There’s no shortage of things to do in Australia. If anyone knows that, it’s us…
However 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 March, helping you plan your calendar accordingly. Thank us later.
NSW
QueerHub at Giant Dwarf
Sydney
March
Continue the Mardi Gras celebrations at one of Sydney’s most iconic theaters. Queer Hub is a two-week focused program, celebrating and showcasing performers in the LGBTQIA+ community
Head in on Monday night for Two Queers Open Mic, an inclusive space for queer comedians of any experience level to try out their material. Tuesday night sees queer Aussie actors and comedians doing a 10 Things I Hate About You (but it’s queer) table read. Finally, Māori artist Daley Rangi takes over the theatre Wednesday night for the comedically thrilling The Summer Bay Homicides, a “grotesque lo-fi conspiracy extravaganza” exploring the many suspicious deaths in Home and Away’s Summer Bay over the past 30 years.
Head to the Giant Dwarf website for tickets and more information.
YAMBA SURF AND YOGA RETREAT
YAMBA
MARCH 8 – 11
Many have started to declare Yamba, 120 kilometres to the south, ‘the new Byron’. And what better way to enjoy it than a surf and yoga retreat with We Are Alma.
Wake up to a sunrise surf session or yoga class on the oceanfront deck and listen to the waves role in. Enjoy plenty of free time to try out the many local beaches, dip in the ocean pool, stroll through town or invite some Vitamin D into your life. Yamba is a great little surfer town with plenty of little shops to explore.
Enjoy four nights in comfy, modern and oceanfront accommodation. Be treated ti organic wholefood, supercharged meals plus two meals in town trying out the local cuisine. Yoga and meditation practice on the deck overlooking the river.
EAT MERIMBULA
MERIMBULA
MARCH 8
Winding down the picturesque NSW Sapphire Coast to Merimbula, halfway between Melbourne and Sydney, you’re surrounded on all sides by ocean, bush, rainforests and lakes.
It’s known for fresh oysters, local wines, diverse wildlife, restaurants and cafes that serve up arguably the best seafood available on the South Coast. Sample it all at Eat Merimbula, celebrating the local chefs, cooks and produce of the region.
In 2021, things will look a little different. There is a focus on smaller individual events and supporting local restaurants. Fans will get the chance to travel between our towns and villages for bespoke EAT themed foodie experiences and standalone event. What more could you want?
Eat your way around Merimbula
THE OTHER ART FAIR
BARANGAROO
MARCH 18-21
The Other Art Fair, presented by Saatchi Art, gives you the opportunity to meet a curated selection of over 110 independent artists and browse thousands of pieces to suit every budget under one roof.
Whether you’re a first-time art buyer, seasoned collector, curator, investor, gallery owner, art lover or anything in between, you are guaranteed to find something to add to (or start!) your collection.
Plus, with performances, DJ sets, art installations and a fully-stocked bar awaiting you, The Other Art Fair has everything you need to enjoy a cultural day out in a Covid-safe environment.
The Other Art Fair
VIC
BEERFEST AUSTRALIA
ST KILDA
MARCH 2
More than just a craft beer expo, BeerFest Australia celebrates all the good things in life that are better with beer: music, comedy, food and family.
Over 300 unique, exotic and small-batch craft beers, ciders, cocktails and wines will be on offer at St Kilda’s Catani Gardens; matched perfectly with some of the foodie capital’s most decadent street food traders, including: Burn City Smokers, Flamin Skewers, Melbourne Paella Company, Bavarian Bangers and G-Free Donuts.
BeerFest is one of the biggest events on the Melbourne calendar
DAYLESFORD CHILLOUT FESTIVAL
DAYLESFORD
MARCH 4-8
Starting from humble beginnings, ChillOut Festival has grown to become the biggest and longest-running Country Queer Pride event in regional Australia, and the largest festival in Hepburn Shire.
By participating in the festivities, you will be actively helping to promote and encourage tolerance, understanding and inclusion of the LGBTI community through arts, cultural activities and events; promoting and supporting LBGTI expression in Regional Victoria.
ChillOut Festival is the biggest Queer Pride event in regional Australia
A TASTE OF RUTHERGLEN
RUTHERGLEN
MARCH 6-7
North-East Victoria’s most anticipated festival, Tastes of Rutherglen, will return on 9 and 10 March, keen to showcase the best of North-East Victoria’s celebrated wine and produce.
The 2019 programme is set to be the biggest and best on record with a stellar line-up of activities and menus for the whole family to enjoy.
Expect a number of events, including twilight dinners, special cocktails, pop-up bars and live music at several of the region’s wineries. And with breathtaking surroundings and carefully curated menus on offer, these authentic experiences are not to be missed.
A Taste of Rutherglen offers celebrated wine and produce
TAS
STEAMFEST
SHEFFIELD
MARCH 9-11
SteamFest brings history to life over three days.
Keen to show you showing how things were done in yesteryear, the festival showcases one of the biggest collections of working steam machinery in Australia, and features steam train rides, exhibitions of pioneering skills such as blacksmithing, historic machinery such as steam-powered threshers, vintage cars and rock crushers.
Celebrate the region’s rich steam and industrial heritage
TEN DAYS ON THE ISLAND
BURNIE
Ten Days on the Island is an epic adventure through the heart of Tasmania.
The multi-arts festival can be found in theatres, sheds, galleries and gardens around the island, all aiming to showcase the unique cultural identities of various regions.
Since its beginnings in 2001, Ten Days on the Island has delighted and excited audiences across Tasmania, becoming a catalyst for community engagement and involvement.
And for the first time, the 2019 Festival will be spread across three weekends, giving audiences even more chance to explore the extraordinary.
Ten Days on the Island brings international recognition for Tasmania
ACT
CANBERRA GOOD FOOD MONTH
CANBERRA
MARCH 1-31
If there’s one Canberra event that gets all Australian foodies excited, it’s Canberra Good Food Month.
Presented by Citi, the talent filled program will showcase both international and home-grown chefs, creating unforgettable experiences that leave lasting memories on the nation’s capital, delighting, inspiring and transporting Canberrans out of their everyday.
Canberra’s favourite al fresco food festival
CANBERRA CRAFT BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL
BRADDON
MARCH 20
Canberra Craft Beer and Cider Festival showcases (you guessed it!) the best craft beers and ciders from around Australia.
The Festival will be staged on the Batman Street and in the car park of Mercure Canberra and will feature breweries from across Australia along with live bands, food, entertainment and a wide range of kids’ activities.
From beginners to budding craft brewers, all enthusiasts are welcome!
Friendly faces at Canberra Craft Beer and Cider Festival
LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! AT ENLIGHTEN FESTIVAL
SENATE GARDENS
MARCH 1-6
Here’s the low-down: filmmakers are given a list of ten items to include in their movie, and only ten days to shoot, edit and produce a seven-minute film exploring the theme of ‘one small step’.
The results are Lights! Camera! Action!, a screening of the top twelve finalists in the Senate Rose Gardens at the Museum of Australian Democracy, with the award winners announced immediately after the screening.
Bring your chair or picnic rug, blanket and movie snacks, and settle in for a great night of film viewing (and judging!).
Get cosy for a night of excellence
SA
DARKFIELD
EAST TERRACE, ADELAIDE
Those with their ear to the ground might already know about DARKFIELD: a collection of theatrical performances set inside a 40ft shipping container. However if you haven’t, we don’t blame you.
Each performance takes place in pitch darkness, using sensory deprivation and binaural audio to explore fear and anxiety.
As well as being immersed in the dark, the total loss of vision causes other senses to heighten, allowing participators the chance to fixate on every movement and sound around them.
While each visitor leaves with their own unique experience, there is one common consensus: DARKFIELD is an all-consuming, slightly unsettling experience.
Darkfield takes Adelaide
GRAPES OF MIRTH – COMEDY AND WINE IN MCLAREN VALE
FLEURIEU PENINSULA
MARCH 3
Grapes of Mirth has returned to its spiritual home in McLaren Vale – combining three of everyone’s favourite things: comedy, wine and good people.
Punters can expect 7 hours of laughs, music, wine, gourmet grub and plenty of fun times – with line-up highlights consisting of Merrick Watts, Kitty Flanagan, Peter Helliar and more!
WOMADELAIDE
ADELAIDE BOTANIC PARK
MARCH 5-8
The iconic WOMADelaide is returning to Adelaide’s Botanic Park this March.
The open-air festival is one of the most celebrated cultural festivals in Australia. Spanning across four days, the festival program will offer performances from over 500 artists from around the world, including street theatre, display stalls and installations.
To complete the experience, Taste The World with over 50 international cuisines and culinary delights sold in stalls throughout the four days.
And with a WOMADelaide KidZone also on offer, it’s also the perfect outing for small humans.
Colours of WOMadelaide
QLD
world science festival
brisbane
march 24-28
Delve deep into the big questions in science at the World Science Festival in Brisbane this March. From March 25-29 Brisbane will be home to some of the greatest minds in science who will be answering your most important science and life questions, including: ‘Why can’t I keep my new year’s resolutions?’
It’s part of the annual Curiocity Brisbane, which hosts a series of events in various locations from March to April. Other Curiocity events include WOW (Women of the World) and QUOD Technology and Innovation Festival.
Be inspired by science
NIGHTQUARTER NIGHT MARKETS
GOLD COAST
MARCH 3
Unlock flavours of the world at the Gold Coast’s most iconic food destination.
Since 2015, the NightQuarter night markets have become the destination to experience the best street food, authentic eats, market stalls and live entertainment. This year, hungry attendees can discover a kaleidoscope of global flavours, street art, music and over 100 regional vendors. It’s a festival every weekend!
WA
SCULPTURE BY THE SEA
COTTESLOE
MARCH 5-22
One of Perth’s largest free public events, Sculpture by the Sea, is set to transform the city’s iconic waterscape into a 70+ sculpture park, showcasing artists from across Australia and the world.
The exhibition is featured from the sea wall all the way along the sand towards North Cottesloe and on the surrounding grassed areas creating a beautiful sculpture park.
Locals and visitors alike can take a stroll and marvel at some of these spectacular creations, while watching the sun set over the Indian Ocean.
Behold the beauty of Sculpture By The Sea
NANNUP MUSIC FESTIVAL
NANNUP
MARCH 1
In the centre of Western Australia’s stunning Southwest, on the banks of the Blackwood River, lives Nannup: a small, historic timber town famous for their annual music festival.
Held annually over the Labour Day long weekend, the streets come alive with stalls, performances and activities, spearheaded by a community-minded spirit and a passionate and dedicated team of staff and committee.
Patrons can expect an eclectic mix of incredible acts over free and ticketed venues, plus camping, street performances, markets, workshops and panels, poetry, an Art Walk and a space full of activities and workshops for our little festivalgoers.
Other highlights include the Emerging Artist Award, indigenous artists programming and small-town atmosphere.
During Nanup, the streets come alive with stalls, performances and activities
FISH AND SIPS WINE AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
NORTH FREMANTLE
MARCH 27-28
If the folk of WA are known for anything, its exceptional food and wine festivals – with Fish And Sips being no exception.
Enjoy local live music, wine tastings, seafood masterclasses, cooking demonstrations and of course an enormous array of West Australian seafood with over 30 stalls from the best of Western Australian chefs, restaurants, fishermen and wineries.
Stretching out over 100 meters of Perth’s best beach, this is without a doubt one of the best food events in Western Australia.
NT
FABALICE
ALICE SPRINGS
MARCH 12-14
Inspired by the original cult movie The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, FabAlice brings Mardi Gras celebrations to Central Australia, filled with drag, comedy, cabaret and entertainment.
In addition to the famous street party and carnivale, this year’s program will also feature a rainbow flag raising ceremony at Alice Springs police station, drag lip sync battles, cinema screenings, drag queen story time, bingo, and more! It’s the most fabulous thing on this list!
Find the fabulous in Alice Springs
Please note that Fremantle in Western Australia is not Freemantle as on your website.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for pointing this out Beverlie. Even our writers have a bit of a silly moment!
Thanks
Alison