Top Events and Festivals in Australia

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This is a list of Australia's best events. You may have your favourites, but these events are in no particular order. Australia has a great climate, and most events are bathed in sunshine or pretty city lights no matter what time of the year they are held. Our weather makes Australia a great place to hold outdoor events.

NEW YEAR'S EVE
Where: Sydney
When: December 31


Even though the madness of the Christmas rush is over, the party animals are still in party mode. This is where New Year's Eve is important. It is the annual fireworks spectacular held in Sydney's CBD, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, the Opera House, and the magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge. Experiencing this event on the harbour is a great way to see the 9 pm and midnight fireworks.

There are lots of vantage points around the harbour, many of which you need to be set up early to secure a good spot. Some of the best areas are the CBD, Millers Point, The Rocks, Balmain East, Potts Point, Point Piper and Taronga Zoo.

Sydney is one of the first major cities to bring in the New Year and with over a million people attending each year, public transport is the best way to travel to your chosen vantage point. There are extra trains and buses organised to Sydney's centre throughout the day and night with light rail also available. Many streets are blocked off from the early afternoon.

Plan your trip if you are going to see this spectacle so you enjoy the event to the fullest. For more information to help you plan, visit the Sydney New Year's Eve website .

SYDNEY MARDI GRAS
Where: Sydney
When: March


The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras started as a small street festival in 1978 that unfortunately resulted in arrests. From these humble beginnings, this festival has grown into one of the best festivals in the world. The Mardi Gras Parade is the biggest event in this three-week festival attracting over 250,000 people who watch 200 floats holding 12,000 people. This is a spectacle of colour, creativity, pride and community spirit. When you go to Mardi Gras be prepared for a lot of fun ... and lots of glitter.

For more information about Sydney's premiere LGBTQIA+ event, visit the Mardi Gras organisation's website .

VIVID SYDNEY
Where: Sydney
When: May - June


This festival of lights is one my friends and I have attended often. The organisers find something new and different each year with the light installations, shows, food, and exhibitions, they keep things interesting. The city lights up with these amazing displays for two weeks and most of it is free. We enjoy walking the city streets, all rugged up from the cold if need be, and take in all the sites around Sydney's stunning harbour.

This festival makes Sydney Harbour even more spectacular than it already is. It attracts over 3 million people making it Australia's largest festival.

The Vivid Sydney website has the information you need to have a light-filled and fun night.

THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS
Where: Melbourne
When: January


This tennis tournament has been known as The Australian Open since 1969 when the name was changed from the Australian Championships. This is one of the many facts I know about this tournament because it is my favourite sporting event to watch. Melbourne in January can be very hot but this doesn't stop people from heading there and enjoying the fabulous tennis.

Each year, over 1 million people descend on Melbourne Park from 6 to 26 January for the three weeks tennis is being played. The atmosphere is electric and loud and the music blares in between games. It is hard not to be caught up in all the action.

Melbourne has good public transport with buses, trains and trams. At the corner of Flinders St and Swanston St, there are two free trams, 70 and 70a you can catch with a valid Melbourne Park ticket. These trams run every 12 minutes up until an hour after the last match.

For help with planning your trip and purchasing tickets, visit The Australian Open website .

MELBOURNE CUP CARNIVAL
Where: Melbourne
When: First Tuesday in November


This race 'is the race that stops a nation'. A horse race like no other in Australia. The first Tuesday in November is a public holiday in Melbourne with Flemington Racecourse coming alive with the whole Carnival. With a capacity of 120,000 most days, there are up to 80,000 people each day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival four-day event.

With the carnival atmosphere, many people picnic on the lawns and even in the carpark. There are sideshows and celebrations, and it is a fashion extravaganza with socialites, politicians and Australia's elite showing off their amazing fashion creations. Cue fascinators!

Visit the Victoria Racing Club website for tickets and other information about the Carnival.

DARK MOFO
Where: Hobart and Launceston
When: June


The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart has a mix of art genres, some more fantastical than others. It is not for everyone, but when I visited last year, I was impressed by the scope and volume of the installations. From the ferry ride over to the impressive walk into the building, MONA is worth seeing.

Dark Mofo and The Winter Feast fill Hobart with art, music, performance, food and culture during the darkest and coldest time of the year and that is June in Australia. It is a time to revel in the arts and see what Hobart has to offer even when it's cold.

For more information about this festival, visit the Dark Mofo website .

ADELAIDE FRINGE FESTIVAL
Where: Adelaide
When: February - March


One of the biggest arts festivals in the Southern Hemisphere, the Adelaide Fringe Festival, is held in Adelaide, South Australia each year. You will be entertained by comedy acts, cabaret, theatre, music, visual arts, and circus acts.

The festival has a strong community feel and people enjoy its uniqueness and the many quirky acts. With over 8,000 artists from all over the world performing each year, the festival attracts over 1 million people who descend on Adelaide from everywhere, including many overseas visitors.

There is more information about the Adelaide Fringe Festival on the website .

PARRTJIMA
Where: Alice Springs
When: April


Parrtjima is a free 10-night festival of light installations, artworks, workshops, music and talks. This festival is held on Arrernte Country in the Red Centre of Australia during April each year. It is an immersive event of art and culture attended by 20,000+ people. Aboriginal culture is celebrated over the ten days with high-energy performances and First Nations stories and sounds.

Click on the Parrtjima website for information about this festival and help with planning your trip.

NOOSA EAT & DRINK FESTIVAL
Where: Noosa
When: May/June


This four-day eat-fest of long lunches, restaurant events, sundowner beach events and the Festival Village, which is a highlight each year. Also, lots of live entertainment and pop-up dining areas. It's winter when this festival is on and temps can be around 22 degrees during the day, perfect for enjoying a food festival.

For more information, visit the festival website .

HAMILTON ISLAND RACE WEEK
Where: Hamilton Island
When: August


As one of Australia's favourite yachting events, the Hamilton Island Race Week is a big part of the international sailing calendar. This event encourages camaraderie with the competitors as well as their family and friends who are there to cheer them on. This is Australia's largest offshore keelboat regatta and Hamilton Island is a perfect setting with its azure water, pristine beaches and many other natural wonders like the coral reefs and flora and fauna. Not to mention the glorious food and drink.

250 yachts from around the world compete in this sailing regatta. The crowd cheering the competitors don't miss out either, there are great events for them to enjoy as well. All set amongst the stunning surrounds of the Hamilton Island resort.

For more information on the World's largest offshore racing regatta, visit the Hamilton Island Race Week website .

FLORIADE
Where: Canberra
When: September - October


Every spring is Floriade time in Canberra, Australia's capital. With over one million tulips on display, it is the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere. For one-month Commonwealth Park comes alive with colour and blooms along with music, entertainment, horticulture workshops and many more activities relating to these magnificent flowers.

For more information about these events, visit the Australia.com website.

How many of these fabulous events would you like to attend? They range from sports to food to flowers, so choose the ones you will enjoy. Plan your trip and include one or more of these events to ensure a memorable holiday.

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