Sydney is beginning to bloom with stunning floral displays taking over the city from daffodils to tulips, cherry blossoms, paper daisies, and more. Early spring also marks the start of wildflower season and NSW is ready to put on a show. Wildflower-lined walking trails, fields blanketed in colourful spring flowers and wildflower meadows in pristine nature reserves will be on offer for the next few mont. There is no way to guarantee exactly where you can spot these flowers in the following locations but that’s part of the adventure. Here are some places in and around Sydney where you can treat yourself to this seasonal show along with additional info about these pretty spring wildflowers.
When is wildflower season in NSW?
Early September to January is generally the best time to see wildflowers in NSW although there are some places where you can still catch a glimpse up until April such as Kosciuszko National Park and Booderee National Park closer to Sydney. Some reserves and gardens only display wildflowers until September so you’ll need to get in fast.
What kind of wildflowers can you find in Sydney and NSW?
Common native flora in New South Wales includes waratah, banksia, flannel flower, lily, boronia, paper daisies, pink finger native orchids, fuchsia heath, iris, hakea, wattle, pea and more. Do note that some of these plants are protected and should not be picked or cultivated without prior permission. Find a list of protected native plants here.
Best places to see wildflowers near Sydney this spring
1. Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden
We wouldn’t fault you for not knowing about this beautiful wildflower garden in the heart of the Northern Beaches. It’s one of the city’s most underrated hidden gem and a delight to visit in spring. Stretched across 123 hectares of wild and untouched bushland with lovely walking trails, this is the spot to visit if you’re hunting for wildflowers but don’t want to go too far from Sydney. Just hop on a bus from the CBD and you’ll reach this vibrant spot in just over 30 minutes. Spring is the best time to visit but you can always feast your eyes on some flowering beauties here all year round. Check out what’s on this season of the official website.
When to visit: August and September
📍420 Mona Vale Rd, St. Ives NSW 2075
2. Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan
One of the prettiest wildflower displays can be found in the heart of the sprawling botanic gardens in Mount Annan with over a million pink, yellow, and white paper daisies putting on a show during spring and summer, making it the largest paper daisy display in Eastern Australia. Showcasing Australian floral stretching across 416 hectares of garden space, this should be your go-to spot if you’re hunting for colourful wildflowers. It’s also less than an hour’s drive from the Sydney CBD making it an enticing spring road trip idea. Find out what’s on this season here.
3. Royal National Park
Beaches, waterfalls, coastal views, and rainforests, the Royal National Park has it all. In the middle of all these striking wonders, visitors can also find trails of beautiful wildflowers featuring vibrant waratahs and Gymea lilies. Among the places in the sprawling national park where you can spot these are the Couranga walking track, a stunning rainforest walk dotted with wildflowers and the Uloola track which also highlights lovely spring wildflowers and features waterfalls and sandstone formations.
When to visit: September to November
📍Located near Cronulla within an hour’s drive of Sydney CBD
3. Bouddi National Park
The Bouddi National Park feels like it’s part of a completely different world so it’s a surprise that the stunning spot is just a short 1.5-hour drive from Sydney. With its stunning rock formations, beaches, diverse landscapes and iconic Liesegang rings the park is a veritable dream for nature lovers. Its coastal tracks and towering trees are also lined with blooming spring flowers when the weather gets warmer, all the more reason to plan a weekend trip. There’s even a dedicated wildflower walk here where you can spot the beautiful Flannel Flower or ‘Federation Star’ and the Flannel Flower Walking Track which winds past towering angophora forest is a must-visit during spring and summer with a sea of stunning springtime blooms that flaunt the rich diversity of the park.
When to visit: September to December
📍Maitland Bay Track, Bouddi NSW 2251
4. Barren Grounds Nature Reserve
The Southern Highlands have plenty to offer in every season with tranquil towns, waterfalls, rolling hills, and lovely floral displays in the warmer seasons. The 2024-hectare Barren Grounds Nature Reserve is a protected nature reserve that offers excellent views, walks, and birdwatching. It’s also lined with wildflowers including Banksias, hakea, epacris, melaleuca, isopogon, and baeckea in the month of October but you can see blooming flowers throughout spring and summer. The reserve is located east of Budderoo National Park and just a 30-minute drive from Kiama, so you can combine your weekend with more beaches, blowholes and coastal activities this summer.
When to visit: September to January
📍Maitland Bay Track, Bouddi NSW 2251
5. Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Why travel out of town when the country’s oldest botanic garden is blooming with flowers right here in Sydney? You don’t have to wait for spring to find something special there, the gardens always have some flowering beauty on offer. Walk along the wildflower meadow, and immerse yourself in a world of colour, or head to the Calyx and gaze at one of the largest green walls in the Southern Hemisphere, the gardens offer a reprieve all year round in the heart of the city. Check out what’s happening throughout spring and summer here.
When to visit: September to January
📍Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
6. Blue Mountains National Park
The Blue Mountains are home to a spectacular array of wildflowers from sunshine wattle to mountain devil, spotted sun orchid, pink flannel flower, and a lot more and you can spot a lot of these and more in the Blue Mountains National Park. The park is a sprawling, lush space filled with deep canyons, waterfalls, lookouts, and much more, spread over six wonderful areas. As for where you can catch a glimpse of these wildflowers, a stroll around the Lockleys Pylon walking track near Leura and the Fairfax Heritage walking track in the Blackheath area of the park will yield the best results but during spring and summer, these wildflowers are spread all over the walking trails of the park. Read more about it here.
When to visit: September to January
📍Blue Mountains region of New South Wales
7. Muogamarra Nature Reserve
Only a lucky few manage to experience the charms of the Muogamarra Nature Reserve every year because the exclusive spot only opens to visitors for six weeks. Home to over 600 species of native flowers, your best chance to discover the many beauties in this area will be in August and September every year with guided and self-guided tours available. It’s easily one of the best spots to see wildflowers near Sydney with a variety of flowers to discover including waratahs, majestic angophoras, old-man banksias, pink boronias, and delicate native orchids. It’s less than an hour from Sydney and this year, the reserve will be open until September 22 on various dates; head to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to book your spot.
When to visit: August and September
📍Old Pacific Highway, Cowan, New South Wales 2081
Where else to see wildflowers in New South Wales:
8. Booderee National Park
The Booderee National Park is around a 2.5 or 3-hour drive from Sydney on the gorgeous Grand Pacific Highway drive. It offers something to all types of travellers from underwater activities, waterside camping, botanic gardens and snowy white sand beaches. With over 460 varieties of plants growing within the national park, there’s also plenty to see in terms of native flora. From picture-perfect Boronia pinnata to vibrant banksia, and the iconic waratah, you’ll find it all here. The hidden Hole in the Wall beach is a fail-safe spot to see blooming wildflowers in spring.
When to visit: September to April
📍Jervis Bay Rd, Jervis Bay JBT 2540
9. Kosciuszko National Park
We saved the best for last. Kosciuszko National Park is the largest national park in NSW so the opportunities are endless. Among the many things it’s famous for are its gorgeous alpine wildflowers that bloom when the snow melts. There are plenty of places where you can feast your eyes on wildflowers around the park from the Main Range track or Dead Horse Gap walking track, the Illawong Walk from Guthega, and more. It’s also getting a brand-new 55km walking trail which will lead hikers through gorgeous landscapes, mountains, wildflowers, cottages and more so you can explore the park in all its glory. The Kosciuszko area is roughly a 5.5-hour drive from Sydney and well worth the long drive out. Read more about it here.
When to visit: November to April
📍Alpine Way, New South Wales 2627
Check out Visit NSW for more reserves and parks in and around Sydney to spot pretty wildflowers this spring.