Autumn in Tasmania is a colourful and mesmerising time of the year, providing you and your loved ones with luscious hues and picturesque landscapes. Extending from March to May, and with temperatures cooler than the summer months, it is the best time for trekking through lush National Parks, indulging in local fine wines and cuisine, and immersing in vibrant events and festivals in the Australian island state. Whether you are planning a day trip from Melbourne, a three-to-five-day getaway over a long weekend, or a leisurely 10 – 14-day solo or family vacation, here are some of the best Tasmania Autumn Attractions for your considerations.
Tasmania Autumn Attractions – Nature & Wildlife
1. Turning Of the Fagus (April to May 2018)
Arguably Tassie’s top autumn attraction and a photographer’s dream, this is when the native Fagus tree presents a spectacular Instagram-worthy seasonal display as its leaves change colour, showing off brilliant hues of red, yellow, orange and gold during late April and early May. Australia’s only cold-climate deciduous tree, it is found nowhere else in the world except in the remote highland regions of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The best places to witness this dazzling only-in-Tasmania sight are at the northern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Claire National Park and Mount Field National Park around Lake Fenton.
2. Three Capes Track
Embark on a bushwalk like no other when you take on the Three Capes Track which comprises 46 kilometres of the cliff-hugging landscape in south-east Tasmania. Limited to only 48 walkers per day, the 4 Day/3 Night trek starts and ends at World Heritage-listed Port Arthur, with three overnight stops where you will stay in an eco- friendly cabin with a panoramic deck for you to take in the surrounding views. 
Each day will offer different adventures as you alternate between walking on timber boardwalk to gravel and stone steps, to getting that top-of-the-world feeling when you scale Australia’s highest sea cliffs (hinged 300m above the Southern Ocean) especially at key lookout points on Cape Pillar and Cape Hauy. Orchids will be in full bloom during autumn, while sightings of migratory whales and short-tailed shearwaters are possible.
Tasmania Autumn Attractions – Food & Drinks
1. The Tasmanian Cider Trail
Autumn is a great time to visit a cider mill or two (or more). Tasmania – also known as the apple isle – is famous for its delicious ciders made from 100 percent locally-grown apples, pears and, on occasion, cherries. Most of the state’s best cider makers can be found in the apple and pear growing heartlands of Huon Valley, just a 30-minute drive south of Hobart, as well as in the fertile soils in the north-west, close to Launceston. Meet the people that make Tasmanian cider special and discover their stories, love and passion that goes into crafting every bottle of Tasmanian cider. 
2. Taste of the Huon (March 11 – 12, 2018)
Held at Ranelagh, a 30-minute scenic drive south of Hobart, this popular regional event celebrates the best of fine food, wine, arts, crafts and entertainment from the Huon Valley, D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island regions of Tasmania. In addition to some 90 stalls showcasing quality wines and produce, visitors are also encouraged to check out cafes, wineries and berry farms located along the winding Huon River and on the accompanying hills. There will also be entertainment programs that cater to both young and old throughout the two-day festival.
Tasmania Autumn Attractions – Arts & Culture
1. The Spiegeltent Hobart (Mar 8 – Apr 1, 2018)
This extraordinary live entertainment spectacular offers the very best in music, dance, comedy, theatre and cabaret by international stars and home-grown Tasmanian talents in one venue. The 2018 showcase will be headlined by Spiegeltent sensation, Limbo Unhinged, an ensemble that presents pyrotechnics, sword- swallowing and aerial shenanigans against Sxip Shirey’s pulsating live soundtrack.
2. Cradle Mountain Film Festival (Apr 6 – 8, 2018)
The Australian film industry is over a hundred years old and famous films that have shot on location in Tasmania include the 2016 Oscar-nominated, Lion, starring Australian native Nicole Kidman. For its 2018 program, the Cradle Mountain Film Festival will showcase the best adventure films from Tasmania and across the globe on the fringe of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area at the stunning Cradle Mountain National Park.
Other programs include the Tasmanian exclusive screening of Mountain film on Tour; filmmaker’s workshops and Q & A sessions; and kids’ film events. You can also embark on the Mountain Huts Film Trail, a self-guided walking program of screenings in the mountain huts around Cradle Mountain. 
Tasmania Autumn Attractions – Other Highlights
Other autumn attractions to look out for are PANAMA (Mar 9 – 11, 2018), Steamfest 2018 (Mar 10 – 12, 2018) and Targa Tasmania (Apr 16 – 21, 2018)
