Ipswich's jacarandas usually flower from mid-October to early November, and the city and nearby Goodna are known for them. It is a pleasant, low-effort outing for families: a park, a lookout and a few streets, with room for the kids to run. Here are the places named for jacarandas. A park gives the kids room to run, and a lookout gives you a place to stop for a view, so together they make a simple outing that does not need much planning.
In Ipswich
- Timothy Moloney Park.
- Denmark Hill Lookout: a good spot for a view and a photo.
In Goodna
- Brisbane Terrace.
- Evan Marginson Park.
The festival
The Goodna Jacaranda Festival is held in the jacaranda season. We do not have its dates, so check with the organiser or the council for this year's details before you plan around it.
Make it a game for the kids
- Ask them to spot the first purple tree of the day, and count how many they find.
- Look for the trumpet-shaped flowers on the ground and see who finds the freshest one.
- Bring a pencil and paper for a quick sketch under a tree, or let the kids take the photos.
- Pack a picnic and make it a slow, unhurried morning.
Planning a visit with kids
- Go early on a weekend morning, when it is quieter and the light is soft for photos.
- The blossoms follow the weather, so the trees can be early or late. Look at a tree near you before you plan a trip.
- Pack water and sun protection, and bring a picnic rug if you would like to stay a while.
- Fallen blossom can collect on paths and kerbs, so take a little care with scooters and prams.
- Check parking, public transport and access with the council or the venue before you go.
Two parks and a lookout can easily fill a morning, and the kids will have space to play. If you would like to make a day of it, pair a park visit with the festival if it is running while you are there.
For the latest on access and anything happening at a particular place, check the council's own website.
