With bright blue skies and colourful foliage adorning the great outdoors, autumn in Sydney is a spectacular time to throw an outdoor event. It’s also perfect for indulging in your favourite treats, like hot dogs with scrumptious relishes to warm you up on a crisp day!

To make the most of the season, here’s a look at a few of the best spots to host an outdoor autumn event in the city, whether it's a company picnic, a community fundraiser or even an extended family reunion.

Royal Botanic Gardens

Autumn in Australia’s oldest botanic garden brings pathways sprinkled with the reds, yellows and oranges of the season. Stop to smell the roses during a picnic, and you’ll find much to celebrate!

Book a guided, group tour for your guests to go behind the scenes and learn about Aboriginal heritage. Kids will love riding the Choo Choo Express, where you can hop on and off throughout the grounds. Natural highlights to explore include the Australian Rainforest Garden and the Palace Rose Garden.

For larger events, hire finger food catering in Sydney and book one of the dedicated spaces offering romantic pavilions and private, grassed areas.

Centennial Parklands

As well as the colours of burnt orange and russet red, Sydney’s Centennial Parklands come alive with bright purple Tibouchina trees in autumn. Venues abound for corporate events, such as the Church Grounds with views of the Sydney skyline. Alternatively, book a grassy patch for a picnic party.

When it’s time to work off the lunchtime hot dogs, your guests can walk the Centennial Park Labyrinth or even try their hand at rollerblading or cycling. Kids are catered for too at the Ian Potter Children’s Wild Play Garden.

Cattai National Park

Vibrant yellow trees and a carpet of fallen leaves line the banks of the Hawkesbury River throughout autumn at Cattai National Park. With a range of picnic shelters, this is a fabulous spot for a family party in the midst of natural beauty and the fiery colours of the season.

Extend your event across a weekend to enjoy boating or canoeing on the river and bike riding throughout the park. You can camp onsite or stay at one of the historic towns nearby, like Windsor or Rouse Hill.

Enhancing the season

 With a gorgeous backdrop of colour, autumn is your opportunity to hold a celebration with ready-made scenery. But why not take a leaf out of the USA’s book, and enhance the season a little? Theme your shindig around pumpkin-carving, apple-bobbing and tables strewn with twigs and seasonal flowers like dahlias or chrysanthemums.

Keep your catering simple and within the seasonal autumn theme. No matter the location or the number of guests, you can make catering easy by hiring a hot dog cart. Your guests will love hearty picnic food that is delicious and easy to eat, and there's no need for you to organise anything but a few strategic tables - no knives, forks or plates required!

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