Tassie’s best autumn family rituals
Autumn in Tasmania softens the landscape with gold and crimson, providing the perfect backdrop for family rituals that include small, steady moments together.
With four children aged between 13 and 16, it can be tricky for Hobart’s Bec Adamczewski to find activities that keep the whole family happy.
But for Bec, a designer and muralist, one long-standing family ritual has remained a winner from toddlerhood to the teen years: the annual trip to see the turning of the fagus at Mount Field National Park.
“We do the fagus trip every year,” Bec says. “If we’re feeling energetic, we go up early and do the Tarn walk. If not, we usually drive up and do a shorter walk on Mother’s Day to catch the tail end.”
When the kids were younger, the Dobson Lake Circuit and a quick walk at Lake Fenton was enough of an adventure; now Bec and her family head up past the ski huts to the first tarn and back, which takes about three hours. A stop for burgers at the Waterfalls Cafe rounds out the outing. “Autumn is my favourite season,” she admits. “It’s just magic: the whole Derwent Valley looks spectacular.”
For Bec, the ritual isn’t only about the hike. There’s also a social thread: a pilgrimage with friends for lunch, poking around antique shops, book shops and stationery stores along the way, soaking in the turning leaves while the kids – and adults – enjoy small joys like pancakes at the Salmon Ponds. It’s a tradition that balances movement, comfort, and connection, evolving as the children grow.
In north-west Tasmania, drama teacher and home-schooling mum Claire MacRae has her own fagus ritual. “My daughters love going to Cradle Mountain to see the changing leaves – the colours are incredible,” she says. The girls collect leaves in their pockets, then sew them into garlands or crowns at home. Back in the kitchen, Claire and the children toast apple slices with cinnamon sugar over the fire. “They think they’re even better than marshmallows,” she says, “because of the delicious way the sugar caramelises.”
For both families, autumn isn’t just a season to admire. Instead, it’s a season to participate in together, to slow down and mark the passage of time with sensory, hands-on rituals that stay in the heart long after the leaves have fallen.
Road trips and outdoor rituals
For some families, rituals are less about the calendar and more about the journey itself. Marie Goulart, a jujitsu coach who lives in the south of the state, has woven annual road trips into the fabric of her family life, creating experiences that her teenage son still treasures years later.
“There are a few trips we do every year in Tassie,” Marie explains. “We always start by driving to Geeveston for sushi from Masaaki’s – make sure you pre-order! Then, if the surf is up, we head down to Southport and spend the day at Roaring Beach. If the surf is flat, we go up to Hartz Mountain for a walk to Lake Osborne instead. Either way, it’s a full day of adventure.”
The tradition is layered with familiar landmarks and sensory pleasures: picking berries by the roadside near Dover or stopping to buy fresh vegetables from the stalls along the Huon Highway. And it’s not just about what they see, but how they feel seen. “Masaaki always greets my son warmly and wishes us a good surf trip. He loves being acknowledged, like he’s part of the ritual too.”
Tasmania’s East Coast is another favourite road-trip route, where even routine stops carry their own charm. Marie’s son loves to explore the cliffs at Cressy, and when they stay at their regular spot – Swansea Beach Chalets – manager Lisa Deegan Brown shares tips about secret wave spots, hidden hikes or local wineries. “She makes it feel like she’s telling us something just for our family,” Marie says. “It becomes a story we carry forward, quietly keeping the secret.”
This rhythm of movement, discovery and small surprises keeps the ritual alive, even as kids grow and adolescence brings new challenges. For Marie, it’s about familiarity and novelty working together – the road trip is both constant and ever-changing.
Other families embrace the same principle of shared adventure. Nicole Jensen from Launceston describes how her family has moved away from gift-giving at Christmas, choosing instead to create memories together. “Last year, my request was a family road trip to the Lobster Shack in Bicheno. My sister asked for our help to paint her office, and my brother-in-law opted for and shared oysters on his new deck. It wasn’t about presents – it was more about being together and doing something memorable.”
Alice Laing, founder of Tasman Sea Salt, shares a similar love for intentional family experiences. With her husband, Chris Manson, and their three daughters, she embraces child-led rituals both outdoors and at home, from regular bush walks around Freycinet and Maria Island – always ending with the reward of a chocolate bar – to family dinners and bedtime stories. They also have a beloved annual ritual: a pilgrimage into the bush to find their Christmas tree. “We usually end up with a rather odd-looking, slightly spindly, often lop-sided tree,” she laughs. “But it has a lot more charm than a perfect tree from Bunnings.”
Returning to the same place
For some families, rituals are as much about returning as they are about discovery. Artist Melanie Roach from Margate cherishes her annual trips to a coastal shack in Binalong Bay, a ritual that began when her son Cairo was just three.
“The house sits atop a hill overlooking the sparkling blue waters,” Melanie recalls. “We wade into the waters at Akaroa and fish the morning away. Afternoons are for lazing on the deck, chatting about cartoons and letting icy poles drip down our hands.” These quiet, repetitive patterns of play, conversation and shared work have become a touchstone for the family: a way to pause, breathe and reconnect with each other and with Tasmania itself.
Even small, everyday rituals echo the same rhythm. Melanie’s family is devoted to thrifting, an interest she inherited from her parents. “I was a stay-at-home mum for four years before Cairo started school, and that’s when our family thrifting obsession really kicked off,” she says. “It’s more than just searching for treasures – it’s about being in the car together, listening to music between stops, singing, chatting about anything and everything, and eating all the snacks before we get home. Those drives are where teens open up, share stories, ideas, hopes, dreams, even fears.”
One recent trip stands out: while Melanie took her time browsing through racks at an op shop in Moonah, her husband and son perched on a couch nearby, chatting quietly. “I nearly cried,” she admits. “It was just them, sitting together, in a store, and it felt so complete – listening to a 70s tune playing softly in the background. There was something about that scene that pulled at my heart.”
Family interests and rituals like this often get passed down and nurtured over generations – somehow becoming even more special over time. Terese Smith’s extended family has an annual BBQ on the farm her grandfather established at Lower Beulah. “It’s always the first Sunday of the New Year, unless that’s New Year’s Day – then it’s the following Sunday,” she says. “Everyone knows. There are no RSVPs, you just turn up with food to share, chairs and picnic rugs.”
A group photo captures the moment each year as three generations gather. Terese’s cousin works hard to get the site ready, while her uncle, now in his eighties, takes charge of the BBQ. “The only certainty is surprise,” she says. “You never quite know who might turn up, but everyone belongs.”
Rituals don’t need to be complicated
Family rituals don’t have to be elaborate to be memorable: many Tasmanians stay grounded with simple, joyful traditions.
Emily Quintin’s family heads to the Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs every year on 27 December, a highlight of the summer that her two sons look forward to all year.
Meghan Tighe celebrates the seasons with an annual trip to Waldheim Cabins in winter, saffron buns for St Lucia Day, and a Midsummer solstice party for friends and colleagues, who she describes as “extended family”.
AJ Humphries has three kids under eight and says he sticks to a tight routine during the week. But Friday brings family movie night with junk food and no set bedtime – a special ritual that the kids consider “the best thing ever”.