Your guide to Grafton's Jacaranda Festival

Grafton Jacaranda Festival highlights

For its 90th birthday this year, the festival is celebrating with a dynamic lineup of performances, parades and parties, not to mention market stalls, rides and live entertainment.

Food is front and centre, so expect a showcase of the best Clarence Valley produce, as well as the CHS Training Blossom Wine & Dine Long Lunch , which takes place outdoors under the purple canopy. There’s also the country-style Whiddon Jacaranda Afternoon Tea , as well as a variety of food trucks located in and around festival hubs.

Traditionally, the Clarence River marks the boundary between the Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr people. Along with the Yaegl people, the three Traditional Custodians of the Clarence Valley will come together for a day of shared culture, performance, music and dance as part of the River Dreaming program. The Women of Song music event also features First Nations Choral Group performances.

Enjoy the festival with thrilling rides.

Stay overnight and you’ll get a chance to see the jacaranda trees illuminated in See Park . Here, some of the city’s best jacaranda canopies are lit up at night, juxtaposing the vibrant purple against the night sky and reflecting on the park’s water features.

There’s plenty for kids, too. Along with the Friday night fireworks, the festival kicks off with the Children’s Party, featuring dress-ups, food trucks and games for kids. Carnival Capers, held in South Grafton, has free family entertainment. There’s also a free community breakfast held in Market Square.

One of the best ways to experience the festival is on a bus tour, which will take you to all the hotspots around town and South Grafton. You can also choose to take a hop-on, hop-off bus service around the hubs and events.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Jacaranda trees as they are illuminated at night.

Why not stay a little longer?

While the jacarandas take all the attention, Grafton is also home to one of Australia’s most important regional art prizes: the Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA). Shown at the Grafton Regional Gallery , the competition attracts some of Australia’s premier artists, and entries are exhibited during the festival.

The Grafton Heritage Trail showcases the best of the city’s Edwardian and Victorian architecture, including the National Trust-listed Schaeffer House ; now a museum, it was built in 1901 by local architect F.W.C Schaeffer, who helped shape the area. Just outside town you’ll also find the quirky Remember When Cottage Museum , a historic building fitted out with memorabilia from life in the Clarence Valley.

Signage at the Grafton Regional Gallery.

Discover more about Grafton through its art. (Image: Destination NSW)

It’s also worth stopping by Grafton’s iconic “bendy" bridge, a double-decker bascule truss bridge, built with a bend on either approach for vehicles to accommodate the rail line. Part of the heritage walking trail and best experienced on foot, the purple flowers reflect brilliantly on the Clarence River below when the winds are still, then dot the river in flecks of mauve when a breeze appears.

The Clarence Valley region is the perfect place for a road trip. Drop a line at the mouth of the Clarence River at Iluka, surf Yamba’s iconic break, visit the historic river town of Maclean with its Scottish heritage, or take to the waterways on the spectacular 195-kilometre Clarence Canoe and Kayak trail . Then, stay a night or two in any one of the numerous caravan parks, cosy pubs, boutique hotels, retro motels or private rural properties dotted around the area.

Catch a wave in Yamba. (Image: Destination NSW)

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom — Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar — Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining — Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks — Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby — Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney — Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden — Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.

How to celebrate 90 years of Grafton’s Jacaranda Festival

Every spring, Grafton’s streets are plunged into a purple paradise by its iconic jacaranda trees. This year the season culminates in 90 years of the city’s famous Jacaranda Festival.

A verdant history