While summer can be sweltering and winter gets a little wet, the transitional seasons of spring and autumn can be truly magical in Sydney.
Come autumn, we go nuts for crunchy leaves, warm hues, and the chance to rug up a little without absolutely freezing. From autumn festivals to sprawling private gardens, perfect picnic spots, and stunning national parks, here are the best places in Sydney and wider NSW to see autumn leaves this year.
Autumn Leaves In Sydney
Royal Botanic Garden
We’re calling it: the Royal Botanic Garden is completely underrated. Whether you’re halfway through a city shop, day of work, or just keen on a grassy knoll and a lie down (our favourite pastime). Established in 1816, these gardens are filled with Australian natives and international staples like the English rose and, come autumn, there are plenty of flame-hued trees to peep.
Centennial Park
Centennial Park, like the Royal Botanic Garden before it, is underrated. Hit up the duck pond for a brilliant display of reds and oranges, or pull up for a picnic under a gorgeous cascade of autumn leaves. Hire a bike or pedal car and make the most of an autumn day outdoors.
Auburn Botanic Gardens
Not enough people know about the Auburn Botanic Gardens; they’re 20 minutes from the CBD for crying out loud. All 9.2 hectares of the gardens are open daily with a small entry fee: adult entry is $11.75, and children and Auburn residents are free. The Japanese Garden is especially stunning when it comes to autumn leaves, but the entire grounds are worth exploring.
Autumn Leaves In NSW
Orange
Image credit: Destination NSW | Julian Kingma
Orange is well known for its, well, orange scenery in autumn thanks to streets of golden poplars, ash, oak, and maple.
Just three hours from Sydney, those headed to Orange should visit a winery or two, sit back and watch the next best display of colour since Sydney's neon-soaked Vivid Festival. Maybe make it a weekender and book one of the best places to stay in Orange.
Tumut
If there’s one place that knows—like really knows—autumn, it's Tumut. Since 1954, this Riverina town has held the Falling Leaf Festival, welcoming thousands of visitors over two weekends in April for markets, live music and comedy, creative and cultural workshops and even a fun run.
Situated at the foothills of the Snowy Mountains, Tumut boasts row upon row of golden poplars and a pretty sweet street parade.
Blue Mountains
Image credit: Destination NSW | Michael John Dela Cruz
The Blue Mountains are the pride and joy of deciduous hunters everywhere. Did you know the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden in Mount Tomah is one of the best spots for autumn hues in the entire state?
From Leura and Blackheath to Wentworth Falls and Mount Wilson, the Blue Mountains have a spot for everyone and an autumn festival to top it all off. We also highly recommend dropping into Wild Wood Garden for your autumn Insta snaps.
Mayfield Garden, Oberon
Image credit: Mayfield Garden | Facebook
Inspired by English country garden estates, and a breezy two-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney, Mayfield’s 160 acres are for the garden fan with a weekend to spare. After all, they have bridges, an obelisk garden, ponds, and an alley of London Plane trees.
The full acreage is only open twice a year for the autumn and spring festivals which include live entertainment, catering, games, and a shuttle service to help you around the enormous property. You’ll need about four hours to discover the full private garden and two hours for the 40 acres available every day except Christmas and Boxing Day.
Bathurst
Autumn in Bathurst sees vibrant colours crowning the town streets each day. Understanding a good thing when they see it, Bathurst’s Autumn Colours program runs from March to May and includes events like tours, walks, talks and events at Abercrombie House. Perhaps plan a stunning autumn stay at nearby Wilga Station.
Southern Highlands
Image credit: Destination NSW | Dee Kramer
The Southern Highlands are practically an autumnal mecca. Head down to Mittagong, Burradoo, Bundanoon, Exeter or even Sutton Forest for English-style gardens and a lookout over the autumn goodness from Mount Gibraltar. Ninety or so minutes from Sydney, the Southern Highlands features deciduous red oaks, golden elms, plane trees, and coppery beech trees too.
Hit up the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens in Bowral for more shining orange and yellow, or check out the best places to stay in the Southern Highlands.
Cattai National Park
Image credit: Destination NSW | Jem Cresswell
About an hour north-west of Sydney, Cattai National Park has plenty of space for waterskiing, canoeing, and bike riding among glorious autumn leaves. The Hawkesbury River is fringed with orange autumnal goodness, so plan ahead and pack a picnic to enjoy the sights from Wiseman's Ferry.
For more stunning scenery, check out the best sunrise walks in Sydney.
Main image credit: Destination NSW | Richard A Stanley