Australia's largest cherry blossom festival returns to Sydney

Inside Sydney’s Cherry Blossom Festival

In the lead-up to spring each year, the 200 cherry blossom trees within Auburn Botanic Gardens slowly begin to awaken. It takes roughly three weeks for the tiny green buds to burst, coming into full bloom and transforming the garden grounds into a sea of sorbet-hued pink.

The Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival has been welcoming visitors since 2011.

But while the gardens have long been a local favourite, not many people knew about the fleeting natural spectacle, happening just outside one of Australia’s biggest cities.

So in 2011, the Cumberland City Council officially launched the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival, inviting everyone to witness the largest cherry blossom display in the southern hemisphere for themselves. Since then, the nine-day event has blossomed into one of the most beloved spring festivals in Australia.

A traditional torii gate marks the beginning of the cherry blossom trail. (Credit: Destination NSW)

This year, the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival is once again welcoming both returning visitors and first-time guests to experience the magic of sakura season. It’s a vibrant celebration of Japanese culture in the heart of Western Sydney, where traditional performances, live music, interactive workshops and bustling market stalls evoke the spirit of Japan.

Foodies can also look forward to sampling a wide variety of authentic cuisine. From sakura burgers to steamed bao buns, local food trucks pump out dishes you’d expect to find at some of Sydney’s best Japanese restaurants. Or pack a picnic and enjoy lunch by the lake, where swans and ducks lazily paddle by.

Keep an eye out for peacocks roaming freely through the gardens. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Water birds aren’t the only wildlife species found at Auburn Botanic Gardens, either. Swans and peacocks roam freely across the property’s 9.2 hectares, while the onsite Fauna Reserve acts as a sanctuary for kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and emus.

At the heart of it all lies the cherry blossom trail, which begins beneath a traditional red torii gate. The path winds its way through the delicate blooms, instantly transporting visitors to the Land of the Rising Sun and offering a moment for contemplation (or the perfect photo opp) under falling pink petals.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Planning your visit

The Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival will return to Auburn Botanic Gardens from 22–30 August 2026, open from 9am to 4.30pm. Entry is ticketed, with passes available to purchase online via the Cumberland City Council website. There will be no ticket sales at the gate, so be sure to book in advance.

Auburn Botanic Gardens is home to roughly 200 cherry blossom trees.

Located around 20 kilometres west of Sydney’s CBD, Auburn Botanic Gardens can be easily reached via public transport. Both the T1 and T2 train lines stop at Auburn Station, where a free festival shuttle bus will transport visitors to and from the gardens throughout the event.

Those arriving by car should be aware that there is no onsite car park and street parking is limited. However, a dedicated drop-off and pick-up zone will operate on Killen Street, providing quick and easy access for taxi or rideshare services. Auburn Botanic Gardens is also wheelchair and pram friendly, with accessible bathrooms onsite.

Address: Auburn Botanic Gardens, Chisholm Rd & Chiswick Rd, Auburn NSW

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

North Cronulla beach — Dive into the world’s best beaches.

That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

Beyond the beaches

Dining

The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.

By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

Visit Bundeena

Bundeena Ferry Wharf — Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

Pristine walking trails

Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track — Cool off with a coastal stroll.

Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy whale watching

humpback whale sighting noosa experiences — Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around. Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.

The southern hemisphere’s largest cherry blossom festival returns to Sydney

A little slice of Japan hiding in Western Sydney is preparing to bloom.

Inside Sydney’s Cherry Blossom Festival

Planning your visit

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Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.