23rd September 2022

The changing of the season is a kaleidoscope of colour and a cruise is one of the best ways to discover the altering vista. Here are some of the best places to see them...

Bar Harbor, Maine

The east coast of America and Canada are renowned for their amazing seasonal colours. The state parks, mountains and farms of Maine offer some of the finest in the region. 

A wave of colour progresses north to south through mid-September to late October, with the peak of the changing foliage around the first week of September. Local events like the Arcadia Night Sky Festival are perfect for star-gazing, with low light pollution offering some truly amazing nighttime displays. 

St. Johns, Newfoundland

The already colourful town of St. Johns in Newfoundland explodes in Autumn, with rusty, mustard and vibrant orange littering across the landscape. The sun hangs lower which makes the landscape look almost ethereal.

Hikers should head to Gros Morne National Park where the air is fresh and cool and you will be rewarded with breathtaking scenery or journey to the Kilbride Falls and marvel at the water cascading down the hillside.

Scottish Highlands

Autumn in Scotland is a real treat, where the hills and lochs are awash with colour. It's surprisingly dry in Scotland at this time of year, which makes it perfect for exploring this beautiful landscape.

There are great opportunities to engage with wildlife too. Whilst down in England the grey squirrels are dominant, they are noticeably absent up in the highlands of Scotland and you will see the native red squirrel dashing about, preparing to hibernate in winter. The Salmon 'run' in the Autumn too, making dramatic journeys upstream and leaping through waterfalls making a spectacular display for those watching. 

Alaska

Autumn in Alaska starts and ends quite quickly and depending on how high you are in the Arctic Circle, you may see the colours start to change as early as mid-August, though generally, you will find it's late August to early September. 

National parks like Denali offer some amazing displays of colour - with 6 million acres of parkland the views are quite spectacular. 

Napa Valley

You might not automatically think of Napa Valley in California to be a great place for Autumn colours, but actually, the vivid red and oranges as the vines begin to change, offer some incredible displays of colour. The colours hit later in the season, around mid to late October and tail off by mid-November.

It's also a great time to visit wine country in general - the harvests have kicked in and the sweet smell of juicy crushed grapes waft through the vineyards. There are lots of activities like tastings and food events taking place and you can even take a hot air balloon journey to glide over the valley, offering an outstanding opportunity to view the landscape.

Victoria, Australia

Ok, so Autumn in Australia is in March/April, but they still get some fantastic displays of stunning colours, especially around Melbourne in the state of Victoria. 

A short drive out of Melbourne is Mount Macedon,  famed for its vibrant autumn leaves and the best vantage point - the Gardens of Tieve Tara. The grounds are lined with maples, pines, oaks, aspens, liquid ambers, and more, each bringing forth a different shade. Serene lakes reflect the fiery trees which line their banks, making it a truly magical setting.