Autumn in Victoria: 13 places to experience the magnificent colours

Watching the leaves change from a lush green to the burnt oranges and yellows that autumn in Victoria brings is one of the most stunning things to see. Mother nature loves to put on a show at this time of year and there are some places that seem to have all the colours of autumn on display.

For autumn lovers the changing of the leaves brings forward a need to visualise this change and experience it for themselves. Immersing themselves in the season of change is an experience in itself as well as a journey to see it. But where are some of the best places for autumn in Victoria?

Best places to visit in Autumn in Victoria

Getting out and about in regional Victoria is one of the best ways to see stunning autumn colours in Victoria. Many of the older towns have magnificent tree-lined streets that absolutely delight when the colours start to change. Some towns in rural Victoria have small festivals that the locals love and visitors come from all around to marvel at their gorgeous streets.

Walhalla

This once thriving gold mining town nestled in the foothills of the Victorian Alps is stunning in any season but Autumn in Walhalla is just magnificent.

You can wander the yesteryear-old main street for the amazing autumn colours especially prominent around the Lions Park and the Old Mountian Brass Band Rotunda across from the old pub. From the street they are stunning but it is when you hike up to the lookout along the Tramline Walkway you will get the full magnificence of the town below.

Places to see autumn colour in Walhalla:

Autumn in Walhalla is stunning and with the town being so small you can easily walk from site to site. This will give you the best chance to see the autumn colours in Walhalla. One could easily stay the night in Walhalla and enjoy the leaves, the Heritage Railway, the Long Tunnel Mine and more.

Best places to visit in Victoria in Autumn – Bright

People flock from all over to experience the Bright Autumn festival and most are blown away by the pure beauty of the town. Autumn in Victoria is best spent with a visit to Bright to see some of the most Instgrammable tree-lined streets in Australia. The brilliant Farrington Row poplars along the Canyon Walk have to be one of the top places to see Autumn colours in Victoria.

The North East Victorian High Country in autumn is like a kaleidoscope of colours from red all the way to golden yellow, and autumn in Victoria has to be the best place to experience it.

Places to see autumn colours in Bright:

Autumn in Bright is one of the most popular times to visit Bright on the Great Alpine Road, so in the below list, we have included some sites to see the autumn colours near Bright. There is just so much to see on any Bright itinerary in the Autumn months.

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Castlemaine

Autumn colours in Victoria are usually seen in a spectacular street in town but in Castlemaine, you will find the Botanical Garden filled to the brim with stunning autumn colours.

This amazingly well-kept and highly manicured garden is predominantly European styles of trees which give the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens the full pallet of autumn colours.

Places to see autumn colours in Castlemaine:

Autumn in Castlemaine is best done in some of the magnificent parks and gardens in the town. Get yourself a picnic rug and enjoy the splendour of the autumn colours in Castlemaine. Castlemaine is close enough to Bendigo that you could stay in the area and explore both towns.

Ballarat

Many towns in Victoria are blessed with an Avenue of Honor which is a well-loved street in town. These trees were grown, cared for and loved by families or townspeople whose family members never returned from service. The Ballarat Avenue of Honor is gorgeous any time of year but its colours in Autumn really shine. Stretching for 22 kilometres and incorporating the Arch of Victory this is one of the best autumn in Victoria destinations.

Places to see autumn colours in Ballarat:

Ballarat is one of the top places for autumn in Victoria and with the stunning array of trees that change colours in autumn in Ballarat, you will be spoiled for choice in this stunning regional city. Ballarat deserves more than 1 day, book some accommodation and consider visiting one of Victoria’s premier tourist attractions, Sovereign Hill.

Read more: All the best things to do in Bright

Yarra Valley in Autumn

Autumn in Victoria is all about tree-lined streets right? Wrong! A Yarra Valley Autumn not only has some amazing streets lined with trees as well as stunning gardens with full colours it is also home to some amazing vineyards that shine with autumn colours. The Yarra Valley is one of the most popular regions in Victoria and with so many towns making up the area you will be spoiled for choice.

You can easily find the streets sitting in a warm, cosy cellar door sampling some fine Victorian wine while taking in the Autumn colours through the vines. The Yarra Valley is one of the most stunning places to visit in autumn in Victoria Australia.

Places to see autumn colours in the Yarra Valley:

Planning a weekend away in the Yarra Valley in Autumn will allow you to get the best experience of autumn in Victoria. You do need a car to experience the best of autumn in the Yarra Valley villages.

Visiting Ballarat: Here are the best 7 places to stay near Sovereign Hill for a hassle-free visit

Buchan

Located just out of the town of Buchan in East Gippsland you will find the Buchan Caves Reserve. While there are places to see the autumn colours in Buchan, you will also be able to visit the amazing caves there. The Buchan Caves Reserve is home to some of the most stunning Autumns in Victoria colours.

Being one of Victoria’s oldest towns, you will find many of the trees planted by the first settlers in the area and are just as old as the town itself. With recent bushfires, a visit to Buchan will also help the locals.

Places to see autumn colours in Buchan:

Buchan in autumn is beautiful, and you will drive through some other amazing towns to get to Buchan. Being in East Gippsland, many of the towns you will drive through have an Avenue of Honor or a flame tree-lined main street.

Planning to explore Victoria more? Here are the best things to do in Halls Gap, the gateway to the Grampians!

Royal Botanical Gardens – Autumn in Melbourne

For some getting to the best places in Victoria for autumn leaves is not an easy feat, especially in some of the high country places. Luckily, the Melbourne CBD is home to one of the most stunning places for autumn in Victoria, The Royal Botanic Gardens. Set over 2 sites in Melbourne and in Cranbourne, we have based this section on the Melbourne Gardens.

The Royal Botanic Gardens opened in 1846 and covers an area of approximately 38 hectares, so right here are the perfect places to see autumn colours in Melbourne. Why not take a ride on the Explorer, an open-air minibus that takes you around the gardens on a 1-hour trip with live commentary? Wandering the gardens is one of the best free things to do in Melbourne.

More places to see autumn colours in Melbourne:

Getting to regional towns is difficult at times for some so why not experience autumn in Victoria in the heart of our state? Below are some large parks that can be easily accessed via public transport.

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Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens

The Alfred Nicholas Gardens are a delight for everyone in any season but autumn in the Dandenongs is one of the perfect places to see autumn colours in Victoria. Located in the stunning Dandenong Ranges the gardens were the original estate gardens for Burnham Beeches and are not one of the top places to visit in autumn.

Here you can wander the gardens, take in the tranquillity of the boathouse and whittle some time away in the gazebo while taking in the stunning Victorian autumn colours.

Places to see autumn colours in the Dandenong Ranges:

The Dandenong Ranges in autumn is a wonderful time to visit and is one of the most popular areas for both tourists and locals alike. We have included some of the villages in the Ranges for your autumn in Victoria experience.

Budget travel in Melbourne? Yes! Here are the best free things to do in Melbourne

Macedon

Macedon is the perfect place for you to base yourself to experience autumn in the Macedon Ranges. Macedon is located at the base of Mount Macedon and easily gives you access to the 9 villages that are a part of the annual Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival. During the month-long Mount Macedon Autumn Festival, you will find activities and markets held throughout the area with a focus on bringing local produce to all that visit. Macedon is a great place for a picnic.

Honour Avenue is one of the top places in Victoria for Autumn colours and for good reason. The trees on the stretch of road in Macedon are known for their red autumn leaf colours. The stunning tree-lined street is not only a delight in any season, it was planted in remembrance of the soldiers who lost their lives in WWI for the Macedon area. The oaks now live on and stand tall to all who enter the town.

*Parking along the Avenue of Honour is not allowed and penalties apply for those that do.

Places to see the autumn colours at Mount Macedon:

Mount Macedon and its surrounding areas have some of the best autumn colours in Victoria.

Daylesford

While Daylesford is in the Macedon Ranges as well, it deserves its own vote as one of the best places to visit in Victoria in autumn. Some communities surrounding it are blessed with some of the most stunning colours and guarantee an explosion of colours in Victoria in autumn.

Daylesford is an easy day trip from Melbourne at around 1 hour 30 minutes driving. Nestled in the foothills of the Great Dividing range you will find it perfect for experiencing the autumn colours in Victoria.

Places to see the autumn colours in Daylesford:

Smaller communities surrounding Daylesford are also some of the best places to see autumn colours in Victoria.

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Is Regional Victoria on your list? Here are 8 spectacular places for a summer holiday in Victoria

Healesville

Another town that encompasses the Yarra Valley but deserves its own vote for one of the best places to visit for autumn leaves in Victoria is Healesville. Surrounded by amazing food and wine region you can easily find yourself lost in the autumn colours in Healesville. While you are there you can visit the brilliant Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary.

Places to see the autumn colours in Healesville:

While you are visiting Healesville in Autumn you can also take some time to visit some amazing Yarra Valley wineries and enjoy some local produce from the farmers markets.

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Echuca

Echuca is more commonly known for its historic links to the mighty Murray River but throughout the town, there are some magnificent places to see autumn colours in Echuca. While many people will find the Murray Esplanade one of the most beautiful streets in Echuca for autumn leaves in Victoria there are some amazing places near Echuca for some of the best autumn in Victoria colours.

Places to see the autumn colours in Echuca:

While Moama also has some amazing autumn colours we have decided to keep the post to autumn in Victoria sites but we are sure just over the border you will find plenty more! Make sure to ride on a historic Paddle Steamer while in town, and maybe even stay a few nights in Echuca.

Explore Victoria more: 12 awesome things to do on the Mornington Peninsula

Beechworth

Once a bustling Gold mining town, Beechworth is now one of the most historic towns in Victoria. Known initially as Springs Creek and renamed Beechworth in 1854 the historic precinct of Beechworth gives you many places to see associated with Victoria’s Colonial past and the famous Kelly Gang of bushrangers.

Ford Street which includes the Old Beechworth Jail and old Courthouse, produces a colourful autumn display each year when the trees come into bloom

Places to see the autumn colours in Beechworth:

Take a tour of the main street and visit the Beechworth Bakery for a tasty lunch. After you have seen all the autumn in Beechworth colours don’t forget to pick up some Beechworth Honey and check out the autumn colours at the Billson’s Brewery.

Autumn in Victoria is the perfect time to visit regional areas. Stunning colours and brilliant scenery will inspire you to want to travel to Victoria more. Finding Autumn colours in Victoria is easy and we hope this post gets you out and about in autumn in Victoria.

We hope this article from us here at Explore Victoria has inspired you to embark on your adventure in Victoria, Australia, from popular caravan parks and pristine beaches to drives along the Great Ocean Road. Enjoy weekends away on the Mornington Peninsula and discover the cosmopolitan charm of Melbourne, Victoria, with a range of experiences for every traveller who wants to visit Victoria.

Whether you’re drawn to the rugged beauty of the Grampians, the cultural richness of Ballarat, or the autumn colours of Bright and Northern Victoria, there’s no shortage of hidden gems waiting to be discovered in Victoria.

Even if you love exploring Gippsland or driving the Great Alpine Road, Victoria has something special for you, and there is so much more for you to discover. If you are looking for more incredible and best places to visit in Melbourne or more travel in Victoria destinations, Explore Victoria has some more articles below for you to check out. Expand your horizons and get out and about in Victoria, Australia, for an unforgettable experience. 

If you have an idea, attraction, or top spot in Victoria, please comment or email us at contact@explorevictoriaaustralia.com.

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