The Best Places To See Autumn Leaves in Melbourne & Victoria 2024
Ready to swap Melbourne's bustling streetscapes for a kaleidoscope of autumnal colours? While Australia might not be best known for autumn foliage, Melbourne can still turn it on in the fall. From iconic parks to picturesque countryside escapes, a world of autumnal beauty awaits those who seek it in the heart of Victoria.
Melbourne transforms in autumn, its streetscapes painted with the warm, vibrant hues of deciduous leaves. Australia may not boast extensive native fall foliage, though European settlers brought more than just the best espresso in Australia to Melbourne; they also brought deciduous trees. Seek out the season's fiery displays in Melbourne's parks and gardens, or venture further north. The best autumn foliage is typically found north of Melbourne, or at least higher up in the hills where it is cooler—Macedon and Mt Dandenong are always safe bets. Elms, ashes, and maples erupt in vibrant oranges, yellows, and reds, creating a breathtaking autumnal tapestry.
Ready to experience Melbourne's autumn allure? Here's the GoGet guide to the best places to witness Melbourne's autumn splendour, from the heart of the CBD to its picturesque surrounds and the breathtaking High Country.
Pack your picnic hamper, book your GoGet and jump in the car, because these are the best places for autumn leave spotting.
Where to See Autumn Leaves in Melbourne
Carlton Gardens, Carlton
The red, orange, and purple hues of Carlton Gardens is perhaps one of the most instantly recognisable sights of Melbourne in autumn. Enjoy some of Victoria's best autumn foliage as it falls from Grand Allee of old-growth European trees along the garden's walks. The World Heritage Site features conifers, palms, evergreens, and—most significantly for fall foliage lovers—deciduous trees. Discover 64 acres of kaleidoscopic crimson, orange, and purple autumnal colours. For the best Instagramming, stroll down the Grand Allee avenue of European trees with the stunning Hochgurtel Fountain and Royal Exhibition Buildings in the background.
Golden leaves in the beautiful Carlton Gardens
Fitzroy Gardens, East Melbourne
Fitzroy Gardens is the spot for you if you want a glimpse of Melbourne's autumn show during your lunch break or don't want to travel too far outside the city. Mature elm trees line these gardens and they put on a spectacle of colour in the heritage-listed gardens that are located right outside the CBD. There are 26 hectares of gardens to stroll through and enjoy. Kids will have a great time visiting the KereKere Green cafe, conservatory, Cooks' Cottage, model Tudor village, fairy tree, and dinosaur-themed playground, as well as skipping through avenues of tall elm trees falling their colourful leaves. It’s also the ideal setting for a picnic with the family or friends.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
Of course, we couldn't possibly forget the Royal Botanic Gardens! With over 6,000 diverse trees and 50,000 stunning plants, you're guaranteed to witness some of Melbourne's most breathtaking autumn foliage here. While the gardens enchant all year-round, autumn transforms them with vibrant hues, creating a spectacle worth revisiting each season. Seek out the Oak Lawn, where a carpet of golden leaves awaits – it's both a perfect place to relax and a prime spot for stunning photos. For the young ones, the Ian Potter Children's Garden offers nature-inspired adventures.
Fawkner Park, South Yarra
The Melbourne CBD is only a short tram ride away from this popular park in South Yarra. Originally constructed in 1875, the paths, avenues, and lawns now feature established Moreton Bay Fig, elm, poplar, and oak plantings that turn golden in autumn. While you're there, check out the three distinct playgrounds for kids; the one in the middle of the park is specifically for young children. In the areas set aside for off-leash play, you can also let your dog have a run around.
Ardrie Park, Malvern East
Malvern East's green, tree-lined neighbourhood, Ardrie Park is another great spot to revel in autumn leaves. The over 100-year-old elm trees regularly shed bright leaves, making it a fantastic spot for family photo shoots or just creating leaf mounds to jump into! After beginning their lives in one of the nearby streets in this verdant suburb, the avenue of mature, shady elm trees that encircle Ardrie Park was relocated here in 1918; and at this point, they are more than a century old. The falling leaves cover the ground in an amazing display of colour and texture during the autumn. The park is a bit of a local secret nestled in the backstreets of Malvern East and is a little less busy than the parks mentioned above. The toddler-friendly playground, which provides a great spot to play, together with a BBQ area and dog park, is an extra bonus.
Jells Park, Wheelers Hill
Jells Park in Wheelers Hill offers visitors a tranquil escape from the bustle of everyday Melbourne life. As autumn arrives, deciduous trees shed their summer green, transforming the landscape into a vibrant tapestry of colour. This expansive 127-hectare park is the perfect place to unwind, with picnic spots, two playgrounds – including the delightful Yabbie Hill playspace – 9kms of scenic bike trails, and the peaceful Jells Lake, fed by Dandenong Creek. Choose your idyllic spot, spread out a picnic blanket, and soak in the stunning spectacle of autumn's hues.
Williamstown Botanic Gardens, Williamstown
Williamstown Botanic Gardens, one of Victoria's first public gardens, was founded in 1860. It’s historical, artistic, scientific (horticultural), and social value have led to their inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register. It features genuine Victorian and Edwardian designs and is one of Victoria's most original and undamaged botanic gardens. An exploration of the gardens after passing through the elaborate cast-iron gates reveals shrubbery, a pinetum (or plantation of pines), marble statues, a complicated network of paths, an ornamental lake, a formal palm walk, and rare and important plants. The majority of the park transforms into an incredible tapestry of crimson and amber leaves in autumn, and it’s a popular spot for photoshoots and wedding photos. For good reason too! Bring your camera if you want to capture some breathtaking images of the foliage!
Where to See Autumn Leaves in Victoria
The Gardens at Broughton Hall, Gippsland
Just one hour outside of Melbourne, the Gardens at Broughton Hall in West Gippsland offer a taste of Versailles in Australia. It’s not only a great spot to see autumn leaves, it makes a great day trip from Melbourne. The Garden at Broughton Hall is a charming 1.5-hectare estate in the rolling hills of West Gippsland. The garden, which has 14 essential components, is a horticultural wonderland with a view of the artificial Tarago Reservoir. Visitors can relax with a book and a cup of tea in The Garden Room after frolicking with opulent peacocks on the Upper Terrace, meditating in a sanctuary of yellow and blue flowers in the Yellow Garden, having a picnic in the Pink Garden under a massive lipstick maple, and so much more.
Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens, Mount Dandenong
To see the autumn leaves in Dandenong, you don't need to go to an actual garden. Most of the roadways are lined with Amber, Ash, and Maple trees. The Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens, however, are somewhat unique. The ancient Burnham Beeches estate's original garden, known for its numerous water elements, is now called Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden. Enjoyable all year long, choose your own adventure along the several interconnecting paths as you meander around the garden and are shaded by Mountain Ash trees. You can enjoy a picnic by the charming boathouse at the lovely lake, sit in the gazebo and marvel at Mark Stoner's interesting sculpture, or just stroll with your dog on a leash through the ever-changing environment of flowers and foliage. The gardens are available all year long and are free to enter (except for Christmas Day). These are some of Victoria's greatest autumn foliage; while they are stunning throughout the gardens, head down to the ornamental lake for that classic autumn photo of golden leaves floating on the water.
The Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens on a sunny Autumn day
Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, Olinda
Victoria's premier cool-climate garden is the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, originally known as the National Rhododendron Garden. The garden, which boasts stunning views of the Yarra Valley, is lovely all year round, but in the autumn, when the European trees and the earthy-hued hydrangeas explode with red, orange, and gold foliage, it really shines. A stunning 15,000 rhododendrons, 12,000 azaleas, 3,000 camellias, and 250,000 daffodils are among the gardens' noteworthy collections. Since admission is free, you can pack a picnic and enjoy a beautiful day out by setting up on one of the gardens' lawns. Riding the "Garden Explorer," a for-hire people mover that offers a 25-minute guided tour of the garden, will allow you to explore the area even more.
Arthurs Seat State Park, Mornington Peninsula
Sunday drives along the Mornington Peninsula are perfect when guided by the autumn foliage. A vibrant collection of golden leaves right outside Melbourne's front door, made even more dewy by the chilly sea wind await you on the peninsula. As the highest point on the Mornington Peninsula, Arthurs Seat State Park stands out as the ideal location to have a picnic. Admire the 84-acre area covered with autumn leaves as you gaze out over Port Phillip Bay. Take note of all the many winding lanes that branch off the main road. With a playground, picnic tables, electric barbecues, restrooms, and a sculpture collection by William Ricketts scattered amid the deciduous trees, Seawinds Gardens is one of the most well-liked spots. The Mornington Peninsula's highest point, Arthurs Seat, is 314 metres high, and from there, you can see all the way to Melbourne's skyline. The Arthurs Seat State Park is around one hour and fifteen minutes from Melbourne and offers a variety of walks with varied degrees of difficulty. Autumn is a particularly lovely time to visit the Seawinds Gardens because the native plants and sculptures provide a stunning backdrop for your strolls.
Coolart Wetlands & Homestead, Somers
On the Mornington Peninsula in Somers, there is a historic estate called Coolart Wetlands and Homestead. On the banks of Western Port Bay sits the spectacular late Victorian home known as Coolart Homestead. In appreciation of its historic structures and valuable wetlands, the Victorian government acquired this historic farming property in 1977. Today, you can unwind in a location where history and conservation collide while exploring this serene property and its several varied landscapes. Collart's gardens were created in 1938, and they consist of trees from all over the world, such the majestic Blue Atlas Cedar from Algeria and Morocco and the exotic Gingko from China. This historic Homestead is surrounded by wetlands, bird hides, forests, and pasture on the 87 acres. When you arrive in autumn, the estate's leaves take on a vivid golden hue that is ideal for your autumn picnic or lazy Sunday reading a book under the trees.
Ballarat’s Avenue of Honour, Ballarat
An Avenue of Honor, which is a beloved street in many Victoria towns, is a blessing. Families or community residents who lost family members in the military grew, nurtured, and cherished these trees. The Ballarat Avenue of Honor is stunning all year round, but its colours especially pop in autumn. Autumn is a popular season for visitors to Ballarat's 22km long Avenue of Honour. Each of the 3801 trees that line the avenue represents a man or woman from Ballarat who participated in World War One. The southern hemisphere's longest memorial avenue, with the Ballarat Arch of Victory, is located at the end of the strip and is renowned for being the first of its sort in Australia. Stroll through a panorama of purple-leaved elm, Portugal oak, pin oak, and Turkey oak trees that envelop the historic day in a haze of autumn.
Gardens Of Glenlyon, Glenlyon
It's one of those little tiny country communities that you may easily overlook if you drive past. Yet visiting in autumn you can see the scorched orange, yellows, and greens right away, along Glenlyon's main street. This location, which is roughly an hour's drive from Melbourne, ought to always be on your autumn travel wish list. You can stop by one of the greatest local eateries in town via the Glenlyon General store in addition to enjoying the wonderful scenery. Glenlyon may not have much, but it does offer some of Victoria's outstanding autumn foliage. Take a detour and a pit stop the next time you're travelling to Spa Country and stop at the Glenlyon General Store for a pie and a stroll through the trees.
Gardens of Tieve Tara, Mount Macedon
The Tieve Tara estate, referred to as Mount Macedon's "jewel," is where the area's most well-known gardens are located. Any time of year, but especially in the post summer months when the pine oaks, aspens, and copper beaches all change colour at once, it's absolutely worth the $10 entrance fee. It is one of those locations where it's impossible to capture a terrible photo is when the ground turns into a carpet of amber leaves. The gardens open at 10:30 am, and there are 7.5 acres of grass, lakes, and trees to explore. In peak season, the greatest picnic locations frequently fill up, so move quickly and claim some excellent territory. Autumn brings about various changes in the copper beech, aspens, and pin oak trees, which cover the ground with a blanket of vibrant leaves.
Honour Avenue, Macedon
Honour Avenue in Macedon has developed into an autumnal paradise for those seeking stunning images and portraits for social media. There are various markers near the Mount Macedon Road end of the Avenue for visitors who are interested in the history. Of course, the soaring Pin Oaks were initially planted to honour the men and women from the area who enlisted in World War 1.
The 154 men and women from Macedon and Mount Macedon are commemorated by the magnificent Avenue of Honour, which is lined with Pin Oak trees. The area experiences a spike in tourism throughout the fall, thus temporary traffic control measures are put in place during this period.
The Valley Of Liquid Ambers, Heathcote
Pretty cool name, right? As the name suggests, liquid ambers are a kind of American sweetgum, and autumn is when they look their best. Not many day-trippers from Melbourne are aware of Heathcote, but they should be. The food is excellent, there are vineyards around every corner, and the hillsides, especially in the valley, come alive in during the cooler season. The valley of liquid ambers is located close to the town's centre, along McIvor Creek. This valley region is a fantastic place for a picnic because it is close to the town's centre and is near the McIvor Creek and a campground.
Kyneton Botanic Gardens, Kyneton
The numerous European trees in the Kyneton Botanic Gardens, which opened its doors in 1858, burst into colour in the autumn. Thanks to Kyneton, these gardens which provide an exceptional nature-based play and water park experience for people of all ages and abilities, is a well-liked destination for families. Drive an hour from Melbourne to the charming township of Kyneton in the gorgeous Macedon Ranges. This historic gold-rush town offers a wide variety of fine dining establishments and is surrounded by renowned cool-climate wineries. In the centre of the town, the Kyneton Botanic Gardens form a lovely picnic location surrounded by fall foliage.
Cloudehill, Dandenong Ranges
Cloudehill is located at the top of the Dandenong’s at a chilly 580 metres above sea level, which is virtually alpine by Melbourne standards. Here, the air is cool and the soil is all volcanic loam. Perfect for growing everything, but particularly European deciduous trees. Some of Victoria's best fall foliage can be found if you stroll down the Gallery Walk, which is located just east of the entrance, or via the Cool Borders, which are located farther south. The entrance fee is $10, and the gardens are open every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
Maroondah Reservoir Park, Healesville
Although it isn't a park that frequently appears on lists of the best in Melbourne, if you ever found it, you'd probably want to keep it a secret as well. Healesville's Maroondah Reservoir Park is one of those wilderness areas that looks beautiful all year round. Rain falls during the winter, causing the large river spillway to overflow. Azaleas and rhododendrons are in full bloom in the spring. And in autumn, the majority of the park bursts into a riot of red and amber colour, creating one of the greatest displays of autumnal foliage outside of Melbourne. Prepare your smartphone for the Rose Stairway in advance. It's a complete knockout. Near Healesville and roughly 50 kilometres from Melbourne, Maroondah Reservoir Park is an excellent location for people seeking some quiet time in the outdoors. It's the ideal place for a family autumn day out because it has playgrounds and roomy lawns for a picnic.
Walhalla Goldfields Railway & Walhalla Township, Walhalla
There are just 20 permanent residents in this tiny gold rush-era village in Gippsland, making it the ideal, peaceful location to find beautiful displays of autumn foliage. Ride the Walhalla Goldfields Railway through Happy Creek—yes, that's a real place—and the stunning Stringers Creek Gorge. The greatest time to visit is in April, when much of the railway route travels through colourful autumnal tapestries. Alternately, you can hike along the Goldfields Rail Trail to get your body moving. Both choices pro vide a beautiful landscape to look at. Prepare for a long drive and make plans to spend the night in this picturesque township in Victoria's Gippsland region. This 19th-century village is the ideal destination for a weekend vacation because it is only a little more than three hours' drive from the CBD. Explore the alleys lined with historic buildings, pan for gold, or simply take in the gorges and bright autumnal trees that surround you.
Looking for more great outdoor experiences? The best picnic spots in Melbourne are listed here. And we've put together a list of the best beaches in Victoria and the top weekend escapes from Melbourne.
Need wheels to explore these autumnal wonderlands?
No sweat. With GoGet Carshare you get on demand access to cars near you to hire by the hour or day!
