February 20, 2023
22 mins Read
Whether you’re up for adventure, want to delve into the 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 May, helping you plan your calendar accordingly. Thank us later.
The 23rd Biennale of Sydney, titled, rīvus, is dedicated to Australia’s rivers, wetlands and other salt and freshwater ecosystems and invites these aqueous beings into a dialogue with architects, designers, scientists and communities to ask unlikely and confronting questions.
By considering the water’s ecological perspective, and asking audiences to look at rivers with respect, like our Indigenous brothers and sisters do, rīvus will advocate for sustainability as an action, not a theme.
The 23rd Biennale of Sydney will present artworks, experiments, and activisms that flow around a series of imagined ecosystems and conceptual wetlands situated along waterways of the Gadigal, Burramatagal, and Cabrogal peoples. Don’t miss Leanne Tobin’s participatory weaving wall, Ngalawan and a panel discussion led by Dharug knowledge holders at rīvus at A.C.E. (Arts and Cultural Exchange).
The Biennale of Sydney amplifies the voices of artists and tell the stories of our global communities, as they drive momentum for lasting cultural change.
Feast your eyes on Leeroy New’s phenomenal art installations at Biennale Sydney. (Image: Leeroy New)
The 9th edition of Sydney’s chicest celebration of food, friends and fine wine will take place at a secret location.
Antoine Bessis, host of Le Dîner en Blanc in Sydney, said “We hope Sydneysiders will join us on the May 14 for a truly magical night. We’ve got some massive surprises in store too, so the wait will certainly be worth it.”
An elegant and exclusive affair, Le Dîner en Blanc has become THE social gathering of the year for Sydneysiders. The COVID-safe outdoor dining event transports guests into another world, offering guests the opportunity to meet new people or reunite with long-time friends while dressed up in white at a dinner à la Française.
Each year, Le Dîner en Blanc Sydney is staged in a new secret location, past events have been staged at iconic locations such as Bondi Beach, Centennial Parklands, and the Sydney Opera House forecourt.
At Le Dîner en Blanc, both the conversation and champagne flow and the celebrations seem endless.
Let the vino flow as you take in the beautiful sights Sydney has to offer. (Image: Le Dîner en Blanc)
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 all 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 returns bigger and better than ever this year. Don’t miss it. (Image: Destination NSW)
The pinnacle event on the Australian fashion calendar, Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW) kicks off this month. Get ready to celebrate a week of non-stop style featuring some of Australia’s top fashion labels.
AAFW engages the industry alongside fashion’s most passionate consumers in one dynamic program, marrying physical and digital activations that celebrate Australia’s preeminent designers and fashion’s cultural influence. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketek.
Prepare to feel inspired to spruce up your wardrobe when you attend Australian Fashion Week. (Image: Australian Fashion Week)
GLOW is the only light festival in Sydney where guests can enjoy a trail of luminous light sculptures and encounter the world’s most iconic creepy crawlies. After exploring the GLOW Light Walk, step inside Australia’s largest Reptile & Nocturnal house and come face to face with hundreds of reptiles, including the world’s most venomous snakes and real glowing UV scorpions.
Guests will be dazzled by over 50 impressive light sculptures, a tunnel of twinkling lights, interactive installations, a Secret UV Safari, GLOW Ice Rink, the KIIS Eye Ferris wheel, Glowy Golf by Carnival Cruise Line, Space Jam, food trucks, 4 Pines bar, entertainment and much more.
Plus, every child will receive a FREE UV torch and map to experience the Secret UV Safari that will lead kids through the GLOW Light Walk to discover a trail of hidden neon animals and artwork.
GLOW at Sydney Zoo is an accessible and inclusive event, designed specifically with no hills or steps for varying levels of mobility, for everyone to have a fun time.
Western Sydney is lighting up Sydney Zoo with the new GLOW light festival. (Image: Sydney Zoo)
A new solo exhibition entitled Silent Language by Mullumbimby-based artist Arran Russell will be open to the public from 3–7 May in the Verona Penthouse in Paddington. To gain access to the rarely used top floor space of the Verona Theatre visitors must buzz the artist’s phone number, who will be in residence between 11 am and 4 pm each day.
The artist drew inspiration for the series of sculptures, wall assemblages, paintings and works on paper from his past life as a fashion designer where he spent years collaborating with factory workers in countries such as Vietnam, China, India and Japan where the only shared vocabulary was in the cut-out shapes of garment patterns.
Arran Russell’s Silent Language exhibition is on at the Verona Penthouse in Paddington.
Use your Discover voucher before it expires to buy tickets at the Sydney Coliseum Theatre to see acts such as Ross Noble (5 May) and Jimeon (14 May). Fans of Ross Noble will know to expect a lot of tangents as the English-born comic tiptoes around absurd subjects and storylines with his signature brand of physical comedy.
Australia’s favourite Irish-born comedian Jimeon will have audiences crying happy tears from the second he steps on stage to discuss everything from marriage to masturbation. Heckle if you dare, as both chaps have enough comedic experience to slay naysayers with as little as an overly arched eyebrow. Visit the Sydney Coliseum website to see what’s on in the month of May.
Culture is calling you to unlock layers of artistry and inviting you to discover the dynamic depths of a city with culture in its veins at Art After Dark.
In an exciting program spread over two nights, attendees are allowed rare and intimate access to free evening art events as doors open after dark at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Art Centre Melbourne, Fed Square, ACMI, State Library of Victoria and Melbourne Museum.
Follow your curiosities, explore our most iconic venues in a whole new light and experience our city at its creative and vibrant best.
The 2022 Ballarat Heritage Festival (formally known as Ballarat Heritage Weekend) is here and will take a unique look at the city’s rear trades and craft skill set, through demonstration and storytelling by film, highlighting the incredible architecture, streetscapes and buildings Ballarat is famous for.
Enjoy the rich and complex history of Ballarat across various festival offerings. Experience the past in a contemporary way, while making new history. You will be able to enjoy events in your own time, through both ticketed and always on activations.
Bendigo Writers Festival is an annual three-day event which gathers more than 100 writers for discussions about every kind of writing under the sun.
The festival will be a three-day multi-venue program and invites everyone to the Central Victorian region to experience a friendly, exuberant and tempting program for young and old.
As part of the festival, 51 events have been planned at venues including The Capital, Ulumbarra Theatre and the Bendigo Library. All venues are COVID-compliant and will be accessible for in-person attendance.
As part of the Bendigo Writers Festival, 51 events have been planned at venues across the city. (Image: Visit Victoria)
The winemakers of the Murrindindi sub-region are opening their cellar doors/wineries for their annual welcome to their neighbours in Murrindindi Shire and to visitors from Melbourne and other regions.
Wines will be available for tastings and purchase during The Murrindindi Wine Weekend. Enjoy the outdoor bush setting with live music, tapas treats from the pop up food bar, arts and crafts, and a vintage cars display courtesy of the Murrindindi Historic Car Club.
No need to book (unless you’re a large group). Grab your friends and head to Taggerty, at the northern end of the Cathedral Ranges.
Harvest Moon is named after its historical connection to farmers. It provides ample moonlight in the early evening for farmers harvesting autumn crops. The arrival of the Harvest Moon means autumn is officially coming to an end and we believe it is a time to relax, restore and revitalise.
This event highlights the beauty of the region, focusing on nature and the power of air, fire, and earth. The tranquillity and pristine surrounds provide the perfect setting for an event of this theme, and with the festival being hosted over numerous days; it encourages visitors to explore the region. This diverse event provides a point of difference and gives attendees three days’ worth of reasons to visit the Shire.
Indulge in the glorious food and wine at the Harvest Moon Festival. (Image: Harvest Moon Festival)
The eclectic sounds of musicians from all over Australia will fill the autumn air in Canberra, with special performances as part of the 2022 Canberra International Music Festival.
The Canberra International Music Festival was founded in 1994 by the late Ursula Callus. It has been held annually since 1997 and now features concerts, lectures and masterclasses held in our national institutions and Canberra’s iconic architectural space.
Over 10 colourful autumn days, join in Canberra for a musical journey around the globe. From new works to timeless classics, the festival features a boundless collection of thought-provoking acts, featuring a stunning line-up of Australian and international artists.
Explore the program and plan your musical adventure.
The original (and best) mountain film festival is returning to Canberra over four huge nights.
The Banff Mountain Film Festival is the most prestigious international film competition and an annual presentation of short films and documentaries about mountain culture, sports, and environment. It was launched in 1976 as The Banff Festival of Mountain Films by The Banff Centre and is held every October in Banff, Canada.
Approximately 375 films are entered into the film festival annually, and the top 80 films are selected by a pre-screening committee to be shown at the week-long festival in Canada and then around the globe.
The original (and best) mountain film festival is returning to Canberra.
One of Australia’s most celebrated artists, Smart sought inspiration from the world around him – looking to the environment of urban and industrial modernity – which he transformed through his imaginative sense of theatre and intimate understanding of geometry and composition. These potent and intriguing images have become emblematic of 20th and 21st century urban experience.
Building on the foundational work already undertaken on Smart, this major exhibition will bring fresh perspectives to his artistic contribution so that his remarkable legacy will be kept alive in the present.
Cradle Mountain Hotel’s annual Festival of Fagus honours the incredible Tasmanian wilderness with a variety of events, classes, workshops, tours and menus that will immerse and inspire you.
The Gallery Garden Banquet held on May 6 will delight in a four-course dinner, complete with perfectly paired wines from across the island state. Savour the autumnal flavours while immersed in works by local artists, inspired by the Tasmanian wilderness.
The Festival of Fagus takes inspiration from the stunning Tasmanian landscapes. I mean… (Image: Tourism Tasmania and Jason Charles Hill)
The Australian Musical Theatre Festival is an unparalleled opportunity for musical theatre lovers, makers and industry professionals to get together, share and celebrate this wonderful genre.
Held in Launceston, Tasmania, the annual festival includes a diverse program with ample opportunities to teach, collaborate, engage and – of course – enjoy. Whether you’re working in the industry, a passionate audience member, a teacher or a member of a community musical theatre society, this is the festival for you!
Bringing together musical theatre lovers, makers and professionals from around the country, the festival is an opportunity to connect with and learn from top musical theatre professionals and celebrate everything that is great about musical theatre.
Attending the Breath Of Fresh Air Film Festival will guarantee a front row seat to the celebration of extraordinary films from all around the world
Prepare to laugh and cry at the kinds of films that inspire us to take action, telling the kinds of unique stories that are only possible in a small festival of this scale. Chances are you’ll also get to meet any film makers attending.
And because this is Tasmania, you’ll also indulge in local beer or a glass of the states finest wines.
When it comes to wining and dining, Tasmania has you covered. (Image: Adam Gibson)
Escape to a world where words, creativity and expression have no limits at the Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival. Lose yourself in a weekend of talks, panels and workshops with authors, writers, journalists, academics and storytellers – who dare to dream big – at the biggest regional literature event in WA.
The series of events are taking place at the festival hub, at Margaret River HEART in the town centre, and also includes a new Busselton Special Edition satellite event in Busselton.
Be there to join presenters as they bring their stories to life!
A festival that celebrates fresh local food, boutique wines and the amazing flavours of the Great Southern. Located along the rugged southern coastline and into the mountains and forest ranges.
With 20+ local, state and nationally acclaimed chefs across 30+ not-to-be-missed culinary experiences, the festival will be home to a regional food & wine festival, long lunches, unique dinners, degustations, premium pairing events, community markets, music events, wine sessions and more.
The unique and award-winning wine and breweries of the Great Southern will feature across this amazing program. You can expect to sip wine varietals such as shiraz, pinot noir and riesling or maybe something a little different as well as local craft beer. Then taste and savour amazing fresh and local produce including oysters, seafood, chicken, beef and lamb, heirloom vegetables and cheeses.
The Taste Great Southern Festival brings the most exquisite chefs of the region together to mark a truly unmissable experience. (Image: Amazing Albany)
Are you ready to step into a world where Van Gogh comes alive?
Prepare to transcend time and space as you accompany Van Gogh on a journey through the Netherlands, Arles, Saint Rémy and Auvers-sur-Oise, where he created many of his timeless masterpieces.
Set to an evocative classical score, a thrilling display of over 3000 inspirational images transforms every surface that surrounds you. At Van Gogh Alive you don’t just look at his paintings, you step inside them and feel their power.
Having dazzled over 7 million visitors across 65 cities worldwide, Van Gogh Alive has embarked on its ground-breaking tour of Australia.
Don’t miss your chance to immerse yourself in the life and works of Vincent Van Gogh under the stunning Grand Pavilion.
The Perth Comedy Festival is Perth’s biggest annual comedy event. Every April and May, the best comedians from Australia and beyond take to stages across Perth for a massive month of comedy.
The festival program features performances from the finest Australian acts, the biggest international stars and the most promising emerging talent offering up everything from stand up to sketch, satire, impro, musical, absurdist, theatre, magic and kids comedy.
This four-day winemaking and food + wine immersion is curated and facilitated by Cassandra Charlick.
The all-inclusive winemaking retreat will give you insider wine travel tips, behind the scenes knowledge and a side of Margaret River that you’ve never seen before, no matter how many times you’ve holidayed here.
Complete with a private chef (with an Australian Good Food Guide hat and in the WA top restaurants 50 three years running), a day in the vineyard and winery making small batch syrah, two days of hiking through the Margaret River region with a private guide, a decadent autumnal feast and private tasting with one of Margaret River’s most respected and awarded winemakers, this is a once in a lifetime experience.
Margaret River’s stunning wineries have breathtaking views to boot. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel is a showcase of all things South Australian: the people, the produce and the place.
Head out of Adelaide and attend a Tasting Australia event in the regions of South Australia. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)
Indulgent lunches with friends, boutique beverages served fireside in Town Square and menus created by world-class chefs are just a taste. The festival began in 1997 and continues to deliver both innovative events and the informal excellence the state does so well.
Savour the magic that happens when local legends are joined by top chefs from around the nation – moments impossible to recreate. Sip your way through a wine, beer or spirit masterclass, sampling South Australian gems alongside those from further afield. Head to the heart of Adelaide or enjoy a regional getaway.
This year’s festival has over 200 events across 11 regions – making it the most diverse program yet.
Experience a world full of flavour at Tasting Australia. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)
Held annually, the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival has grown exponentially to become recognised as one of the most energetic regional art festivals in South Australia.
Fusing literature, art and of course, the finest wines from the Coonawarra landscapes vineyards, expect the best of the Limestone Coasts’ heritage to be on full display.
Get creative at the Penola Arts Festival. (Image: Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival)
Prancing Horse is returning to South Australia for a series of ‘Supercar Drive Day’ events, taking tours through events in the Adelaide Hills and Barossa Valley throughout May.
If you’ve ever dreamed of taking a drive in the brand-new luxurious Ferrari 488 GTB and Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4, now may be your only chance.
The luxurious journey allows travellers to experience the best of South Australia’s rolling landscapes of vineyards from a unique perspective in extreme comfort.
Exclusively starting at Mount Lofty House, the drive makes pitstops at Bird in Hand Winery, Applewood Distillery and finishes with a degustation lunch at Hentley Farm in Seppeltsfield, Barossa Valley.
Get out of your comfort zone at the Prancing Horse Drive Experience
(Image: Erik Rosenberg)
This year’s BASSINTHEGRASS is increasingly looking like the biggest event of 2022, offering plenty of reasons to nudge visitors into travelling to the Top End for May 21. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your mates and grab some tickets!
The festival’s relocation to Darwin’s iconic Mindil beach in 2019 continues to allow for more and more additions to the entertainment side of things. With an impressive range of activations adding to the appeal of an event that features a stellar line-up of Australia’s top musical acts.
BASSINTHEGRASS is the ultimate music festival experience jam packed with a heap of unique tourism experiences you can enjoy across the Top End.
The BASSINTHEGRASS music festival in Darwin is back! Not a bad view either. (Image: BASSINTHEGRASS)
Running for 10 days, the Taste of Kakadu food and cultural festival will take you on an amazing taste, sound and visual journey to discover the foods, stories and customs that have sustained the world’s oldest living culture for more than 65,000 years.
Taste of Kakadu festival is the perfect opportunity to indulge in traditional Indigenous food, culture, and local art, crafts, music, and entertainment – while visiting the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park.
The Freds Pass Rural Show is the premium community event in the Darwin rural area with all the features of a traditional show plus exciting extras showcasing local food.
The 50-kilometre Feast, a gourmet dinner with an exciting menu made entirely from local produce, kicks off the show on the Friday night with feasting under the stars. Throughout Saturday and Sunday, the Paddock to Plate marquee features celebrity chefs and local foodies entertaining show goers with local food preparation and tastings.
And there is still plenty of time to enjoy the plethora of other show activities – competitions (equestrian, cattle, goats, poultry, art, craft, photography and horticulture), woodchopping and chainsaw carving displays, talent quest, live stage event, children’s’ entertainment, side show alley, and food, market and commercial stalls. Saturday night features a fireworks spectacular after which live music rocks the crowds till midnight.
Escape In The Scenic Rim is a month long celebration of some of the most precious and spectacular areas of the world. Over 55 nature and adventure-based events and activities will be on offer allowing visitors to explore the world renowned rainforests and parklands, discover diverse landscapes and wildlife and participate in a range of events from 4WD adventuring to hang gliding, bush walking, art, meditation and yoga.
The vast Scenic Rim region covers more than 4000 square kilometres of lush rainforests and spectacular landscapes, six national parks, World Heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests, fertile agricultural lands and a host of food and nature-based experiences.
Escape In The Scenic Rim provides the perfect opportunity for visitors to explore the region, connect with country, learn, walk, talk and tackle your next wild adventure.
In amongst the beauty of the Scenic Rim. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
Grazing The Granite Belt is bringing with it two days of lazy grazing with award winning wines and dozens of gourmet food dishes.
Spend Saturday on the hop-on hop-off bus visiting the participating venues and enjoying the wines on offer as well as indulging in the wonderful meals prepared with local ingredients by the food artisans. On Sunday, there is the Breakfast with the Winemakers to go to beside Quart Pot Creek in Stanthorpe, before venturing out on your own to use up any vouchers you have left at the participating venues.
Cairns Ecofiesta is Queensland’s premier sustainability festival – a free-entry event held on the doorstep of two World Heritage areas – the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest.
Ecofiesta, held in the city’s lush tropical Munro Martin Parklands, is a music festival, a food festival, a children’s festival and an environmental expo all rolled into one.
Whether you’re a long-time local, new resident or visitor to the region, everyone is catered for at Ecofiesta.
Music festival vibes with an amazing line-up of bands, eco-conscious consumers can get their spend on with a huge array of green tech and sustainable living solutions, there are workshops and activities abound for all ages, not to mention the food vans abound with local eats and vegetarian treats.
Ecofiesta is a unique chance to connect with an ancient landscape, and the organisations and individuals working for its protection.
Don’t miss Australia’s largest free music festival, boasting the spectacular Gold Coast as the backdrop. Held over four days right in the heart of Broadbeach, the jam-packed line-up gives music lovers from soul, blues and more something to explore!
Fans can expect to see a range of Blues inspired music, whilst wondering through a precinct full of restaurants, cafes and bars to satisfy any food lovers cravings.
Spanning May through to November, the Hamilton Island Endurance Series puts athletes to the test as they compete in events set in the stunning island channels, beaches, and off-road trails. The event this year includes the Hilly Half Marathon, Great Whitehaven Beach Run, Hamilton Island Triathlon, and the Hamilton Island Ocean Swim.
Get your running shoes on because the Hamilton Island Endurance Series is back on. (Image: Tourism Whitsundays)
Set in Queensland’s iconic outback, the festival celebrates the wonder of opera under an endless sky. This year’s festival is headlined by Greta Bradman with music direction by Dane Lam, leading the UQ Pulse Chamber Orchestra.
See Opera under the stars followed by 2 weeks of regional tours, community events and activations. This concert offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the wonder of opera, unforgettable Outback sunsets and fine country hospitality.
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