Blue Mountains Autumn Guide: 12 Best Places Worth Visiting
WANT TO EXPERIENCE AUTUMN IN BLUE MOUNTAINS THIS YEAR?
The Blue Mountains is a stunning destination all year round, but when autumn comes around, the region transforms into a canvas of reds, oranges, and yellows, offering the perfect getaway for those looking to experience the magic of autumn less than 2 hours away from Sydney!
After multiple visits to the region, especially during autumn, we are excited to share some of the best autumn displays in the Blue Mountains that are actually worth visiting! We have also heard back from a few regarding the best weeks to visit their gardens and have included them below so you can enjoy peak foliage here.
🚗 Getting to Blue Mountains from Sydney
While you can visit Blue Mountains by train, most of the autumn places we recommend here are slightly inconvenient to reach via public transport and bus routes in the region, so if you can drive, we highly recommend renting a car for this autumn getaway (unless you have one, of course).
The cheapest car rental company we use and recommend in Sydney is Discover Cars. This online company compares the rates of all local and international companies such as Budget, Sixt, Hertz, etc, to give you the best price available!
By car, the drive to Katoomba takes around 90 minutes on the M4 west from the city!
Where You Can See Autumn Leaves in the Blue Mountains for FREE
The best things in life are free, right? Well, in this case, it is actually true! Some of the best places to see autumn leaves in Blue Mountains are easily accessible and totally free to visit!
1. Golden Poplars in Meadow Flat
- Best Time to Visit in 2025: April 12th – April 30th, and possibly extending into the week of May!
If you want to click the perfect snap of the 2025 autumn season, head to the Meadow Flat region between Lithgow and Bathurst! Famous for its beautiful display of Golden Poplar trees, this road becomes an Instagrammer’s heaven in autumn.
It was part of the old Great Western Highway and takes about 50 minutes to reach from Katoomba! You can read our complete Meadow Flat guide here!
Also Read: A Complete Guide to Vivid Sydney 2025
2. Wentworth Falls
Wentworth Falls has some of the most majestic free autumn viewing experiences in the Blue Mountains.
The Charles Darwin Walk, starting from the village, guides visitors through a corridor of turning leaves before reaching the magnificent waterfall lookout. The morning light catching the spray from the falls creates rainbow effects through the colored leaves!
3. Botanical Gardens in Mount Tomah
The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah is 105 kilometers west of Sydney, about a two-hour drive from the CBD. Apart from exploring the beautiful garden, you can register for events on journaling, astronomy & learning about the garden’s flora!
Situated at 1,000 meters above sea level, these cool-climate gardens feature an impressive collection of deciduous trees that create a spectacular autumn display.
4. Cathedral Reserve
For all the people who love to camp, come to the Cathedral Reserve in the Blue Mountains! It’s a large open area with liquidambers all around, with a rainforest at the back. The officials have extended the reserve several times to include the rainforest, so if you are lucky, you will be sleeping among the fall foliage in the Blue Mountains! Be sure to check the website for any such updates.
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There are picnic tables, BBQs, fireplaces, and two self-composting toilets available. We recommend carrying water, as drinkable water was unavailable.
You can find the reserve by searching for Mount Irvine Road on the map and following it until you see the Cathedral of Ferns. The reserve is located just opposite that landmark.
Best Places to Spot Autumn Colours in the Blue Mountains
Here is a list of all the places where you can best spot the Blue Mountains’ autumn leaves, but with an entry fee!
Let’s start with what we consider the highlight of autumn in the Blue Mountains – Mount Wilson! This historic village of the 1880s has some of the most beautiful autumn leaves you’ll find anywhere in Australia.
5. Bebeah Garden
- Opening hours: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
- Visiting charges: $10 for adults & $2 for children
Bebeah Garden is one of the oldest in Mount Wilson, with over 12 acres of land filled with a variety of trees: oaks, magnolias, conifers, and cherries! You will see some of the deepest shades of red here! It’s a spectacular view! Also, there is a particular path to follow here, you would not find this in other gardens in Mount Wilson.
Around 2-3 hours will be needed to explore Bebeah! You will find a couple of cottages there, and you can even rent one if you like.
Also Read: 27 AWESOME Things to do in Sydney This April
6. Breenhold Gardens
- Opening hours: 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
- Visiting charges: $17.50
Breenhold Gardens is the largest and most visited garden in Mount Wilson! With over 40 hectares of area, plan to spend an entire day here! The iconic Pine Tree Avenue, Bill’s Walk, Charlotte’s Pass, and the Acer steps should be on your list while planning a visit here. If you haven’t already seen it, Google the famous picture of the Maples surrounding the steps; it’s from here!
We try to avoid crowds as much as we can while visiting any place, especially in autumn. However, it’s hard to do that with Breenhold Gardens. You will always find this place crowded and are likely to meet many photographers! We say you skip weekends to avoid crowds!
7. Merry Garth Garden
- Opening time: 8.00 am to 3.00 pm
- Visiting charges: $10 for adults
Merry Garth Garden is a 2.5-hectare garden open every weekend in April and every Wednesday throughout the year in Mount Wilson! The garden is in full bloom in autumn with Himalayan magnolias, maples, and camellias showing a riot of colours! You will also find dogwoods and conifers at Merry Garth. This is a much quieter place to explore, many don’t know about it!
8. Nooroo Garden
- Opening hours: 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
- Visiting charges: $10 for adults and $2.50 for children under 12.
As you enter through the gates of the Nooroo Garden, you will be greeted by an autumn canopy overhead. The garden’s collection of maples, particularly the Japanese and Chinese varieties, bloom with autumn colours. We highly recommend this place for people who enjoy a quieter outing, the garden is much less crowded than the others!
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If you are like us and love watching the sun set, we highly recommend going to the Du Faurs lookout point!
To get there, drive towards Mount Wilson. When you reach the village, turn left at the fire station and walk up to the lookout point!
9. Everglades House and Gardens, Leura
- Opening hours: Thursday – Sunday 11 am – 3 pm (final seating at 2.30 pm)!
- Visiting Charges: $17 for adults & free for kids under 5.
Everglades House and Gardens, located at 37 Everglades Avenue, is the perfect place to sip in ginger beer while seeing the autumn colors in the Jamison Valley outside the breakfast room! And if you are in the mood to pack a picnic, there are tables available! This is where you can relax and enjoy the views of autumn leaves in the Blue Mountains from a beautiful location!
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Try their local apple cider vinegar & traditional Devonshire tea scones!
10. Wildwood Garden, Bilpin
- Opening Hours: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
- Visiting Charges: $10 for adults
- Best Time to Visit in 2025: Although the autumn colours continue to bloom beyond May, the best time to visit the garden is from Anzac Day to Mother’s Day!
The Wildwood Garden, located in Bilpin, in the heart of Blue Mountains, blooms with brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow in autumn! This year, they will be opening the gates around 21st March for all visitors. Do the cherry walk here; the canopy overhead is perfect for pictures!
If you are like us and like to collect a souvenir of every place you go to, then visit their gift shop just at the entrance. The entry fee is a bit too much given the size of the garden and the limited number of things that you can do. However, planning a picnic is a great idea to make the most of the money spent and view the autumn leaves! Don’t miss out on their homemade apple pies, they are a treat!
11. Campbell Rhododendron Gardens, Blackheath
- Opening Hours: 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
- Visiting charges: $5 for adults & it’s free for children under 18.
- Best Time to Visit in 2025: Around mid-April!
The Campbell Rhododendron Gardens in Blackheath have both native and exotic flora! While primarily known for their spring rhododendron blooms, these gardens transform into a canvas of warm colors as the weather cools.
We highly recommend doing their Maple Walk, it is a track surrounded by their specialty: maple! You can just pick the map they have at the Information Booth to locate it.
The elevation of the garden makes it one of the first locations that shows autumn leaves in the Blue Mountains!
The Gnome Convention
Looking for something quirky and fun to do this April during autumn in the Blue Mountains?
The Campbell Rhododendron Gardens are hosting ‘The Gnome Convention’ on the 19th & 20th of April!
You will find over 2000 gnomes, face painting stalls, BBQ, & lots of food! Check their website for more details.
12. Mayfield Gardens, Oberon
- Opening Hours: 9.00 am to 4.30 pm (last entry by 3 pm)
- Visiting Charges: $38 for an adult, & Children under 5 go free
Are you looking for a glamping experience during autumn in the Blue Mountains? Drive up to Mayfield’s Garden in Oberon, only 75 minutes from Katoomba!
This is Australia’s largest cool climate garden, and they are open every day of the year (except Christmas and Boxing Day)! The beauty of this garden is unmatched this season, with unique sculptures, a box hedge maze, their own lake, water garden, chapel, and herbaceous border all over the place!
And autumn- it’s the best time of the year to visit the Mayfield Garden! You can pack a picnic here or do their glamping experience, which includes luxurious accommodation, a three-course a la carte dinner at their restaurant, and garden entry tickets. This experience is open until the end of April.
We highly recommend coming here!
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While booking the glamping experience, be sure to ask them to prepare a sunset picnic for you and order breakfast that will be delivered to your tent!
Best Time to See Autumn Leaves in Blue Mountains
The best time to visit Blue Mountains is in Autumn! The weather in New South Wales gets too hot in the summer & too cold during winter, and we like it when there is a perfect balance between the two extremes, which is in autumn!
The optimal period to see autumn leaves in the Blue Mountains spans from mid-April to early June, with peak coloration typically occurring in May. This timing varies slightly each year depending on several environmental factors.
Blue Mountains Autumn Festivals
The Blue Mountains region celebrates autumn with a rich calendar of events that complement the beauty!
The Leura Harvest Festival, held in April, showcases the region’s agricultural heritage with cooking demonstrations, local produce markets, and workshops focusing on autumn crops and cool-climate gardening.
There are no tickets available online, you will have to be there in person and purchase the tickets ($15 for ages 16 and above)!
The Blue Mountains Music Festival is back with its 28th edition this year! This 3-day (14th-16th March) event takes place in Katoomba and hosts several artists from all over the world! You will find workshops, a lot of local food, 90+ performances & perhaps even fan meet-ups!
Tickets start at $85 for an adult, however, it depends on the availability and choice of date!
Where to Stay In the Blue Mountains
Now that you know what the Blue Mountains is like during autumn & what the best places to see here are, you might want to start planning a weekend getaway from Sydney!
So, here are some of the best hotels with views of Blue Mountains’ autumn leaves:
- Luxury: Lilianfels Resort, Blue Mountains provides a luxurious retreat with stunning views of the Jamison Valley. It features a full-service spa, heated outdoor pool, gourmet dining, and lush gardens, making it an ideal choice for relaxation and exploration of nearby natural landmarks like the Three Sisters.
- Mid-Range: Fairmont Resort & Spa has a more intimate and tranquil experience, surrounded by beautiful gardens and just a short walk from Leura. This boutique resort features an outdoor pool, a tennis court, and modern accommodations.
- Budget: Leura Gardens Resort in Leura is a family-friendly destination that offers a range of activities, including a golf course, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, and a dedicated kids’ area. With its proximity to hiking trails and breathtaking mountain scenery, it’s perfect for both adventure and relaxation
We recommend booking your accommodation based on your main interests!
Stay in Mount Victoria or Blackheath if you do not want to be far away from Mount Wilson & choose Leura or Katoomba for a central location and a variety of dining options.
If you are traveling in the Blue Mountains without a car, stay near Wentworth Falls for good transport links!
Blue Mountains Autumn Guide: FAQs
We have seen how crowded Blue Mountains gets during autumn, everybody comes here to witness the autumn colors! Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions that people have:
BLUE MOUNTAINS AUTUMN PLACES TO VISIT MAP
To help give you a lay of the land, you can use this pre-plotted map with all the places mentioned in this guide to plan your trip:
What time of the year is best to visit the Blue Mountains?
We highly recommend visiting the Blue Mountains region during autumn. You’ll love it here! Although the place gets crowded as the peak autumn colour starts to show, it’s worth it!
The color transformation begins in late April and continues through early June. Due to elevation differences, different areas reach peak color at slightly different times.
How Much Time Is Needed in the Blue Mountains?
While many try to see the Blue Mountains on a day trip, we recommend staying at least 2-3 nights to fully experience the autumn colors.
This time allows you to visit both the popular places like Scenic World and discover hidden gems without rushing. A longer stay also gives you flexibility with weather conditions, as mountain weather can be unpredictable during autumn.
What to Wear in Autumn in Blue Mountains?
The Blue Mountains experience significant temperature variations during autumn, with mornings and evenings being particularly cool. We recommend bringing:
- Warm layers for early mornings and evenings
- Comfortable walking shoes suitable for both garden paths and bush tracks
- A light rain jacket, as autumn can bring occasional showers
The Wrap-Up: Blue Mountains Autumn Guide!
Now that you know the what, when & how of the Blue Mountains in Autumn, it’s time to plan your autumn escape! Especially if you are a geek for photos, you cannot miss out on the views of the place this season! The red hues will get your perfect snaps.
Remember, every autumn visit to the Blue Mountains is unique! The changing conditions ensure that no two seasons are exactly alike. This is what keeps us coming back year after year and why we believe you’ll fall in love with this magical season in the mountains just as we have.
Feel free to reach out to us on Instagram.
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