FAMOUS FLOWERS 

Spring is a magical time in New South Wales, heralding warm clear days and beautiful blooms from September to November. As the Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 coincides with the beautiful springtime in Australia, it’s the perfect opportunity to discover lilac jacarandas, golden canola fields, blush cherry blossoms and brilliantly hued tulips from country to coast.

PURPLE HAZE

Lavender Bay

Pack a picnic and head to Kirribilli, Lavender Bay, Greenwich, Waverton, Hunters Hill, Woolwich, Longueville or Wollstonecraft for a long lunch under the trees. In the heart of Lavender Bay is heritage-listed Wendy Whiteley’s Garden, which has spectacular views to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Harbour foreshore dotted with jacarandas.

Jacarandas, Lavender Bay - Destination NSW

Under the Arches

On the North Shore there’s a little piece of magic by the name of McDougall Street. Come Spring, tourists and locals alike flock to the fairytale avenue in Kirribilli, where the splendid arch of jacaranda trees creates a lavender-hued dome, perfect for Spring selfies. Just remember to be road safety aware at all times and mindful of residents.

Jacarandas, Kirribilli - Destination NSW

Sydney Harbour

Take a do-it-yourself jacaranda walking tour through the city starting at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, passing through Circular Quay and The Rocks. View the stunning trees set against the backdrop of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour and the historic cobblestone streets of the oldest neighbourhood in Sydney.

Jacarandas, Sydney Harbour - Destination NSW

Grafton – The Jacaranda Capital

The historic town of Grafton alongside the Clarence River on NSW’s North Coast is known as the Jacaranda Capital. Grafton is home to more than 2,000 Jacaranda trees and the annual Grafton Jacaranda Festival in Spring is the longest running flower festival in Australia. Festival highlights include coronation of a Jacaranda Queen, a street parade with themed floats, markets, live performances and fireworks.

Grafton Jacaranda Festival 2018, Northern Rivers - Destination NSW

The Intersection, Paddington

For luxury shopping with your lavender hues, head to Oxford Street, Glenmore Road and Five Ways in Paddington. Don’t miss The Intersection, Paddington, the tree-lined point where Glenmore Road meets Oxford Street. The chic enclave is home to high-end Australian designer boutiques and is opposite the jacarandas on Victoria Barracks Lawn.

Jacarandas, Paddington - Destination NSW

SPRING BLOOMS ACROSS THE STATE

Cherry Blossom Festival, Auburn

Sydney is full of secret gardens and the Auburn Botanic Gardens in Western Sydney is not to be missed during Spring. That’s when the gardens are in full bloom — an Insta-queen’s dream. From 17-26 August, you can wander underneath the canopy of pink during the Cherry Blossom Festival and there are eye-catching decorative bridges and a traditional tea house too.

Cherry Blossom Festival 2018, Auburn Botanic Gardens - Destination NSW

Canola Trail, The Riverina

The Canola Trail is a triangle-shaped tourist loop between Temora, Coolamon and Junee, just north of Wagga Wagga in The Riverina region. The trail takes in the spectacular sight of golden fields of flowering canola crop, which contrast against the bright blue sky and red soil. As visitors travel the trail between charming towns, cellar doors and farm-totable eateries, they gain fascinating insight into the region’s agricultural production— canola yields the largest oilseed crop in Australia—and discover the rich history and colourful characters of The Riverina too.

Canola Trail, Temora - Destination NSW

Mayfield Garden, Oberon

Aerial shots of the stunning Mayfield Garden are Instagram gold, with the 160-acre cool climate garden boasting a hedge maze, obelisk pond and water garden with floating lilies. You can easily spend a day in the magnificent grounds discovering Spring-flowering bulbs, blossom fields and avenues of trees. During the Spring festival glamp in a luxurious belle tent and dine at the on-site paddock-to-plate café serving tasty meals melding ingredients handpicked from Mayfield.

Mayfield Garden, Oberon - Destination NSW

Tulip Time, Bowral

The famed Tulip Time Festival in the Southern Highlands has come a long way since 1961, when it began with just 500 tulips. Corbett Gardens, in the town of Bowral, is the centrepiece of the Festival, named after passionate gardener and Bowral resident Ada Corbett who convinced council to create a garden on an empty block in town, then formed the Bowral Public Gardens Committee in 1912. Fast forward to 2018 and Corbett Gardens was mass-planted with over 75,000 tulip bulbs as well as 15,000 flowering annuals for Tulip Time. Locals and visitors from all over the world descend on Bowral to marvel at the bright pockets of glossy tulips.

Tulip Time Festival 2018, Bowral - Destination NSW

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Author: Destination NSW