Autumn in Sydney: 20 Spots to See Autumn Colours

Sydney is a gorgeous evergreen city all year round, so when autumn arrives on 1 March, it's a magical time to head outdoors and soak up the autumn colours, with foliage bursting with golds, oranges, yellows, and reds.

This time of year is also cool enough to enjoy extended periods outdoors before the chill of winter sets in. Plus, the crunching sensory experience of all those golden autumn leaves is a big hit with kids (and kids at heart!).

We've rounded up the best places to see gorgeous autumn leaves in Sydney to welcome you to the changing season. 

Autumn in Sydney: 20 Spots to See Autumn Colours

When is Autumn in Sydney?

In Sydney, autumn gently arrives from March through May, bringing cooler mornings, golden light and the first hints of seasonal colour.

The science behind the change is actually quite fascinating: as daylight hours shorten and temperatures dip, trees slow their food production and chlorophyll — the pigment that keeps leaves green — begins to break down, revealing warm yellows and golds that were there all along. Some trees can also produce red and purple pigments called anthocyanins, but because Sydney's climate remains relatively mild, those deep crimson tones are rare and typically appear only after a run of cooler nights.

Curious about where the best autumn colours are? You'll see the best displays of autumn leaves from deciduous trees suited to our temperate conditions (plane trees, liquidambar trees, elms and maples), especially in cooler pockets such as the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, and leafy suburban streets. 

Autumn Colours Close to Sydney CBD

1. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Location: Mrs Macquarie’s Road, Sydney
Opening hours are seasonal
Cost: Free

The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is a beautiful spot to while away as much or as little time as you choose.

Make your way to the HSBC Oriental Garden for the most vibrant display, where winding paths are lined with rich autumn hues and the ground is scattered with layers of red, orange and golden leaves.

It's the perfect place to stop and recharge when you've been out and about with your kids in the city. Look out for golden plane trees, leafy avenues and pockets of seasonal colour around the gardens and near the harbour — especially lovely in the softer autumn light.

2. Centennial Parklands

Location: Eastern Suburbs, Sydney
Open daily between sunrise and sunset
Cost: Free

We love the unique colours that come alive in Centennial Parklands when autumn in Sydney is in full swing.

The southern side of the Duck Pond bursts into a spectacular sight of red, yellow and orange leaves. Now, this is the place to kick leaves! Also, a gorgeous sight is the Tibouchina or Lasiandra trees around the parklands, easily recognisable by their full bursts of purple flowers in the autumn months.

Fearnley Grounds offers everything families need: food, bikes, cycle tracks, and toilets, to name a few. There are also many fun activities and workshops for kids during their Autumn Program.

3. Rumsey Rose Garden

Location: Corner of Pitt St and Macquarie St, Parramatta
Open daily
Cost: Free

The Rumsey Heritage Rose Garden is a beautiful municipal heritage rose garden within Parramatta Park.

It's a unique garden featuring over 500 rose varieties donated by the Rumsey family, along with a few deciduous trees that create a golden autumn atmosphere close to Sydney.

The nearby Murray Gardens also boast spacious, manicured grounds with a distinctive landscape that highlights the historic water patterns created by its ponds and water features, including the charming convict-era stone bridge over Murray Gardens Creek.

4. Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour

Location: Pier Street, Sydney
Open daily
Cost: Adults $12, Child (under 12) $8

While it's not known for dramatic autumn foliage, the Chinese Garden of Friendship is still a lovely seasonal stop if you're already exploring Darling Harbour with the kids.

Explore peaceful pathways, koi-filled ponds, waterfalls and hidden corners to wander, with subtle autumn tones adding a gentle touch of colour. 

5. Hyde Park

Location: Elizabeth St, Sydney
Open daily
Cost: Free

Sydney's oldest park puts on a surprisingly pretty autumn show. The tree-lined walkways fill with yellow and amber hues, and the fallen leaves make it perfect for a crisp city stroll.

Autumn Colours in the West & Greater West

 
6. Auburn Botanic Gardens

Location: 96 Chiswick Rd, Auburn
Open daily
Cost: Adults $4, children and Auburn residents go free.

A little-known parkland located 20 minutes west of the CBD, the Auburn Botanic Gardens is a great place for kids to explore, spot rainforest creatures, see a jolly swagman at the billabong, and meet kangaroos, wallabies, and emus at the Fauna Reserve. There is also a bird aviary and lakes with fish and ducks.

There is a picnic area with BBQs and an accessible playground, ensuring this picturesque park is a fun day out for all.

7. Fagan Park

Location: 38-48 Arcadia Road, Galston
Open daily from 7 am to sunset (6.30 pm during daylight savings) except on Christmas Day
Cost: Free

Nestled in the heart of Hornsby Shire, Fagan Park is a slice of autumn paradise with its 55 hectares of lush, rolling greenery and immaculately kept gardens. It's the ultimate spot for a chill day out, boasting top-notch picnic spots and playgrounds that make it a hit among locals.

Once the Fagan family's orchard and cattle farm, this sprawling park now welcomes visitors to meander through the Gardens of Many Nations. Spanning 10 hectares, this world within a park features 11 spectacular themed gardens — from the serene Japanese to the vibrant Dutch, the exotic Chinese, and the sun-drenched Mediterranean. Whether you're firing up an electric BBQ or spreading out your picnic blanket on the soft grass, Fagan Park is one of the best spots to soak in the autumn colours of Sydney.

8. Sydney Olympic Park

Location: Sydney Olympic Park
Open daily 
Cost: Free

Sydney Olympic Park quietly turns on one of the city's nicest autumn displays, with wide boulevards and leafy pockets glowing from March to May.

While you won't find blazing maple forests here, the mix of plane trees, elms and ornamental pears is the perfect backdrop for slow walks, bike rides and family picnics. Hotspots include Olympic Boulevard, the streets around Cathy Freeman Park and Herb Elliott Avenue, and Bicentennial Park.

Autumn Colours in South Sydney

 
9. Camellia Gardens

Location: 104R President Avenue, Caringbah South
Open daily, except on Good Friday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
Cost: Free

Located in Caringbah and overlooking the gorgeous Yowie Bay, Camellia Gardens is an absolutely stunning spot when autumn in Sydney rolls around and when the camellia flowers are in bloom.

The beautiful Jade Teahouse overlooks the gardens and is the perfect location for Devonshire tea, high tea, breakfast or lunch.

10. Sir Joseph Banks Park, Botany

Location: Tupia St, Botany
Open daily
Cost: Free

Around Botany, Sir Joseph Banks Park isn't known for fiery reds, but you'll still spot soft seasonal colour woven through the park's leafy spaces.

From March to May, some deciduous trees shift to warm yellows and light golden tones, especially on cooler mornings, adding a subtle autumn feel to this relaxed bayside green space. Add in a trip to the epic kids' playground, and you've got a rewarding day out!

Autumn Colours on the North Shore

 
11. Wahroonga Park

Location: Coonanbarra Road, Wahroonga
Open daily
Cost: Free

A small but truly loved park, Wahroonga Park is a beautiful oasis for families and the place to go for autumn colours on the North Shore.

The spacious park in the heart of Wahroonga village is accessible, and the upgraded playground allows parents to sit back and let children entertain themselves. When the autumn leaves begin to show, sections of this park near Wahroonga Station transform into a magical array of reds, with azaleas planted.

12. Lane Cove National Park

Location: Max Allen Rd, Lindfield
Open daily
Cost: $8 per vehicle per day

For a peaceful dose of autumn colours on the North Shore, Lane Cove National Park delivers golden leaves, crisp air and plenty of space for families to roam.

See pockets of deciduous trees around picnic areas and along the riverside walking tracks — especially lovely around the Lane Cove River. While the autumn colour is subtle rather than dramatic, the park more than makes up for it with family-friendly adventures. There are scenic bushwalks, easy pram-friendly paths, playgrounds, riverside picnics, and BBQ spots. You can also hire rowboats or kayaks on the river, if it's not too chilly!

Discover more Fun Things to do in Lane Cove National Park.

Popular Sydney Streets With Autumn Leaves

These Sydney streets are also known for displaying vivid autumn leaves during the season:

The Rocks - Cumberland Street & Essex Street
Sydney CBD - Elizabeth Street (near Hyde Park)
Parramatta - Fennell Street
Pymble - Telegraph Road
Turramurra - Burns Road

Autumn Colours Beyond Sydney

13. Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah

Location: Bells Line of Rd, Mount Tomah
Open daily
Cost: Free

Behold a dazzling display as trees are set ablaze with red, orange and gold. The autumn display at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden is one of the most popular in the Blue Mountains region, and optimal conditions – a combination of warm days and cool nights – result in an especially dramatic show of colour every autumn in Sydney!

Visitors should visit in May, before the leaves fall, and are urged to check out the Plant Explorers Walk, Brunet Garden, the Formal Garden, and the trees near the Visitor Centre for special displays. 

14. Leura

Location: Everglades Garden is at 37 Everglades Ave, Leura
Open daily
Cost: Free

Autumn in Leura feels like stepping into a real-life painting, with cool mountain air and leafy streets glowing gold, amber and crimson from April to May.

Everglades Garden and the village's famous tree-lined avenues — especially around Leura Mall — become a hotspot for autumn-colour-seekers keen to soak up the atmosphere. Wander past charming cottages, cosy cafés and garden-filled corners, or take a gentle stroll through nearby parks and walking tracks where the foliage is at its most vivid after cool, crisp nights. 

15. Cattai National Park

 

Location: Off Wisemans Ferry Road, Hawkesbury River Region
Open 7 am to 7 pm daily
Cost: Free

On the south bank of the Hawkesbury River, Cattai National Park is a large area with many picnic shelters and wood-fired barbecue areas.

This is a great place for families with older kids, as the surrounding area is ideal for outdoor activities such as waterskiing, wakeboarding, and canoeing, with space for kids to run around, ride their bikes, or even spend a weekend camping.

In May, the Hawkesbury becomes a gorgeous kaleidoscope of colour, from deep reds to golden yellows, with the plane and maple trees scattered along the riverbanks.

16. Mount Wilson

Location: Blue Mountains Region
Open daily
Cost: Free

Each autumn, the cool-climate village of Mount Wilson bursts into a spectacular mosaic of colour, with brilliant reds, glowing oranges, deep ambers and golden yellows sweeping across the landscape from mid-April to early May.

Thanks to its higher elevation and cooler temperatures, deciduous trees such as maples, oaks, elms and beeches flourish here, producing the rich crimson tones rarely seen in Sydney's milder suburbs. Hotspots to check out include Bebeah Gardens, Wynne Reserve and Founders Corner, Queens Avenue, Church Lane, and Breenhold Gardens (only open in season).

17. Meadow Flat

Location: Curly Dick Rd, Meadow Flat
Open daily
Cost: Free

Another glorious spot in the Blue Mountains that comes alive with autumn colours near Sydney.

Meadow Flat has turned into a tourist hotspot thanks to its incredible display of autumn leaves. Curly Dick Road transforms into a lane of gold as the tall poplar trees turn from green to gold in preparation for winter. 

18. Hunter Valley Gardens

Location: 2090 Broke Rd, Pokolbin
Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm
Cost: Adults $35; Children (4-15 yrs) $20; Family pass (2 adults + kids) $90-$100; Under 4s go FREE

We'll take any excuse to visit Hunter Valley Gardens! From April to May, autumn arrives at Hunter Valley Gardens as greens begin to mellow and pockets of the gardens shift to copper, saffron, and rust. Deciduous trees — maples, liquidambars and ornamental pears — punctuate the grounds with warm colour, especially along the longer garden walks where leaves gather in soft layers underfoot.

Each themed garden carries the season differently. The Formal Garden shows neat rows brushed with gold; the Sunken Garden feels quieter and more muted as tones deepen; and along the lakeside paths, the changing foliage reflects gently on the water. It's less about dramatic bursts and more about subtle transitions for the changing season.

Families will find plenty to explore beyond the foliage: winding pathways for wandering, open lawns for picnics, the Storybook Garden for younger visitors, and space to move at an unhurried pace. Make sure you plan to stay awhile because autumn at Hunter Valley Gardens also means dinosaurs at their epic Mega Creatures installation!

19. The Southern Highlands

Location: Bowral
Open daily
Cost: Free

Less than two hours' drive away, Bowral comes alive with autumn foliage as many of the village’s deciduous trees were planted around the late 1800s in an effort to make Bowral look more like England.

In autumn, the deciduous trees and shrubs around Buskers End on St Clair Street, and the oaks in Station Street, create a brilliant display worth travelling for.

20. Mayfield Garden, Oberon

Location: 530 Mayfield Rd, Oberon
Open daily 
Cost: $25 entry

If you're chasing true, storybook autumn leaves, Mayfield Garden in Oberon is one of the most spectacular places in NSW.

From April through early May, the vast garden transforms into a glowing canvas of fiery reds, burnt oranges, rich ambers and golden yellows. Long tree-lined avenues, European-style landscapes and sweeping countryside views make it feel like stepping straight into an autumn postcard.

One of the biggest highlights is the grand Autumn Avenue, where rows of deciduous trees create a tunnel of colour. Around the lake and throughout the garden's many winding paths, you'll spot maples, elms, oaks and liquidambars showing off their most vivid seasonal shades, especially after cool, crisp nights.

More Nature Experiences For Kids

Fruit Picking in Sydney & Beyond
The Best Family Farm Stays Near Sydney
Natural Wonders to Discover in NSW
 

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