Every spring, Australian social media accounts are flooded with purple as people line up in front of vibrant jacaranda trees in full bloom.
Despite being imported, in the past 100 years or so, jacarandas have become a symbol of Australian spring, and their popularity seems to only increase.
Jacarandas even have a 90-year-long annual festival in their honour.
An old import
Endemic to South America, the first jacaranda specimens were sent from Rio de Janeiro to England by botanist Allan Cunningham.
The trees were planted in Kew Gardens in 1818, and some say the first jacarandas in Australia came from these specimens. But it’s also possible Cunningham brought them here during his later postings.
So who got the first jacaranda tree in Australia? Brisbane claims the title with its earliest tree planted in 1864, but records show a jacaranda in the Botanic Gardens of Sydney is dated about 1850.
Not to mention that jacarandas were sold across Sydney in 1861. Sorry, Brisbane.
No matter their history, jacarandas are now flourishing all over the country.
Read on for the best places around Australia to join in the purple craze.
1. Grafton, NSW
Grafton is 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 trees in lights, learn from three traditional custodians of the Clarence Valley, and bring the kids for plenty of family-friendly events.
Grafton turns very purple for its annual celebrations. Photo: Grafton Jacaranda Festival
2. Sydney, 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 such as Circular Quay and The Rocks, Paddington and Kirribilli are all popular photo spots and 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 that 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.
Circular Quay and The Rocks are awash with purple in spring. Photo: Destination NSW
3. Brisbane, Qld
Queensland’s capital has proven itself to be just as jacaranda happy as its southern counterpart.
The first stop must be Brisbane’s City Botanic Gardens. In fact, this is where the state’s first grown jacaranda tree was planted, in 1864 (as we know, Queensland does claim this is the first in Australia, but it seems unlikely).
That original tree was blown down but plenty of other trees 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. The Dockside walk at Kangaroo Point is the perfect way to enjoy these trees, and Yeronga has 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 Mount Tamborine is pretty spectacular.
Take a seat and enjoy the blooms of New Farm Park. Photo: Lady Brisbane
4. South-east Queensland
The Glasshouse Mountains in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, seen from the lookout at Maleny’s Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, are a stunning sight year round.
But over spring when the foreground becomes dotted with purple jacaranda florals, 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 and 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.
Jacarandas and the stunning view from Scenic Reserve lookout. Photo: Visit Sunshine Coast
5. Herberton, Qld
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.
Head north to Herberton in October. Photo: Herberton Jacaranda Festival
6. Melbourne, Vic
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 Botanic 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.
Another reason to visit Melbourne. Photo: Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
7. Perth, WA
Home to yet 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 in the Western Australian capital, Highgate, Inglewood and Marlborough Street in East Perth all present photo opportunities. Old Jacaranda Way in Subiaco is so famous for these trees, it was named after them.
Subiaco turns purple. Photo: Deb Chai
8. Adelaide, SA
Although it’s perhaps not as filled with these trees as other capitals, you’ll still find a decent smattering of purple haze throughout the Adelaide CBD.
Other jacaranda-watching spots include the suburbs of Goodwood, Blair Athol, Black Forest, Beulah Park, Clarence Gardens and Clarence Park.
See purple at the University of Adelaide campus. Photo: Tourism SA