There are countless amazing experiences to be had throughout Australia this month. Here’s what’s on in August.
Whether you’re up for an adventure, want to delve into culture and history with a First Nations experience, or prefer to eat and drink your way through the cities, there really is something for everyone. And you simply can’t go wrong.
To help you out, we have collated a guide of the best goings-on for the month of August, helping you plan your calendar accordingly. Thank us later.
Making their explosive return to the much loved Marrickville institution, Vic on the Park, Jameson will be hosting the ultimate winter wonderland experience with a Hot Toddy bar, whiskey tasting sessions and killer live music at Jameson House of Rounds.
The free event will have Wafia performing on Friday night and King Stingray headlining on Saturday, with other acts of Sophiya, Romero, Molly Rocket, Coconut Cream and a bunch of epic local DJs across the two days as well. Enjoy a round or two of Jameson with your mates and come for both days or just one.
Bell Shakespeare will present the first production of in The Neilson Nutshell at the newly redeveloped Pier 2/3 at Walsh Bay Arts Precinct this month. Titled In a Nutshell, in reference to the space located in the award-winning reimagined Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, an ensemble cast will perform scenes and speeches from some of artistic director Peter Evans’ favourite plays.
The production offers a look into Evans’s personal thoughts on Shakespeare while featuring scenes that spotlight the imagination and linguistic magic of Shakespeare. Evans will explore key themes that range from power to love and forgiveness across some of Shakespeare’s best-known plays, ultimately giving an intimate, inspiring look at humanity. The ensemble cast will skillfully switch between characters and scenes from a variety of plays, including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, and As You Like It, bringing to life Shakespeare’s words.
In a Nutshell is named after the space located in Walsh Bay Arts Precinct. (Image: Destination NSW)
Expect mediations and musings from a diverse range of Australian poets when they debut at The National Poetry Month Gala at the Australian Chamber Orchestra in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct. Contemporary poets such as Eunice Andrada, Kirli Saunders and Scott-Patrick Mitchell will get their moment in the spotlight alongside PM Literary Award for Poetry winners Omar Sakr, Sarah Holland-Batt, Stephen Edgar and the host of ABC’s The Art Show Daniel Browning. Expect a lot of deadpan humour from host Alex Lee on the night, which will also feature comedians and actors such as Nat’s What I Reckon, Sacha Horler and Nina Oyama reading their favourite Australian poems.
The National Poetry Month Gala will be a night for the ages. (Image: James Horan and Destination NSW)
Outback NSW’s biggest live music event is the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash which is set to return this August! Get your tickets now because they are selling FAST.
Featuring a slew of all-time Australian music greats including Midnight Oil, Jimmy Barnes, Missy Higgins, Kasey Chambers, Jon Stevens, Daryl Braithwaite and many more, the three-day family-and-dog-friendly camping event will be staged on the spectacular Mundi Mundi Plains – the same location where festival headliners Midnight Oil filmed their iconic Beds Are Burning film clip and where Mad Max 11 was shot.
The event is BYO food and alcohol (although there are hospitality vendors on-site) – and children aged 11-and-under enter for free.
See the likes of Midnight Oil, Jimmy Barnes, Missy Higgins, Kasey Chambers, Jon Stevens and Daryl Braithwaite at the Mundi Mundi Bash. (Image: Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash)
Sydney Fringe Festival is Sydney’s largest independent arts festival, and will this year hold its largest and longest-ever program. Putting on over 500 events with over 2000 artists across more than 50 venues and nine festival hubs over the 15-week program, it’s an unmissable event.
Sydney Fringe Festival is bigger than ever before. (Image: Seiya Taguchi)
The utterly salacious and spicy Bernie Dieter has shimmied and strutted her way back to Sydney after a sell-out headline season in Conventry for the return of Club Kabarett at the Famous Spiegeltent. The beautifully styled vintage burlesque tent will become home to a range of dark and debauched offerings designed to ruffle a few feather boas. The program of live entertainment includes more than a month’s worth of cabaret, circus, gender-bending aerial acts, and fire-breathing sideshows.
The award-winning queen of Weimar punk, Bernie Dieter, will oversee the glitzy, glam over-the-top evenings in the European-styled Spiegeltent with her signature mix of satire and caustic wit, wrapped up in sequins, top hats and stockings. Expect the renegade performer to shock, titillate, stun, terrify and arouse audiences with her burlesque act and crude humour. The irreverent acts, which will be set to the soundtrack of a riotous haus band, will be hosted at Runaway Gardens at First Fleet Park where food and booze will also be on offer.
Bernie Dieter is coming to Sydney Fringe. (Image: Theresa Harrison)
The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a 30 Under 30 Dining Series of one-off events across Melbourne. This gives diners a chance to see and hear more from 30 of Victoria’s best chefs under 30 years of age in a more intimate setting, with the chefs cooking together in smaller groups at special dinners (and a lunch!) at some of Melbourne’s most celebrated eateries: Cutler & Co, Matilda 159, Stokehouse, Society and Embla.
The 30th anniversary includes 30 of Victoria’s best chefs under 30 years of age. (Image: Melbourne Food and Wine Festival)
For the 70th anniversary of the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), it will hold events around the city, regional Victoria and, following the success of MIFF Play the last two years, streaming for all Australia to see.
The in-cinema program will run from 4–21 August – 18 days of premiere showcases, international features, exclusive screenings, commissioned works, panel discussions, industry events, live talks and XR experiences for cinephiles of all tastes and persuasions.
MIFF Play, the festival’s online streaming platform, will deliver cinematic content directly to audiences, wherever they may be located – available nationally from 11–28 August.
MIFF is a film lovers paradise
WinterWild returns for two weekends this August at Apollo Bay, exploring the fringe states of body and mind that result in the ecstatic and the blissful. Known for its nocturnal program of extravagant fireside performances, epic feasts and music, but also a full daytime workshop program. It’s the best of both worlds…
Feasting, meditation, ocean water polo, mind and body workshops, live music and moon dancing are all among this year’s offerings.
Winterwild festivities in Apollo Bay
Australia’s largest and most celebrated First Nations visual art event will return for the 16th year, with the Foundation announcing the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) will run online and in person this August, the first time since pivoting to a digital format due to Covid in 2020.
The series of events will run for a week from 2–7 August and will comprise of Country to Couture on 2 August, the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) on 3 August, before the DAAF Public Program from 5–7 August. DAAF is the only national event of its kind and has secured a reputation as one of the country’s most significant and internationally recognised arts events.
DAAF creates an opportunity to connect with, and ethically purchase art directly from Art Centres, as well as meeting the artists and learning firsthand about their cultural heritage, stories, history and traditional artistic practices.
Emma Singer is one of the artists at DAAF. (Image: Meg Hansen and Mimili Maku Arts)
The Top End’s favourite time of year, Darwin Festival, is officially around the corner! From 4–21 August, Australia’s hottest winter arts festival combines the quintessential spirit and energy of Darwin with warm outdoor festivities and a vibrant program of events for an unforgettable good time.
The balmy nights under twinkling lights provide the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable dry season, the Top End’s tropical winter. Darwin Festival will intoxicate the senses and offer up stirring theatrical performances, some of the hottest live music acts in the country, incredible cabaret and circus, cross-cultural collaborations, thrumming dancefloors under the stars and epic outings for the whole family.
Don’t miss the annual Darwin Festival. (Image: Elise Derwin)
The National Indigenous Music Awards is reclaiming its place on Larrakia Country at Darwin’s iconic Amphitheatre to celebrate its 14th year, this time in the company of Mob, friends, family and fans, after two years without. With Thelma Plum and King Stingray just the tip of the live performance iceberg, the night is set to be a true celebration of what has been a huge year of First Nations music.
Watch NIMA in awe.
Barunga Festival is a cultural festival that celebrates a long and proud tradition of storytelling and culture among Aboriginal people with music, sport and traditional arts from remote Northern Territory communities.
The festival has a strong history of showcasing the Katherine region and supporting remote indigenous communities to come together and celebrate the positive aspects of community life. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to join in the festivities and enjoy this unique opportunity to engage with a remote Indigenous community.
The Gurindji people host three days of celebrating and commemorating the legendary Wave Hill Walk-off and the birth of Land Rights. Freedom Day Festival is an eight-hour drive from Darwin (via Katherine) on all sealed roads. It’s a bush camping event where visitors are encouraged to simply pay what they can to attend. Festival headliners include Paul Kelly and Toni Childs.
The winter edition of the Tasmanian Wine Festival will be held at the Goods Shed, and the concept is all about leaning into winter. With big, bold Tassie reds paired with warming winter dishes, it’s the ultimate epicurean experience. Not to mention you’ll get to cosy up next to fire pits, experience the entertainment and learn from the masterclasses by Carl Windsor (Willing Bros), Sommelier Jospeh Burton and Frogmore Creek.
Try out the wines at Tasmanian Wine Fest. (Image: Aiesha Hanson)
Beaker Street is a not-for-profit cultural organisation in lutruwita/Tasmania. Beaker Street Festival is Australia’s premier National Science Week event for adults with offerings in Hobart and the southern region, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania’s East Coast and Launceston.
The program line-up includes Dr Karl Kruszelnicki as the host of the Tassie Science Road Trip – a unique opportunity to rediscover some of Tasmania’s iconic natural environments through the lens of the state’s top scientists and learn about the challenges and accomplishments of scientists working in the regions.
Get sciencey at Beaker Street Festival. (Image: Beaker Street)
The end of winter is a time when the community celebrates the end of the darkness and the coming of the light. This is the inspiration behind Salamanca Arts Centre’s Winter Light Festival – to transform August and the end of winter into a period of celebration and connection.
Northern Tasmania combines agriculture and entertainment with live music, farm tours, exclusive dining experiences and engaging conversations at the second annual agriCULTURED festival.
Seeking to influence the trajectory of the Australian agri-food and tourism sectors, agriCULTURED brings together farming families, with chefs, artists, musicians, and composers to celebrate the passion that goes into producing, farming, and food provenance. Over 60 industry trailblazers will lead the conversation over the course of the festival, including landscape designer, author and TV host Costa Georgiadis, former chef and food critic Matthew Evans, and Gardening Australia presenter and author Hannah Moloney.
Tassie has some of the finest produce (Image: Ness Vanderburgh)
For one week every year, Tasmanian Whisky Week is an opportunity to showcase Tasmania as a whole, adding value to all of the existing tourist ventures. Tasmania is THE whisky destination of Australia, and Tasmanian Whisky Week is THE time to celebrate.
Over the course of the week there will be plenty of events to celebrate, from a comedy night to a gala dinner, and everything in between.
Test out Tassie’s whisky during Tasmanian Whisky Week (Image: Lusy Productions)
Brought to you by the Gascoyne Food Council, the Gascoyne Food Festival attracts both locals and tourists alike. With food lovers from near and far-flung places seeking out a unique culinary experience.
Set against the backdrop of the mighty Gascoyne River and the red dirt of the fertile horticultural lands and desert, the festival locations boast the idyllic, laid-back charm of regional Western Australia with all the modern amenities and the attractions needed to keep you comfortable and entertained through the festival weekend.
Set against the backdrop of the mighty Gascoyne river.
Set in the seaside centres of Busselton and the Margaret River region, CinefestOZ premieres feature films and events in the region’s cinemas and picturesque venues, making it a feast for the senses and an unforgettable six-day getaway. Now in its 15th year, the festival will once again captivate the South West with an exciting line-up of World and WA premieres.
CinefestOZ is held in Busselton. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
OPERA UNDER THE STARS is celebrating 30 years of stunning opera performances, under the twinkling Broome sky in WA’s North West. The milestone will be marked by a 30th Anniversary Gala featuring music from master opera composers plus lighter songs to dazzle and delight audience members.
The 30th Gala includes performances from Yorta Yorta soprano and composer Deborah Cheetham AO, soprano Rachelle Durkin, mezzo-soprano Caitlin Cassidy, tenor Paul O’Neill, and pianist Mark Coughlan.
Broome is the perfect backdrop. (Image: Delphoto Broome)
Celebrate the heritage and history of Broome through a series of gourmet dining experiences by WA’s top chefs, cultural tours, art exhibitions and performances by local and visiting performing artists of all ages at Shinju Matsuri.
Broome has a gourmet dining scene. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
The Sunshine Coast’s renowned produce and restaurants will be showcased across the region in The Curated (side) Plate.
Local restaurants, farms, tourism and event operators are combining to present 85 authentic events designed to provide visitors with a rich menu of options across the 10 days.
The Curated Plate made its debut in 2019, showcasing local produce as curated by international, national and local chefs to food lovers and after a break, the reimagined event is back in 2022.
The Curated (side) Plate is a celebration of ‘local’ with a vast array of well-priced events from fine dinners such as Harry’s on Buderim and Spicers Tamarind to great local producers including Montville Coffee and Sunshine Coast Cider.
The Curated (side) Plate is an extension of The Curated Plate. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
The 6th annual Port Douglas Taste Festival will feature special menus, locally sourced seafood, workshops dedicated to the culinary arts, as well as talks on a range of topics from exotic tropical fruits to exclusive master classes with some of Australia’s best chefs. Taste Port Douglas also brings multiple stallholders selling artisan goods that range from tea, coffee, chocolate and cheese to beer, gin and tropical liquors at Sheraton Festival Village, which is at the heart of the culinary celebration.
Expect tutored tastings and other educational experiences designed to make sure visitors get an immersive understanding of Tropical North Queensland‘s food bowl, as well as the Taste Port Douglas Takeover Series of dinners featuring world-class Australian chefs such as local Spencer Patrick (Harrisons Port Douglas), Massimo Mele (Grain of the Silos), Colin Fassnidge (Kitchen Nightmares) and Jerry Mai (Pho Nom). Don’t miss the Cafe Del Mar Sunset Session by Taste Port Douglas, which draws on the iconic Ibiza sunset brand for a night of house music under the stars.
The Fat Mango BBQ is a hit. (Image: Sheraton Mirage)
The Great Barrier Reef Festival celebrates the Great Barrier Reef and what it means to live in the Whitsundays – the Heart of the Reef. The region’s favourite festival is a delicious combination of family fun, all-night celebrations, local food and fashion and some of the biggest parties in the north.
The four-day celebration of the reef will feature the spectacular Fireworks on the Foreshore complete with live music and DJs, carnival rides, food stalls and night markets lining the beautiful Airlie Beach foreshore.
The Beach Music stage will be pumping the region’s top live music and entertainment on the foreshore throughout the weekend. Other events include reef art installations and education, Comedy Gala, Family Fun Day, Wilmar Sugar Wearable Art Parade, helicopter joy rides and cocktails at the Pop-up Beach Bar making Reef Festival a perfect time to enjoy the gorgeous Whitsunday winter.
Celebrate the Great Barrier Reef.
Hamilton Island Race Week is a premier yachting fixture and an annually anticipated event on the international sailing calendar. Competitors, family, and friends come together to enjoy Hamilton Island’s beautiful weather, brilliant beaches and coral reefs, whilst enjoying fine food and wine, on a fun-filled week of activities to celebrate the boating event.
Hamilton Island Race Week is a premier yachting fixture (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
Kicking off on Friday 5 August, the Taste Bundaberg Festival will be launched with Let the Night Be Gin at Kalki Moon Distillery with more than 20 events and activities rolling out throughout the 10-day program.
The Taste Bundaberg Festival offers up unique experiences on a platter for everyone to enjoy. From farm to fork, ocean to plate, barley to brews and everything in between, each corner of the Bundaberg Region is a food haven just waiting to be explored.
The Bundaberg Region is a food haven just waiting to be explored (Image: Paul Beutel)
The annual celebration of South Australian living artists is back for another year. Held in Adelaide every August, thousands of artists exhibit in hundreds of venues throughout metropolitan and regional areas of the state.
The extraordinary range of exhibition venues means that you can find art just about anywhere, from traditional galleries to cafes, hairdressers, pubs and other unexpected places. And, the art is as diverse as the artists, with all kinds of media represented: painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, digital media, moving image, glass, ceramics, textiles and more.
SALA Festival delights. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission and Sarah Voigt)
The Fleurieu Food Festival showcases the breadth and depth of food and beverage producers and food businesses on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Whether it’s wine-infused pies, a gin masterclass, long lunches, truffle hunting or farmer’s markets, the Fleurieu Food Festival has you covered with the lot.
Try the magnificent food from the region. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission and John Montesi)
Celebrate the canine connection and meet dogs from all walks of life through this carefully curated collection of stories about dogs and their people at the Top Dog Film Festival.
From husky dogs of Alaska to working dogs of Australia, a pull on your heartstrings is guaranteed. Meet 4-legged heroes, unbreakable bonds and canine companions that enrich the lives of all they encounter. Filled with delightful doggy moments, get tickets before they sell out – you’d be barking mad to miss it.
Watch mans best friend on the big screen
The Truffle Festival is a drawcard for local, interstate and international food and wine lovers in the winter months. Find the truffle experience of your choice in our packed calendar of events. Choose from hunting with truffle dogs, cooking demonstrations, growing and storing workshops, signature lunches and dinners, truffle tastings and more.
The truffle festival celebrates the much-awaited black winter truffle. (Image: VisitCanberra)
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