It’s the final day of winter today. And while we are a little sad to say goodbye to the footy season, roaring pub fires and cooler weather in the Top End, we’re looking forward to the warmer weather down south – and the start of the exploring season.
Here are five things we are looking forward to in spring:
The final chance to see some national parks in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia before they close for the wet season.
While some famous national parks, including Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park, remain open throughout the year, parts of the parks become inaccessible and are best visited before the end of spring.
National parks to visit before they close for the wet season: Lakefield National Park and Jardine River National Park in Queensland; Purnululu National Park and Geikie Gorge National Park in Western Australia; Gregory National Park, Nitmiluk National Park, Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park in the Northern Territory are all best visited before the wet season.
Wildflowers are bursting into life across the country, and there are numerous events celebrating the country coming into bloom like Canberra’s famous Floriade festival, the Grampians Wildflower Show, and the Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show and Spring Festival.
Our favourite national parks that bloom in spring: Grampians National Park, Fitzgerald River National Park, Mount Remarkable National Park, Kalbarri National Park, Karijini National Park, Kosciuszko National Park, Mount Buffalo National Park and Alpine National Park.
The whole country seems to celebrate spring by getting active with a variety of sporting carnivals and events.
Some of the sporting events to watch out for: the AFL and the Rugby League grand finals; the Spring Racing Carnivals in Victoria; the Australasian Safari; the mountain-bike event, Act Belong Commit Dwellingup 100 M TB; and the Bledisloe Cup.
Shaking off the cold, towns and cities across the country get festive by putting on a series of world-class festivals that encourage people to get out and enjoy their cities.
Festivals worth travelling for: the Melbourne Festival, the Crave Sydney International Food Festival, the Taste of Melbourne, Foreshore Summer Music Festival and Walcha Garden Festival.
You can have adventures in pretty much any part of Australia in spring, from going barramundi fishing in the Northern Territory build-up to kayaking along the Murchison River in Western Australia. The best thing about adventuring in spring, apart from the weather, is that not as many people are out exploring – and at times it can feel like you have the country to yourself.
Spring adventures you’ll want to escape the office for: barramundi fishing in the Northern Territory, kayaking in a range of spectacular locations, such as Nitmiluk National Park and along the Murchison River; bike-riding the Munda Biddi Trail; exploring the Daintree Rainforest; touching the tip of Australia in Cape York.
What are you looking forward to in spring?
Image credit: Flowers in the Grampians, Tourism Victoria; AFL, Tourism Victoria; Kayaking, Destination NSW
