Paddington, Wollahra, and Double Bay are all known for their impressive Jacaranda displays throughout October and November. Explore these trendy suburbs on foot, beginning at Oxford Street, easily accessible by Lightrail from the Hotel, and take in the local food, fashion and art scene while there.  

University of Sydney

The University of Sydney campus is picturesque at the best of times with its iconic Sandstone quadrangle mirroring designs from Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Originally home to an immense mature jacaranda tree, planted in 1928, the specimen unfortunately died in 2016, but through student and crowdfunding efforts, a new blossom was replanted in 2017, and today stands alongside a vibrant native illawarra flame tree making for a stunning visual.

Day Trips

If looking to head further afield in the hunt for jacarandas, take a trip out of Sydney to explore more rural destinations. The town of Grafton, six hours north of Sydney, hosts a dedicated Jacaranda Festival every year and is home to more than 2,000 individual jacaranda trees. Closer to the Sydney CBD, a 1.5 hour drive south west of Sydney, the town of Camden hosts their annual Jacaranda Festival, with three days of purple-haze festivities in November.