If you’re looking for a destination that shines in all seasons, you’ll find it in Canada. Refresh your outlook on the Great White North during a visit to Canada in autumn where welcoming Canadians, epic wildlife, mild weather, immersive culture, scenic cities and outdoor adventures feature in autumnal abundance, making it an unique experience unlike anywhere else in the world.
Embrace Radical Openness in Canada in autumn with open spaces, open minds and open hearts during a fall travel experience from coast to coast to coast (yep, there are three coasts to explore).
Radical Openness speaks to the heart of Canada where travellers can connect directly with welcoming locals, diverse communities and the pristine natural environment for an overall enriching travel experience that is uniquely Canadian and will leave an indelible impact.
Watch the video below to meet photographer Rob Stimpson, as he reveals the best spots to witness the vibrant autumn colours in his home province of Ontario.
Air Canada flies direct from Australia to Vancouver and onto multiple cities on its network. You can also fly nonstop to Vancouver with Qantas from Australia. It’s also easy to get around by road and rail so you can really soak up Canada’s city sights and scenic delights.
Why you’ll fall for Canada in autumn
Aussies will relish the opportunity to experience a real autumn in Canada – full of fall foliage, the last rustlings of native wildlife before hibernation, aurora viewing and mild temps that encourage travellers to get out and about outdoors.
Best of all? There’s fewer tourists around in the autumn months so you can enjoy all the tranquil outdoor appeal of the shoulder season minus the summer crowds.
Roadtripping Canada in autumn
Canada’s fall season reveals highways and byways ablaze with autumnal hues of red, orange and amber enticing road trippers to pull over and enjoy the seasonal changes.
Popular driving routes include the iconic 330km Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton, the 120km Sea-to-Sky Highway between Vancouver’s coastline and Whistler Mountain in British Columbia and the three-hour drive from Toronto to Algonquin Provincial Park for maple-leaf magic and pristine lakes.
Rail exploration across Canada in autumn
Or let someone else take the wheel for a front-row seat to the fall foliage from the vantage point of a scenic rail journey with the nationwide VIA Rail network.
We like the scenic 30-minute ride from Québec City to Charlevoix with the St Lawrence River on the right and fiery foliage to your left or a luxury rail journey through British Columbia and Alberta with Rocky Mountaineer for a panoramic window view of Canada in autumn.
Wildlife viewing around Canada in autumn
Autumn is also when Canada’s most iconic wildlife is most active. Spy migrating whales in Québec and the Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island on the Atlantic coast until early October.
‘Fat bear’ fanciers can also spot black bears in Whistler and witness grizzly bears feeding on salmon in British Columbia plus the ultimate experience of seeing polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba in late autumn.
Or venture further north to Newfoundland and Labrador to witness puffin cuteness overload through to mid-September.
For a one-stop, wildlife-viewing encounter, visit Québec’s Parc Oméga, a year-round sanctuary for Canadian wildlife. Here, you can see Arctic, grey and black wolves; black bears and bison and Arctic and red foxes in their natural environment.
Culinary and cultural finds in fall
Autumn is also an ideal time to immerse yourself in Canada’s rich Indigenous and local cultures. Expand your horizons on a road trip beyond the urban centres to embrace community-based festivals and welcoming experiences that align with the season.
Prince Edward Island’s Fall Flavours Food & Drink Festival, held in September and October, abounds in seasonal and seafood finds – think a PEI lobster party, Oktoberfest fun and harvest block parties.
The annual autumn harvest is also celebrated at events, markets and cellar doors in Ontario such as Canadian Thanksgiving festivals, Niagara Grape & Wine Festival and even pick-your-own-pumpkin or produce fun in Lake Ontario.
Discover more new and enriching experiences in Indigenous Canada. In cultural centres and heritage parks across the country, there’s plenty of authentic and immersive activities that will open your eyes to the unique traditions, art, food and culture of Canada in autumn.
Epic outdoor exploration includes interpretative traditional canoe tours with Tsleil-Waututh Nation guides in BC and guided grizzly bear spotting in the Yukon’s Ni’iinlii Njik Park.
Fast facts about Canada in autumn:
- How to get there: Air Canada flies direct from Australia to Vancouver and beyond. You can also fly nonstop to Vancouver with Qantas or with one stop in Auckland via Air New Zealand or via Fiji with Fiji Airways.
- When to go: Canada’s autumn months are September, October and November.
- Did you know? You can see the Northern Lights in Canada in autumn. No need to wait until winter, Canada’s Yukon and Northwest territories as well as Churchill in Manitoba offer aurora-viewing opportunities from September.
- Yum fact: Love maple syrup? Keep your eyes on the reddest maple leaves as these contain the most sugar for a bumper syrup season.
- Another flight fact: Migrating birds such as Canada geese fly south en masse from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Witness thousands of birds descend on lakes to rest after sunset during the annual autumn migration.
Sign up for the Canada Specialist Program
Want to level up your Canada know-how? Join the Canada Specialist Program to learn more about Radical Openness and its diverse landscapes and experiences, gain access to exclusive content and valuable tools to help you promote and sell Canada plus network with other agents via the closed CSP Facebook group.
Discover more and open up to Canada at keepexploring.com.au
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