One of the great joys of travelling in Australia is the abundance of natural beauty. From late October to November, jacaranda season is in full bloom in Sydney and other states across the country.

According to Sydney Living Museums, there are many stories behind the purple haze that fills the city’s streets at the end of the year. One story is attributed to a hospital nurse who sent every newborn baby home with a jacaranda seedling. A less romantic explanation lies in the fact that the trees were a popular urban planting in beautification programs in the early 20th century and between the wars, up until the 1950s and 1960s.

Although native to Brazil, the jacaranda has certainly found a home here in Australia, and the effects of the tree’s blooms are truly something to behold. Here’s where you can see the best wildflowers in Australia this spring, and grab a sneaky Instagram shot while you’re there.

New South Wales

Sydney City

Jacaranda trees can be seen in the Royal Botanic Gardens, as well as a few trees around Circular Quay and The Rocks.

Eastern Suburbs

Just behind Victoria Barracks is Oxford Street, where you’ll find some of the most famous jacaranda views in Paddington’s suburban alleyways. Head towards Five Ways in Paddington, then venture to Woollahra and Double Bay to see more purple jacaranda trees. Head to the suburb of Vaucluse for purple harbour views.

North Shore

Take a trip to Lavender Bay on Sydney’s northern shore to see a purple haze rising over Wollstonecraft and Waverton streets. The Kirribilli jacaranda “tunnel” on McDougall Street is considered one of the best in the country. If you head west towards Mosman or further up to Hunters Hill, the trees lining the streets will be a riot of colour,

Inner West

If you want to take a great photo of purple flowers, try walking around the University of Sydney campus. Students know that when the flowers start blooming, it’s exam time!

You can also stroll to Glebe, Camperdown and Erskineville to find some purple spots amid the hustle and bustle of the western suburbs.

Camden

About an hour’s drive from Sydney is a small suburb called Camden, where 39 jacaranda trees were planted in the city centre in the 1920s, giving the town an abundance of purple flowers every November.

Grafton

Even though Grafton is a six-hour drive from Sydney, it hosts the Jacaranda Festival every year, and this year the festival is taking place in October 28 – November 6For more information, visit the Jacaranda Festival website.

Brisbane

Further north in Brisbane, jacaranda trees bloom throughout October and many of the city’s streets are a sea of ​​purple.

The University of Queensland has a spectacular display of purple flowers. New Farm Park, Woolloongabba and Botanic Gardens are other places to find stunning jacaranda trees in Brisbane.

Perth

Jacarandas start flowering in November and peak in December in Perth. Try suburbs north of the river, such as Inglewood and Subiaco, or south of the river, where Applecross has spectacular avenues lined with jacarandas.

Adelaide

The Adelaide jacaranda season begins in November, with the best spots being in the suburbs south of the Botanic Gardens, such as Millswood, Goodwood and Unley.

Melbourne

CBD

While you won’t see any jacaranda trees blooming until December in Melbourne, once they do bloom, the entire city is awash with them. The Royal Botanic Gardens is one of the more popular places to see these beautiful flowers, but there are a few dotted around the CBD, including Parliament House and other historic sandstone buildings.

Fitzroy North

In the heart of Fitzroy North are the beautiful Edinburgh Gardens, which feature rows of Jacaranda trees. The perfect place to enjoy a park picnic under a purple canopy, with plenty of facilities including barbecues, picnic tables and gazebos.

Parkville

The University of Melbourne is one of the more famous places to see the purple jacaranda flowers. Surrounded by Victorian-era buildings, the contrast is astonishing. And if you can’t get enough of Parkville, head to Royal Parade and Royal Park to see more!