The jacaranda season might be the best time to visit Brisbane. With touches of purple blooming everywhere, the city during Spring looks lovely. It doesn’t last for long. Jacaranda trees in Brisbane usually bloom for approximately one month, between late September and early November. But keep your eyes open as the jacaranda season can shift a bit!
There is a window of about two weeks in Brisbane when the jacaranda trees are full of blossoms and paint the ground with purple flowers as well.
The jacaranda season in Brisbane is usually from mid to end of October (depending on how cold winter was). In 2018 and 2020, after a warm winter, jacaranda trees started blooming in mid-September. The jacaranda season might now be earlier than it used to be. In 2021, I took my first photo of a blooming jacaranda tree on September 18th. They were still stunning in full bloom, with flowers on the ground, about one month later. In 2022, we spotted our first jacaranda blooming at the end of September.
The purple blooms are sprinkled all around Brisbane. Surprisingly, jacaranda trees aren’t from Australia at all: they come from South America. In the 60s, Brisbane Council started planting them in parks and even gave some for free to residents. They now bring stunning colours all around town during Spring. It’s an exciting time to walk around the city, for both visitors and those living in Brisbane!
Did you miss the jacaranda season in Brisbane?
Don’t be too sad not to be able to see the best jacaranda trees from my list below. The beautiful flamboyant tree season comes just after, and it also gives colours to Brisbane. I think they’re as beautiful as the jacaranda trees.
If you’re planning your trip to Brisbane and looking for accommodation, check out these tips.
The best places to find jacaranda trees in Brisbane
There is no need to look for jacaranda trees when you’re exploring Brisbane. You will see them a bit everywhere. However, I still have a few
1. Jacaranda trees at the University of Queensland (UQ)
The campus in Saint Lucia is my favourite place in Brisbane to go for a lovely stroll during the Brisbane jacaranda tree season. The pond in the park with jacaranda trees around it makes the place very scenic. The jacaranda trees in front of the principal building of the University of Queensland are beautiful too. You may want to grab a bike or walk around the campus. Have a look at this map to create the best Jacaranda tree itinerary around UQ Campus!
The University of Queensland even organises a small festival for the Jacaranda season in Brisbane called Bloom. It’s a unique opportunity to enjoy the jacaranda trees by night as there are light installations throughout the gardens and trees on Jacaranda Lane.
2. Jacaranda trees at New Farm Park
New Farm Park comes as a close second in my list of the best places to see jacaranda trees in Brisbane. The jacaranda trees border the parks, and it’s very photogenic when the sun is shining. The best combo is to bike from New Farm to the UQ campus in Saint Lucia, along the river.
3. Jacaranda trees along the Brisbane River
A walk, a run or cycling along the river is lovely all year round. It’s one of the perks of living in Brisbane. And I love it even more during Brisbane jacaranda tree season! From New Farm to Saint Lucia, through the Botanic Garden and Kangaroo Point, you’ll see pretty jacaranda trees popping up!
There’s a particularly nice series of jacaranda trees near the Brisbane River in Kangaroo Point, next to Rotherham St. There are a few cafes nearby, so it’s a great spot to have brunch or lunch with a detour for your purple fix.
4. Jacaranda tree at Wilson’s Lookout
Wilson’s Lookout is one of my favourite spots for watching the sunset in Brisbane. And it gets even better during the jacaranda tree season. Up there, a beautiful jacaranda tree aligns with the city views and the iconic Story Bridge.
When you’re done admiring the view, you can take the lift down to Howard Smith Wharves to enjoy one of my favourite places to go out in Brisbane. If you’re looking for more jacaranda trees and are keen on doing a short walk, you’ll find another beautiful purple tree with the Story Bridge in the background at the end of Howard Smith Wharves near the city when you’re about to go to the river walk. On the other end, on the boardwalk going to New Farm, you’ll find another beautiful one.
5. Jacaranda trees in Goodna
This one is a bit further away from Brisbane City (a 25-minute drive towards Ipswich) than the other jacaranda spots on this list. However, I found it was well worth driving there.
Evan Marginson Park has a lovely collection of purple trees. But my favourite views may be from the roads nearby. It’s almost like a purple tunnel with a purple carpet. It’s arguably one of the best spots to take photos of jacaranda trees in Brisbane.
6. Jacaranda Park in Yeronga
With such a name, this small park in Yeronga easily earns a spot in the list of the best place to see jacarandas in Brisbane. The location isn’t as scenic as some others on this list, but the trees are stunning. When they are all blooming at the same time, it looks magical.
7. Jacaranda trees in Brisbane City Botanic Garden
Brisbane City Botanic Garden is always a lovely choice for a nice walk in the City. I’m so glad we have a beautiful
There are nice jacaranda trees at the Alice Street entrance.
8. Jacaranda trees at Guyatt Park
I like how the jacaranda trees in this Brisbane park are aligned. It creates a beautiful alley of jacaranda trees. And the green grass is perfect for the contrasts. Guyatt Park is very close to the UQ Campus, and I much prefer exploring the purple craziness on the UQ campus. However, it can be a great alternative if you’re trying to get photos without anyone when the UQ campus is busy!
Do you have a favourite spot to see jacaranda trees in Brisbane? Add your tip to the comments below!
Map of the best places to see jacaranda trees in Brisbane
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wow such a magnificent place! are those leaves? the purple ones? I’ve been dying to see the cherry blossoms in Japan but this one makes me want to Brisbane right now. Stunning!
I’d love to see the cherry blossoms in Japan too! The purple ones are flowers. When it’s fully blossoming, there is no leaves, which looks super pretty. The flowers fall down on the ground and then the green leaves start appearing again.
Wow amazing pictures. Had no about that in Brisbane of all places! Kinda reminds me of the cherries in Japan. Amazing!
Thank you, Sreekar. I’d love to see the cherry blossoms in Japan! Pretoria in South Africa is another city very famous for the Jacarandas trees. It’s funny as they’re not originally from Australia or Africa, but they actually come from South America!
I haven’t been to Brisbane, but those pictures are truly engaging and encourage me to see Jacarandas in actual. I would love to have pictures with it and hopefully can share with you.
I hope you’ll make it happen one day, Eliza. If so, please come back here and send me the photo! Pretoria in South Africa is also very famous for all its Jacarandas.
This is my first time hearing of Jacarandas but they look absolutely stunning. Seeing them reminds me of the cherry blossoms throughout Asia…just a purple version!
Yes, they do remind of the cherry blossoms. I haven’t seen many cherry blossoms yet, but I’d love to. But I really love the colours of the Jacarandas. Depending on the light, they look somewhere between pink and blue purple 😉
Like everybody else, if somebody says the phrase “flower viewing”, I immediately think about cherry blossoms, particularly in Japan. I was lucky enough to be in Japan during cherry blossom season and it was spectacular. I’d never realized that there were other “flower viewing” events outside of cherry blossoms in Japan. This definitely deserves more attention!
I was in Brisbane 11 years ago and wish it was the right time of year to see these. All of the pictures are great :
I’ve never seen anything like that before. Those trees are beautiful! It would be so magical to walk on a path covered with purple leaves! I am adding Brisbane to my bucket list.
Thank you for your comment 🙂
They’re hard to get as they don’t last for too long, but they’re amazing!
I am so jealous, I never knew there was such a thing as Jacarandas. I wish i lived in Brisbane to see these beauties.
Yes, we’re lucky to have them here! And I’m glad we realise it, so we can enjoy them even more 🙂 It’s so easy to take the local things for granted…
I am so in lovely with purple trees! In northen Europe we don’t have jacarandas at all so that makes them even more fascinating for me. To visit a place like that is like a dream come true for me! Simply gorgeous!
Hi, Tiina! Where are you in Europe? If you can get to Athens in Greece, I was told they have beautiful Jacarandas there during Spring!
The jacaranda blossoms are so beautiful! I always find it such a shame that they only stick around for such a short window of time – a bit like the cherry blossoms in Japan. Imagine planning a trip for ages to see them, only to find the seasons are out of kilter and you go the wrong week! I’d love to see both for myself one day 🙂
Hi, Anna! I know exactly what you mean! My in-laws arrived a few days ago and really wanted to see the Jacarandas so we were hoping they’d last until then as winter was warm and the season started early! (and they did see them, phew!)
I guess you really need to plan other exciting things to see in the region so you’re not too disappointed if you’re a bit too late… 😉
Oh my gosh, I’m not even kidding right now that I was wondering just the other day while driving around in Brisbane, where I could see more Jacarandas! It’s almost as though you wrote this just for me haha So far I’ve only seen the odd one here and there and love them SO MUCH. Thank you, I can’t wait to go and check out all these great Jacaranda gems in Brisbane!
Hi, Michelle. I’m very happy my post can help! Don’t wait for too long though… We were driving around Brisbane today and noticed the green leaves are starting to come out! 😉
Oh my these trees are just gorgeous! Great guide! I would love to stumble upon these!
Thank you, Andrea. Spring is full of surprises 🙂
Wow never seen trees like this before!! So so beautiful – I will defiantly go hunting for them when I finally make it to Brisbane 🙂
Aim at being here in Spring if you want to see them! They’re in Sydney too (in Kirribili I believe, and one not far from Circular Quay) if you’re around there.
The jacaranda trees are beautiful! I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before but would be obsessed with photographing them if I did. Love your photos!
Thank you, Susan! Yes, I am a bit obsessed. I leave earlier than necessary just to make sure I have time to take a few shots. And now I have too many pics in my phone! 😀
Purple is such a therapeutic color! I’ve never seen jacarandas trees, but they seem a little similar to the cherry blossoms. Thanks for this detailed guide! I would love to see this in person.
Thank you. I find purple relaxing. You’re right, they’re a bit like the cherry blossoms. I hope to see these ones some day 🙂
This is so beautiful. Purple is my favorite color. I would love to see this in person <3
Hi, Olga. I hope you’ll get a chance to see the beautiful Jacarandas. If purple is your favourite colour, no doubt that you’d LOVE it!!!
I am glad you mentioned New Farm Park, the jacaranda trees there are absolutely gorgeous. They are among the most memorable sights I have come across while living there. I do not remember the ones in Brisbane City Botanic Garden as much, on the other hand QUT Gardens Point campus has a few nice specimens.