As the sun softens in the autumnal sky and the morning dew left by crisp, cool nights returns to the valley, the grand old trees that line the streets of Bright & Surrounds prepare for their wintery sleep. One by one, their leaves change—some to yellow or tangerine, others to auburn—and fill the landscape with mesmerising colour. It’s our most famous time of year, The Autumn Festival, and you, as always, are invited to revel in the season.
“This region has called people to it since my great-grandmother was painting,” says award-winning landscape photographer Mieke Boynton, who runs Bright’s Alpine Light Photographic Art Gallery with fellow photographer Matt Palmer.
“She used to come to Wandiligong with her painter friends and they would paint the deciduous trees en plein air. The fact that we have had a destination for autumn for that long is really special.”
Alpine Light will exhibit a dazzling Autumn Showcase as part of this year’s Autumn Festival, which runs from Friday 25 April to Sunday 4 May and is timed to coincide with the peak of autumn colours. The Showcase opens on the first day of the Festival, Friday 25 April at 5.30pm, with both photographers in attendance to speak to you about their works.
“The emphasis is, of course, on the local area because it is so spectacular. But it’s not only our stunning local area, we have photos this year from Italy, Tasmania, Slovenia, and Iceland,” says Mieke of the special exhibition.
“We also try to include the beautiful autumnal photographs in our natural places. So not just the deciduous introduced trees, but places like Mount Buffalo. We get amazing fog there in autumn and it’s a very special time of the year because sometimes it’s foggy right up until midday, which makes it fantastic for photography.”
This year’s Autumn Festival will feature over 20 events in and around Bright, including Wandi Nut Fest, Freeburgh Bush Market, historical tours, open gardens, live music, the Autumn Art Exhibition (now in its 64th year), and the annual Gala Day Parade. [ View The Festival Program ]
While you’re here, you’ll most certainly want to capture the best Autumn colours for yourself. Here are some of Mieke and Matt’s favourite vantage points.
Top 6 Locations For Autumn Views
1. Delany Ave, Bright – The alternating deciduous and evergreen trees that arch over the road are stunning in autumn, particularly on a foggy morning. (Tip: If you’re after a great photo, avoid Tuesday mornings when the bins are collected.)
Please avoid parking across people’s driveways if you stop to take photos. We suggest walking, along the path to find the perfect location for a photo on Delany Ave, as then you don’t have your car in the photo.
2. Murray to Mountains Rail Trail at Feathertop Winery, Porepunkah – An absolutely gorgeous row of trees lining the bike path, the oldest of which were planted by none other than Mieke and her brother and sister when they were kids. (Tip: Ditch the car and cycle the rail trail. Not only will you enjoy more beautiful scenery along the way, but parking is limited and vehicles will get in the way of a great photo. Good to know: the gorgeous Feathertop Winery is a private estate open to wine club members by appointment only, so avoid the thirsty urge to drop in unannounced. Info on how to join the wine club is available on their website.)
3. Buckland Valley – Explore the valley on a scenic drive.
4. Mount Buffalo National Park – Not so much a destination for deciduous colour, but for spectacular autumnal fogs and cloud inversions that appear to blanket the valley floor.
5. Canyon Walk, Bright – The row of poplars along the canyon erupt into a truly brilliant yellow in mid-autumn. (Find them along the trail a short distance west of Star Rd bridge on the northern side of the Ovens River.)
6. Sullivans Lookout, Mount Beauty – This lookout along Towonga Gap Rd overlooks the autumn colour that speckles the Kiewa Valley beneath Victoria’s tallest mountain, Mount Bogong.
