Where to find the best jacarandas in Sydney and NSW

THERE are few more distinctive sights in Sydney during October and November than the city’s jacarandas in full bloom. FIND OUT THE TOP SPOTS

GRAFTON is the epicentre of jacaranda appreciation thanks to its famous festival but there are plenty of other places in NSW that snuggle under a blanket of purple blooms.

The peak season of October and November is one of the most beautiful times of the year in the state with Sydney and NSW awash with jacaranda blooms.

Set against harbour backdrops in some of Sydney’s most picturesque suburbs and historic regional towns in NSW, it’s the perfect time to visit one or more jacaranda hot spots.

The City of Sydney tweeted this photo of a jacaranda in full bloom. Picture: Twitter/@cityofsydney

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said, “NSW has so many jacaranda trees in bloom, we even have an annual festival dedicated to them in the historic town of Grafton. From harbourside enclaves to regional towns, spring is a wonderful time to visit with family and friends to enjoy NSW in bloom during jacaranda season.”

NSW’s top jacaranda spots

1. North Shore: The North Shore suburbs of Lavender Bay, Greenwich, Waverton, Hunters Hill, Woolwich, Longueville, Mosman and Wollstonecraft all display a beautiful selection of jacaranda trees during the season. Make a day of it and pack a picnic to enjoy a feast under the trees.

2. Eastern Suburbs: Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs including Paddington, Woollahra and Double Bay all sport stunning lilac hues during October and November. Oxford Street and Five Ways in Paddington always have a great selection to view.

3. Sydney City: Starting at the Royal Botanic Gardens, a jacaranda walking tour through Circular Quay and The Rocks is a great way to see the trees, while taking in the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, harbour views and historic cobblestone streets of The Rocks.

Circular Quay has some stunning jacarandas. Photo courtesy of Destination NSW

4. Inner Sydney: The giant jacaranda tree at the University of Sydney is so iconic that growers at the University have cloned it to ensure it lives on. This tree is one of Sydney’s most famous jacarandas and well worth a visit during the season. Neighbouring suburbs of Glebe and Erskineville are also worth exploring for blue hue.

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5. Camden: Jacaranda blooms turn Camden’s Argyle St a deep shade of purple. A local horticulturalist has urged Macarthur residents to take advantage of ideal growing conditions to make the region even more of a jacaranda hotspot.

Jacarandas dominate Sydney gardens both big and small.

6. Grafton: Located alongside the majestic Clarence River on NSW’s North Coast, the historic town of Grafton is home to the Jacaranda Festival, which takes place from 31 October to 7 November 2015. Famous for its 6500 jacaranda trees, the Festival, inaugurated in 1934, claims to be the oldest floral festival still celebrated in Australia. There’s something for everyone with a ball, street parade, fireworks, rodeo, dragon boat races, vintage motor club rally, air muster, art exhibition, fashion parade and many more jacaranda-themed events.

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Compiled with the help of Destination NSW