Blue Mountains Blog
Find out the best of what our destination has to offer.
Autumn in the Blue Mountains: more than just the photo
By Brooke Nolan
Image: Gary P Hayes
If you’ve never thought of yourself as a leaf enthusiast, you’ve probably never visited the Blue Mountains in autumn. As the seasons shift, streets and gardens fill with golds, reds, and rusts that turn even the least bothered into leaf lovers.
From early April to late May, many visitors arrive chasing the perfect photo. But our advice is to slow down. Pull on your gum boots and fully embrace the crunch of leaves under your feet. Top it off with a cosy coffee or warm apple pie, and we ask… is there a better time to visit the mountains?
Image: Gary P Hayes
An autumn wander
Blackheath is a standout for all things autumn, particularly along Wentworth street and surrounding areas, where deciduous trees dial up their colours to 100. This is a residential area so avoid standing in the road and always be aware of traffic.
Wentworth Falls Lake offers a quieter alternative, with a loop track set away from cars and reflections that shift with the light. It’s a place where you’ll say ‘just one more photo’ at least 10 times.
On your drive to the mountains, stop at the Corridor of Oaks in Falconbridge, a commemoration of Australian Prime Ministers. But, as the name suggests, in autumn it comes alive with more than just its political past.
If you want to truly immerse yourself in the magic of the changing colours, spend the night at Cathedral Reserve campsite in Mount Wilson. Facilities are basic but you’ll wake to the sun shimmering through the golden canopy.
Image: Destination NSW
Visit the autumn gardens
Mount Wilson is also home to russet-steeped historic gardens including Breenhold, Nooroo, Windyridge, Bebeah and Merry Garth. Carefully curated and tended-to gardens will make you wish autumn would stay for longer. If you want to avoid the crowds, mid-week visits are strongly recommended.
Back in Blackheath, wander the Campbell Rhododendron Gardens. The Maple Walk may be short but it packs an impressive punch of colours.
And the gardens don’t stop. At the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah, autumn unfolds gradually as cool-climate trees from around the world change week by week.
And we could never forget Everglades House and Gardens in Leura. Designed in the 1930s by Paul Sorensen, the impressive colours of deciduous trees frame views across Jamison Valley to Mount Solitary and beyond.
Time to warm up
After all that exploring (and all those photos) it’s time for a well-deserved treat. Many of the gardens mentioned offer the perfect warm-me-up food and drinks. Think toasties, soups, tea and scones, and even full sit-down meals, all surrounded by the colours you’ve come for.
Then there’s Bilpin. If you’re driving from Sydney, you’ll likely pass through on the way to Mount Tomah or Mount Wilson. This is a stretch of road where all things autumn collide. Think apple pies fresh from the oven, hot chocolate, and mulled cider.
Our top tip? Make a weekend of it and drive a loop from Sydney visiting Corridor of Oaks, Wentworth Falls, Leura and Blackheath one day and driving back via Mount Wilson, Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens and Bilpin on the way back home. It's the weekend autumn dreams are made of.
Capturing the colours of the Bluies
We caught up with Blue Mountains–based landscape, nature and astro photographer Jay Evans (@jaydidphoto) - a Sony Digital Imaging Advocate and tour guide - for some tips on capturing autumn at its best.
- Autumn colours look richest in low, warm light. Shoot at golden hour or near sunset, and use misty conditions for a classic Blue Mountains autumn feel.
- Use contrast to make colours pop. Frame red or yellow leaves against green forest, blue sky, wet roads, dark rock, or misty backgrounds.
- Use your phone’s manual controls. Turn off Live, lower exposure for deeper colour, adjust tone, use Macro for close-ups, and try HDR in high-contrast scenes.
- Strong composition matters. Use the rule of thirds, get close, look for layers and perspective, fill the frame, and include a subject for separation and scale
- Safety comes first. Stay off roads, watch for traffic and other visitors, don’t step backwards blindly, and always be considerate of residents and fellow photographers