Where to See the Most Gorgeous Autumn Leaves in Australia

As autumn sweeps across Australia, the landscape transforms into a canvas of gold, crimson, and amber. From tree-lined streets in bustling cities to quiet country towns and misty mountain ranges, the season brings a comforting, nostalgic ambiance. It’s a time for crisp air, slow strolls beneath fiery canopies, and weekends spent chasing the most breathtaking autumn displays.

Whether it’s Victoria’s cool-climate gardens, Tasmania’s wild beauty, or New South Wales’ grand avenues, these are the best places to experience autumn in all its fleeting, golden glory.

Autumn Leaves in NSW

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Bowral, Southern Highlands

With a noticeably English aesthetic and ambience, the Southern Highlands offers the perfect weekend escape in the cooler months. Head down whilst the leaves are changing and you’ll be treated to golden vistas everywhere you look. We recommend basing yourself in Bowral where cafes, restaurants and boutique shops abound. Want more? Head to nearby Bendooley Estate in Berrima for plenty of red, gold and orange hues. Snap some pics then pop into the Book Barn for a browse and a bite to eat.

Mount Wilson, Blue Mountains

Mount Wilson is a nature lover’s dream with rainforest, canyons, private gardens and historic houses aplenty. Just two hours from Sydney, it’s the perfect spot to while away an autumn day. It pays to be organised here. Be sure to check in to see when the main private gardens are open around town. Walnut and chestnut picking are also a popular activity in this quiet Blue Mountains suburb.

There are limited accommodation options and no nearby restaurants and cafes in Mount Wilson, so visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic. Should you like to make a weekend of it, head to Leura. It’s a 40-minute drive away but another must-visit Blue Mountains destination packed with boutique stays, bars, restaurants and local shops. If you’re looking for more great golden leaf spotting ops, pencil in a stop at Bilpin.

Autumn Leaves in ACT

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National Arboretum, ACT

With over 44, 000 rare and endangered trees across a 250-hectare site, there are few better places to glimpse seasonal shifts than the National Arboretum. If you fancy a walk, head off on the Himalayan Cedar Track which boasts plenty of deciduous trees that shift and change with the seasons. Once you’re done, head to the Arboretum’s cafe to warm up with a coffee or hot chocolate.

Forest Drive, ACT

Autumn Leaves in Victoria

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Bright, Victoria

In Bright, autumn offers golden light and crisp mountain air, with the Ovens River’s banks aflame in fiery reds and golds. Wandering down tree-lined Delany Avenue feels cinematic—leaves crunch underfoot, the air smells of woodsmoke, and the whole town hums with a quiet nostalgia. Local bakeries dish out warm pastries, perfect for a slow meander through the parks.

Sitchu Tip: To capture the full autumn experience in Bright, time your visit with a scenic drive up Mount Buffalo for panoramic views of the fiery landscape before winter arrives.

Daylesford & The Great Dividing Ranges, Victoria

If ever there was a place built for autumn, it’s Daylesford. The mineral springs shimmer under canopies of amber and rust, and Lake Daylesford reflects the season like an oil painting. Stroll through Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, where towering elms and maples put on a show, or drive through Trentham and Macedon, where tree tunnels turn roads into golden passageways. Explore Hepburn Regional Park’s waterfalls and Gold Rush relics, picnic beneath vibrant foliage at Kyneton Botanic Gardens, or wander Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park for autumn hues steeped in history. Long lunches by open fires and tastings at local wineries complete the scene.

The Dandenongs, Victoria

The Dandenongs in autumn feel almost enchanted, a mist-laced wonderland of towering mountain ash, crimson Japanese maples, and quiet fern gullies. The winding roads of Sassafras and Olinda are blanketed in fallen leaves, leading to snug tearooms where you can sip hot chai and watch the season unfurl outside. In Alfred Nicholas Gardens, golden ginkgo trees line the lake, their reflections rippling in the cool air, while paths wind through canopies of fiery red and amber. Further up in the Dandenongs, Cloudehill Gardens is an autumn masterpiece, where sculpted hedges, Japanese maples, and towering beeches create a painter’s palette of deep crimsons and burnt oranges. There’s a hush to the place, a slowing of pace—fleeting, poetic, and entirely intoxicating.

Leafy Neighbourhood Streets of Melbourne, Victoria

Melbourne’s inner-city streets in autumn have a quiet kind of magic, where golden poplars and crimson maples frame historic facades. Carlton’s old-world terraces glow in afternoon light, Fitzroy’s leafy laneways are scattered with ochre leaves, and the grand trees of Kew and Hawthorn turn everyday strolls into something cinematic. In Elwood and Albert Park, the crunch of leaves underfoot mingles with the smell of espresso from corner cafes. Malvern’s wide, tree-lined boulevards burst into shades of copper and gold, lending a stately charm to its heritage homes. The season lingers in North Melbourne and Fitzroy North, where cobblestone streets and climbing ivy wear autumn like a well-loved coat—worn, familiar, and impossibly charming.

Walhalla

Walhalla, a secluded gold-mining town, feels like a time capsule bathed in autumn’s hues. Golden poplars and scarlet maples line the winding roads, their leaves carpeting the heritage streets and weathered cottages. Mist curls through the hills in the crisp morning air, setting the scene for slow explorations of the old railway, hillside cemetery, and ghostly mine shafts. Take a steam train ride through forests painted in amber and ochre, or simply soak in the quiet, the scent of damp earth and woodsmoke hanging in the air like an autumn lullaby. Take a steam train ride through forests painted in amber and ochre, or just breathe it all in—woodsmoke, damp earth, and autumn’s quiet embrace.

Autumn Leaves in South Australia

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Adelaide Hills

The Adelaide Hills in autumn offers a scene straight out of a novel. Quaint villages like Hahndorf, Mount Barker, and Stirling are adorned with a fiery display of russet and amber foliage. The cool air and the natural stillness invite quiet contemplation, and the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is a magical escape, where winding paths lead you through forests of vivid autumnal colours. The hills, where vineyards and orchards abound, beckon you to experience a slower pace, to savour nature’s rich transformation, and find beauty in every moment.

Clare Valley

In the Clare Valley, autumn paints the landscape with golden vineyards and scarlet leaves. The Riesling Trail, stretching through the undulating hills, offers sweeping views of the colourful vistas, where vibrant foliage meets rolling terrain. As the air grows cooler, the valley offers a peaceful rhythm, inviting you to wander through the vineyards and taste its world-renowned wines. Here, the land’s serene beauty and the harvest season’s bounty create an idyllic setting for those seeking both relaxation and discovery.

Barossa Valley

The Barossa Valley in autumn is a visual feast, where the vibrant reds and burnt oranges of the grapevines create a stunning contrast against the valley’s historic stone buildings. The iconic Penfolds and Seppeltsfield vineyards are wrapped in an explosion of colour, as if nature itself is celebrating the season. Autumn’s crisp air carries the scent of harvest, with each step through the vineyards revealing a new perspective on the valley’s beauty. The tranquil landscape invites you to relax and savour the richness of the land, offering an autumn experience that’s as sophisticated as it is serene.

Autumn Leaves in Tasmania

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Mount Field National Park

One of Tasmania’s most breathtaking autumn displays unfolds in Mount Field National Park, where the ancient Fagus (Nothofagus gunnii), Tasmania’s only deciduous native tree, turns the mountainsides into a patchwork of gold, orange, and deep red. Known as ‘the turning of the fagus’, this annual spectacle is best seen around Lake Dobson and Tarn Shelf. Pair the stunning foliage with a hike through moss-laden forests, past cascading waterfalls, for an autumn experience that feels almost otherworldly.

Autumn Leaves in Queensland

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Toowoomba

Toowoomba (the Garden City) is well-known for its immaculate gardens and a wondrous display of flowers as the seasons change. Still, it’s also an excellent destination for chasing falling autumn leaves. Take a calming stroll through the Ju Raku En Japanese zen garden—the perfect place to meander on a brisk autumnal day. Head up the ranges to Picnic Point, where you’ll feel the season more sharply in the air, but it’s oh-so-worth it for the views over the Lockyer Valley and Tabletop Mountain.

Stanthorpe, Granite Belt Region

A popular destination for a winter solstice escape, Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt region are picturesque destinations for an autumn escape. Whilst you might barely notice the seasons change in Brisbane (save for a slight drop in temperature), this part of Queensland is like a whole new world. Wander down vineyard avenues, surrounded by trees adorned in russet-red leaves, whilst savouring the satisfying crunch of those that have fallen underfoot. It’s the ultimate excuse to escape the city with your best friends and book in for a wine tour or two.

Autumn Leaves in Western Australia

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Raeburn Orchards

Found in the Perth Hills, Raeburn Orchards erupts into fiery reds and golds each May, a dreamscape of autumn leaves in Australia. The persimmon trees steal the show, their branches ablaze from early to mid-May—the perfect window for photographers and leaf-chasers. Wander beneath the canopy, crunching fallen leaves underfoot, before picking up fresh seasonal fruit from the farm shop. With a $5 entry (kids under 12 free), it’s an autumn escape worth every dollar.

Hyde Park, Perth

In autumn, Hyde Park transforms into a sun-dappled haven, where plane trees shed their leaves like confetti. Stroll beneath the amber canopy, feeling the crunch beneath your feet, while the lake reflects the soft glow of the late-afternoon sun. Ducks glide across the lake, their ripples catching the late-afternoon light, while locals sip coffee on park benches beneath the amber canopy. It’s peaceful yet alive—families, photographers, and picnic lovers all soaking up the crisp air and golden glow of Perth’s most romantic inner-city escape.

The crisp air, golden light, and crunch of fallen leaves make autumn in Australia a season to savour. Whether dressing up yourself or your home with these seasonal style picks, or escaping to warmer climes with these island getaways, find inspiration for the perfect autumn experience.