The best autumn festivals around Australia in 2026

The season of cosiness and colour calls for celebration.

Summer has well and truly had her time in the spotlight this year, with sweltering hot days delivering beachside bliss. But for those who prefer the cooler months, autumn’s arrival is a welcome change. So grab your favourite knitted cardigan and follow us – it’s time to celebrate this glorious season at Australia’s cosiest autumn festivals.

Lighting the Sound

Albany, WA: 13–29 March

Lighting the Sound is a large-scale outdoor light installation that will transform Albany’s coastline into an immersive experience over three weekends. Visible from key locations across town, the illumination of landforms around King George Sound shifts attention from the coast to the ocean – a life-giving source rich in ancestry, culture, ecology and history. Created by internationally renowned artist Kari Kola, it’s anticipated to be the largest light installation on Earth .

Canberra Balloon Spectacular

Canberra, ACT: 14–22 March

For nine mesmerising days, the nation’s capital comes alive with the Canberra Balloon Spectacular , which sees countless hot air balloons dance across the sky in a kaleidoscope of colour. Taking place in the John Dunmore Lang Place Park, keen spectators can arrive early to see the balloons up close before they take off each morning. Or grab a top-quality coffee before heading to Lake Burley Griffin, arguably the best spot to view the iconic floating parade.

Orange FOOD Week

Orange, NSW: 20–29 March

Hosted across a variety of the town’s iconic and emerging venues, Orange FOOD Week is a love letter to the region’s incredible local produce and the people who grow it, nurture it, bottle it or transform it on a plate. This year, the festival celebrates 35 years, and to honour the milestone, the program is going big. More than 100 events will allow guests to experience Orange at its best – it is one of Australia’s prettiest autumn towns after all.

FabAlice

Alice Springs, NT: 26–29 March

Continue the Mardi Gras party this autumn at fabALICE , a festival of drag and cabaret that celebrates the inclusivity and diversity of Mparntwe/Alice Springs. Across four glitter-filled days, the town transforms into a stage for dazzling performances, disco dance floors, drag queen bingo, film nights, cabaret shows and a sparkling street parade that brings everyone together. Join this vibrant NT community as it sparkles in honour of pride, love and diversity.

A Taste of the Hills

Adelaide Hills, SA: 28–29 March

Taste of the Hills in the Adelaide Hills, SA — Sip on wine by the fire at Taste of the Hills. (Image: Duy Dash)

Join a collection of your favourite South Australian wineries, distilleries, breweries, cideries and food vendors all in one place this March at A Taste of the Hills . Prepare your taste buds for an explosion of local flavour, with exhibitors like Simon Tolley Wines, 78 Degrees Distillery, Mismatch Brewing Co, Yumi’s Pantry and Red Cacao Chocolatier. Add on pre-arranged minibus hire, so you can sample stress-free.

Feast of the Senses

Innisfail, Qld: 29 March

Fruit market — Load up on a range of fresh tropical fruit. (Credit: Getty/Cacio Murilo de Vasconcelos)

Discover the riches of Tropical North Queensland’s backyard at Feast of the Senses , held on the jaw-dropping Cassowary Coast. Here, the spotlight is on locally sourced produce and exotic fruits, but attendees can also sample the region’s best meat, seafood, herbs, spices and wine. Meander your way around Innisfail via various events, from guided walks and food-focused trails to trivia nights and live music delights.

Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival

Macedon Ranges, Vic: 1–30 April

The month-long Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival encapsulates over 50 curated events across nine of the region’s prettiest towns. Focusing on local food, wine, art and history, the program spans from farmers markets and guided tours to trivia nights and painting classes. Be sure to join the Pie & Tart Trail for sweet and savoury treats; or if wine is more your style, tag along on the Tipple Trail.

Tasmanian Autumn Festival

Derwent Valley, Tas: 1–30 April

Basket full of mushrooms — A mushroom foraging workshop is the perfect autumn activity. (Credit: Getty/Knape)

Once summer disappears, Tasmania’s Derwent Valley dials up its charm. A major part of its allure is the month-long Tasmanian Autumn Festival , where local producers come together to showcase the best of the region. Embrace the cool change with kitchen garden tours, guided walks, wine tastings, ghost walks, foraging workshops, long lunches and more – just don’t forget your woolly hat!

Parrtjima – A Festival in Light

Alice Springs, NT: 10–19 April

The only Aboriginal festival of its kind, Parrtjima – A Festival in Light, celebrates the arrival of autumn on Arrente Country in Alice Springs. A stalwart of the city’s arts calendar, the free 10-night event blows guests out of the water each year with nightly projections against the MacDonnell Ranges. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore the outback in all its glory and learn about one of the oldest living cultures in the world.

Outback River Lights

Cunnamulla, Qld: 17–19 April

Outback River Lights puts its own spin on autumn along the banks of the Warrego River. Across three days, Cunnamulla celebrates the spirit of community and local life with everything from workshops and competitions to live performances and cultural experiences. Whether you do dinner under the stars, join a bush tucker cooking class or take a fire-twirling lesson, you’re in for an autumnal treat.

Autumn Garden Festival

Clare, SA: 19 April

Gardening Australia's Costa Georgiadis — Get some top gardening tips from Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiadis.

One of the best things about autumn is watching the landscape transform – which is why the SA Autumn Garden Festival is such a hit every year. Known as South Australia’s first-ever gardening fest, it welcomes green thumbs of all abilities to learn about plant care in the cooler months. This year, catch Gardening Australia‘s Costa Georgiadis and Sophie Thomson at workshops and panel talks across the program.

Bright Autumn Festival

Bright, Vic: 24 April – 3 May

Bright autumn streets — The cosy town of Bright peaks during autumn. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Deciduous tree species and a cool alpine climate make Bright in Victoria’s High Country a true seasonal delight. Each year, the small but mighty town celebrates this claim to fame at the Bright Autumn Festival , a 10-day affair showcasing the region’s best. With local markets, live music, historic tours, art exhibitions, guided walks and more, it’s the perfect excuse for an autumnal road trip.

Falling Leaf Festival

Tumut, NSW: 1–3 May

Tumut in Snowy Valleys, NSW — Tumut is best experienced in autumn. (Credit: Jake McBride)

At the Falling Leaf Festival , it’s all in the name. Whether warming your hands on a mug of mulled wine or dancing through piles of golden leaves in the park, Tumut invites you to explore this autumn. Nestled in a cosy pocket of the Snowy Valleys, the regional town comes alive across three splendid days with creative workshops, market stalls, live music, comedy shows and more.

Bickley Harvest Festival

Perth Hills, WA: 3 May – 1 June

La Fattoria in Perth Hills, WA — La Fattoria will welcome guests during the Bickley Harvest Festival. (Credit: Experience Perth Hills Kalamunda)

It may be home to one of the best wineries in Perth, but Bickley has more to offer than its world-class vino. Case in point: the Bickley Harvest Festival . Running throughout May, guests can taste their way around town via its best venues, from cideries and farms to wineries and restaurants. This year, guests can stop by Brookside Vineyard, Carmel Distillery, La Fattoria, Masonmill and more.

Tasting Australia

South Australia: 8–17 May

Journey Beyond presents Tasting Australia 2026 , an iconic foodie festival that takes over SA each autumn. At its heart, the 10-day program is a celebration of eating and drinking, evolving over the years to unite people, place and produce. Events are held everywhere from the Flinders Ranges to the Fleurieu Peninsula, including Adelaide, the Barossa, Kangaroo Island and across the Riverlands. This year, there’s even an exclusive new culinary rail journey on The Ghan.

Ord Valley Muster

Kununurra, WA: 15–25 May

A traditional Corroboree under the night sky. A long lunch on a working cattle station. A real-life rodeo (with real-life cowboys). This is autumn in the Kimberley. This is the Ord Valley Muster , a nine-day extravaganza of diversity, tradition, culture and character. From bush tucker foraging to black-tie dinners, the program alone makes this a bucket-list experience.

Ballarat Heritage Festival

Ballarat, Vic: 21–24 May

The beloved Ballarat Heritage Festival has always been a favourite among locals and visitors of The Golden City. A diverse annual program spotlights the history of Ballarat and those who shaped it, through art exhibitions, heritage tours, panel talks and creative workshops. Other highlights include the antique fair, vintage car show, and steam train rides through town.

Vivid Sydney

Sydney, NSW: 22 May – 13 June

Vivid Sydney is turning 16 in 2026, and to celebrate, the 23-day event promises to delight like never before. This year’s program has been given a revamp, filled with an exciting mix of light shows, soundscapes, live music, art exhibitions and a whole lot of food! Spend the evening wandering the Light Walk, having a boogie with local bands, tasting your way through the Fire Kitchen or enjoying open-air circus acts, the dazzling city as your backdrop.

Taste of Kakadu

Kakadu National Park, NT: 23 May

This May, Karrimanjbekkan An-me Kakadu: Taste of Kakadu will take you on a sensory journey of taste and sound. Discover the foods and stories that come alive during Kakadu’s Bangkerreng and Yekke seasons, which correspond with autumn on the Western calendar. Immerse yourself in the landscape through weaving workshops, cooking demos, dance performances, bush tucker tastings and more – offering an insight into Indigenous culture through a First Nations lens.

Traipse Jurassic cliffs and wander secluded beaches on Australia’s most enchanting walks.

Australia’s landscapes are made for hiking. Take the Red Centre, dusted in shifting sands and dotted with miraculous geological formations. Or our rainforests, left behind as the sole souvenir from continents that no longer exist. Down south, mottled night skies hang above crashing seas and unwavering cliffs. It makes sense, then, that hiking holidays are rising in popularity. No wi fi, no traffic. Just you and the path less travelled on the Great Walks of Australia in remote and iconic destinations.

What are the Great Walks of Australia?

If nature is your happy place, you’ve likely heard of the Great Walks of Australia, part of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences program since 2013 – a curated collection of 15 all-inclusive, eco-luxury journeys showcasing the country’s most spectacular landscapes with expert guides and incredible meals. GWOA launching in 2013 as

From exploring the peaks of a World Heritage listed island, to journeying through the heart of Australia, and the gentle pull of the majestic Murray – there’s a walking holiday to suit walkers of all experience levels (and interests).

Joining a Great Walks of Australia hike means the pressure is off with all meals, guides and eco-luxury accommodation included.

Where can you hike?

1. Scenic Rim Trail, Queensland

great walks of australia tour group on Scenic Rim Trail, Queensland — Enjoy incredible food along the way.

Around 23 million years ago, volcanoes spewed magma across Queensland’s Scenic Rim . Now, what’s left of the fiery landscape takes the form of the UNESCO-listed Gondwana rainforest.

The Scenic Rim Trail is a four-day guided hike that takes you through the ancient rainforest. You’ll venture out into breathtaking viewpoints across the Main Range National Park. Enjoy a packed lunch, listen out for the duplicitous calls of the lyrebird and enjoy the silence.

You’ll spend your nights in boutique eco-cabins and incredible hospitality.

2. Murray River Walk, South Australia

great walks of australia tour group on — Walk through vibrant wildflower fields.

Murray River Walk pairs easy hiking with blissful evenings cruising the Murray River. Over four days and nights, you’ll follow kangaroo trails through red dirt dusted with vivid patches of wildflowers.

Each day ends on a solar-powered, custom-built houseboat. Watch towering, red sandstone cliffs float by from the top deck spa. Then, it’s three-course meals sourced from local produce and served alongside the region’s best wines.

The entire region you’ll be traversing is within the Riverland Ramsar site. Watch as spoonbills forage for food in the tranquil wetlands, emus parade through the wildflowers, and regent parrots flit above.

3. Maria Island Walk, Tasmania

wombat along the Maria Island Walk tasmania — Spot adorable locals.

Your Maria Island walk begins with a private boat transfer to an untouched, white sand beach. Barefoot in the sand, you’ll quickly realise – aside from your guide and group – you’re completely alone. Spot countless wombats and hear the distant calls of Tasmanian Devils as you spend four days leisurely traversing the island.

Nights are split between private, comfortable wilderness camps and queen-size beds in a historic cottage from the island’s convict history. Meals are built around fresh-caught seafood and served with East Coast Tasmanian wine.

4. Seven Peaks Walk, New South Wales

hiker on Seven Peaks Walks on Lord Howe Island — Explore the incredible Lord Howe Island. (Image: Luke Hanson)

Lord Howe Island feels like another world. With its patchwork blue coral lagoons and magma-honed peaks, it’s easy to forget you’re in New South Wales.

This walk has the highest level of elevation in the Great Walks of Australia’s collection. It’s because of this that you’ll witness nature like never before. UNESCO-listed volcanic peaks and coral reefs that grew out of solidified lava will become your daily norm.

Along the way, step onto beaches that lie undisturbed for weeks at a time. Then, snorkel the southernmost reef in the Pacific Ocean.

5. Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk, Northern Territory

This five-day, fully guided, premium hiking experience inside Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park was developed in partnership with Aṉangu Traditional Owners. Begin your walk dwarfed by the shade of Kata Tjuṯa’s towering dome formations. Following remote desert trails through the red sands, crest dunes and traverse mulga woodlands as you draw closer to the monolithic walls of Uluṟu.

Each night, dine under the lamp light of the Milky Way in the warm desert air and sleep in new flagship, environmentally sensitive private camps and lodge. This is the first time that travellers have ever been allowed to spend the night inside the national park.

6. The Twelve Apostles Signature Walk, Victoria

great walks of australia tour group on The Twelve Apostles Signature Walk, Victoria — See the Twelve Apostles in a new way. (Image: Ken Luke)

The Great Ocean Road’s rugged splendour is best experienced on this signature four-day, 44-kilometre guided walk . You’ll follow the rugged limestone stacks of the shipwreck coastline: wild, crashing waves, curious wildlife, and two national parks.

Finish each day at your luxurious lodge, where you’ll sit with your feet soaking and a glass of wine in hand. You’ll have a single lodge to call home on this walk, meaning you’ll only need to set out with a day pack.

7. Three Capes Signature Walk, Tasmania

On Tasmania’s Three Capes Signature Walk , you’ll feel like you’re walking along the edge of the world. From your boat landing on a remote beach, climb slowly upward for spectacular views and wildlife encounters with pods of dolphins, fur seals and echidnas. Spend days walking Jurassic dolerite cliffs with the wild Southern Ocean as your only constant.

Stay in architecturally designed eco-lodges nestled at the very edge of the world. Think floor-to-ceiling windows, a plunge pool and even an on-site spa to tend to ailments from the hike.

Discover more Great Walks of Australia and start planning your next adventure at greatwalksofaustralia.com.au.