PURPLE RAIN

Nothing says warm weather in Sydney like the full bloom of purple jacaranda trees. For six or so weeks (usually from mid-October before a peak in mid-November) the streets become filled with beautiful purple flowers gently falling on the footpaths like purple rain… it’s just stunning. Here are a few places you must check out.

What better place to start looking than at the Royal Botanic Gardens, they have jacaranda trees dating back to the 1850s. And you get bonus points for snapping the Harbour Bridge in your shot! You can also see the trees in bloom as you walk through Circular Quay and The Rocks.

So popular are the jacarandas here that the Hunters Hills Trust organises walking tours through the suburb’s best streets. Grab your selfie stick and head to McDougall Street in Kirribilli – one of the most beautiful streets in Sydney with canopies of jacaranda trees. If it’s full of tourists doing the same then head to areas such as Lavender Bay, Greenwich, Waverton, Longueville and Wollstonecraft which may be a little quieter.

Paddington, Woollahra and Double Bay all have purple trees lining the streets. Start on Oxford Street and make your way up to Five Ways in Paddington then meander down to Woollahra and Double Bay.

Possibly less crowded (on weekends especially) and no chance of oncoming traffic is the University of Sydney which has jacaranda trees all over campus. Nearby suburbs of Glebe, Camperdown and Erskineville are also worth taking a look at.

Finally, a family event celebrating the unique town of Camden, the community comes together once a year to celebrate the Camden Jacaranda Festival. Over three days there is music in the streets, the Jacaranda Experience with stalls, Santa, Fireworks, Christmas Tree Lighting and Jacarandas Lighting, food, beautiful cars and motorbikes and lots more. The Camden Jacaranda Festival 2021 is set to run from 20 to 22 November 2021. 

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IMAGE CREDIT: iStock and kirito