People are suddenly cleaning their garages. They are pressure-washing the driveways. They are signing up for gym memberships they will quit by October. There is a sense of "getting the house in order" before the darkness of June and July sets in.

This beautiful, fleeting peace only lasts about six weeks before the frost hits.

If Summer is a party, Autumn is the quiet drive home. It is, arguably, the best time of year to be an Australian.