All the best things happening in your state this October

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 October, helping you plan your calendar accordingly. Thank us later.

All events correct at the time of publishing. We are doing our best to keep this post updated but due to the evolving Covid-19 situation please check the event’s website directly before attending and follow all current safety restrictions.

NSW

Hospitality re-opens
October 11

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has revealed the State Government’s three-stage road map to freedom, including key dates when hospitality venues will open.

The state is expected to hit its 70% double vaccination target in less than a month, with October 11 set as ‘Freedom Day’, when the first round of restrictions will be lifted.

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From October 11, restaurants, bars and pubs as well as retail businesses will reopen to fully vaccinated patrons, with a 4sqm per person rule in place for inside, and a 2sqm rule for outside. Head here for some Sydney restaurant inspiration.

Hubert is a no-brainer.

Jervis Bay Whale Watching set to reopen
October

Whale cruises are set to reopen, just in time for the peak of the migration season in Jervis Bay, according to the “Roadmap to recovery” unveiled this week by the NSW government.

For the last 30 years, local whale tour company Dolphin Watch Cruises has had their most frequent and intimate encounters with the gentle giants inside Jervis bay in October. It’s not just the big adult humpbacks, either; the most common visitors to the bay are the mothers with newborn calves.

Local tour operators are hoping to safely reopen with reduced boat capacity around the 11^th of October for those in the local area and regional NSW, with Greater Sydney due back around the 25^th. After being off the water for the last few months of whale season, operators are hopeful this will boost the struggling tourism industry in and around Jervis Bay.

Read more about Jervis Bay here.

Dolphin Watch Cruises gets you up close and personal.

Clarence Valley Jacaranda Festival
October 29-November 7

It may look a little different than in previous years, with limited capacity that will ensure venues are COVID-safe, but Clarence Valley’s famous Jacaranda Festival is back in 2021.

Market Square will be transformed into a gated, outdoor venue to house many of the main events including local and internationally renowned artists who will be performing throughout the festival. The highly anticipated Illuminate event will see Jacaranda trees light up at dark, and Saraton Theatre will welcome performers for live shows.

Read more here.

See Grafton come alive during Jacaranda season

QLD

Fig & Bloom Pop up Workshops

Melbourne’s only five-star floral design business, Fig & Bloom has officially made its way to Brisbane, offering fashionable floral arrangements, plants and gifts, all with same day delivery. To celebrate the launch, they will be unveiling a limited-edition Brisbane Bouquet made up of the very best native flora that the state’s landscape has to offer.

And for Brisbanites keen to get their hands a little dirtier, a collection of flower workshops have been announced in Teneriffe. There will be just six workshops available running from October 14 to October 17 at The Ferryman’s Hut

Tickets are available for $75 each and include an hour and a half tuition and all the supplies needed to make the Brisbane Bouquet – which guests can take home.

Build your own Brisbane bouquet.

Caloundra Music Festival
Sunshine Coast
October 1 – 3

The Sunshine Coast’s Caloundra Music Festival celebrates the community’s local culture, food and arts scenes.

To make things even better, some stages are so close to the beach that you can stay in the water all day enjoying the festival’s local and international entertainment.

Celebrates the community’s local culture, food and arts scenes

Taste Port Douglas
October 7-10

After its four-year hiatus, foodies across Australia will have cutlery at the ready as Taste Port Douglas marks its highly anticipated return to Tropical North Queensland.

The festival will welcome some of Australia’s most inspiring chefs and industry leaders to deliver an unforgettable culinary experience.

Are you ready to party in paradise?

Cairns Food & Wine Festival
October 8 -9

A new foodie event to Tropical North Queensland, Cairns Food & Wine Festival is the perfect showcase of the local food and beverages produced in the region. Enjoy a wide range of food from some of Cairns’ most popular restaurants and food vendors in the surreal settings of Munro Martin Parklands.

VIC

DO AN ONLINE EXERCISE CLASS

There are a myriad ways to get your sweat on in lockdown. From yoga and pilates classes, living-room-friendly workouts, and free apps to lead you around the park.

Universal Practice at Home is an online platform with unlimited access to more than 70 classes by the Melbourne-based pilates and physiotherapy studio. Tune in for an abundance of workouts including pilates, strength training, yoga and meditation – for $49 per month.

Yoga studio Humming Puppy (which has studios in Melbourne, Sydney and New York) is offering unlimited access to its suite of pre-recorded classes for 50 cents a day (plus its offering a handful of freebies).

Each kit contains 500 grams of air-dry clay, as well as a wooden clean-up tool, a sponge and an original Elph Ceramics tiny house to start your tiny village.

Classes run on Thursdays only between September 9 and 30. The kits can be shipped Australia-wide – best to order at least two weeks before your chosen session. Private group bookings are also available.

SA

Artisans of Barossa opens
October 1

Barossa’s Newest Culinary Hub, Artisans of Barossa, is set to open its doors on Friday October 1.

Eight family-owned Barossa winemakers have joined forces to develop an exciting new wine and food destination, each who have been working together since 2005 to promote their wines and raise awareness of the region’s exciting small-batch winemaking scene.

Artisans of Barossa will host wine formal and casual tasting experiences, supported by their food offering, Essen by Artisans of Barossa.

Read more about the Barossa Valley here. 

Tarnanthi Festival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art
Adelaide
October 14, 2021 – January, 2022

Commencing this October and continuing into the new year, South Australia will host the Tarnanthi Festival, Australia’s largest celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture.

Art from more than 1,000 Australian artists will feature in the Art Gallery of South Australia’s Tarnanthi exhibition and art enthusiasts can purchase local works from the art fair at participating local venues.

Ngupulya Pumani, PitjantjatjaraYankunytjatjara people, South Australia, born 1948, Mimili, South Australia, synthetic polymer paint on linen, three panels; Ngupulya Pumani,Mimili Maku Arts

OzAsia Festival
Adelaide
October 21 – November 7

Held annually each spring, Adelaide’s OzAsia celebrates all things arts, food and culture as it pertains to Asian culture.

The festival is one of Adelaide’s most popular, with an average of 200,000 locals enjoying the ‘east meets west’ collaboration.

This year, the festival is set to produce its largest ever program (featuring 60 unique events) for a variety of excited audiences.

Diners enjoying OzAsia Festival.

Semaphore Music Festival
Semaphore
October 1-4

With most Australian states enjoying a long weekend, October is the perfect time to experience Adelaide’s growing music scene.

Away from the city and close to the beach, the Semaphore Music Festival is now in its 16^th year. The festival will showcase homegrown acts like Beach Girl and Tom Redwood.

WA

Dardunup Bull and Barrel Festival
October 9

The Dardanup Bull and Barrel Festival is proudly brought to you by the Dardanup community as a celebration of the diversity and vibrancy of the region.

The festival is held every year on the last Saturday of the October School holidays, and features over 150 market and food stalls, live music and demonstrations, petting zoo, a free monster kids craft marquee and plenty of animals and kids attractions.

Read more here.

A Taste of Chittering
October 2 and 3

A Taste of Chittering festival will make its return during the spring school holiday weekend, where over 5,000 visitors will experience the produce, wine, and country lifestyle of the greater Chittering region – just 1 hour from Perth.

Guests can taste their way through the market stalls and discover fresh local produce, enjoy the region’s wine and beer, meet farmers, growers, and guest chefs, all complemented by the fresh, country Chittering air and picturesque valley slopes during wildflower season.

This year’s festival will shine a light on local producers with diverse range of countryside market stalls, produce tastings, interactive demonstrations, and curated picnic hampers.

Taste the delights of Chittering.

NT

Radical Reels
October 13

This action film festival will showcase a variety of different shorts from the Banff Mountain Film Festival.

With over two-and-a-half hours of short adventure films, the footage will take viewers out of their comfort zones with daring footage and adventurers.

Expect wild rides, long lines, steep jumps and skilful stunts, celebrating the camaraderie, courage and conviction of today’s most out-there adventurers.

Add ‘Into Twin Galaxies’ to your itinerary

Kakadu Bird Week
Until October 2

With more than a third of Australia’s bird species calling Kakadu home, the UNESCO World Heritage listed national park is a bird lover’s paradise.

Kakadu Bird Week features a packed itinerary for nature enthusiasts, including wetland cruises, bird watching expeditions, specialist lectures and Aboriginal bird experiences.

Kakadu is a bird lover’s paradise.

Desert Mob
Until October 24

This year, Desert Mob celebrates 30 years of bringing together the art and culture of First Nations artists from across desert country. Held at the Araluen Arts Centre, the festival showcases artworks and artists from 32 art centres across Arrernte Country, the Western Desert, Martu Country, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands, Ngaanyatjarra Lands, Spinifex Country, the Barkly and Alyawarr Country.

Puna Yanima from Mimili Maku Arts at the Artist Preview of the Desert Mob 2019 Exhibition. Photo by Oliver Eclipse.

Tas

Royal Hobart Show

Some come for the fun fair, some for the animals. Others like the machinery or the show-jumping horses. Whatever the interest, this show provides a taste of rural life for city dwellers.

This year, the 200th Royal Hobart Show has a few changes. The state health department is restricting attendance to patrons to 5,000 a day and the government is supporting the event with a grant of $50,000 for hygiene and patron management. From country heritage and agriculture to the charms of our bustling city and from top level competition to the latest in entertainment, the show offers something for everyone.