09 July 2024
21 mins Read
The colder months have well and truly begun, meaning winter festivals around the country have kicked into high gear. There’s also art exhibitions, divine dinners, cultural celebrations and some incredible NAIDOC Week experiences to dive into.
So what are you waiting for? There’s something for everyone to enjoy in July.
NSW | VIC | QLD | TAS | WA | SA | NT | ACT
To celebrate its 34th birthday, Park Hyatt Sydney is inviting you to book an all-inclusive Park Hyatt Moments stay, with bookings available starting 1 July through to 30 September. As part of the package, guests will also receive an epic $340 dining credit for any of the hotel’s dining options. Want more? For a limited time, The Dining Room is also offering a selection of its favourite dishes for only $34 every Wednesday evening in July.
Overlooking the iconic Sydney Harbour, Park Hyatt Sydney is a bucket list-worthy hotel. With 155 rooms and suites, onsite restaurants, a pool, spa and some of the best views in the world, you can escape into luxury in the heart of the city. Book your stay with offer code: 34YEAR.
The luxury hotel sits right on Sydney Harbour.
Where better to celebrate the arrival of winter than in the Southern Highlands of NSW? Designed to keep the community warm and well-connected during the cold months, Bundanoon Winterfest has been running successfully for over 12 years.
This year’s theme is Frost and Bloom, an homage to the region’s flowers that continue to blossom throughout winter. The 2024 program is looking good so far, with a street party, monster raffle, art competition and children’s concert already penciled in.
Little ones will love the assortment of fair rides.
The three-week Bondi Festival is a boutique arts and performance event that sees this beachside suburb turn into an entertainment hub for all. The program is curated to be informative and immersive, featuring performers, storytellers and creators from Sydney and beyond.
The Bondi Vista Ferris Wheel also makes its highly-anticipated return, promising a panoramic view over the famous beach. Other highlights include an ice-skating rink, brewery tours, family fun day and the inaugral Gould St Street Party.
The beloved Bondi Ferris Wheel is back this year. (Image: Lucy Parakhina)
If you’re a fan of truffles (and let’s be honest, who isn’t?), head to Sydney restaurant Lana for an enviable feast this July. The Lana Truffle Dinner is a special one-off event celebrating truffle season, with a nine-course menu spotlighting the divine fungi from Canberra to WA.
Executive Chef Alex Wong will weave together classic Italian flavours with Asian influences. Think blue fin tuna with brioche and truffle mascarpone and Monte Bianco with chestnut, castagnaccio, milk granita, truffle and mis gelato. Tickets are priced at $169 per person.
Executive chef Alex Wong will bring the menu to life. (Image: Leigh Griffiths)
If you’re in or around NSW’s Central West, the Bathurst Winter Festival is your one-stop shop for family-friendly fun this month. A jam-packed program is sure to entertain; think art exhibits, workshops, winery tours, live performances and ice-skating.
Why not turn the trip into a family holiday? The festival runs at the same time as the NSW winter school holidays, so book one of Bathurst’s stunning stays and experience everything the region has to offer.
Don your skates and take to the ice rink. (Image: Bathurst Winter Festival)
The Kangaroo Valley will have you saying oui to the weekend with Vive Le Valley, a series of French-inspired events hosted for Bastille Day. The national holiday in France has become a popular celebration in many English-speaking countries thanks to French expats and Francophiles alike.
You can expect all the French classics over the weekend, from baguettes and berets to long lunches and French feasts. There will also be a range of excellent NAIDOC Week activities for all to participate in.
Dive into delicious French fare at a Bastille Day long lunch.
Rydges Resort is the place to be this July, as the hotel will play host to the annual Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival. The event will see over 50 of the region’s best wineries, distillers, and brewers through its doors for your tasting pleasure.
But wait, there’s more! Live entertainment will keep the vibes high as you sip and sample your way around vendor stalls. The whole family can come too, with kids’ rides and face painting available. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $25 per person.
Many of Australia’s much-loved breweries will be pouring.
Running over four weekends in July, the much-loved Moama Lights will be returning to the Murray River region to illuminate the night. Grab your friends, cosy up in your winter woollies and head out to follow the light and sound trail.
State-of-the-art installations, projections and cutting-edge moving light technology will guide your way, sharing stories of the region and its people. An event highlight is the epic ice-skating rink in Kerrabee Soundshell, just a stone’s throw away from the main festival.
Follow the path through a stunning light and sound trail. (Image: Murray River Council)
Film lovers and movie buffs would be remiss to skip out on the inaugural Africa Film Fest Australia, held this month at Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre. A showcase of contemporary films from Africa and the diaspora, the festival is all about celebrating the richness and diversity of African cinema.
The program features a variety of incredible talent, plus a few exciting Australian premiers. There will also be screenings of short films as well as a Q&A, workshop and special guest appearance from acclaimed Ethiopian-American animator, Seirat Hulu.
Attendees can look forward to films like Banel & Adama, a Senegalese-based feature.
Wands Up! It’s time to cast a spell on the winter blues and summon the spirits (and your appetite) for a Witches & Sorcerers High Tea Buffet at Shangri-La Sydney. In the enchanting surrounds of the Grand Ballroom, you’re invited to savour spellbinding sweets and wickedly delicious bites with friends and family.
The high tea buffet will run for the first three weekends of July (6–7, 13–14 and 20–21 July) with bookings available from either 11 am – 1 pm or 2 pm – 4 pm. Just like magic, you’ll transcend into the lair and indulge in a feast fit for a sorcerer. Think bubbling chocolate fountains, kaleidoscope eclairs and more. Tickets are on sale now, priced at $84 for adults and $64 for children.
It’s a mighty feast fit for only the most magical guests.
Victorians, get ready to get cosy. This July, celebrate the very best of winter at Fireside Yarra Valley. Check it out and you’re in for cosy nights by blazing fires, indulging in woodfired feasts and sipping on immaculate regional wines. Does it get any better?
Unfolding over 16 days, guests can discover a variety of culinary experiences, from special winter-themed menus to all-star food and beverage collaborations. This year’s program features Bente Grysbaek x Punt Road, Jayden Ong Wines, TarraWarra Estate and Rob Dolan Wines.
Spend an evening sipping delicious drops by the fire.
Experience a winter wonderland in July at the 2024 Ballarat Winter Festival. The three-week program is brimming with exciting things to do, like workshops, live music, entertainment, family-friendly activities and plenty of food and drink stalls to keep you warm.
Check out the design exchange market, try your hand at a pasta-making masterclass, skate away on the pop-up ice rink or explore Sovereign Hill’s Winter Wonderlights. This is an event the whole family can enjoy, just don’t forget to rug up!
Explore Sovereign Hill’s charming Winter Wonderlights event. (Image: Anthony Evans)
Pop culture convention Metro Comic Con will thrill devotees from all fandoms when it hits Melbourne this month. Guests can get excited for an extravaganza of events, from signings and photo opportunities to gaming demonstrations and pop-culture vendors.
This year, a plethora of special guests will be in attendance. Think Marvel artists like Daniel Picciotto and Jon Sommariva. Actors such as Jamie Bamber, Richard Dean Anderson and Freddy Carter. Plus more writers, voice actors and artists.
Cosplaying is a major part of Comic Con.
Let Electric Wonderland light up your life this month as it takes over the gold rush town of Bendigo in Victoria’s heartland. There’s an all-new program this year, boasting a range of amazing installations, a laser light show and a tunnel filled with over 80,000 fairy lights.
Get the family together and head to Rosalind Park to see Bendigo illuminate; it’s a truly magical experience. Tickets are on sale now, with prices dependent on the day and ages.
It’s that time of year again! Humpback whales, southern right whales and (the occasional) killer whales are migrating north for the winter, heading right past Victoria’s Phillip Island. The chances of spotting one of these magnificent creatures is so high here that there’s a festival for it.
The Island Whale Festival is a community event that celebrates and appreciates the island’s connection to nature, especially whales. Known for its abundance of wildlife, Phillip Island is also one of the best places to see penguins in Australia. So don’t forget your camera!
Witness whales play in the water off the coast of Phillip Island.
Head to the iconic Queen Victoria Market sheds for the July edition of CRFT* WRK, a monthly contemporary craft fair known as one of Melbourne’s best markets. Wander stalls boasting local and handmade arts and crafts by independent makers and creatives.
From ceramics to stationary, woodwork to textiles, there’s something for every hobbyist here. Hot tip: get in early when the gates open at 9am to get a real scope of the place and make your purchases before the crowds arrive!
Purchase local and handmade products at CRFT* WRK.
The Curated Plate is the Sunshine Coast’s premier food and drink event, showcasing more than 90 delicious events over across 10 days from July to August. And with more products on showcase than ever before, this year’s event is set to be bigger than ever.
Three signature events will be the main course for the 2024 program: the Sunshine Coast Asian Food Festival, Queensland’s Sunshine Pantry Live at The Station, and Chefs in Conversation. Excitingly, the latter will see chefs Tom Hitchcock, Peter Kuravita, Cameron Matthews and Hayden Quinn cooking together.
Sample some of the state’s best produce at The Curated Plate. (Image: Tourism & Events Queensland)
The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) is one of the biggest celebrations of Indigenous art across the country. The Cairns space is a curated, ethical marketplace showcasing authentic and original artwork from well-known and up-and-coming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
This year, CIAF’s theme is ‘Country Speaking’ and is all about Country being heard. As well as an amazing collection of Indigenous artwork, visitors can expect a fashion show, family activities, live performances and a variety of artistic workshops including weaving and dancing.
Witness incredible cultural performances at CIAF.
One of the world’s most remote music festivals – the Birdsville Big Red Bash – is set to return this July, drawing festival-goers to the remote red sands of Queensland’s Simpson Desert. This year’s stellar line-up includes Tina Arena, Ian Moss, Vanessa Amorosi, Casey Barnes and more.
Program highlights include the Bashville drag race, sunrise yoga, doggie dress-up day, sand dune surfing, helicopter rides and multiple world record attempts. The event is BYO food and alcohol (although there are plenty of hospitality vendors onsite).
Sand dune surfing is a program highlight. (Image: Tourism & Events Queensland)
Gardening gurus from across Australia are putting their best shovel forward at the Queensland Garden Expo this July. Held in the Sunshine Coast hinterland town of Nambour, the Expo will be jam-packed with free demonstrations, dozens of nurseries, landscape garden displays and even a floral design competition.
Visitors can expect more than 360 exhibitors, 55 nurseries, over seven hectares of gardening inspiration, 150-plus free lectures and demonstrations and around 50,000 plants for sale each day. Green thumbs, tickets are on sale now!
Get ready for gorgeous garden displays.
Calling all gastronomes – after a successful inaugural event in 2023, Providore Park is back this July. This picnic-chic event invites you to divulge in top drops, yummy eats and DJ beats in Brisbane’s stunning Roma Street Parkland. Prepare for a weekend of feasting, frolicking and fun at the two-day event.
Entry to Providore Park is free, so you can wander the markets and listen to live music at no cost. However, pay a bit extra and you can enjoy access to the VIP Tent, masterclasses and pop-up picnics. It’s the perfect day out in the pretty city of Brissy!
This is your perfect excuse to enjoy tipples and treats all weekend.
Held in one of Tasmania’s most jaw-dropping regions, the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival is hosted by local favourite Willie Smith’s cider house and orchard, just a 25-minute drive out of Hobart. This two-day pagan-inspired event is a celebration of the region’s apple history and the light that can be found in winter’s darkness.
The central focus of the festival is the Wassail, an ancient tradition still celebrated in the West Country of England. Revellers – in full pagan get-up – chant incantations and bang pots/pans to wake up dormant apple trees for the season ahead. Festivities are complemented by folk music, feasts and lashings of cider, making it one of the best winter festivals in Australia.
The event has become a staple of the Tassie festival calendar. (Image: Lusy Productions)
The skies of Tasmania’s east coast will come alive with magnificent, crisscrossing beams of light this July, all in the name of Bicheno Beams. This kaleidoscope of colour is a free world-class laser light show, accompanied by a synchronised soundtrack, developed by Melbourne’s Genius Laser Technology Company.
Across 22 nights, two different light shows will take over the sky – each starting at 6mpm daily. Entry is free from 5.30pm and visitors are encouraged to linger longer and enjoy each entirely unique and awe-inspiring show. This year’s exciting competition could also see you win a trip to Norway.
Watch the sky come to life at Bicheno Beams. (Image: Adam Reibel)
For 22 years, Devonport Jazz has been bringing soulful music to the town of, you guessed it, Devonport, on Tasmania’s rugged north coast. And the festival shows no signs of slowing down, with another remarkable rendition taking place this July.
Over four jazz-tastic days, solo singers, choirs, musicians and more will take to the stage to perform at a number of venues across town. Your best bet is to grab a ‘paranaple festival pass’, which provides access to seven sensational events for a discounted price.
It may be cold, but head south this month to the small town of Nubeena on Tasmania’s Tasman Peninsula and you’ll be rewarded with Lightwave Festival. Presented by Turrakana Tasman Arts, this three-day annual winter arts festival is all about celebrating the people and places across the peninsula.
There are plenty of events to warm your soul this year, all centred around music, art and community. Attendees can expect food and drink stalls, live music, light-based art installations and workshops.
Lightwave is full of community spirit. (Image: Paul Hoelen)
Put hibernation on hold this winter for WA’s Cabin Fever. With over 40 unique events spanning 10 days this July, lovers of friends, food, beer, wine and live music will be well catered for.
Expect events with enticing names like clay and chardonnay, food truck frenzy, dine between the wines and mariachi mingle. Cabin Fever is a great excuse for you to discover the Margaret River and Busselton regions, leaving you warm, wondrous and wanting more.
Boogie on down to the mariachi mingle.
An exciting new winter arts festival is hitting the WA capital this month. Delivered by ARTRAGE, the company behind the annual Fringe World festival, RE//Perth is all about celebrating creativity and urban exploration through the activation of multiple spaces across the city.
Despite being in its first year, the 2024 program for RE//Perth is overflowing with exciting events. Incredible live performances by award-winning artists are promised, as well as circus and theatre acts, sensory explorations, art installations and foodie affairs. Tickets are on sale now!
The Mirror is a program highlight. (Image: Daniel Boud)
Embrace the rich culture of the Ngarinyin, Woddordda and Wunambal peoples during the 25th anniversary of the Mowanjum Festival this July. The event is held in Derby, located along one of Australia’s best road trip wonders, the Gibb River Road.
Festival-goers can participate in an afternoon of amazing workshops and an open art gallery. In the evening, enjoy Junba under the stars, a traditional song and dance that helps pass on Aboriginal knowledge and culture to future generations.
Be immersed in rich cultural performances. (Image: Rebecca Mansell)
Acclaimed Australian street artist Rone is bringing his immersive art experience to Perth in a global exclusive this month. Starting on 1 July (and running through to 30 September), the exhibition will take over 12 rooms at the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
Rone will present the full installation of TIME • RONE, creating brand-new spaces specifically for the WA exhibition. What’s more, there will be two new mural works added to the exhibition, exclusive to Perth only.
Step into ‘The Newsagency’, just one room of the exhibit. (Image: RONE)
Each July, Illuminate Adelaide brings together some of the best in art, music, technology and invention from around the world and sets it loose around Adelaide. Known as one of South Australia’s premier winter events, the festival is an invitation for you to shake off the winter blues and rekindle a sense of wonder.
This year, both free and ticketed events across the city welcome people from all walks of life to view works by local, national and international artists. The program is vivid and vibrant, including art installations such as EDEN, night-time trails like City Lights and live music shows, including performances by Helen Svoboda and Joep Beving.
Illuminate Adelaide will light up the city this July. (Image: Tyr Liang Xplorer Studio; Artist: City Lights)
If your favourite way to hold heat in winter is indulging in a warming vino, then Winter Reds is for you. The festival is held in South Australia’s gorgeous Adelaide Hills, renowned for its production of some of the country’s best wines. Whether you prefer a peppery shiraz, an aromatic pinot noir or an earthy tempranillo, there’s something for all types of tastebuds.
Located at a variety of wineries and restaurants, guests will enjoy cosy long lunching, fire-side feasts, live music, art, trails and family-friendly fun. Nurse a glass of your favourite wine by an open fire and nourish your body with rustic fare surrounded by fellow oenophiles. Grab your beanie and get amongst it!
Gather at a variety of Adelaide Hill’s venues. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)
The Beer & BBQ Festival rises from the ashes in all its glory with over 1000 local and national brews, ciders, wines and spirits, a monumental music line-up and one of the best barbecue programs in Australia. Across just three days, you can indulge in beverage and barbecue delicacies from around the country.
The food line-up alone will have your mouth watering. Expect big things from Carolina Smoke, Mr Charlie’s, Goldieboy Burger Co and so many more. As far as music goes, get pumped for The Australian Rock Collective, which features members from Jet, Powderfinger, Spiderbait and You Am I.
The event attracts a large crowd each year. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)
CuttleFest is a unique event that celebrates the incredible Giant Australian Cuttlefish. It’s truly an ocean lover’s dream, as attendees have the opportunity to swim with the majestic creature that can change colour, shape and texture right before your eyes.
Making it even more special is the fact that this huge aggregation of Giant Australian Cuttlefish happens in only one place on Earth, and that’s the Upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia. Witness tens of thousands of this marine wonder on a guided snorkelling tour with Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries – it may be your only chance!
You could swim with the rare Giant Australian Cuttlefish.
Every year on 1 July, Territory Day acknowledges the day that the Northern Territory declared independence from the Commonwealth Government in 1978. It’s recognised throughout the whole state, so there are many places to celebrate.
From the Top End to the Red Centre, there will be free, family-friendly events across the state with concerts, community barbecues and fireworks. This year’s theme is ‘It’s a Territory thing’, so come together with your community to celebrate what it means to be a Territorian.
This year, the ever-exciting Deadly Cup Rugby League Carnival will be held at TRL Stadium in Darwin on 7 July. The free event celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, promotes health and wellbeing and showcases Rugby League talent from across the NT.
The carnival is a family-friendly, smoke, drug and alcohol-free event. On the day there will be cultural performances, cooking demonstrations, family-friendly activities to participate in and, of course, football!
Enjoy a variety of cultural performances before the games begin.
The Alice Springs Show is a much-loved community event and the largest of its kind in Mparntwe/Alice Springs, filled with experiences, attractions and activities for the whole family.
Check out local photography, craft, cooking, art, horticulture and agriculture competitions. Try delicious local produce at food stalls. Test your courage on some of the rides. Try your luck at the show games. And connect to the community during NAIDOC Week.
The Darwin Fringe Festival is the biggest platform for emerging artists in the Top End. The open-access event supports the development of the community, providing opportunities for artists to showcase new and diverse works to local and national audiences.
The 2024 program is bursting at the seams with action, from theatre shows, circus actors and live music performances to film, stand-up comedy and cabaret. With over 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.
Witness winter in its cutest and cosiest form at Canberra’s National Arboretum with Warm Trees. It’s all in the name with this one – wander through a forest of trees that have been lovingly wrapped up to brave the colder months in colourful, hand-woven scarves made by volunteers.
This year, the group Friends of the National Arboretum has partnered up with the Chilean Embassy to showcase its culture, colours and unique species of trees. You can spot Chile’s national tree, the Monkey puzzle, in forest 12.
Even the trees at the National Arboretum get cosy during winter.
Head to the National Gallery of Australia in the country’s capital now to witness Gaugin’s World: Tōna Iho, Tōna Ao. The immersive art exhibition showcases the enduring art of French post-impressionist, Paul Gauguin.
Curated by Henri Loyrette, the exhibit will be on show from July until October 2024. It’s an amazing opportunity for both beginner and experienced artists and art-lovers to admire work from one of the world’s most influential impressionists and the mediums he explored.
Wander through Gaugin’s World at Canberra’s NGA.
Experience the Australian National Botanic Gardens like never before with the immersive Magnificent Megafauna event. You’ll get to see what it would’ve been like when these mammoth creatures roamed the planet more than 20,000 years ago.
Children and adults alike can enjoy the event, where you can discover ‘living plant fossils’ and investigate the landscapes of Australia’s past. End your fun family day out with a warm drink at the award-winning onsite Pollen Cafe.
Kids always have a blast at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. (Image: Tourism Australia)
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