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Spring has sprung and to celebrate surviving the winter blues, we're eyeing these top destinations to travel to this month.
It's also the end of the school holidays (yay? boo?), so if you haven't yet given the kids a treat, you can find yourself a last-minute break before the new term commences.
Perth blossoms over spring and when the kids have returned to school, you can get busy soaking up that sun and those beautiful wildflowers. Before you get stuck into its exceptional wines, that is.
October weather: 13–22℃, spring
Top October events:NAB AFL Women's Competition, Dettol T20 International – Australia v England, ST. ALi Italian Film Festival, Nanga Music Festival, Oktoberfest in the Gardens, Elmar's in the Valley Oktoberfest, Boardwalk Beer Festival, The York Festival, Entwined in the Valley and WA Beer & Beef Festival.
Located a couple of hours' drive away from Hobart, Freycinet National Park is one of the most beautiful places to visit in spring. Enjoy clear skies as you hike to the Wineglass Bay Lookout for some true Instagram-worthy photos.
Once you've finished your trip, head back to Hobart to wine and dine on Tasmania's fresh produce at the Royal Hobart Show.
October weather: 8–17℃, spring
Top October events: Royal Hobart Show, Tasmania Writers Festival, Halloween at The Foreshore, Brixhibition Hobart and Bloomin' Tulip Festival.
Just 3.5 hours' drive from Brisbane, Grafton is a historic country town featuring classic Australian pubs and farmers' markets. Each year, the town hosts the Jacaranda festival to honour the trees which blanket Grafton in a sea of purple flowers.
October weather: 14–22℃, spring
Top October events: The Clarence 100 and Grafton Jacaranda Festival.
Townsville is viewed as the gateway to tropical north Queensland where colourful reefs, verdant rainforests and blissful beaches roll into view. From Townsville, it's a short trip to Magnetic Island which awaits with hikes and history. Otherwise, jump into your car and drive north to tick the Great Barrier Reef off your bucket list.
October weather: 21–28℃, dry season
Top October events: Towers Rush, Dinner under the Stars, Paluma Village Trail Run and Oktoberfest at the Brewery.
Broome has become one very popular destination to visit lately. And why not? It has beaches, craggy coastlines, dinosaur footprints and camel rides. Celebrate Indigenous art and culture with the Yawuru people of Rubibi (Broome).
Get in this October before the weather gets too hot.
October weather: 23–33℃, dry season
Top October events: Staircase to the Moon and Oktoberfest Fitzroy Crossing.
There's always something going on in Australia's biggest city. During October there are art exhibitions and food festivals aplenty to attend either in person or (this year in particular) virtually.
October weather: 22℃, spring
Top October events: Spot On Children's Festival, Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Taste of Talisker, Emerge Festival, whale watching, Good Food Month, spring racing, Sydney Night Noodle Markets and Oktoberfest in the Gardens.
If rest and relaxation are on the cards Byron Bay has it in spades. This sleepy coastal town is so laidback it's practically horizontal. Spend your time here getting golden on the beaches, hitting the surf or reading a book with a cup of coffee at a beachside cafe.
October weather: 24℃, spring
Top October events: Byron Bay International Film Festival.
Greece. The summer crowds have gone back home but the sun's still out. For some beach time, head to the island of Kos where daily highs can sit around 26ºC in October.
Prague, Czech Republic. October is an ideal time to visit. Not only have the crowds thinned out, but you're also in for a month full of festivals, including the SIGNAL Light Festival and Designblok, the largest design and fashion show in Central Europe.
Germany. Spring is showing its true colours and the month is full of festivities. Catch the tail end of Oktoberfest at the start of the month or head to Ludwigsburg for something quirky and traditional – the largest pumpkin festival in the world.
Hawaii. Weather-wise, October sees consistently sunny days and a little rain. The swell is just starting to pick up for the surfers and the water is usually around 26.5ºC, which is great for a swim.
Manchester, Vermont. Famous for the brilliant fall foliage that peaks in October, Manchester is a top spot to see the colourful show.
Albuquerque, New Mexico. Picture the sight of over 500 hot air balloons of all different shapes and sizes taking off at dawn. The International Balloon Fiesta (pictured) is on at the most beautiful time of the year in New Mexico, so get your cameras ready.
Taiwan. The month of October is that sweet spot when the south-west typhoons have been and gone and the typhoons from the north-east have yet to arrive, so there's a low chance of rain and lots of sun to look forward to.
South Korea (pictured). This month you'll find near-perfect weather, the beautiful changing of the leaves and a whole slew of events including the Busan International Film Festival and the Jinju Lantern Festival.
Hong Kong. The rain is mostly gone, so you'll get to sightsee with clear skies and days that are not too hot. National Day is celebrated on 1 October and is culminated with a massive fireworks show.
Chiang Mai (pictured). If you want to avoid the rain that is likely hitting most of the country, Chiang Mai is a safer bet. You'll find much less rain here, cooler temperatures and fewer crowds as the peak season is yet to begin.
Bangkok. While it's still in the rainy season, it does start to retreat by mid-month. It's worth a shower or two, though, to take part in the many festivals including Awk Phansa and the Kin Jay Vegetarian Festival.
Mae Hong Son. You can expect much less rain than in the previous months as well as moderate temperatures, making sightseeing a lot more pleasant than in the south. The Chong Para Festival is also on this month.
Kyoto. In October, you'll find some of the best weather of the year and a calendar full of events such as the Kurama Fire Festival and the popular Jidai Festival.
Hokkaido. If you're travelling around Japan in October, this is one of the few places to see some dramatic spring foliage. Another highlight is the Hokkaido Food Festival, which is a celebration of regional flavours.
Nagasaki. Undoubtedly the most famous festival in the city, the Nagasaki Kunchi (pictured) is hundreds of years old. Arenas and streets are filled with dances and shows designed to showcase the unique culture of the city's various districts.
Nottingham. The UK has some unique customs and traditions and Nottingham in October gives you a huge serving of that quirky taste with its variety of festivals. Check out the Goose Fair, Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival and the Hockley Hustle.
The Cotswolds (pictured). Get ready for lunches in charming pubs with a fireplace roaring and bracing walks among the stunning fall foliage. In October, you also avoid the crowds of the peak summer period and still get to enjoy pleasant weather.
Edinburgh. The Scottish International Storytelling Festival is all about traditional entertainment and attracts bards from Scotland and around the world.
Rome (pictured – Vatican). After a scorching summer packed with tourists, Rome finally starts to cool down. For a taste of the traditional, schedule in the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi and for a more avant-garde experience, check out the Romaeuropa Festival on all month.
Perugia. If you're a chocolate fan, the Eurochocolate Festival is one not to be missed with chocolate tasting and workshops from makers around the world.
Alba. Love it or hate it, there are few things more decadent than the white truffle. The International Alba White Truffle Fair is definitely one for the foodies.
Labour Day. NSW, ACT and South Australia celebrate Labour Day in October with a public holiday. While not an event, it is a day off and often welcomes local events within city centres.
Spring school holidays. The school holidays may run from late September to mid-October depending on which state you're in.
Oktoberfest. Even though Oktoberfest starts in September, it runs through the first half of October. You don't even have to be in Germany to celebrate Oktoberfest as numerous destinations around the world host their own parties.
Halloween. 31 October is Halloween and is a day of tricks, treats and parties.
Good Food Month. Specifically a Sydney event, Good Food Month is an annual gastronomic celebration that overtakes the city throughout October.
The best time to travel in October
Outside of the school holidays, October is relatively quiet for travellers, making it low season and a great time to travel.
The best time to travel is mid-end October as kids are back in school and, if you're planning to travel around Australia, the weather will be warming up.
October is also a quiet month for international travel as again, it's outside of the major school holiday period. Being that period between the summer break for the Northern Hemisphere and Christmas, people tend not to take leave during this month, preferring to save it for the Christmas holidays.
Book the best tours and activities and get huge discounts that will end soon. Travel destinations include Port Douglas, Cairns, Perth, Gold Coast, and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates on destinations including Dunbogan, Tamworth, Tweed Heads, Woollama, Port Macquarie and more. Sample rate is for a stay at Eden Holiday Getaway Park.
Available on select dates until December 2023 when you book a minimum of 2 days' rental at least 21 days in advance. Valid for Australia and New Zealand. T&Cs apply.
Available on select stay dates when booking through the Agoda app. Destinations include Australia, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, New Zealand and more. First-time users only. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates at select KINTO locations around Australia including Melbourne, Adelaide, Cairns, Sydney, Hobart, Darwin and more. Distance fees apply.
Sign up and become an ALL Accor Live Limitless member and receive a year-round discount of 5% on participating Accor hotels like ibis, Mercure, Novotel and more in Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and French Polynesia. T&Cs apply.
Become an ALL Accor Live Limitless member and receive a year-round discount of 5% on participating Accor hotels in Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and French Polynesia. Valid for Australia and New Zealand residents only. T&Cs apply.
Up to 10% off activities and experiences with code
Valid for new Klook customers. Available on select dates in 2023 – 2024 for selected activities including day tours, park passes, boat rides and more. Valid for New Zealand and Australia residents only. T&Cs apply.
Available for rental until 31 December 2024 at all New Zealand pick-up and drop-off locations. Must be booked 180 days prior to the travel date. T&Cs apply.
Available for rental until 31 March 2026 at all New Zealand pick-up and drop-off locations. Must be booked 120 days prior to the travel date. T&Cs apply.
Available on select properties until December 2023. Sample stay is at Gallery Hotel. Destinations include Northbridge, Fremantle, Scarborough and more.
Experience the best of South Africa for 14 days and save up to 15% off your trips with Contiki. Available on select dates to destinations including Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select travel dates across Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and more. Activities include day tours, zoo and animal interactions, tandem skydives, hot air balloon flights and jet boat rides.
Available on activities like hot air balloon flights, skydiving, lunch cruises, passes to attractions including Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park, SkyPoint Observation Deck, SEA LIFE Aquarium, Madam Tussauds and more. Minimum spend of $300 is required. T&Cs apply.
Available on hot air balloon flights, skydiving, lunch cruises, jet boat rides and attraction passes on Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park, SkyPoint Observation Deck, SEA LIFE Aquarium, Madame Tussauds and more. Minimum spend of $350 is required. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates in 2023 for touring, sightseeing, snorkelling and other experiences and activities. Destinations include Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates when you purchase 2 or more vouchers. Activities include skydives, helicopter flights, sightseeing cruises, kayak tours and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select cruise dates. Destinations include Alaska, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, Australia and more aboard popular cruise liners such as Carnival, Norwegian Cruise L
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