Bariloche beckons in summer with hiking and boating on Nahuel Huapi Lake, and it gets the most attention in winter, as skiers flock to the Cerro Catedral. But in the shoulder season, before the snow falls, the Cerro’s spires serve as a backdrop to a blaze of colors.

Photo: mochilaosabatico/Shutterstock

Autumn Colors Are Coming Way Down South, and We Can’t Get Enough of Them

National Parks
by Tim Wenger Feb 25, 2021

In the coming weeks, winter will begin its annual fade to spring across the Northern Hemisphere. Down south, the opposite is happening, and this means one thing: It’s leaf peepin’ time, Southern Hemisphere style. You may not be able to hop a flight to see the colors in person, but no one is stopping you from doing some digital peeping from home. These are the fall foliage hotspots in South America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Argentine Patagonia

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Bariloche beckons in summer with hiking and boating on Nahuel Huapi Lake, and it gets the most attention in winter, as skiers flock to the Cerro Catedral. But in the shoulder season, before the snow falls, the Cerro’s spires serve as a backdrop to a blaze of colors.

Photo: mochilaosabatico/Shutterstock
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Just north of Bariloche, the mountains in San Martín de los Andes are blanketed in crimson and purple as the seasons change.

Photo: Rifurcat/Shutterstock

Chile

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Chile’s fall foliage offerings are as diverse as the mountainous terrain of the country’s interior, ranging from open hill country shining in a coat of bright oranges and reds to secluded coves contrasting greens with deep and darker hues. Driving south in Chile around the fall equinox, you might be treated to this multi-colored view.

Photo: Eva de Reus/Shutterstock
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In Torres del Paine farther south, the pale hues of glacier-etched peaks contrast with the vibrant foliage on the neighboring slope.

Photo: cge2010/Shutterstock

Victoria, Australia

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Most trees native to Australia don’t lose their leaves in winter and look much the same throughout the year. But pockets of bright colors are not uncommon in the state of Victoria, where fall is typically mild but parts of the state experience the bite of a crisp winter.

At Nightingale Apple Orchards, rows of apples are accompanied by shining reds, yellows, and oranges.

Photo: Visit Victoria
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Windsor House, a bed and breakfast property in Walhalla, is surrounded by autumn colors.

Photo: Visit Victoria
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Marysville’s High Street gives walkers the chance to stroll through the colors or enjoy a drink while taking in the season.

Photo: Visit Victoria

South Island, New Zealand

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The top spot for fall foliage in New Zealand is Arrowtown, just north of Queenstown on the South Island. Here, mountainous terrain fed by the Arrow River puts on a show that’s each year visible from town, but even better outside of it.

Photo: Visit New Zealand + David Wall
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At Arrowhead Golf Club, the scenery is better in Autumn.

Photo: Destination Queenstown
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Purakaunui Falls, near the southeast coast, won’t be shown up, however. The falls put on quite a display come Autumn.

Photo: Chingfoto/Shutterstock

Cape Town, South Africa

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South Africa’s wines long ago caught the world’s attention and while touring the vineyards in and around Cape Town is lovely at any time of year, fall is especially lovely - as the vineyards glow in brilliant autumn hues.

Photo: Neil Bradfield/Shutterstock
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Historic architecture against a backdrop of Cape Town’s stunning mountainsides is highlighted by vine leaves glowing in the afternoon sun.

Photo: DanielStevenson03/Shutterstock

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