The best autumn road trips in Australia

For a fitting autumn experience, follow the trees – all the way south of Perth, in fact, along the South Western Highway until you reach Balingup. A small but buzzing village, Balingup sits at the northern entrance to the Blackwood River Valley and the spectacular Southern Forests and Valleys region.

It’s the Golden Valley Tree Park, further south of the region, that really turns up that autumnal charm. With a colonial history dating back to the late 1800s, it’s now the largest arboretum in Western Australia, home to over 3000 exotic and native trees stretching across 60 hectares of land. Autumn is the best time to experience the kaleidoscope of turning colours here: take a picnic, walk for hours, or just meander and gaze at the variety of deciduous and evergreen trees. Entry is free and the park is open seven days a week.

Victoria’s Alpine High Country, namely Bright, sure puts on a show come autumn. Only an hour drive out of the city along the scenic Great Alpine Road, Bright is nestled among the Great Dividing Range, enough to make you feel worlds away. And while the town’s gorgeous mosaic of seasonal colours is reason enough to visit Bright this time of year, you’ll also find that the epic cycling trails, string of boutique wineries and microbreweries, and serene fishing spots are compelling pulls to get to Victoria’s High Country.

If biking appeals, bring your own or hire an electric bike to ride the scenic Murray to Mountains Rail Trail as leisurely or as intensively as you’d like. Whether riding with the family, solo or a friend, there’s more than 100 kilometres of trail to explore, with a range of cafes, farm gates and cellar doors to stop at along the way.

Experience the best of the season with a little cool-weather getaway to North Burnett, an easy three-hour drive out of Brisbane and only one away from Bundaberg. Home to six national parks and a handful of citrus farms – which are at their peak in autumn – this little slice of local enchantment and agricultural richness is brimming with things to do and see.

If revelling in nature is on your autumn to-do, check out any one of the six national parks of the region – Coalstoun is especially a highlight, with spectacular views of the vine forest and the park’s two large craters, which sometimes become lakes when full of water.

To take full advantage of the season, and the fact that the region is one of the citrus capitals of Australia, take the family to Mundubbera, where between April and September the citrus is in full ripe mode at any one of the citrus farms dotting the area. Take a bag or box as some farms allow fruit picking, then head back to town and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

The Adelaide Hills region is a popular venture for those looking to marvel at the beauty of autumn. The perimeters of most of its towns are naturally decorated with rows and rows of gorgeous rusty and golden trees – with the town of Hahndorf really turning it up for the season.

Only a 30-minute drive out of the city, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement is the very best in small-town appeal. Walking the Main Street of the old town is the way to get the most of it during autumn; spot beautiful old elm trees and shops residing in original or restored German-style buildings. To really get a feel for its surrounds, local produce and romantic side, you can also do a gourmet food and wine e-bike tour of the region. There’s also mini golf for families, and a visit to the Hahndorf Academy for a spot of art and history.

Winter isn’t the only time to revel in New South Wales’ Snowy Mountains with autumn putting on a display of colours and activities for an adventure-filled getaway. And while the weather is still crisp enough to enjoy a bit of the outdoors, autumn is the perfect time to get to Tumut, a town which sits at the foothills of the Mountains, and is renowned for its adventure offerings.

This time of year is perfect to indulge in the active pastimes on offer here, from fishing, hiking and hang gliding, to rock climbing or mountain biking. For something a little low-key, bird watching or a Tumut River walk is especially lovely in autumn.

The Yarrangobilly Caves, with their 440 million-year-old limestone, are a highlight, while a stroll through the Tumut Valley Violets nursery, about seven kilometres from the town centre, is a great way to unwind and explore over 500 different varieties of African violets.

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^{Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}