With such a breadth of things going on around the country, it can sometimes get a little overwhelming to separate the champs from the chumps. You’re busy people, we get it.
To help you out, we have collated a guide of the best goings-on for the month of June, helping you plan your calendar accordingly. Thank us later.
Vivid Sydney is finally back – and this year’s list of highlights is long and varied. For 23 days, the festival will connect our city to light artists, music makers, brilliant thinkers and creatives.
In 2022, Vivid Sydney explores what defines the character of great cities: what makes them tick, makes them unique, makes us love them and makes them powerful catalysts for change. Our soul is our creativity, our people, our place, our heart. The stories and experiences that reflect our individuality and universality – the untold, unknown and unexpected.
Discover secret tunnels laced with light. Stroll the longest continuous Light Walk ever, from Sydney Opera House to Central Station. Feel the pulse of a new beat and move together as one, while evocative performers transform the city with live shows in unexpected spaces. Listen to tunes in a secret bar. Watch a band in a venue where no one has played before. Discover parts of Sydney that make your soul sing.
Vivid Sydney lights up Sydney Harbour. (Image: Destination NSW)
Get set for a weekend of great music and fine wine in the picturesque winter wonderland of Orange. This beautiful and historic township plays host to the best of the Central West’s music scene, alongside Australia’s most electrifying jazz artists across the June long weekend of 2022.
Meander between music venues, discover historic sites, boutique food and brews or explore the wine trails of the region and quaint surrounding villages in this three-day festival.
Just four hours drive from Sydney, three hours from Canberra, and five hours from Newcastle, the Orange Winter Jazz Festival is the perfect weekend escape.
Eishan Ensemble is comprised of an ever-evolving lineup of world-class musicians. (Image: Orange Winter Jazz Festival)
Sydney’s favourite lifestyle event returns for its 10th year! The Pyrmont Festival will bring together the very best food, wine and art offerings to celebrate NSW’s vibrant culinary culture.
Filled with daily wine tastings at Porters Liquor, wine discovery classes led by premier wine gurus, cooking courses from Sydney Seafood School and a luxe festival after-party to pay homage to a decade of Pyrmont Festival fun.
The Pyrmont Festival is back in Sydney for 2022! (Image: Pyrmont Festival)
Pie Time – held in Australia’s home of pies, the NSW Southern Highlands – returns tasty and piping hot in June 2021. Pie Time is a series of mouth-watering pie-themed events, tours and activities held 1–30 June each year.
After ‘Pie Time in Pie-solation’ last year, this month-long celebration of Australia’s most iconic food is the perfect opportunity for domestic holidaymakers to come to the NSW Southern Pielands and rediscover one of the country’s greatest tourism destinations located just two hours from Sydney.
This month-long celebration of Australia’s most iconic food is the perfect opportunity for domestic travel. (Image: Destination Southern Highlands and HCreations)
Ski, snowboard and party in style at the 2022 Winter Opening Weekend. Thredbo is celebrating all weekend long, as they welcome the return of live music. To celebrate the opening day of winter, Heineken has also teamed up with Thredbo this winter to turn the Alpine Bar into a massive live concert venue for everyone to enjoy.
DJ duo Set Mo will grace the stage with a banger set, supported by Happiness is Wealth for a killer night of groovy beats and dance-floor anthems.
Enjoy some great tunes after a big day of riding the mountain and watch the renowned Thredbo fireworks.
Drive to Thredbo in the Snowy Mountains for the opening weekend! (Image: Alexandra Adoncello)
To commemorate Henry Lawson and his contribution to the arts, Grenfell hosts the Henry Lawson Festival on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend each year.
Don’t miss out on what will be a legendary inaugural Henry Lawson Festival Concert on June 12.
Taking the festival to a new level, the Sunday afternoon event will welcome another generation of legends to Grenfell with renowned Australian jazz icon, James Morrison, and country music stars, The Wolfe Brothers, headlining.
The Henry Lawson Festival is in his hometown of Grenfell. (Image: Destination NSW)
In 2022, the Sydney Film Festival will present more than 200 films from over 64 countries including 27 world premieres, bringing together hundreds of international and local stories. There are 101 feature films, including prestigious international festival prize-winners and 53 documentaries tackling crucial contemporary issues, from established and upcoming documentarians.
There are 101 feature films at SFF this year. (Image: Sydney Film festival)
Blaq Restaurant at the Kyah Boutique Hotel will celebrate the arrival of truffle season in the Blue Mountains with a decadent three-course lunch showcasing premium local truffles in June. Available for just one day, executive chef Mate Herceg has created a menu featuring three expressions of truffle with optional matched NSW wines. Whether you’re a truffle enthusiast or new to this prized fruit of the fungi, it’s a great opportunity to enjoy these seasonal beauties in one of the region’s hottest new restaurants.
The Truffle Lunch is a one-day-only event. (Image: Steven Woodburn)
With a bill of the best blues acts in Sydney, both seasoned and ‘seasoning’, this underground whisky bar introduces Baxter Blues Fest – a celebration of blues legends past and present.
Featuring the talents of Sydney-based soul and bluesman Jesse Redwing, the rhythm and blues masters Drey Rollan Duo, Chloe Kay & The Crusade, and many more, this is a line-up unlike any other in the city, and it is entirely free.
Doors from 4 pm, music from 5 pm until late.
The Baxter Blues Fest is in the iconic underground bar in Sydney. (Image: Dan Boud and Destination NSW)
Gather on Kensington Street is a free three-day, food & wine street festival that celebrates the incredible eateries on Kensington Street with wines from NSW. Dishes start from just $7 and the whole family is invited.
Join for food stalls along Kensington Street or book in at one of the special events from matched food and wine events, special menus, tasting masterclasses and more!
Gather on Kensington Street will incorporate Spice Alley. (Image: Destination NSW)
The Jezabels will be performing at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney as part of the band’s 10th-anniversary tour. The Prisoner 10 Year Anniversary Tour is a celebration of the band’s award-winning debut album, Prisoner, which veers from instrumental interludes to climbing pop tunes, and will be performed in its entirety for the first time at the Enmore Theatre on the back of its national tour. The Jezebels will be supported by We Lost the Sea.
The Jezabels are on at the Enmore! (Image: Destination NSW)
The Winter Night Market will bring together Melbourne’s best street food traders, brewers, distillers, artisans and entertainment for the perfect midweek winter experience.
Attendees will be able to wander the market’s iconic open-air sheds and laneways to enjoy street food like spicy dumplings, cheesy pasta, smoked meats and decadent desserts while sipping on hot gin toddies, warming spiced cider and mulled wine.
Each week will see a rotating line-up of homegrown talent play live music sets on the main stage while roving performers keep visitors entertained. Wander the Winter Night Market’s stalls to find locally made jewellery, art, skincare, books and homewares before settling in beside one of the many roaring open fires.
With free entry, the only prerequisites are to come hungry and ready for a good time.
The Winter Night Markets are on every Wednesday until August 31. (Image: Winter Night Market)
Honour the harvest of liquid gold this June long weekend at the home of the historic Toscana Olive Plantation, Grampians Olive Co. with all you can eat wood-fired pizza, an olive tree harvesting demonstration and an olive pressing tour.
With authentic delicious wood-fired pizza – from a pizza oven fired up the traditional Italian way with olive tree wood – and quality local Grampians wines served from 12.30pm, you will also be treating yourself to the breathtaking views of the olive grove’s 28,000 olive trees and the surrounding Grampians National Park.
All you can eat pizza at Harvest Open Day is a yes from us! (Image: Grampians Olive Co.)
On the first night of winter, artists, fruit bats and other creatures of the night pulse through a city reawakened.
A festival three years in the making, built by and for Melbourne, RISING invites you to get lost, go deep and shake loose. A surge of art, music, performance and ceremony in the heart of Melbourne, RISING electrifies the city this June.
Bunjil Place has partnered with London-based creative studio Bompas & Parr to present a 24-day mini-festival as part of Casey’s Winter Arts Festival. From giant sculptures and guided tours to parties and the world’s first edible mist, there’s so much to do at Casey Cornucopia.
There is something for everyone at Casey Cornucopia. (Image: Ann Charlotte Ommedal)
Dark Mofo, Mona’s midwinter festival in Tasmania, delves into centuries-old rituals to explore the links between ancient and contemporary mythology, humans and nature, religious and secular traditions, darkness and light, as well as birth, death and renewal.
Based around the southern hemisphere’s winter solstice, the annual Dark Mofo celebrates the dark through large-scale public art, music, fire, food, light and noise. Signature events include the delectable Winter Feast on Hobart’s waterfront and the colourful community celebration of the Ogoh-Ogoh parade and burning.
Make it an annual pilgrimage, for the Nude Solstice Swim, with more than 1000 people dropping their clothes and inhibitions to welcome back the light after the longest, coldest night in the nation.
Embrace the darkness at Dark Mofo’s winter feast. (Image: Dark Lab Media)
This three-day winter arts festival will be a showcase of all the best and most unique artworks via many diverse mediums. The Bay of Fires event program will be packed with activities for all ages to enjoy, including dancing, fine art, gardening, exhibitions and art markets.
The fun-filled festival is a celebration of the imaginative and is sure to bring out the creative side of all who attend.
The Bay of Fires is a bay on the northeastern coast of Tasmania, extending from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point. (Image: Stu Gibson)
Launceston-based Slamduggery will once again bring Story to Tell – Winter Warmers to the Kingsway Bar with a collection of poetry, music, comedy and stories.
Performances by Monique How, Cam Illingworth, Tori Rattray, Kayden Bohl and Ruben Bradshaw.
The Denmark Festival of Voice is a celebration of the power and beauty of the human voice in all its forms. The annual festival is held over the June Western Australia Day long weekend in the beautiful south coastal town of Denmark.
The festival fills every corner of Denmark town in heritage and contemporary venues all within a gentle stroll of each other in the heart of the charming Denmark village. It is an immersive exploration of diversity, celebrating voices from near and far. Music is only one part of the program alongside storytelling, spoken word, poetry and experimental performance.
The Albany Classic ‘Around the Houses’ is run through the heart of Albany’s central business district.
This leading historic motorsport event presents a wide variety of cars from vintage wire wheels, post-vintage and classics as well as open-wheel racers and big cube muscle cars. In 2021 they celebrated the 30th anniversary of the current day event and the 85th anniversary of the original “Around the Houses” race in Australia which was held in Albany in 1936.
Experience the spectacle of 150 vintage and classic cars competing on this temporary street circuit. Alongside the action of the cars is a family festival with bands, children’s entertainment, competitions, food and other stalls along with displays of vintage cars and street machines.
See this historic event with your own eyes. (Image: Amazing Albany)
Gather the family and head to Pinjarra for the 2022 LiveLighter Pinjarra Festival. Murray’s largest, free community event is set to entertain the whole family with an exciting line-up of acts, activities and attractions including live music, more than 100 market stalls, vintage car and machinery displays, a wine-tasting shed, woodturning demonstrations and food trucks.
Beginning on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend every year, Adelaide Cabaret Festival is the biggest cabaret festival globally and a major event in the international and Australian arts calendar. The festival has garnered a reputation for highlighting outstanding local, national and international artists through an eclectic program of classic and contemporary cabaret performances.
In 2022 iconic Australian singer-songwriter, record producer, actress and consummate performer Tina Arena will take on the role of artistic director for the 2022 Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
Tina Arena is this year’s artistic director. (Image: Jai Vasicek)
Celebrate World Gin Day at Glen Ewin Estate. The perfect combination of gin tasting and partying, Gin Fest is packed with opportunities for any gin amateur or fanatic out there.
Meet with local artisan producers and taste a range of their exquisite gins. The enthusiasts can book a gin masterclass and travel safely with the Gin Bus by Des’s Minibus.
Join fork on the road for a ‘fork by the fire’ – a winter-warmer festival of food trucks, live music, bars and family entertainment.
Bring along your family, friends and a blankie to Bonython Park for a cosy al fresco afternoon featuring food trucks, live acoustic music, pop-up bars and family entertainment.
A selection of Adelaide’s finest mobile food vendors will be serving up all of your favourite warming comfort foods, both sweet and savoury! A selection of local breweries and distilleries will also be setting up shop at Bonython Park, pouring their signature drops via their pop-up bars. Plus, The Fork Bar will have you covered for a warming splash of red (or white).
Get some delicious food and wine at Fork by the Fire! (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission and Brendan Homan)
Soak up the relaxed atmosphere of the Northern Territory’s most well-known orchid festival. The annual show of blooms showcases native flora from all around the region. A day at the Orchid Spectacular will be filled with street food and bargain stalls, raffles, tips from orchid specialists, potting demonstrations and floral art and photographic sessions.
With tickets starting at $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and free entry for kids under 12, this family-friendly event is hard to pass up.
There’s something for the whole family at the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown with a host of delicious food choices, motorsports and plenty of fun activities for the kids.
The 2022 program promises to be bigger and better than ever before with Supercars, Australian Superbikes, Nitro Up North, Porsche, S5000 and more.
Paired with the Northern Territory’s incredible weather and tourism experiences, the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown is a must-do on the Top End’s events calendar.
This iconic annual family-fun event was established in Darwin in 1974 and is an event for all to use their imagination to design a vessel from cans as well as plastic bottles or milk cartons… as long as it floats.
The day includes individual and team boat races, as well as sandcastle building, thong-throwing competitions, an Ironman event as well as a range of other races and many other beach events.
The Beer Can Regatta combines recycling and building boats in a spectacular way. (Image: Tourism NT)
Eat Local Week has something for foodies of all ages, from free and low-cost activities for children and families, including farm tours and cooking classes to exclusive dining experiences hosted by some of Queensland’s finest chefs.
This festival of food and farming runs during the first week of the Queensland June-July school holidays at various locations around the Scenic Rim region, which is just one hour’s drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Choose from its many events, including the delicious tasting plates at market stalls, chef masterclasses and live music flowing throughout when you visit the Winter Harvest Festival on 2 July, or decadent long table lunches at O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards on June 26.
Scenic Rim Eat Local Week is held at some of the most stunning locations. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
Pig ‘N’ Whistle Brunswick Street are teaming up with legendary beer brewers Stone & Wood and Heads of Noosa for a long, beer-filled lunch. For $65pp you’ll enjoy a four-course lunch matched with two beers per course, one from each brewery. That’s eight beers and a whole lot of hoppi-ness. There’s also live music plus a bundle of prizes to be won.
If you’re a beer lover, this is the lunch for you! (Image: Pig ‘N’ Whistle Brunswick Street)
Let’s get lit! Multicultural Australia’s LUMINOUS Lantern Parade is back for 2022. The spectacular lantern procession will begin at Flowstate, South Bank, winding its way on a short and symbolic walk down the promenade taking in the sites of the city skyline.
The parade ends at the South Bank Piazza for a vibrant world music concert, with the lanterns bathed in luminous light symbolising welcome and hope for many people from all over the world.
The LUMINOUS Lantern Parade will brighten up Brisbane. (Image: Multicultural Australia)
Barrel & Batch is a co-operative whisky club famous for bringing into Australia exclusive single-cask Scotch, Irish, and Bourbon whiskies. This June, Ray from Barrel & Batch is coming to Canberra to share a small selection of the phenomenal whiskies that their members have been drinking.
If you want to indulge in a combination of heavy-hitting Sherry casked whiskies from Scotland and Ireland and some simply stunning Bourbon casked whiskies from Scotland and Australia – along with one devastatingly mouth-watering single barrel Bourbon from Tennessee, you have to head along!
Head to the Novotel for Whisky Flights x Barrel & Batch. (Image: VisitCanberra)
This Australia v the Mediterranean Wine Dinner will compare 3 different wine varieties produced in Australia against their Mediterranean counterparts. Then it’ll move inside to a long table for a Mediterranean inspired three-course dinner.
In total, you will enjoy a three-course dinner with seven different wines, lots of good conversation and healthy debate about which are your favourites.
The Australia v the Mediterranean Wine Dinner is held at the fancy Parlour Wine Bar. (Image: VisitCanberra)
From Shakespeare to Winehouse, Darwin to Dickens, the Beatles, Bronte sisters and Beckham, the National Portrait Gallery London holds the world’s most extensive collection of portraits. While it undergoes the largest renovation of its building in 125 years, more than 80 treasures from its collection have travelled to Australia for an exclusive exhibition.
Start planning now to visit famous faces from the 16th century to today. There’ll be fame, power, love, loss, innovation and the downright inspirational – it’s going to be incredible.
This really is a rare, once-in-a-generation opportunity – showing exclusively at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra – so keep calm and grab your ticket.
The National Portrait Gallery London has come to Canberra. (Image: VisitCanberra)
This year’s inaugural Indian Ocean Fest has been designed to celebrate Christmas Island, one of the most awe-inspiring places on the planet. The pilot program of outstanding experiences, to be held from 21 to 28 June 2022, will celebrate the Christmas Island Marine Park, which means there is even more protected wonderland to explore (63 per cent of the island is made up of national park). The exclusive event is aimed at just 30 travellers who have a passion for adventure, nature and an interest in exploring the island’s colourful aquatic, wilderness and cultural elements.
The Indian Ocean Fest coincides with the island’s annual SeaWeek which will see screenings of marine and ocean-themed films as part of The Ocean Film Festival World Tour. Indian Ocean Fest attendees will also learn how they can support this remote frontier for marine life through nature-based tourism.
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