12 Best Places to Find Spring Flowers in Sydney (+ Beyond!)

ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR THE BEST PLACES TO SPOT SPRING FLOWERS IN SYDNEY?

After living in this beautiful city for five years, I can say that spring in Sydney is the most vibrant time of the year! With majestic Jacarandas painting purple canopies across Sydney’s skyline and the cherry blossoms turning neighbourhoods into pink wonderlands, you’ll be amazed at how stunning the city becomes.

I’ve explored and curated 11 extraordinary locations that truly come to life during the spring season. These are arguably your absolute best bets to experience the magic of spring flowers in Sydney! I’ve also included a map of these locations that you can save and use while exploring, and highlighted a few places around the city that are worth visiting for their spring festivals!

Spring in Sydney

Spring in Sydney runs from September to November, with temperatures ranging between 11°C and 23°C. Excited about the Jacaranda trees? They bloom from mid-October to late November, and we can’t wait to spot them this year!

You can see them all across the city, particularly in Mosman and Kirribilli. The Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk also hosts Sculpture by the Sea each October, featuring large-scale sculptures installed along the cliffs!

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Best Places to See Spring Flowers in Sydney

1. Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan

• Opening Hours: 8am-5pm in Aug-Sep
• Cost: Free

The Australian Botanic Garden in Mount Annan is a complete spring dreamscape with native wildflowers in bloom, rolling hills, lakes, and open walking trails!

At 416 hectares, this is the largest botanic garden in the country, and it’s all about Australian plants. Instead of traditional European-style gardens, you’ll find wattles, grevilleas, banksias, and other native blooms you probably won’t see elsewhere. The Australian PlantBank here is also worth a stop if you’re curious about native species and conservation.

In spring, the Connections Garden and Wattle Garden are especially gorgeous and well worth your time. The garden also hosts regular events like wildflower walks, nature school programs, and guided tours run by the staff and volunteers. Check the official website for current listings.

There are picnic areas and BBQ facilities spread throughout, so we highly recommend planning a picnic date here!

2. The Royal Botanic Garden

• Opening Hours: 7 am to 5 pm
• Cost: Free

The Royal Botanic Garden sits right on Sydney Harbour and is hands down the most convenient place in Sydney to catch spring in full bloom. This heritage-listed gem is also Australia’s oldest botanical garden, with the iconic Spring Walk showing off azaleas, wisteria, rhododendrons and waratahs from late August to October. You’ll also spot pops of colour from pansies, snapdragons and daisies, along with fragrant highlights like Sydney Rock Orchids and Crinum lilies.

Elsewhere in the garden, The Calyx puts on bold seasonal displays with 20,000+ plants, jacarandas begin to bloom in late October, and daily guided walks help you spot what’s peaking. If you’re after art with your flowers, check out the spring exhibition at Lion Gate Lodge!

3. Parramatta Park

• Opening Hours: 24 Hours
• Cost: Free

Wistaria Gardens in Parramatta Park is a our spring favourite, especially when the wisteria vines burst into bloom around mid to late September. Originally planted with cuttings from Japan in the early 1900s, the gardens come alive with cascades of purple, cherry and almond blossoms, plus beds of snapdragons, pansies and violas lining the walkways.

It’s a lovely spot for a slow wander under flowering trees, with wide lawns, a little wooden bridge and plenty of space for a picnic. Spring also brings special events like live music and guided walks as part of “September in Wistaria Gardens.”

4. Auburn Botanic Gardens

• Opening Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
• Cost: $7 and $4 for children under 16

Auburn Botanic Gardens turns into a pastel wonderland each August when more than 200 cherry blossom trees reach peak bloom. The Japanese Garden’s Cherry Trail becomes a crowd favourite during the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival, with soft pink petals lining the path, a Torii gate, and still water!

The festival also includes Japanese food stalls, performances at the Sakura Stage, origami and manga workshops, and a Zen Zone by the billabong. It’s one of Sydney’s most popular spring events, and we highly recommend booking ahead. Tickets cost $16.60 for adults and $8.95 for children. The festival runs from August 16 to 24, 2025.

5. Jacaranda Trees in Kirribilli

• Opening Hours: 24 Hours
• Cost: Free

Each late October to early November, McDougall Street transforms into a lavender‑hued tunnel as dozens of mature jacaranda trees burst into full bloom. Locals and visitors converge on this harbourside street for visuals that truly feel iconic! Petals arching overhead, purple light filtering through branches, and perhaps a few early morning selfies before the crowds arrive.

But it’s a residential street, so expect foot traffic, limited parking, and sometimes even police presence to help manage the crush of visitors chasing the perfect spring shot. We recommend coming here early on a weekday and getting there by public transport (Milsons Point Station is just 8 minutes away) to avoid the busiest moments!

6. Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Gardens

• Opening Hours: 24 Hours
• Cost: Free

Wendy’s Secret Garden in Lavender Bay unfolds across a steep, terraced slope overlooking the Harbour Bridge and blossoms into life each spring. What began in 1992 as a self‑tended reclamation of rubbish‑strewn rail land now thrives with Moreton Bay figs, ancient tree ferns, Bangalow palms, and spring‑flowering clivias, coral-coloured Iresine, and kangaroo paw—creating dappled light and seasonal pops of colour.

In spring, the garden’s shady garden rooms come alive with lush foliage and scattered blooms, perfect for a slow wander or a quiet picnic. Free to visit year‑round and nestled within Lavender Bay Parklands, it’s one of Sydney’s most soulful urban green spaces—easy to reach via Milsons Point or North Sydney Station.

7. Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden

• Opening Hours: 8 am to 5 pm
• Cost: Free

This hidden gem in the north is where you’ll find spring blooming the way nature intended. From late August, the bushland lights up with native wildflowers like grevilleas, waratahs, mountain devils, and pink boronia. There are walking trails for all energy levels — even ones short enough to do with a coffee in hand.

If you’re not up for a hike, the wildflower displays near the Visitor Centre change weekly and give you a solid hit of colour without needing hiking boots. It’s free to visit, and there’s plenty of picnic space if you want to make a day of it.

8. Chinese Garden of Friendship

• Opening Hours: 10 am to 5 pm
• Cost: $12 per adult | $8 for children under 12

Step through the gates and the city melts away. Hidden in the heart of Darling Harbour, the Chinese Garden of Friendship is a quiet, meditative space! Designed in collaboration with landscape architects from Guangzhou and opened in 1988 to celebrate Australia’s bicentenary, it’s one of the few classical Chinese gardens outside Asia.

Curved paths wind through willow trees, over stone bridges and beside koi-filled ponds. Every element, from the placement of the pavilions to the rocks, waterfalls, and penjing trees, is guided by Taoist principles, with a careful balance of yin and yang throughout. The iconic Dragon Wall, where two dragons represent New South Wales and Guangdong, is a favourite photo spot, but there’s beauty in the details too: patterned windows, moon gates, and courtyards like the Courtyard of Welcoming Fragrance.

Spring is especially lovely here. The garden is lush, with fresh blossoms framing the ponds and the air carrying just a hint of jasmine. There’s a small teahouse tucked inside, serving dumplings, steamed buns and fragrant Chinese tea, which feels just right after a gentle wander!

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Best Places to See Spring Flowers Beyond Sydney

There are a few unmissable places we recommend visiting for spring flowers around Sydney!

9. Hunter Valley Gardens

• Opening Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
• Cost: From $39 adults | $31 kids (4–15 years of age)
• Spring School Holidays: $41 adults | $31 kids

What if we told you there’s a place just a couple of hours from Sydney where you can meet baby lambs, make your own bonsai, hop on a ferris wheel, and see actual spring blooms all in one go?

The Hunter Valley Gardens turn into a full-blown spring playground during the school holidays. Think lantern-making workshops, face painting, amusement rides, and loads of family-friendly fun spread across ten beautifully themed gardens.

These gardens cover 14 hectares of area, that’s the size of 32 football fields, filled with rhododendrons, waterfalls, koi ponds, and the popular Storybook Garden (yep, it’s got all your childhood characters). The walking paths are pram and wheelchair-friendly too, made with locally sourced rhyolite gravel.

10. Mayfield Garden

• Opening Hours: 9 am to 4.30 pm (with last entry at 3 pm)
• Cost: $38 adults | $17 kids (under 5 enter for free)

One of the most beautiful and expansive cool-climate gardens in the Southern Hemisphere, Mayfield is a must if you’re after a premium spring garden experience. Just a 2 to 3 hour drive from Sydney, this 50-hectare wonderland draws tens of thousands of visitors each season—and it absolutely bursts into colour come spring.

They host a Spring Festival every year, though 2025 dates haven’t been announced yet at the time of writing.

The Water Garden is the showstopper here, but don’t miss Australia’s largest box hedge maze, the Valley of Five Ponds, the Iron and Stone Arbour, and the dreamy Wisteria Walk. Want to turn your visit into a spring staycation? Mayfield also offers luxury glamping experiences. Learn more about them here.

11. Blue Mountains Botanic Garden

• Opening Hours: 9 am to 5 pm (closed Christmas Day)
• Cost: Free entry

Less than two hours from Sydney, this garden is perched 1000 m above sea level—and yep, it’s Australia’s highest botanical garden. Set on the edge of a UNESCO World Heritage wilderness, this place is a spring dream with views, cool-climate blooms, and leafy trails!

Spring is the perfect time to come, with everything from waratahs and rhododendrons to rare Himalayan lilies putting on a show. The Rock Garden is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and it bursts into colour with proteas, banksias, and wild splashes of turquoise from the “Sapphire Tower.”

There’s plenty to explore beyond the blooms—forest walks, rainforest pockets, grassy picnic lawns, and lookout points with sweeping mountain views. You’ll also spot heritage trees, quirky alpine plants, and over 150 bird species!

12. The Snowy Mountains

We usually rave about the Snowies for a winter escape, but don’t sleep on spring! This alpine region is stunning year-round, and once the snow melts (by late October), it’s all wildflowers, scenic drives, and clear blue skies.

Kosciuszko National Park comes alive with colour—expect snow daisies, yellow everlastings, and billy buttons lining the trails around Thredbo, Charlotte Pass, and Perisher. If you’re into long walks, trout fishing, mountain biking, or just sitting by Lake Jindabyne with a warm drink and an even warmer view, this is the spot.

Spring temps hover between 10–18°C during the day, and nights dip to a crisp 3–8°C—perfect for layering up and road tripping out of Sydney. Wildflower walks, horse riding, and cycling through alpine meadows? Yes please.

So if you’re looking for an alpine escape away from the 9–5 grind and a road trip from Sydney to remember, we couldn’t suggest a better place!

Read more from our Snowy Mountains Series here:

• Best Hotels to Stay in the Snowy Mountains
• How to Go to the Snowy Mountains from Sydney
• Three-Day Winter Snowy Mountains Itinerary

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Map of Spring Flower Spots in Sydney!

You’ll find all the spots marked on the map below. Drag to explore or tap the menu icon in the top left to see everything listed.

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FAQs: Spring Flowers in Sydney

Where Can I See Jacaranda Trees in Sydney?

Jacaranda season hits Sydney in late October and November, and the purple haze is hard to miss. For the prettiest streets and best photo spots, make your way to:

• The University of Sydney Quadrangle – this historic campus puts on a beautiful jacaranda show each year
• McDougall Street, Kirribilli – the famous jacaranda tunnel that turns into a carpet of purple blooms as the season peaks
• Carabella Street & Kirribilli Avenue – quieter, leafy streets just around the corner, equally photogenic
• Blues Point Road, McMahons Point – jacarandas with harbour views? Yes please
• Lavender Bay & Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden – a dreamy combo of spring flowers and shady garden paths

By mid-November, the blossoms start falling, turning footpaths and parks into soft purple confetti!

What Flowers Bloom in Spring in Australia?

Australia’s spring flower season showcases incredible diversity, from ancient native species to introduced varieties that have adapted to our climate.

Native Australian flowers include wattle, which blooms from July to October and is Australia’s national floral emblem. Grevilleas flowers from September to December with their distinctive spider-like blooms, while bottlebrush species bloom from August to November. Native orchids emerge from September to November, often appearing in surprising locations after good rainfall. Boronia blooms from August to October with intensely fragrant pink flowers, and various eucalyptus species flower throughout spring depending on the specific variety.

Introduced species that have become synonymous with Australian spring include jacarandas from October to November, roses from September to December, and azaleas and rhododendrons from September to November. Cherry blossoms appear from August to September, wisteria blooms from September to October, and camellias have an extended season from May to October with peak spring flowering.

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Wrap-Up: Spring Flowers in Sydney

That’s a wrap on the best places to spot spring flowers in Sydney! Save this guide for your next weekend adventure, and if you need help picking which garden to visit first, send us a quick message on our Instagram.

• Where to Stay in Sydney For a Trip
• A Local’s Sydney Bucket List
• One Day Sydney Itinerary