Amazing festivals in Australia that you must see to believe

Are you heading to the land down under? If so then it’s worth timing your visit to coincide with one of these amazing festivals in Australia.

New Years Eve in Sydney

When it comes to New Years Eve events around the world then Sydney, Australia is hands down the best of the best! With over one billion people watching world wide and over one and a half million watching from the harbour foreshore, this makes Sydney the most watched fireworks display in the world! Where else in the world would you rather be celebrating NYE than in Sydney! If it’s not on your bucket list then it should be!

The event takes place on the Sydney Harbour, with pyrotechnics and firework displays launched from the Sydney harbour bridge along with seven other buildings and from barges on the harbour. The harbour is extremely busy with over 3000 boats navigating the harbour, hotels are booked out well in advance and the atmosphere is truly electric with people of all ages enjoying the party. There are two firework displays on the night with an early one at 9pm for families with young children and then of course the grand finale to bring in the new year at midnight.

What you need to know:

Get there early! There are over 1.5 million people all wanting to do the same thing as you – that is to find a great spot to watch the show!

Vivid Festival Sydney

If you can’t manage to make the fireworks and lightshow display on NYE, then there is always the immensely popular Vivid Festival Sydney. Vivid is a festival of light, music and ideas that sees around 1.5 million people witnessing the nightly displays around the CBD. The Vivid festival transforms Sydney into a wonderland of ‘light art’ sculptures, innovative displays and amazing projections on buildings, including illuminating the Opera House. A spectacular light show each night that will guarantee to leave you spellbound!

What you need to know:

The festival runs for around 18 days and begins around the last week of May and runs right through to the end of the first week of June.

The event is free.

White Night Melbourne

White night in Melbourne, Australia is a world class major event that runs all night from dusk until dawn. Inspired by Paris’ Nuit Blanche’ and is a celebration of what Melbourne is known for – music, art, food and theatre. White night boasts over 100 free events and activities spread out over eight city blocks. The biggest drawcard is the colourful light projections on many buildings throughout the CBD, these are on display all night – so there is plenty of time to get that unique photo opportunity.

What you need to know:

The event is held for one night only in February, starting from 7pm until 7 am the next day and is a free event.

Dark Mofo Hobart

Dark Mofo is a festival in Hobart that is held over the winter solstice in June and is only two years young. Dark Mofo embraces the darkness and is one of Australia’s most distinctive festivals. It’s a celebration of art, food and music that can be divided into the dark and the light.  A huge winter banquet is held over three days – feasting on food and wine, with celebrations and performances. In the 2014 festival the communal tables were set in a wintery forest theme. There is also a nude solstice swim at sunrise (if your brave), a light show where light beams reach 15 km into the dark sky marking the winter solstice and many other organised activities and events.

What you need to know:

Held in June during the winter solstice, with both free and ticketed events.

Wear warm clothes as it is winter and it is freezing!