January – June

The Big Day Out
Throughout Australia
January-February
www.bigdayout.com

This is probably Australia's biggest music festival, with local and international groups from all over the world. Some of there past performers have been Carl Cox, Radiohead, Prodigy, and the Chemical Brothers. The Big Day Out is held in January and February every year in the east and west coasts of Australia.

Australia Day
Throughout Australia
January 26th  

Australia Day is on January 26th and it is celebrated around Australia. There are big parties everywhere, but Perth has a great fireworks show.

The history is that in 1787 British Captain Arthur Philip set sail for Australia with 11 boats of convicts to set up a convict colony in Australia. In these 11 ships there were 759 convicts, of whom 191 were woman and 13 children convicts. It finally landed at Botany Bay on January 18th 1787, but not happy with this as the place for the new settlement, sailed north. On January 26th 1787 they sailed into the Sydney Cove and set up a settlement at what is now known as the Rocks District in Sydney.

Country Music Festival
Tamworth, Australia
January

This event is held at the end of January over the long weekend. It attracts over 800 acts as there are more than 2000 events. If you like country this is defiantly worth checking out.

Sydney Festival
Sydney, Australia
January
www.sydneyfestival.org.au

This is the biggest cultural event in the country that covers the arts from drama to international music.    

Tropfest
Sydney, Australia
February

This is a film festival based on Australian talent.
 

Sydney Mardi Gras
Sydney, Australia
February – March
www.mardigras.com.au

This has become the biggest gay and lesbian festival in the world. This festival now attracts more than a million people to this annual event in February. There are many activities and events that lead up to the final parade along Oxford Street, which happens to be the area of town with a large gay community. If you do go I guarantee you will have the time of your life.

Surfest
Newcastle, Australia
March

Royal Easter Show
Sydney, Australia
March – April

This is a 12-day event and is a agricultural show held at Home Bush.

East Coast Blues and Roots Festival
Byron Bay, Australia
April
www.bluesfest.com.au

Beaumont St Jazz & Blues Festival
Newcastle, Australia
April

Sydney Film Festival
Sydney, Australia
June

This is a 14-day event that has loads of film.

July – December

Byron Bay Writers Festival
Byron Bay, Australia
July
www.byronbaywritersfestival.com.au

City to Surf Run
Sydney, Australia
August

This event attracts more than 40,000 entrants and it’s a 14km long race between Hyde Park and Bondi Beach. It usually takes place the second Sunday in August.

Newcastle Jazz Festival
Newcastle, Australia
August

Royal Botanic Gardens Spring Festival
Sydney, Australia
September

This event has loads of concerts and other things to keep you busy.

Sleaze Ball  
Sydney, Australia
October
www.mardigras.org.au 

This is a gay event that is only on for one night.

Manly Jazz Festival
Sydney, Australia
October

This is held over Labour Day long weekend and it features loads of jazz performers.

Kings Cross Carnival
Sydney, Australia
October

Mattara Festival
Newcastle, New South Wales
October
www.mattarafestival.org.au

Sculpture by the Sea
Sydney, Australia
November

This event takes place between Bondi and Bronte in Sydney. The walking path between both these suburbs is transformed into an outdoor sculpture gallery.

Homebake
Sydney
December
www.homebake.com.au

It's an annual festival that takes place in December in Sydney. It showcases all the local Australian talent. It is a cool day out and we do recommend you go if you are in Sydney when its on.

New Years Eve Sydney
Sydney
December 31st
www.sydneynewyearseve.com

What now has become one of the biggest parties in the world; Sydney's New Years attracts over 1 million around the Sydney Harbour to watch the fireworks. People cram into the Sydney Harbor to watch the fireworks and have a few drinks.

The other big party in Sydney happens down in Bondi Beach. This party attracts thousands of people who head down to the beach and to the local bars.