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Best places to visit in October in Australia and overseas

These are our top 7 Australian destinations to visit in the middle of spring, plus where to go internationally.

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Stephanie Yip

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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.

Where will you go?

Fremantle waterfront at sunset, Perth, Western Australia

1. Best for events: Perth, WA

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.

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View of Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park. A storm cloud is passing over and a rainbow is shining down the middle of the picture leading into the water.

2. Best for hiking: Freycinet, Tasmania

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.

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Purple jacaranda trees lining either side of a road. Flowers sit at the edge of the road.

3. Best for country town visit: Grafton, NSW

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.

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The Strand Townsville

4. Best for adventure: Townsville, QLD

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.

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Broome, Australia

5. Best surprise destination: Broome, WA

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.

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Rear View Of Woman Looking At Sydney Harbor Bridge Over River Against Sky

6. Best for activities: Sydney

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.

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Byron Bay Lighthouse New South Wales Australia.The most eastern point of Australia

7. Best for beaches: Byron Bay

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.

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The best of the rest:

Waterfront

Best places to visit in Europe in October

  • 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.

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Hot air balloon

Best places to visit in the US in October

  • 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.

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Red temple

Best places to visit in Asia in October

  • 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.

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Chiang Mai Temple

Best places to visit in Thailand in October

  • 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.

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Girl in red

Best places to visit in Japan in October

  • 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.

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Church

Best places to visit in the UK in October

  • 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.

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Italy

Best places to visit in Italy in October

  • 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.

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Top October events

  • 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.

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Stephanie Yip was the travel editor at Finder and has been writing about travel and lifestyle for over a decade. She has written for a range of travel publications including Thomas Cook Magazine and Showpo. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, and has visited over 50 countries (and counting). She has a passion for sharing her experiences and knowledge of travel and helping consumers stretch their travel cash while on holiday. See full bio

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