The autumn season brings out the best of the Great Southern Region.
How can you tell autumn is in the air across the Great Southern? The colours give it away first: rich foliage in yellows, oranges, reds and browns turning through the towns and gardens of the region. It is the season when large flocks of migratory birds move in unison, and the harvest season when the farmers rejoice over a bountiful year.
The beauty of autumn here lies in its lush fruitfulness and the romantic ambience of colder nights. Mornings are warm and sunny, and the air turns cool as dusk falls. The shorter days from March to May are a welcome relief from the summer heat, and with the school holidays landing in the season it is an ideal time for families to slow down and enjoy the region together. Pack a jacket or a jumper, though: the evenings get cool and windy, and there may be the occasional shower.
Autumn marks the end of summer and the transition to winter. In the Great Southern it arrives as a sea of changing colour, a season of music and arts festivals, and some of the best cool-climate wine tasting anywhere in Western Australia.
Reasons to explore the Great Southern in autumn
Here is why the cooler months are the pick of the year for a trip south.
1. Cool-climate wine tasting
The Great Southern is home to award-winning wineries and welcoming cellar doors, and autumn's cool crisp air is prime tasting weather. Feel the mountain air in the Porongurups as you sip a fine Chardonnay, Muscat or Pinot at Castle Rock Estate. Then take in the view over farmland, forest and olive groves at Ferngrove Wines, whose Semillon, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc are hard to resist. Closer to Kojonup, the Frankland River subregion is one of WA's best-kept wine secrets: our guide to the top vineyards around Kojonup has more.
2. Arts, culture and museums
Get acquainted with Australia's rich history at the Wellstead Historical Museum at Peppermint Grove Farm, home to thousands of relics of the region's past. In Kojonup, Kodja Place and the Visitor Centre tell the story of both the Noongar and Wadjela cultures of the district. Down in Albany, the Albany Entertainment Centre puts on a night of talented singers, dancers and actors in a colourful production. It is the season for slowing down and soaking up the culture of the region.
3. Food and long lunches
The region rewards a good appetite. Its bakeries and cafes turn out prize-winning pies, and autumn is the season to curl up over a beer or two and enjoy the country hospitality of the Denmark Tavern. In Albany, Dylans on the Terrace overlooks Princess Royal Harbour, where delicious food comes with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. For more places to eat around the district, see our food lover's guide to the region.
4. Orca watching off Bremer Bay
Autumn is the tail of orca season on the Great Southern coast. Bremer Bay, east of Albany, hosts one of the largest gatherings of orcas in the Southern Hemisphere over the summer-to-autumn months, and tours run from the boat harbour out to the feeding grounds of the Bremer Canyon. Closer in, Lowlands Beach near Denmark is a fine spot to watch for whales from atop the cliffs as the season turns.
5. The Great Southern road trip
Take a few days and join the dots between the region's epic landscapes, native wildlife and charming country towns: Albany, Kojonup, Kent, Woodanilling and Denmark among them. The cooler autumn days are made for long drives, and Kojonup sits right on the Albany Highway as the natural first-night stop out of Perth. For one well-planned loop, see our Great Southern road trip itinerary.
6. National parks and the coast
Autumn's mild weather is ideal for the region's national parks. Gull Rock National Park near Albany is great for swimming, fishing and bushwalking, while Mount Lindesay National Park near Denmark offers a magnificent view of the coastline, farmland and the splendid vistas of the Walpole Wilderness. Further inland, the peaks of the Stirling Range make a memorable day out: our guide to seeing the Stirling Ranges in a day from Kojonup covers the route.
What is special about the autumn season in the Great Southern?
Four things set the season apart:
- Dappled sunlight. It feels great to get your daily dose of vitamin D in the dappled autumn light: warm without the intense heat of summer.
- Countless festivals. The arts, music, song and dance festivals are a fun way to relax and unwind with family and friends.
- Romantic ambience. The long, cool nights make for romantic evenings, a stroll along the beach and a toast to the good life. A marriage proposal may not be far behind.
- Autumn leaves. The yellows and reds of the turning leaves are a perfect backdrop for a photo, and a poignant reminder of shedding the old to make way for the new.
Book your autumn stay at Cornwall House Accommodation in Kojonup
Base your autumn trip in the heart of the Great Southern. Cornwall House Accommodation sits at 72 Albany Highway in Kojonup, about 250km south of Perth, just under three hours down the Albany Highway and in the heart of the region. Our 12 air-conditioned rooms (queen, twin and family configurations) each have an ensuite, free WiFi, tea and coffee making facilities, a microwave and a refrigerator, with free onsite parking and a shared camp kitchen for guests. Contactless check-in from 2pm means a long day on the road never leaves you locked out.
Our location is excellent for holidaymakers and business travellers alike who want safe, clean and comfortable accommodation. Call us on (08) 9831 0214 or email stay@cornwallhouseaccommodation.com.au, or find us on Google Maps. Make your autumn memories with family and loved ones, and check out our rooms today.
Check availability and book Call us (08) 9831 0214
Frequently asked questions
When is autumn in the Great Southern?
March to May. The days stay warm and sunny while the nights turn cool, the summer heat eases off, and the region moves into vintage and festival season.
Is autumn a good time to visit Kojonup?
Yes. The cooler, shorter days suit long country drives and cellar-door visits, the school holidays fall in the season, and Kojonup sits about three hours south of Perth as the natural base for exploring the region.
Can you see orcas near the Great Southern in autumn?
Bremer Bay, east of Albany, hosts one of the Southern Hemisphere's largest gatherings of orcas over the summer-to-autumn season, roughly January to April, on tours that run from the Bremer Bay boat harbour.
Where do you taste wine in the Great Southern?
The Porongurup and Frankland River subregions, with cellar doors such as Castle Rock Estate and Ferngrove Wines, are within easy reach of Kojonup, and autumn's cool crisp air is prime tasting weather.
Which national parks are worth visiting in autumn?
Gull Rock National Park near Albany for swimming, fishing and bushwalking, and Mount Lindesay National Park near Denmark for coastline, farmland and views over the Walpole Wilderness.
