The 5 Best Things To Do In Sydney in Autumn

Throughout much of the world, autumn is regarded as the golden season in all senses of the word: Neither too hot nor too cold and with the foliage revealing all of its splendour before falling into deep winter sleep. In Sydney, autumn is seen as the ideal time to visit the city's attractions not only due to the temperate climate but also because the city tends to be quieter during these months and food, drink, accommodations, etc. are somewhat cheaper.

Here's what you can do in Sydney during autumn to take a break from your home maintenance schedule.

Weather: What to Expect

The Australian autumn, which starts on March 1 and ends on May 31, is comfortably temperate, with temperatures that range from around 15°C (59°F) at night to 22°C (72°F) in the daytime. It's a fairly moist season, averaging from 120mm to 135mm of rain per month. March is the wettest month.

Autumn Activities

While autumn is more laid-back than summer in Sydney, there's still lots to see and do around this iconic city. The following five attractions are widely considered to be the best things to do in Sydney in autumn:

The Saint Patrick's Day Parade

With those of Irish descent making up 10 per cent of the Australian population, Saint Patrick's Day in Sydney is a spectacle to behold, involving a parade with drums, bagpipes, and traditional costumes. The parade is typically held on a weekend close to St Patrick's Day (March 17).  In 2024, the parade will take place at the iconic heritage-listed Rocks precinct of Sydney with festivities starting on Sunday the 17th of March 2024.

The Sydney Royal Easter Show

Held by the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales each year at Easter time, and specifically taking place in 2024 from Friday the 22nd of March until Tuesday the 2nd of April. The Sydney Royal Easter Show is a celebration of the best of Australian agriculture, with its massive displays of Australian farm produce, thrilling carnival rides, rodeo events, motorcycle and skateboarding stunts, livestock races, woodchopping competitions, parades, fashion shows, etc. It's the perfect day outing for a family with kids.

Visit the beaches

In early autumn, the weather in Sydney is often still warm enough for swimming along the eastern shoreline, which is dotted with world-renowned beaches. As the summer crowds have thinned, swimmers often have a more private and relaxing experience in autumn.

Take a walking tour of Sydney

The cooler autumn temperatures and cloudier skies mean that one can walk around Sydney for hours without worrying about heat stroke or the perils of too much sun exposure, making this the perfect season to explore the city on foot. Your walking tour should include a visit to The Rocks, the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Hyde Park, Chinatown, and Darling Harbour.

Visit a museum

image credit: ABC Australia

The Australian Museum, the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary, and the Powerhouse Museum at Darling Harbour all tend to put on special family-friendly events during the Autumn School Holidays from Monday the 15th of April until Friday the 26th of April. If you have children, they will surely delight in the opportunity to enjoy events like the Themed Sleepovers at the Australian Museum.

For more information on things to do in Sydney, check out our resource on things to do in Sydney, in spring.