Tasmanian Autumn Festivities & Fagus

 

Tasmanian Autumn Festivities & Fagus.

 

Enjoy the Tasmanian Autumn Festivities & Fagus with month-long celebrations and festivals in the beautiful Derwent Valley.

 

The celebrations starts 1 April and continues through to May.

 

 

Derwent Valley Autumn Festival.

 

A week into April, the New Norfolk Rotary Club hosts the Derwent Valley Autumn Festival. This one day event on the Esplanade in New Norfolk is for and by the local community. But everyone is welcome!

 

Autumn is a special time of year, and the valley has long been famous for its Autumnal colours. The valley celebrates with all day food, drink, music and activities. Stalls are erected showcasing the amazing produce of the valley. And the popular Saturday markets continue as usual just 2 blocks away, where High St is closed to vehicles.

 

The Tasmanian Autumn Festival.

 

Festivities continue with the month-long Tasmanian Autumn Festival.

For the entire month of April local tourism and hospitality operators offer a rolling smorgasbord of food and frivolity. It throws a spotlight on the beauty and bounty of the Derwent Valley and Central Highlands of Tasmania.

Renowned for their natural beauty, The Derwent Valley and Central Highlands have a deep-rooted heritage and rich cultural tapestry.

 

Activities include the Foodie Trail and the Tipples Trail. And with prestige properties such as the Agrarian Kitchen and Lawrenny Estate, there is no shortage of taste temptations.

 

Antique shops set up French style flea markets. Historic farms host long lunches in their old barns or in their vineyards. There are creative workshops and activities based around every aspect of the valley’s colonial history and artisanal present.

 

Destination Southern Tasmania is one of the sponsors of the event. Its CEO Alex Heroys is a fan!

 

This area is home to Tasmania’s oldest trees and some of the world’s purest water. “The region is as rich in stories as it is in natural wonder. In Autumn, vibrant foliage, unique fungi and lush landscapes create the ideal backdrop,” he said. 

 

Food Trails.

Almost every cellar door winery, distillery and brewery in the Derwent Valley and Central Highlands takes part. The Tipple Trail, offers tastings, behind-the-scenes tours, and Autumn-themed pairings to warm the senses.

Follow the Foodie Trail for delicious seasonal fare. Think warm pub classics, hearty café dishes to gourmet treats perfect for a picnic under the golden leaves. Visitors are encouraged to create their own culinary road trip using the interactive digital map or printed routes.

 

 

Key Events for 2025 included:

 

• Creative Workshops from basket weaving and watercolour painting to perfume making and pottery. These hands-on sessions are designed for all skill levels, including beginners.
• Long Table Lunches at Meadowbank and Rathmore, showcasing local produce and storytelling.
• Meet the Animals at Heimat Farmstay are perfect for families.
• The Agrarian Kitchen garden tours and cooking experiences.
• Waddamana Family Day, hosted by Hydro Tasmania, connecting history and nature.
• The Derwent Valley Autumn Festival Day on Sunday 13 April. Hosted by Rotary with live music, food vans, artisan stalls and tastings along the Esplanade in New Norfolk.
• HoneyBee Festival celebrates pollinators and local honey culture.
• Paddle with the Platypus on the River Derwent with Tassie Bound Adventures.
• Photography adventures at Mt Field with Shutterbug Walkabouts and an exhibition at Arundel Farm with Tassie Eye.
• Blacksmithing demos at 28 Gates.
• Willow Court historical and ghost tours.
• Autumn Tree Walks with Giant Trees Expeditions.
• Charity hike with Tasmanian Iconic Walks.
• Karaoke and Trivia Nights at Welcome Swallow Brewery.
• New Norfolk Rowing Club Masters Regatta—a celebration of sport and community.

 

And 2026 will be even better.

 

The new bridge at Bridgewater opened in  June 2026. Therefore it is expected that the 2026 Autumn festivals will attract river traffic and be the best ever.

Ah, the possibilities!

 

Easter is in the first week of April 2026.  So choose your room and BOOK NOW for Autumn 2026.

 

 

Then there is the Fagus.

 

By mid-April the Fagus will be coming into its glory.

 

Fagus is ​​​​​​​Tasmania’s only winter deciduous species, and one of only a handful of deciduous species in Australia. This is a paleoendemic species of a Gondwanan group which has similar species in New Zealand and South America. It only occurs in areas that have remained long unburnt.​

 

The annual ‘turning of the fagus’ in mid-autumn produces a riot of colour in Tasmania’s high country. Crinkle-cut leaves turn from gold to rust red and orange creating a majestic tapestry in the alpine landscape. Typically colours reach a peak around Anzac Day (April 25). It creates a display that ​continues to stay vibrant for around a month. ​​

 

Fagus is restricted to 2 small areas, and it is all right here in our valley. Not surprisingly the phenomenon attracts an influx of admirers, particularly to nearby Mount Field National Park