Autumn, or ‘fall’ as it’s known in some parts of the world, often feels overlooked in Australia.
Sandwiched between the business of summer and the holiday season, and the chill of winter, it rarely gets the attention it deserves. Cooler mornings, crisp afternoon walks hunting for the crunchiest fallen leaves and cosy evenings in – what’s not to love?
For international students adjusting to Australia’s seasons (and watching their budgets), autumn is the ideal time to pick up cosy hobbies that don’t cost much but make life feel a little bit richer.
Here are some of our favourite ways to embrace the season without breaking the bank.
Start reading (for fun)
Autumn practically demands that you pick up a good book, and so do we. And we don’t mean the textbook that’s been silently judging you from its dust-covered shelf above your desk (although you should probably open and pick that one up too…). But for right now, pick up a new best seller, or a dog-eared old favourite, and find a cosy spot to settle down for a chapter or two. Reading is such a great hobby because it can be completely free. Local libraries offer access to countless books, even eBooks and audiobooks these days, and they’re often a really nice, quiet place to read too.
Learn to cook food from scratch
The main characters in autumn-themed Hollywood movies are always munching on some delicious-looking pumpkin-flavoured pastry or freshly baked bread, and there’s no reason you shouldn't join them.
We’re not saying you need to learn how to cook every single thing from scratch (ramen noodles wholeheartedly have their place), but why not pick one or two recipes you’ve been wanting to try and practice them until they’re perfect? Bonus: home-baked goods make perfect gifts for friends, so you can save money on gift buying as well!
Go on scavenger hunts
Remember the crunchy leaves? Why not set yourself a challenge to find the biggest one possible, or the reddest, or an acorn that still has its top? As kids, didn’t we all love getting out in nature and just finding cool stuff? Think back to the things that made you happy when you were little; they’re almost guaranteed to still bring a smile to your face.
Autumn is such a great time for bushwalking and hiking too because it’s usually cool enough that you won’t overheat, but still mild enough that you don’t need to wear seventeen layers. Just make sure to always check conditions before you set off anywhere, and let people know where you’re going and when you’re planning to be back.
Teach yourself a new craft
One of the most pleasant ways to spend an afternoon is by making something with your own two hands. Very little compares to the feeling of taking a material and turning it into something beautiful or useful, or if you’re lucky, both. Some particularly cosy and relatively low-cost options include scrapbooking, knitting or crochet, watercolour painting, or why not try something a little more adventurous like wood whittling? Whatever your craft of choice, we can guarantee it’ll be even nicer if it’s accompanied by a cosy 90s film and a hot cup of tea.
Start a cinema club
Speaking of cosy 90s films, why not put together a list of your favourites, pick up some snacks and fun drinks and invite your friends around for a weekly movie night? All you really need is access to a streaming platform (Stan in particular has some great cosy movies - When Harry Met Sally, anyone?) and some comfy throw pillows. If 90s rom-coms aren’t your vibe, why not go for cosy murder mysteries instead? We’re personally big fans of Midsomer Murders (available on Prime!).
If you want to go all out, you could even use your newfound craft skills to make some ‘cinema’ loyalty cards, personalised popcorn buckets or autumn-themed drink charms for each of your friends.
