I always feel a little sad when March 1 rolls around. Summer is by far my favourite season and I hate the prospect of a long, cold autumn and winter. So I farewell summer each year with trepidation. However a few weeks later my misgivings are quickly forgotten as the magical colours of autumn emerge and leaves crunch underfoot.
The wonderful thing about Tasmania is that our four seasons are distinct and there’s something great about each of them. Crisp winter days with a dusting of snow on Mt Wellington are spectacular and give way to longer days (thanks, daylight saving!) in spring, along with plenty of cute baby animals and cheerful pops of colour as tulips and daffodils bloom. Tasmanian summers aren’t as hot or humid as many other Australian states, meaning we don’t swelter, but we still enjoy loads of sunshine for trips to the beach. And then, of course, comes autumn. Here’s a quick list of my favourite places to enjoy the season.
ROYAL TASMANIAN BOTANICAL GARDENS
I’ve found myself visiting this place THREE times in the past week. Jumping into piles of leaves, admiring the changing scenery or lazing on the grass – it’s a great (and affordable) spot to hang out in autumn, especially when you have a small person to entertain. And based on the proliferation of prams cruising the winding paths, I’m not the only parent who thinks like this.
DERWENT VALLEY
Organised events like the Derwent Valley Autumn Festival and the Fagus Festival at Mt Field are great ways to celebrate everything that is good about this time of year, and I’ve happily hung out at the autumn festival many times. But it’s just as easy to celebrate autumn in the valley without the help of festivals. You’ll find the poplars along the esplanade at New Norfolk rich in colour throughout March, April and May, while a drive along either side of the river towards Mt Field yields plenty of postcard-perfect views in shades of red, burnt orange and gold.
Before the Little Dinosaur was born, Bryan and I spent four days relaxing and exploring the wilderness surrounding Cradle Mountain Lodge. I was 15 weeks pregnant and we wanted to celebrate the impending arrival of our first child and also make the most of our final weeks as a carefree family of two. And we got way more than we bargained for – walking around Dove Lake on a drizzly May day, we suddenly realised that the shock of yellow, crinkle-cut foliage dotted around the perimeter was actually the fagus – Tasmania’s only, and somewhat rare, native deciduous beech tree that dates back to Gondwana times. What a fantastic sight to stumble upon!
ST DAVID’S PARK/PARLIAMENT LAWNS
Emerging from the office haze of screen glare and fluorescent lighting and stepping into the visual deliciousness of a Hobart park during autumn is an instant mood booster. We’re lucky to have so many great parks and gardens at easy reach, and autumn is their time to shine, so make sure you use your lunchbreaks wisely – the chill of winter will soon be here.
