Falling for autumn
As we bid farewell to summer and the festival season, a dreamy metamorphosis occurs across our state’s landscapes.
Fiery orange canopies above our heads and crunchy auburn leaves beneath our feet herald the arrival of autumn.
Australia only has a single true deciduous native tree – the fagus beech, which is endemic to Tasmania. However, across South Australia many European trees have been planted, creating a stunning backdrop. Here are some of our favourite SA places to search for autumn colours.
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
No Adelaide autumn list is complete without Mount Lofty Botanic Garden. This sprawling 97 hectare garden explodes with colour all year round – and is particularly vibrant during March and April.
You’ll find the most spectacular views of the garden’s rosy hues by the Main Lake, which is easily accessible from the lower car park. If you’re feeling intrepid, start at the upper car park and enjoy the view from above as you descend and then back up again when you’re ready to leave.
Enjoy the rich colours of the maples, ash and oak trees as they prepare for the chilly months ahead, and check out the events for the whole family from now until June.
Hahndorf
Hahndorf’s avenue of trees is a sight to behold in autumn. Cork elms, oak and chestnut trees line Main Street to create a ruddy rooftop to drive or walk under. More than 300 trees were planted in 1885, personally selected by the director of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens as an “ode to Autumn”.
See the picturesque heritage buildings, pubs and cellar doors against a backdrop of reds and oranges. And as you leave the township, don’t forget to count the 54 Autumn Blaze trees – one tree for each of Hahndorf’s German settler families.
Adelaide Hills
Go for a Sunday drive through the many towns that make up the Adelaide Hills and you’ll be rewarded with amazing flashes of colour at every turn.
Stirling, Crafers, Bridgewater, Aldgate and Mylor are particularly resplendent, featuring many liquidambar trees with their unique star-shaped leaves. Pause for a coffee-with-a-view underneath your favourite tree at one of the many quaint cafes in the region.
You can also try your hand at apple picking at Lenswood and then enjoy a wine among the riot of colour at Longview Vineyard.
Barossa Valley
Take a drive through the charming Barossa and you’ll see the region is awash with autumn hues.
A visit to the Mengler Hill Lookout and Barossa Sculpture Park will give you stunning panoramic views over the valley and you’ll be able to pick out each of the vineyards at their different stages of autumnal transformation. For a truly memorable display of colour, why not get a bird’s-eye view? See the sun rise over the rolling, golden landscape from the basket of a hot air balloon.
Mount Gambier
Driving through the Limestone Coast region, you’ll also witness the changing shades of the vineyards as you make your way to the crater lakes that make Mount Gambier famous.
While the famous blue colour of the lake water will be fading as the cooler months approach, the surrounding trees will be putting on a show. Explore Valley Lake and Leg of Mutton Lake in particular, then check out the elm trees in Marist Park and go for a meander along the beautiful Glenburnie Oak Lane.
McLaren Vale
Like our other wine regions, McLaren Vale is well worth a drive to see the superb colours of autumn.
You can hop on a bike and enjoy the particularly lovely scenery along Chapel Hill Road, Malpas Road, McMurtrie Road. Walk the Shiraz Trail portion of the Coast to Vines Rail Trail or make your way to the small town of Clarendon to be immersed in the most colourful season.
Want to stay a little longer?
Make the most of the un-be-leaf-able colours with a weekend getaway.