NSW’s cherry blossom festival is the southern hemisphere’s largest

Japan may be famous for its cherry blossom-lined streets. But Sydney is home to the largest cherry blossom festival in the southern hemisphere, and it’s about to come into full bloom.

Ahh, Japan. Streets are lined with cherry blossom trees that look like clouds of cotton candy, pink petals drifting in the breeze like confetti. It’s a dreamy scene, but luckily, Sydneysiders don’t have to travel far to experience it. Auburn’s Botanic Gardens is home to 200 cherry blossom trees, the largest collection in the southern hemisphere. And they’re about to burst into bloom.

Wander past over 200 blooming cherry trees.

The annual Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival, running from 16–24 August, celebrates this breathtaking natural display with a vibrant, Japanese-inspired program. This year’s festival is bringing a slice of Japan to Sydney. A traditional red torii gate will frame the entrance to the cherry blossom trail. Visitors can also enjoy the rhythmic beats of live Taiko drumming and graceful Japanese dance performances, or find Zen with forest bathing walks through the gardens.

A torii gate at the Cherry Blossom Festival brings a slice of Japan to Sydney.

Adults looking to carve out their own piece of quiet away from families and kids, look no further than Izakaya Amore, an 18+ pop-up bar where you can sip Japanese-inspired cocktails to the sounds of live jazz and Tokyo city pop DJs.

Auburn is home to the largest population of cherry blossom trees in the southern hemisphere.

Find more information on the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival on the Cumberland Council website.