The sky is the stage at Illuminate Adelaide's one-night-only show

Illuminate Adelaide 2025 is the winter festival lighting up Australia – and this is the one show you can’t miss.

If you see just one thing at Illuminate Adelaide 2025 (one of the best events happening this July), make it Horizons . For one night only on Friday 18 July, Adelaide Oval will be transformed into a living, breathing canvas of light, sound and sky. Hundreds of synchronised drones will take flight, choreographed to a powerful soundtrack, dazzling laser effects and cinematic visuals.

Horizons at Illuminate Adelaide 2025 — Horizons is coming for one night only. (Image: Supplied)

It’s an epic retelling of 60,000 years of South Australian history, from the Kaurna people’s deep connection to Karrawirra Parri (River Torrens) to the oval’s evolution as a place for community, concerts and culture. It’s a bold, ambitious collision of tech and tradition created by some phenomenal visual storytellers: AGB Creative, KOJO and Illuminate’s own creative team.

This is Illuminate Adelaide’s most ambitious show yet, and the buzz is real – a second session was added due to overwhelming demand. Think Vivid-style spectacle meets Welcome to Country meets skybound art installation. If you’ve ever wanted to see storytelling light up the night sky, this is your moment.

But Horizons is just the beginning.

Universal Kingdom: The Next Era

Adelaide Zoo, 3–20 July

From the creators of Mirror Mirror and Light Cycles comes Universal Kingdom: The Next Era , an otherworldly light-and-sound experience that takes over The Light Room at ILA until 20 July. Expect immersive rooms, epic digital landscapes and a sensory adventure that blurs the lines between nature, humanity and technology.

Night Visions

Adelaide Botanic Garden, 2–20 July

After dark, the garden is reimagined into a glowing wonderland in Night Visions . Follow a two-kilometre path through laser tunnels, projection art and soundscapes designed by a team of world-class artists, including Robin Fox, Amelia Kosminsky and more.

This self-guided experience is perfect for families, date nights or solo wanderers. And for the ultimate treat, book the Botanic Lodge dinner package for a feast among the lights.

City Lights

Adelaide CBD, 4–20 July

The city becomes a glowing gallery with 40+ installations and performances lighting up the streets, buildings and laneways of Adelaide. Think giant luminous horses parading through Rundle Mall, interactive mirror tunnels, fibre-optic fungi and floating angels blessing you with light. It’s completely free and totally magical.

Base Camp + 10-Minute Dance Party

Lot Fourteen, 3–20 July

Base Camp at Illuminate Adelaide 2025 — Get cosy at Base Camp. (Image: Tyr Liang Xplorer Studio)

Back for another year, Base Camp is the cosy heart of the festival – a free-entry winter village filled with fire pits, live music, glowing art installations and top-tier food and drink from South Australian favourites.

But the real fun? Step into a shipping container for 10 minutes of full-blast dance floor energy at the 10-Minute Dance Party . It’s a music-fuelled hit of joy, created by Melbourne artist Jof O’Farrell and rotating DJs nightly.

Supersonic + Unsound + Kiasmos

Kiasmos Live at Illuminate Adelaide 2025 — Icelandic duo Kiasmos are performing. (Image: Maximilian König)

If music’s more your thing, Illuminate’s late-night scene is off the charts this year.

Unsound (11–12 July): A mind-bending festival of boundary-pushing international artists, including Velvet Underground legend John Cale.

Kiasmos (18 July): The Icelandic techno duo returns for a one-night-only “emotional rave" .

Supersonic (19 July): A 12-hour music takeover of the West End with 17 artists and DJ sets across seven venues.

Illuminate Adelaide 2025

Now in its fifth year, Illuminate Adelaide has cemented itself as Australia’s most underrated winter festival.

Whether you’re chasing drone magic in the sky, prehistoric giants at the zoo or a pop-up dance party inside a container, Illuminate delivers. But if you want the biggest wow-moment of them all? Look up. Horizons is calling.

Illuminate Adelaide runs until 20 July. Explore the full program and grab your tickets before they sell out.

Make this dazzling stretch of beaches and natural wonders your home base for a grand adventure

Whether you’re setting out solo, bringing a mate, or packing in the whole family, no road trip along Australia’s East Coast is complete without at least a few days spent exploring the Coffs Coast. A stunning stretch of NSW coastline nestled between ancient high-elevation rainforests and magnificent, undiscovered beaches, Coffs offers amazing biodiversity, stunning natural beauty, and heaps of local charm, without the crowds. Pull up in Coffs Harbour , your perfect home base for these unforgettable day-trips.

1. Southern Beaches

The Coffs region boasts 30 of Australia’s most beautiful, unspoiled beaches, directly abutting a dramatic tableau of mountains and rainforests. Drive South of Coffs Harbour to find up-and-coming surf destinations where it’s still possible to catch an empty wave. First up is the picturesque Sawtell village . Wander the famous fig-tree-lined main street packed with laid-back places to eat and drink. Enjoy panoramic views and seasonal whale sightings at Bonville Headland on the Southern end of the beach.

Nearby Bongil Bongil National Park boasts seven kilometres of empty beach, along with hiking and cycling trails through beachfront rainforests – keep an eye out for koalas living in the trees. Boambee Beach and Boambee Creek Reserve are great for families, with shallow waters perfect for kayaking and SUPing, plus an off-leash dog beach.

family eating lunch in sawtell — Experience small-town charm in Sawtell.

2. Orara Valley Tourist Trail

The Orara Valley Tourist Trail has it all: hinterland bushwalks, birdwatching, horse riding, pristine swimming holes and rolling green pastures dotted with dairy farms and historic villages. And it’s only 15 minutes west of Coffs Harbour.

Sample produce at a roadside stall, stop into Coramba Hotel for a quintessential country pub lunch, or try the Idle in Cafe in Nana Glen for coffee and scones. Then spend the afternoon kayaking the Orara River or mountain biking on Mt Coramba. If you’re feeling adventurous, follow the 4WD touring route along the Orara Escarpment in Bindarri National Park , a rugged landscape with dazzling views that winds through untouched eucalypt rainforests and waterfalls.

A family sitting by the Orara Valley Tourist Trail. — Explore the green heart of Coffs.

3. Dorrigo National Park

Enjoy a classic day trip from Coffs to forest bathe in some of the oldest subtropical rainforests in the world at Dorrigo National Park, part of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests. These million-year-old ecosystems promise rare bird sightings, towering strangler figs, and epic walking tracks and picnic spots. Try the 6.6 km Wonga Walk to experience dreamy Crystal Shower Falls (where you can walk behind the falls) and the Skywalk Lookout, which offers spectacular views of the valley and coast. Then stop in Dorrigo town for a homey lunch. It’s worth noting that a section of the road between Ulong and Dorrigo – which dates to the 1880s – is unsealed, adding to the area’s end-of-the-earth allure but making travel difficult in adverse weather conditions. Alternatively, head to Dorrigo via the delightful township of Bellingen .

Three people standing at the SkyWalk lookout. — Wander the Skywalk.

4. Northern Beaches

For another tranquil expanse of sun, sand and surf breaks, head north to Woolgoolga (Tourism Australia’s Best Mainland Beach for 2025. Taste the coffee and local-produce breakfast at one of several cafes, then spot whales during their migration season along the Woolgoolga Whale Trail to the headland. Emerald Beach offers clear blue waters and another headland walk, perfect for taking in views of South Solitary Island, a dramatically rocky-cliffed island with a historic lighthouse. Red Rock, some 40km north of Coffs and named for its striking coastal rock formations, boasts a gorgeous estuary reserve that’s perfect for languorous days spent picnicking, swimming, fishing, and connecting with the relaxed local pace.

Freshly caught seafood by the beach, with sparkling ocean views. — Enjoy fresh seafood overlooking Woolgoolga Beach.

5. Jetty precinct

You could easily spend a whole day exploring the Jetty precinct – from its foreshores to the marina to Muttonbird Island. Start with fresh fish and chips from local institution Coffs Harbour Fisherman’s Co-op , before browsing the popular Harbourside Markets held every Sunday on the foreshores.

Take a scenic walk along the breakwall to Muttonbird Island , a cultural and ecological treasure with panoramic views and rich Gumbaynggirr heritage. The Giidany Miirlarl Education Space shares the island’s ancient stories, or join a guided moonlight tour to see the seasonal return of the muttonbirds.

Back at the Jetty Strip, find a buzzing mix of cafes, bars and restaurants with cuisines from around the world, open from morning until late. Don’t miss The Jetty Pavilion , a favourite for its unique menu blending modern Australian cuisine with vibrant world flavours.

walk to muttonbird island from coffs harbour — Walk the path where land meets sea and sky.

6. Grafton

Head inland from mid-October to early November to catch Grafton’s jacaranda season, when the town’s streets and parks are covered in purple. Even better, time your trip between 24 October and 2 November to attend the famous Jacaranda Festival, with special food items, performances and more. At any time of year, follow the self-guided Grafton Heritage Trail to discover the town’s historic buildings, landmarks and stories. Or get the blood pumping with a trip along the longest mapped white-water trail in Australia – the Clarence Canoe and Kayak Trail. Book a tour with Exodus Adventures .

woman walking through jacaranda trees in grafton — Time your Grafton trip to see the jacarandas in full bloom. (Image: @myclarencevalley)

7. Nambucca

Just south of Coffs Harbour sits Nambucca, the ideal town for a relaxed, coastal day trip. Hire a canoe, kayak or boat to explore over 80 kilometres of waterways stretching from the hinterland to the ocean. For those who prefer to stay on dry land (or double up their adventure for the day), stretch your legs along the V-Wall – a scenic coastal walk along the Nambucca River – dotted with boulders painted by the community, sharing messages, art and local stories. Stop along the way to buy Sydney rock oysters direct from local farmers, or try your own hand at fishing. Before heading back to Coffs, refuel on fresh seafood and wood-fired pizzas at Matilda’s in Nambucca .

a boat zooming through Nambucca Heads — Explore Nambucca’s waterways. (Image: Seen Australia)

Visit coffscoast.com and download the Coffs Coast Explorer App for more daytrips and trails.

The sky is the stage at Adelaide‘s epic one-night-only show