Spring in NSW is awash with a rainbow of colourful blooms. Whether you love vibrant purple Jacarandas or a wonderland of wildflowers, here's where the best bloomin' displays are across the state.

Where to see jacarandas 

Historic Grafton, which sits on the Clarence River along NSW's North Coast 600km north of Sydney, hosts the annual Grafton Jacaranda Festival every October and November. There are more than 2,000 jacaranda trees across town – including the state's oldest – and they're celebrated with street parades and themed floats, markets, live performances, fireworks and even the crowning of a jacaranda queen.  

Sydney's North Shore isn't shy when it comes to blushing blooms. Pack a picnic and head to suburbs including Kirribilli, Lavender Bay, Greenwich, Waverton, Hunters Hill, Woolwich, Longueville and Wollstonecraft. Find a shady purple perch then enjoy a long, lazy lunch under the trees. 

Sydney's eastern suburbs also dial up the lilac drama over the spring months. For scenes so vivid they look like a child's colouring book, head to Oxford Street, Glenmore Road and Five Ways in Paddington, all of which put on a reliable jacaranda show. Nearby neighbourhoods of Woollahra and Double Bay also come with a riot of colour. 

Hidden between skyscrapers and historic buildings in Sydney's central city area you'll discover age-old jacarandas casting shade. Take them in at your own pace, starting at The Royal Botanic Garden, then wandering west through Circular Quay and The Rocks. Be sure to snap a shot of the purple trees backdropped by the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour.  

Where to see wildflowers  

Lovers of the delicate flannel flower, so named for its soft wool-like texture, should head for the Flannel Flower walking track on the NSW Central Coast near Wagstaffe and Killcare, just 40km north of Sydney. This 3km walk connects Tallow and Lobster beaches, along trails lined with the flannel flowers' distinctive white blooms. The track also meanders through an angophora forest, before ending at the Lobster Point lookout with commanding views along the coast. 

Just 150km north of Sydney in the Lower Hunter region, Werakata National Park is transformed into a wildflower wonderland every spring. Pick a hiking trail and keep watch for purple happy wanderers, yellow hairpin banksias and red mountain devils. You'll also likely spot ground orchids and thyme honey myrtle. 

Port Macquarie might be known for its beaches, but it offers natural appeal of a different kind in coastal Kattang Nature Reserve. When not scanning the sea for migrating whales, look down to be dazzled by magnificent wildflower displays including boronia, flannel flowers, everlasting daisies and wedding bush. 

Once the snow melts in the aptly named Snowy Mountains, high-altitude Kosciuszko National Park comes to life with purple eyebrights, yellow billy buttons and everlasting daisies. 

Where to see gardens and fields  

The Blue Mountains' Botanic Garden Mount Tomah is the world's only botanic garden within a UNESCO World Heritage Area. It's a special part of the state, home to thousands of trees and plants, many of them flowering. Come in spring for more than 50,000 daffodils as well as cherry blossoms and ruby-red waratahs.  

It's 170km from Sydney west to Oberon, where you'll find one of the world's largest privately owned cool-climate gardens. Mayfield Garden is inspired by grand English country estates, its immaculately groomed grounds including themed groves, water features and a paddock-to-plate cafe. During the annual Spring Festival in October, visitors are given access to areas normally closed to the public.  

The Riverina region of southern NSW, west of Canberra, goes golden in spring, thanks to the canary-yellow canola flowers that cover rolling pastures and hillsides. Follow The Canola Trail to explore idyllic country towns and villages – including Junee, Temora and Coolamon – visit wineries and restaurants, and learn about the area's history, all the while surrounded by blooms. Be sure to linger at the Temora Aviation Museum, Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory and Coolamon Cheese. 

--

Note to editors:

Find this article, accompanied by additional downloadable images, (for registered Media Centre users) on the Destination NSW Media Centre.

There's so much going on across Sydney and New South Wales. For access to the latest news and to be kept up to date, register now with the Destination NSW Media Centre media.destinationnsw.com.