March 28, 2023
23 mins Read
Whether you’re up for an 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 July, helping you plan your calendar accordingly. Thank us later.
The National Indigenous Art Fair is coming back to Sydney Harbour to showcase creations from First Nations artists, designers and makers from around Australia.
The art fair provides Sydneysiders with the opportunity to buy ethical, authentic art direct from the artists and includes two uniquely immersive days of Indigenous Australian art, design, bushfood and culture.
Fifty stalls, an Indigenous smoking ceremony, First Nations dance and singing performances, bush food cooking demonstrations and a massive communal weaving project all form part of the two-day event taking place at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in The Rocks.
NIAF begins the day before NAIDOC Week starts. (Image: National Indigenous Art Fair)
Christmas Winter Wonderland is coming to the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park this July, taking inspiration from some of the beautiful, whimsical Winter Markets dotted around the globe at Christmas.
Christmas Winter Wonderland will also donate $1 from every adult ticket sold to the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation. What’s more, all children will be gifted with a Santa Sack on arrival filled with all sorts of goodies.
Whether it’s ice skating you’re after, a round of putt-putt, some snowman building or relaxing with some mulled wine, Christmas Winter Wonderland has you sorted.
Christmas Winter Wonderland will donate $1 from every ticket sold to the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation. (Image: Roberto Nickson)
The three-week Bondi Festival is a boutique arts and performance festival that includes a family-friendly entertainment hub. Featuring performers, storytellers and creators from Sydney and beyond, sharing everything from digital to physical, including new works in unusual places.
The famous Bondi Vista Ferris Wheel makes a return to the festival, providing a birds-eye view over Bondi Beach, and you can also swap the surfboard for skates and glide around the ice rink.
Take in the views of Bondi from the ferris wheel. (Image: Narrative Post/Matthias Engesser)
Known as the “place of great happiness”, Bathurst Winter Festival is back again to turn the town into an electrifying sea of colour and music.
Extending across all sixteen days of the winter school holidays, the businesses and residents of Bathurst embrace the festival, adding activities to the program of events, decorating their shop fronts and homes and creating a colourful carnival of welcome.
Stunning illuminations have been a part of the festival from the very beginning, telling history, lighting up imaginings and bringing the community together to acknowledge and celebrate all aspects of the Bathurst Region – people, place, heritage, culture, past, present and future.
Bathurst Winter Festival is known as the “place of great happiness” (Image: Destination NSW)
Winter is when the Australian truffle season hits its stride and Lana’s head chef, Alex Wong, will celebrate the delicate and aromatic prized fungi during a six-course truffle dinner on 6 July. The bespoke menu will serve up the sort of rich, comfort food we crave in winter such as wagyu “kare” puff and scallop, ginger and truffle and Bottoni alla “carbonara” with dashi broth and truffle.
Bookings are taken for the decadent dinner from 5pm and are staggered throughout the evening. Cost: $180.
The bespoke menu will serve up rich, comfort food. (Image: Lana)
Spanning the Fridays of July, the Union Hotel will feature the hottest local acts including Sweet Talk, Sweetie, Florian, Palms, Gloomie, Poolroom and more for a celebration of live music, good beer, and community. With free entry and Young Henrys serving up beer specials every Friday, you won’t want to miss this.
The lineup looks pretty sweet. (Image: Young Henry’s)
The French are returning to Circular Quay and The Rocks to celebrate the 8th Bastille Festival anniversary – and this year the party’s going to be even bigger and more Frenchy than ever!
Put on your best beret and get ready to join the 4-day French food, wine and art revolution, because the Bastille Festival is a free-entry, French cultural celebration held annually in Sydney’s Circular Quay and The Rocks.
The 4-day French food, wine and art Bastille Festival is a free-entry, cultural celebration held annually in Sydney’s Circular Quay and The Rocks. (Image: Bastille Festival)
Winter has made its arrival well and truly known in NSW, so embrace the icy temperatures and go to Hunter Valley Gardens as they celebrate the return of their coolest event Snow Time in the Garden. This month-long winter spectacle is the perfect school holiday activity.
Show off your best twirling skills at the ice-skating rink, turn up the competition and race against your family members as you zip down a massive 45-metre-long Ice Toboggan slope, or dodge snowballs and make snow angels in the man-made Snow Play Zone. If this isn’t enough to whet your appetite, be entertained by the traditional Venetian Carousel, Teacup Ride, Swing Car and Superslide, or take to the skies to enjoy the 25-metre Ferris Wheel that overlooks the snow-filled Gardens.
Fun for all the family. (Image: Hunter Valley Gardens)
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)
L’Hôtel, the immersive theatrical experience featuring the crème de la crème of performers from cabaret, burlesque, aerial and circus, will have its Sydney premiere season in the Opera House’s Studio later this year.
Making its world premiere with a sold-out season at Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2021, L’Hôtel reinvents the classic dinner theatre experience, fully immersing its audience in a world of French intrigue as they dine amongst the action. Don’t miss out on this, tickets will sell out.
L’Hotel is coming to Sydney in October 2022. (Image: Daniel Boud)
Queen Victoria Market’s iconic Winter Night Market transforms into a winter wonderland for Christmas in July over four magical weeks. The Winter Night Market will embrace the Christmas spirit with an array of street food, warming drinks, incredible decorations and a sing-along at the silent disco.
Those dreaming of a white Christmas can experience a snow machine under the market’s famous sheds, as well as marvel at twinkling Christmas trees, festive-themed entertainment and spectacular ice sculptures.
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)
Featuring an array of more than 80+ spectacular events happening right across the East Gippsland region, and coinciding with the Winter Solstice and Victorian school holidays – the East Gippsland Winter Festival includes a feature-packed schedule of regional art displays and performances, live music, dining experiences, light shows, multimedia events and much more.
There is something for everyone at the East Gippsland Winter Festival. (Image: Emily Hollingsworth)
This year’s Winter Festival will also see the return of the colourful after-dark lantern parades, lighting displays and art installations that helped make last year’s festival so special.
The colourful after-dark lantern parades are returning with a bang. (Image: East Gippsland Winter Festival)
Melbourne’s signature Japanese restaurant Warabi has teamed up with IWA 5 Sake creator and former Chef de Cave at Dom Pérignon, Richard Geoffroy, for an intimate paired dining experience.
The special event will see IWA 5 Sake and Geoffroy’s favourite rare vintage 2012 Dom Pérignon matched to an eight-course omakase experience curated by Warabi Head Chef Jun Oya.
The product of Richard’s deep respect for traditional Japanese sake and his affinity for innovation, IWA 5 embraces the distinct qualities of traditional sake while expanding its character.
The rare vintage 2012 Dom Pérignon will be matched to an eight-course omakase experience. (Image: Lucas Allen)
The multi-award-winning team behind one of Sydney’s most innovative cocktail bars, Maybe Sammy are heading south for their first-ever Melbourne pop-up, bringing their effervescent flair to a one-night-only takeover of Curious at W Melbourne on Tuesday 12 July.
Coming in at number 22 of The World’s Best Bars, Maybe Sammy is known for their bold and theatrical service and style, reminiscent of a high-end elegant European hotel bar, infused with Hollywood and Vegas glamour and a whole lotta fun.
The team from Maybe Sammy will see five of their signature drinks take over the cocktail menu at Curious, and they’ll also be collaborating with W Melbourne’s music curator, Rachel Phillips to bring the night to life, Maybe Sammy style.
Five of Maybe Sammy’s signature drinks take over the cocktail menu at Curious. (Image: Curious)
Emerging from the warming glow of flaming installations — fire dancers, local food trucks, live music, and bottomless barrels of mulled wine will transform Abbots Yard‘s downtown winter garden into a neon-lit dreamscape of auditory, visual and sensory stimulation for Fire & Wine Weekender. On the music front, Fire & Wine Weekender will feature a luminescent medley of celebrated Melbourne artists traversing the genres of modern jazz, soul, and nu-jazz.
In addition to a menu of warming cocktails, mulled wine, and steaming cider, Abbots Yard has selected an array of local food vendors to provide an epicurean assortment of hot, gooey, oozing goodness to tantalise the tastebuds. From greek doughnuts and desserts and Crepes with a conscience to paninis and woodfired pizza, there’s an amalgamation of hot and toasty delights on offer to suit all tastes throughout the day and into the evening.
Watch some epic fire shows. (Image: Liam Sieker)
The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is marking its 30th anniversary with a gala dinner led by 30 of Victoria’s best chefs under 30 years of age, an epic celebration on a grand scale showcasing the innovative up-and-coming talent shaping the state’s dynamic hospitality industry.
The 30th-anniversary celebrations kick off with the 30 Under 30 Gala Dinner on 28 July in the Regent Theatre’s Plaza Ballroom, bringing together 30 of the state’s most talented chefs under 30, from restaurants such as Attica, Vue de Monde, Gimlet, Igni, Aru and Provenance. This is their take on the brave new world of food, a wild and outrageous gala dinner like no other.
The festival continues into August.
The 30th anniversary is marked with a gala dinner led by 30 of Victoria’s best chefs under 30 years of age. (Image: Melbourne Food and Wine Festival)
This much-loved annual event sees Adelaide Hills’ wineries light their fires, open their best red wines and welcome visitors to embrace winter with a festive vibe.
Settle in with a delicious glass of Cab Sav or some wholesome comfort food during the Winter Reds Weekend celebration.
With a variety of vineyards and estates in Adelaide Hills playing host, events will range from long table lunches, fireside feasting, firepit sessions and wine trails. So, grab a group of friends and head to the region, because this luxurious cosy event is best experienced with those closest to you.
Embrace winter and visit South Australia’s coolest wine region for delicious red wines with a festive vibe. (Image: Adelaide Hills Wine)
The Beer and BBQ Festival rises from the ashes in all its glory with a monumental music line-up, over 100 local and national brewers, cider makers, distillers and winemakers, and the biggest BBQ line-up ever hosted at the event.
Australia’s first burger truck Beatbox Kitchen will return as will Victorian Filipino BBQ slingers Hoy Pinoy. Huxtaburger will also make its long-overdue SA debut.
As far as music goes, the festival will host the likes of The Smith Street Band, Bodyjar, 28 Days, Wagons, Jess Lock, Scabz and DJ Mermaid. Plus, to add to the excitement, Skegss joins the line-up!
Over 100 local and national brewers, cider makers, distillers and winemakers will be at the festival. (Image: Andre Castellucci)
Never Never Distilling Co. has announced an exciting three-day oyster and gin extravaganza at their stunning McLaren Vale distillery door. Oyster Palooza is a celebration of the incredible local food and drink of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
The festival is celebrating the peak of the season when Pacific oysters are at their finest. Featuring fresh South Australian Oysters from Kangaroo Island Shellfish and Coffin Bay oysters from Gazander, the event promises to hit the mark.
You can choose from a range of ticketed events across the three-day event. From indulgent masterclasses with caviar and crostinis or bottomless oysters and pinsas – to casual weekend seatings on the exclusive Oyster Deck.
The three-day oyster and gin extravaganza will be held at Never Never Distilling Co.’s stunning McLaren Vale distillery door. (Image: Oyster Palooza)
The Tasting Australia Winter Series will have a curated selection of events across Adelaide and regional South Australia highlighting the state’s producers, produce and places.
The return of the winter series follows a stellar run for Tasting Australia 2022 in autumn, which saw 200 events take place in 10 days across the state and over 60,000 visitors through the festival hub, Town Square, in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga – the biggest crowds since the pandemic began.
Tasting Australia 2022 saw 200 events take place in 10 days across the state. (Image: Tasting Australia)
A celebration of innovation, art, light, music and technology, Illuminate Adelaide is Australia’s newest major winter event.
Shining a light on South Australia for the month of July, Illuminate Adelaide welcomes people from all walks of life to experience a program of free and ticketed events by local, national and international artists and companies.
Illuminate Adelaide has a range of free and ticketed events by local, national and international artists. (Image: Illuminate Adelaide)
No matter your musical taste, Umbrella: Winter City Sounds got you covered. Made up of 350 live music events across Adelaide CBD and surrounding suburbs, the festival sees local and international artists flock to the city to perform.
Head down south and watch the city become illuminated this winter, with Winter City Sounds cultural music explosion.
Umbrella: Winter Sounds will see 350 live music events across the city. (Image: Lauren Bath Services)
Tasmania has a deep-rooted apple history, so much so that they created a festival to celebrate their rich apple culture. Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival is a three-day, pagan-inspired, winter bash held at the Willie Smith Apple Shed in Grove.
The festival revolves around awakening the apple cider trees through traditional chanting and singing around the trees, to chase away evil spirits and ensure a good harvest season. After all that dancing. quench your thirst with the best mulled cider, beers and wines from local producers, and indulge in a feast at the mid-winter banquet.
From the burning of a two-story wicker man, costume competitions, an epic bonfire and enough eclectic beats to keep you flowing throughout the 3 days, there’s no better way to wake up this winter.
An addition to this year’s festival is the opportunity to take a warm dip in outdoor wood-fired hot tubs. Festival-goers can pre-book a 20-minute session in the hot tub for 8 people and watch the festival unfold with a Hot Apple Tea provided. Bliss.
You must see the burning of a two-story wicker man and the epic bonfire. (Image: Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival)
The Festival of Voices is back again to light up Tasmania with the most distinguished choral music from all over the world.
The program focuses on the power of song, offering concerts, workshops and choir packages that all support the theme of bringing vocalists and choristers together. The highlight each year is the massive bonfire where thousands of people sit around singing together.
The event will be held in multiple venues, including churches and museums. So come join in on the action and find your voice.
The highlight each year is the massive bonfire where thousands of people sit around singing together. (Image: Phil Kitt)
The skies of Tasmania’s east coast will come alive with crisscrossing beams of colour and light this July. Bicheno Beams is a world-class laser light show developed by Melbourne’s Genius Laser Technology Company and set by scenic Waubs Bay.
There will be two different 15-minute light shows presented on alternate nights, so visitors will be encouraged to stay longer and enjoy each entirely unique and awe-inspiring laser light show.
It is also an environmentally sensitive event with measures in place to respect the local penguin habitat.
The Bicheno Beams laser light show is developed by Melbourne’s Genius Laser Technology Company and set by scenic Waubs Bay.(Image: Bicheno Beams)
From quality wines, wholesome comfort food, and relaxing by a bonfire, Margaret River’s popular winter festival Cabin Fever is back and better than ever!
The free event has a phenomenal foodie program throughout over 40 events from Busselton to Margaret River and everywhere in between, including indulging in gourmet comfort food, wine blending, spice classes, and cheese fondue fireside.
Guests will also be able to enjoy live music, workshops and other unique events, with a beautiful backdrop of Margaret River’s iconic landscape. How can you resist?
Check out Cabin Fever in Margaret River. (Image: Cabin Fever)
Celebrate and appreciate the living culture of the Ngarinyin, Worrorra and Wunambal peoples at the annual Mowanjum Festival in Derby. The Indigenous dance and cultural event put on a variety of performances, as a creative way to tell the locals’ stories.
Thousands of visitors flock to the event each year, to enjoy not only the acts but the vast array of workshops on offer, including boomerang making, didgeridoo playing and ochre painting. Plus, the performance and revival of Junba, traditional song and dance, is significant for the community, ensuring the passing on of knowledge and culture to the next generation.
Puccini’s epic masterpiece of love and sacrifice is brought to life with a feast of singing to move the heart, and it is coming to His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth this July.
Tosca is presented in three acts of glorious music, driving the lovers Tosca and Cavaradossi into the clutches of Baron Scarpia in ever increasing circles of dramatic tension.
In a beautiful new production from Opera Queensland, an extraordinary cast of Australian singers bring this masterpiece to life with a feast of singing to move the heart and transport the mind.
The world’s most remote music festival – the Birdsville Big Red Bash – is set to return this July, drawing more than 9,000 festivalgoers to the remote red sands of Queensland’s Simpson Desert. The line-up includes Jimmy Barnes, Missy Higgins, Kasey Chambers, Kate Ceberano, Shannon Noll and more.
Nominated for ‘Festival of the Year’ at the 2022 Queensland Music Awards, The Big Red Bash also features a range of family-friendly activities including comedy and outdoor film screenings, scenic helicopter flights, dune surfing, beach volleyball, camel rides and charity initiatives for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The event is BYO food and alcohol (although there are hospitality vendors on-site) – and children aged 11-and-under enter for free.
The Birdsville Big Red Bash is the world’s most remote music festival. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
It will be a delicious double whammy when renowned Barossa winery Langmeil partners with The Charming Squire for their eighth annual Must. Dine. Langmeil wine dinner. You don’t have to leave the Sunshine State: the celebrated South Australian winery will come to you for the bespoke dinner, which includes four courses matched with six of the best current vintages. Most everything you’ll eat during the feast is sourced locally. Expect Moreton Bay tiger prawns, Brisbane Valley quail breast, and a Kilcoy ebony eye fillet all paired with Langmeil wines.
Langmeil is coming to Queensland for this incredible dinner. (Image: James Squire)
Known as the ‘Melbourne Cup of Camel Racing,’ the Boulia Camel Races attracts professional camel racing teams from across Australia, all with hopes to win the Boulia Camel Cup. Held in the Simpson Desert, it’s the longest, toughest and most prestigious camel race in Australia and is an epic experience for competitors and spectators alike.
Head to the Boulia Camel Races for something a bit different. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
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)
Gardening gurus from across Australia are set to put their best shovel forward when they head to the Sunshine Coast to share their tricks of the trade in the country’s biggest gardening speaker program at the Queensland Garden Expo this July.
Landscape architect and media personality, Costa Georgiadis will also make his first return to the iconic annual event since 2018.
The Queensland Garden Expo program is jam-packed with guest speakers, more than 360 exhibitors, including 55 nurseries, as well as plenty of activities including a free kids playground.
There will be 60,000 plants on sale each day and plenty of activities for all ages to experience over seven hectares. Tickets are $20 for adults, while children 15 and under are free.
Costa Georgiadis will make his return to the iconic annual event. (Image: Queensland Garden Expo)
A day recognised throughout the whole of the Northern Territory, there are many to go to celebrate Territory Day. But it seems that Mindil Beach is the place to be this year.
The festivities will kick off at 4pm, with Aussie supergroup Australian Rock Collective (featuring members from Spiderbait, Jet, Powderfinger, You Am I and The Wrights) lighting up the stage.
Plus, the signature firework show will explode in the sky and reflect in the sea below, from 8:15pm to 8:30pm.
The Darwin Fringe Festival is the biggest platform for emerging artists in the Top End. The open-access festival supports the development of the community, providing opportunities for all artists to emerge, experiment, and showcase new and diverse works in Darwin to local and national audiences.
With 100 shows covering more than 11 genres, it is a fabulous 10 days in July.
The Darwin Fringe Festival is the biggest platform for emerging artists in the Top End.
The Wagait Arts Festival is a community celebration showcasing the unique talent of the many creatives on the Cox Peninsula.
Beginning at 5:30pm on the opening night, Larrakia Traditional Owner Tibby Quall will start off the event with a Welcome to Country. There will be art awards, a BBQ and a bar to follow. The second day will be all about the art with the gallery open from 9:30am.
The Canberra Truffle Festival brings together truffle growers and other premium food and beverage producers to showcase the exceptional gourmet products available on Canberra’s doorstep.
To mark the start of this year’s truffle season, an exclusive gala, multi-course truffle dinner celebrating the much-awaited black winter truffle will be held at Canberra’s Hotel Realm.
Meet truffle growers, winemakers and food producers and enjoy all-local produce, including truffle dishes paired with premium wines, at this very special event.
The exclusive gala truffle dinner celebrates the much-awaited black winter truffle. (Image: VisitCanberra)
Experience a night like no other with the immersive, illuminated and cultural event that is MEGAfauna afterDARK. A rare opportunity to see the gardens at night, you will also be enchanted with a local Gurulidj (Bunyip) story and song by First Nations storyteller Tyronne Bell.
Held during NAIDOC Week in celebration and recognition of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, this is an event not to be missed.
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)
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