Rustling leaves in red and orange hues line the streets and city of Melbourne and regional Victoria, an inviting sight to have a picnic and enjoy the majestic amber views of this spectacular season. Autumn in Melbourne will envelop you with its invigorating vibrance and sweep you off your feet to its cool temperate.
Regional Victoria comes alive with incredible flavours and the spirit of outdoor adventure in autumn! View stunning autumnal scenery, stroll through falling leaves and surround yourself with colour. Here are some festivals to consider visiting during your stay:
Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges
Autumn is harvest time in the Yarra Valley. The region is abuzz, the produce plentiful, and the scenery at its most stunning. Less than an hour’s drive from the city, the towns and gardens of the Dandenong Ranges, Healesville and Warburton offer a dazzling parade of russet and yellow foliage.
Visit the KaBloom Festival of Flowers happening until 25th April 2023, in the gorgeous Dandenong Ranges and enjoy an extraordinary day out in fields filled with millions of colourful blooms. From garden games, story telling, endless rows of flowers to wildflower meadows, the tranquil and radiant wonders of this festival will enthrall you.
www.visityarravalley.com.au / www.kabloom.com.au
Grampians
The Grampians Grape Escape in Halls Gap turns festive this 5th-7th May 2023. Each day offers something different to see, eat, drink, and enjoy. This year, the festival will celebrate 30 years of showcasing the best producers and makers from Western Victoria. The three-day festival will kick off with Feel-Good Friday, where you can let your hair down to three amazing live bands. Then on Saturday and Sunday, explore a village of more than 100 stalls, from wine and whiskey to calamari and candles. The weekend activities will also feature exhibitor masterclasses, cooking demonstrations, live music, guest chefs, plus plenty of free fun for the kiddies.
www.visitgrampians.com.au / www.grampiansgrapeescape.com.au
Ballarat Autumn in Ballarat is about lazy mornings meandering through magnificent streetscapes strewn with autumn leaves, and brisk afternoons filled with enriching
experiences. Admire the city’s Victorian and Edwardian buildings, parks, gardens and statues on a self-guided heritage walk.
With Ballarat’s stunning Victorian architecture as the backdrop, check out the Ballarat Heritage Festival which runs from 19th-28th May 2023. The annual festival highlights the city’s golden past and evolving future through an inspiring ten-day program. Exciting activities in store include candlelight concerts, the Ballarat tweed ride, a vintage car show, an antique fair as well as The Neon Tram, where the Ballarat Botanical Gardens precinct will come alive as the 100 year old tram meanders its way through during the twilight hours.
www.visitballarat.com.au / www.ballaratheritagefestival.com.au
Great Ocean Road
With RACV Solar Great Ocean Road Running Festival being one of the most spectacular marathons in the world, the course stretches along the coastal towns from Lorne to Apollo Bay and runners can soak up the most scenic beaches and breathtaking views during the festival. Deemed to be ‘sponsored by the sun’, Australia’s most stunning running event has returned to be more sustainable than ever, showcasing what cleaner energy solutions can do for the community and environment. Experience the festival from 20th-21st May 2023.
www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au / www.solar.racv.com.au/great-ocean-road-run-fest
If you are looking for a more leisurely trip to get your autumn fill, check out these places that presents regional Victoria beautifully, basking tenderly in the autumn light:
Beechworth
Roam Beechworth on paths paved with gold during the 1850s gold rush and stroll through this picturesque township, filled with lush green trees, boutiques and renowned restaurants and cafes. Visit to experience an explosion of colour as the leaves turn to golden yellows, rich reds, and vibrant oranges.
Bendigo
The region transforms to a golden, leafy wonderland in autumn. Take a walk or ride on Bendigo’s talking tram and explore the city’s heritage architecture or explore the vibrant arts hub and world-class food and wine scene, set against rich gold-rush history, grand architecture and magnificent gardens.
Bright Take the Great Alpine Road to the town of Bright, a picturesque village in Victoria’s High Country renowned for its magnificent autumn display. From rusty red to deep
auburn, warm yellow and burnt orange tones, the trees of Bright turn the area into an oil painting that draws in visitors from near and far.
Daylesford & the Macedon Ranges
Take a drive to see the changing leaves and be swept up in the magical atmosphere of this region. Visit Lake Daylesford, where maples and weeping willows turn red and gold. Enjoy a leisurely ramble through the beautiful mountain gardens, pack a picnic or crunch through the autumn leaves on a run along one of the many of the mountainside trails.
www.daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au
Walhalla
Discover life as it was in historic Walhalla, in Gippsland. Cradled by mountains and filled with deciduous trees, it’s a top spot for a colourful autumn break. The beauty of the foliage, rich heritage and natural landscape mixed with amazing autumn is certainly worth the trip.
www.visitgippsland.com.au For more details, log on to www.visitmelbourne.com