What to do in Autumn in Canberra

By Jemma Mrdak.

Finally! The leaves are starting to turn glorious shades of orange, red and yellow, and the temperature has been turned down just a notch. For those of us inclined to sweat, this is good news. The wind is picking up too – which means that autumn has well and truly settled into the nation’s capital.

Autumn is a fantastic time to visit Canberra. Why? Because it’s not too hot and it’s not too cold – it’s juuuuust right. There are enough events and activities on throughout the colourful and crisp season that you’ll be running around the city like a headless chook… a headless chook that can still eat, drink and boogie.

Canberra comes alive in autumn with blockbuster exhibitions, delicious food and wine events and fun festivals. These are the activities I reckon you check out:

Tom Roberts Exhibition

Visit the Tom Roberts Exhibition. This exhibition finishes on March 28, so you’d better get in quick. See this iconic exhibition of a great Australian artist and experience one of our best known and most loved institutions, the National Gallery of Australia. Over 130 iconic Tom Roberts’ paintings, prints and sculptures are on display.

Get Out and About

Go for a walk. No, not just to the bar and back – like a proper walk out in the world. Trust us when we say that you need to take advantage of the beautiful weather while you can because come the colder months – you’ll be hibernating inside, sipping whiskey and working on your winter coat. Walkers, cyclists and nature buffs can experience the best of Canberra’s urban and natural environments on the Canberra Centenary Trail, which was a legacy of Canberra’s 100^th Birthday. The 145km long trail loops around the ACT and is family friendly. This trail can obviously be experienced in sections – because who wants to walk 147km in one go? For those who love a challenge – you can tackle the trail in seven days by averaging 20 kms per day.

Hit the Markets

Shop at one of our fresh food markets. There’s nothing better than fresh produce and due to Canberra’s location there are an abundance of local farms and produce suppliers that sell their products weekly at various farmers markets around the city. The Capital Region Farmers Markets occurs every Saturday and has over 100 stallholders offering a rich and diverse range of seasonal produce.

Canberra Harvest Festival

Check out the Canberra Harvest Festival. This is the 8^th Annual Canberra Harvest Festival. Discover gourmet food, local produce and glorious wine… and get involved in the sustainable living workshops!

The National Folk Festival

Join in the celebration of contemporary folk life at the National Folk Festival. This is held over five days throughout March over the Easter period and brings headline acts from all over the world to Canberra. Blues, roots, acoustic, Celtic, country music and more will be represented.