Awesome Autumn Getaways in Australia

Autumn in Australia is a nice time - not too hot, not too cold and plenty of great scenery.

We’ve previously covered summer road trips by listing some of the country’s best.

In this article, we take a look at some of the best places to visit per state during autumn in Australia.

Queensland - Gold Coast

Distance from Brisbane: 80km
Average April temperature: 25-17 degrees

What’s there?

• Less-crowded theme parks
• Outdoor activities
• Surfing

Why in autumn?

Although the Gold Coast is arguably an all-year-round great place to visit, autumn offers smaller numbers of visitors at the theme parks, yet warm enough weather to get in the water. If you’re a fan of ‘heading north for the winter’ in Australia, the Gold Coast is a must.

Many surfers come to Gold Coast to catch the excellent waves at this time of the year.

Other outdoors activities like fishing and hiking through rainforests are also more doable than other seasons. Expect warm days and cooler evenings.

The season makes sun and surf a good daytime activity and the Gold Coast’s famous nightlife and restaurants a good evening option making it the perfect autumn getaway for everyone.

Winter clothes like scarves, gloves and coats typically aren’t required at this time of year but something warm might be worth packing if you like going out in the evenings.

New South Wales - Blue Mountains

Distance from Sydney: 1 - 1.5 hours
Average April temperature: 19-17 degrees

What’s there?

• Stunning red, yellow and flame orange colours
• Hiking
• Rugged mountain views
• Local produce

Why in autumn?

The Blue Mountains get their blue hue from finely dispersed droplets of Eucalyptus oil which combine with dust particles and water vapour.

Summer can get hot and snakes aren’t uncommon. In winter, the cold temperatures might not be to everyone’s tastes.

Mount Tomah Botanic Garden, also known as the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden really comes alive in autumn. It’s one of the top places in the area to see the stunning colours of the season. The gardens are located about 45 minutes north of the Blue Mountains’ main town, Katoomba.

Katoomba is known for its views of the Blue Mountains’ jagged cliffs and misty valleys. The town has positioned itself as arts and cultural centre with galleries and vibrant street art.

Further attractions include the Scenic Railway, a 52-degree incline riding the steepest passenger railway in the world. The Scenic Railway now includes a ‘Cliffhanger’ ride at a steep 64-degree incline.

The Scenic Cableway, one of the regions more well-known ‘to dos’, is a 545-metre journey that descends into the Jamison Valley. It claims to be the steepest and largest aerial cable car in the Southern Hemisphere.

Depending on the activities you plan to undertake, and what time of the day, pack warmer clothes that you won’t mind using outdoors and a chance for the best autumn getaway experience.

ACT - Canberra

Distance from Sydney: 3.5 hours
Average April temperature: 20-7 degrees

What’s there?

• Accessible autumn colours in Canberra
• Views and hiking nearby the city
• National icons / monuments (not autumn-specific)

Why in autumn?

Although small in size, the area around our capital city has some amazing autumn destinations. In fact, the ACT Government has put out a map listing ‘a fantastic autumn streetscape’. Many comments that Canberra ‘changes colour’ in autumn.

The ACT is 2,358 km² in size, in comparison, NSW is 801,150 km² (or 33,875% bigger).

The majority of the cityscape plunges into hues of red, gold and yellow. Ideally, walking along the banks of Lake Burley Griffin, a trip to the top of Mount Ainslie with its height of 843 metres and even getting out of the city to the Brindabella Ranges all make autumn a win in the ACT.

Mount Bimberi, located in the Brindabella Ranges, is the ACT’s tallest mountain at 1,913 metres. Expect cold temperatures and strong winds in autumn. Canberra is well known for its cold weather.

Back in the city, although not only doable in autumn, are numerous Australian icons such as Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia and the Royal Australian Mint.

Victoria - Bright

Distance from Melbourne: 3 hr 45 mins
Average April temperature: 21-6 degrees

What’s there?

• Stress-free, gentle hiking
• Historic sights (Bright hails back to Victoria’s gold rush era)
• Camping
• Picturesque views

Why in autumn?

Like many places in Victoria, Bright is an autumn getaway gem. Located in the northeastern part of the state, the historic town of Bright is in the Alpine Shire area - the name ‘Alpine’ is well deserved. The town is close to the Victorian Alps.

The picturesque town offers amazing golden foliage in autumn. Prepare for walks, such as the 3km Bright Canyon Walk which winds its way along the banks of the Ovens River, followed by cost restaurants in the evenings.

Many visitors enjoy camping in autumn. Nearby Mount Buffalo National Park offers camping options around the alpine waters of Lake Catani.

Bright is just over an hour’s drive from the Falls Creek snowfields so seeing snow is possible at the end of autumn.

Temperatures can get quite low, especially if you’re camping or planning to visit the nearby mountains, Falls Creek for example.

Tasmania - Northwest Tasmania

(Cradle Mountain) Distance from Hobart: 4 hr 20 mins
Average April temperature: 19-8 degrees

What’s there?

• Stunning wild scenery
• Hiking (from novice to pro)
• Kayaking
• Historic sites

Why in autumn?

If you’re going to take your car on the ferry from Melbourne to Tasmania (which takes just over 9 hours), it’s absolutely worth exploring the whole island. The same can be said if hiring a car from Hobart or Launceston.

The island offers stunning rugged and untouched walks with spectacular views. During the autumn, like most places on this list, you’ll witness the red, yellow and gold blanketed hills.

Cradle Mountain, located in northwest Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, is pegged as one of the island’s most iconic wilderness experiences. During autumn, the area offers world-class hiking experiences with tracks of varying difficulty.

If luxury is more your idea of an autumn getaway, Cradle Mountain Lodge offers exceptional local food and wine and indulgent spa treatments in the breathtaking surroundings of Cradle Mountain.

Tasmania is home to some of the lowest winter temperatures in Australia. In autumn, however, expect the weather to be warmer and sunnier than spring.

South Australia - Adelaide + The Adelaide Hills

(Adelaide Hills) Distance from Adelaide: 40 minutes from CBD
Average April temperature: 23-14 degrees

What’s there?

• Stunning autumn colours
• Wine tasting (among other local produce)
• The Fringe and other festivals

Why in autumn?

Autumn is an exciting time in Adelaide. If you can get there in March, the popular and iconic Adelaide Fringebrings the city to life, both in the daytime and evenings. The Fringe consists of live shows and performances, local produce and displays.

Stepping out east of Adelaide, into the nearby hills really shows off South Australia’s autumn vibe. The Adelaide Hills is one of Australia’s top getaway destinations in Autumn. Towns including Hahndorf, Stirling and the Piccadilly Valley (among others) showcase the red-golden leaves of the season.

Make sure to try some of the region's local produce. The German and Italian influences result in excellent wine, cheese and more. If you’re able to make the one-hour trip northeast to SA’s premier wine region, the Barossa Valley, you’ll find famous wineries such as Seppelt Winery, Wolf Blass, Penfolds and Jacob's Creek.

The temperature difference between the Adelaide CBD and Fringe Festival area can be quite different from the Adelaide Hills, which are typically much cooler. Make sure the pack something relatively warm depending on where you plan to go.

Western Australia - Blackwood Valley Wine Region

Distance from Perth: 3 hours
Average April temperature: 24-10 degrees

What’s there?

• Wineries
• Bushwalking/cycling
• Local produce
• Picturesque scenery

Why in autumn?

The Blackwood Valley is located due south of Perth. The region is one of WA’s primary wine regions. The valley consists of four towns, Balingup, Nannup, Boyup Brook and Bridgetown. Their natural, leafy settings showcase autumn’s golden yellows and reds, especially along the banks of the Blackwood River.

Due to the towns’ proximity to one another, driving between them is a cinch - less than one hour.

The four towns of the Blackwood Valley mentioned above;

• Balingup - hills, forests, farmland and orchards offering local arts and crafts.
• Nannup - surrounded by walking, cycling and canoeing trails.
• Boyup Brook - known as the ‘country music capital of WA’ plus offering museums and galleries.
• Bridgetown - a heritage-listed town with award-winning restaurants.

In autumn, the Blackwood Valley offers cooler night and pleasant day temperatures. Expect sunny days with minimal rain. Visitors often enjoy outdoor activities by day and sampling the local wine in the region's many restaurants by night.

The climate and soil are best known for white wine vines including Chardonnay and Riesling along with red wine grapes like Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Northern Territory - Kakadu National Park

Distance from Darwin: 3 hours
Average April temperature: 33-24 degrees

What’s there?

• Wildlife
• Camping / hiking / fishing
• Stunning outback scenery
• Waterfalls

Why in autumn?

To be more accurate, April - May, which is the early dry season. The Northern Territory, famously, has two seasons;

• The Wet - November to April
• The Dry - May to October

At the end of the wet season, rivers are in high flow. This means the waterfalls are spectacular and barra fishing is at its best during the run-off from the previous heavy rains. Waterfalls and fishing are some of Kakadu’s most popular attractions.

Wildlife is another. Kakadu is Australia’s largest national park and home to a large number of animal species; 62 mammals, over 123 reptiles, 280 birds and over 50 fish species.

Interestingly, Kakadu is 120% bigger by area than America's famous Yellowstone National Park so seeing it all is a tall order.

• Yellowstone National Park/Area: 8,991 km²
• Kakadu National Park/Area: 19,816 km²

Make sure to travel in a capable vehicle as Kakadu has many historic sacred aboriginal sites and rock paintings.

April - May can be quite humid with some rainfall, especially early in April.

Keen to explore but need the right vehicle?

You’re in luck. At Positive, we help more driver’s get behind the wheel faster. Start with a quick quote to get the ball rolling. Quick quotes are just that, quick, and can be completed in well under a minute.

Exploring Australia is something all Aussie love - but it takes the right vehicle. From utes and SUVs to hatchbacks to motorbikes, Positive is able to match finance options to get you on the road for your next autumn getaway.