Locals call it the "turning of the fagus" and the tradition of watching the Fagus trees leaves change colour during autumn continues to inspire and enchant visitors to the island state.
As the weather starts to cool down it is not unusual to see changes in the natural environment, but it is unusual to catch a glimpse of the dusty reds and burnt oranges to brilliant gold that come to line the Tasmanian landscape.
This is because the spectacular event can only be seen in Tasmania and is truly a once in a lifetime experience for many visitors to the region.
If you want to take part in this local tradition then you will need to plan ahead and make sure that you can access a visitor pass to either Mount Field National Park or Cradle Mountain National Park well ahead of time.
The best time of year to visit these nature reserves for people wanting to participate in the event is during the autumn months of April and early May, however, you might still be able to catch some colour in the later part of May depending on the weather. This year, colours peaked two weeks ago, but there is still much to see, and photographers are busy capturing this year’s event.
You might also like to make the most of your visit by looking into different activities that are on offer during this time or in the more mountainous regions of Tasmania.
Cradle Mountain is well known for its fantastic range of bushwalks which can be tailored to anyone from beginners to seasoned professionals, as well as horse riding packages and other outdoor adventure activities.
Mount Field National Park continues to be a popular destination for campers or people who are looking to take time out and reconnect with nature.
It is also home to the famous Russell Falls and Lake Dobson – best yet it is just over an hour’s drive from Hobart. The autumn colours in the Derwent Valley on the way there are especially attractive; settlers brought in many trees from the northern hemisphere so the showing of poplars is something you cannot ignore.
