New South Wales transforms into a kaleidoscope of colour as the spring months bring a rainbow of flowers into bloom. Walk down streets lined with vibrant purple jacarandas, hike bush trails bursting with native wildflowers and wander the manicured paths of the state’s best flower gardens. Here’s where to uncover some of the best.

A purple haze of jacarandas

Find a photographer’s dream in Grafton as the streets explode in a canopy of purple jacaranda flowers from mid-October through late November. The historic town, which sits on the Clarence River on the NSW North Coast, hosts the annual week-long Grafton Jacaranda Festival during the magical bloom. Join locals in celebrating the town’s 2,000 jacaranda trees – including the state’s oldest – with street parades and themed floats, markets, fireworks and even the crowning of a jacaranda queen. Stay for the after-dark schedule where live music is played under the illuminated trees, before retiring an hour up the road to the bush oasis of The Clarence (reserve a minute to dip in the eco hut’s outdoor bath before the night ends). The next day, take in the cultural profile of the region at the Grafton Regional Gallery or head to the coast for wild beachscapes and koala forests of Bundjalung National Park.

Organise a picnic with the most spectacular backdrop on Sydney’s leafy North Shore by timing your al fresco feast to coincide with the jacaranda season. Suburbs such as Kirribilli, Lavender Bay, Greenwich, Waverton, Hunters Hill, Woolwich, Longueville and Wollstonecraft are all memorable spots to enjoy a long, lazy lunch under a dreamy canopy of lilac blooms. In Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, wander the historic streets of Paddington – Oxford Street, Glenmore Road and Five Ways – stopping in the galleries and boutiques that sit along the jacaranda-lined streets, then wander into the leafy nearby neighbourhoods of Woollahra and Double Bay. You can also see the heart of Sydney in a fresh light with jacarandas hidden between skyscrapers and historic buildings in the CBD. Take in the age-old beauties at your own pace, starting at The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, then wander west through Circular Quay and The Rocks, admiring vistas of the purple trees backdropped by the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour.

Wander among wildflowers

One of the unique beauties of the east coast of Australia is the pristine, white petals of the flannel flower, named for their soft, wool-like texture. These delicate white flowers line the 2.9km Flannel Flower Walking Track in Bouddi National Park on the NSW Central Coast every spring. Use the stylish Lodges at Bells at Killcare as your base (and retreat) to explore the region, using the rest of your time to brunch with a cuddly herd at Iris Lodge Alpacas and taste the best produce of the region on the Central Coast Makers Trail. If you want a bit of adventure, hire a stand-up paddleboard, kayak or pedal boat while taking in the region’s sun-kissed coastal beauty at Aquafun Avoca Lake.

Just over an hour north of the Central Coast, find another wildflower fantasy at the Hunter Valley’s Werakata National Park. Spot flowers such as purple happy wanderers, ground orchids, yellow hairpin banksia, thyme honey myrtle and red mountain devil on a hike or bring a set of wheels and ride the famous Deadman’s mountain bike loop.

On NSW’s North Coast, refresh with a dip at one of Port Macquarie’s renowned beaches, a 7.5-hour drive north of Sydney, before soaking up the natural delights of a different kind on the coastal Kattang Nature Reserve. When you’re not scanning the sea for migrating whales in spring, look down for bursts of lush pink boronia, flannel flowers, speckles of different coloured everlasting daisies and blooms of wedding bush.

For a completely different scene, witness the radical transformation of the NSW Snowy Mountains in spring, when the high-altitude Kosciuszko National Park comes to life with purple eyebrights, yellow billy buttons and everlasting daisies. There are many great tracks speckled with flowers – hike the high altitude Main Range track; take on Dead Horse Gap for snowy white gentians, anemone buttercups and alpine sunrays; or the Thredbo River Track and other lower altitude, nearby tracks for alpine mint, billy buttons, and native yam daisies. At the end of the trek, unwind with a regional wine tasting with Sip the Snowies or go complete relaxation mode with a massage at Lake Crackenback Spa and Wellness. Then end the day with an outdoor bath and a room that looks onto the rugged Snowy mountainscape at luxury eco-huts Crafters Cabins.

The best spring garden displays

Immerse yourself in native blooms at The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, an hour from both the centre of Sydney and the Blue Mountains, in opposite directions. The Australian native plant garden, the sister organisation to The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, showcases flowering plants throughout the year, with springtime visitors treated to the mesmerising sight of the largest paper daisy display in eastern Australia.

Plan a full garden weekend with a trip to the Blue Mountains and end your Mount Annan visit with a stay at Kyah Hotel, a stylish motel redesigned to focus on sustainability and Blue Mountains charm. Then seize the opportunity to visit one of the world’s only botanic gardens within a UNESCO World Heritage Area at the Botanic Garden Mount Tomah. It’s a special place to visit at any time, but particularly in spring, when 50,000 daffodils blanket the landscape, and waratahs – the floral emblem of NSW – dot the garden with their iconic ruby-red blooms. Use your time in the mountains to take in the best local spots – grab an award-winning brew at Mountain Culture, book in for a steam bath at the Finnish-inspired Blue Mountains Sauna and hike one of the biggest and most beautiful natural areas in the state (The Grand Cliff Top Walk and The Grand Canyon Track are particularly spectacular walks). If you’re into adventure but don’t have the gear, join a tour with Blue Mountains Adventure Company.

Discover another horticultural oasis in Oberon, 170km west of Sydney, where you’ll find one of the world’s largest privately owned cool-climate gardens, Mayfield Garden. The epic grounds are inspired by grand English country estates. They’re immaculately groomed and include themed groves, majestic water features and a paddock-to-plate cafe. Enjoy the exclusivity of accessing areas normally closed to the public during the annual Spring Festival, typically held in September and/or October. Start early by staying the night in the garden – at Mayfield’s nearby luxury glamping set up, each tent comes with a three-course dinner delivered to your camp and entry tickets to the garden.

Or, imagine you’re in Japan as you wander among fragrant cherry blossoms and vivid azaleas in the serene Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre in the town of Cowra, a two-hour drive west from Oberon in Country NSW. Birdwatchers will also love this garden designed to resemble the Japanese landscape; its numerous water features attract a myriad of feathered visitors, including lorikeets, red-rumped parrots and rosellas that match even the garden’s brightest blooms. Spring is also the season for the stunning yellow carpet of the canola fields, and Cowra puts on one of the state’s best displays. Book a tour at the Cowra Visitor Information Centre or take yourself on a road trip to see it all. While in town, take your companions to the Quarry Restaurant and Cellar Door, Cowra’s local fine diner, and spend the night amongst sheep and bush scenery at the architecturally striking Wilga Station, near Bathurst.