2SER Breakfast

Spring has sprung! That means longer, warmer days and cooler nights – a perfect mix for outdoor adventures and seeing more of what Australia has to offer.

Here are some places perfect for a Spring-time visit:

Floriade, Canberra

Held once a year at Canberra’s Commonwealth Park is Australia’s biggest celebration of Spring. The largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere where the capital is blanketed in over a million blooms.

There’s a program of exciting horticulture workshops, food and drinks stalls, markets, and music and entertainment.

From October 3 – 6, Floriade’s Darkside –  NightFest – has the flowerbeds lit up at night and entertainment continuing throughout the evening.

Floriade is also celebrated throughout the city with Floriade themed promotions at bars, cafes, retailers, hotels and cultural establishments. Floriade trails, with walking trails from the city to Commonwealth Park with artworks along the way.  

Wildflower trail, Western Australia

Every state has their share of beautiful native flora, but WA puts on one of the largest show of wildflowers not just in Australia, but on Earth.

It showcases more than 12,000 species with 60% completely unique to the state and can’t be seen anywhere else on the planet.

It’s spread out all over Western Australia the tourism centre made it’s own app the WA Wildflower Tracker, available for download before you set off. 

Explore Wildflower Country which starts off north of Perth, in Geraldton, and consists of nine local government areas. One of the areas, Coorow Farm (a farming town) has a Wildflower trail which can be driven or walked through at your own leisure.

You could drive the Wildflower Way, one of the most colourful roadtrips you’ll even take. It’s 309 kms long taking you to Perenjori, Morawa and Mullewa along the way, with interactive signposts and info along the drive. Head to Lesueur National Park, 3 hours from Perth on the Coral Coast, to check out wildflowers that can’t be found anywhere else on the planet. Sadly they are on the endangered list as well making the park a flora conservation area.

Rules to the Wildflowers Trail: 

• Look, don’t touch. Touching the petals or stem could introduce harmful toxins or foreign bodies to the plant. You could also remove sediments important to them by rubbing it.
• Stay on the marked path – no bush bashing 
• Don’t pick the flowers. Did you know it’s illegal? You could face fines of up to $2,000.
• Don’t trespass on private property   

Southern Lights, TAS

Also know as the aurora Australis it’s a highlight of Tasmania during the Spring equinox on 22 September 2024 at 10:43pm.

Head out of the city, away from the light pollution to truly take in the aurora Australis, but to get the best view of the Southern Lights, try there places:

• Bruny Island – 30 minutes away from Hobart. Climb the stairs to The Neck and you’ll get views of the penguins waddling across the beach and sliding into the water during dusk, as well as the Southern Lights in the evening.
• Satellite Island – named so because of its 5-star stargazing opportunities and luxury accommodation. It use to be a small industrial salmon farm, turned into a private luxury stay. You can rent out the whole island.
• Cradle Mountain – for the outdoorsy people, giving you unobstructed views of the Southern Lights. You can watch it at Cradle or Dove Lake for the best experience.