Australia's Leisure Programme

There are a wide range of leisure programme available in Australia. Namely, the Australia’s international Events, Uniquely Australian & Aboriginal Events, Australia’s Sporting Events, Spring Events, Autumn events, Summer events, Winter events, Australia’s food & wine events, Australia’s cultural events, Australia’s sur & surf lifesaving events.

These events have incorporated the uniqueness of Australia elements such as the culture of Australia, the cuisine, the wines that are produced locally, the arts, films. These are so distinct and differentiated from their countries till these differentiated factors become a form of uniqueness to Australia, becoming theme-Australia.
This shows that with the good response received from Disney from their themed concept, tourists look out more for a themed concept to places they visit or things they do. The theme concept is popular because not only it differentiates, it would create a whole new experience for people who experience it. The more wholesome the theme is, the more impactful and deep impression it will be created. Tourists would remember and revisit the follow events which are similar.

'Disneyfication' has made the country more vibrant by encouraging more of these events to be held. With more positive response by seeing huge volume of participants for entertaining events,more entertaining events are held to attract more people and to retain the crowd. However, this has a negative impact onthe cultural and education events because more entertainment elements maybe added and this may weaken the cultural and education aspects.

Australia’s International Events

Australia has hosted from tennis tournaments to Australian Grand Prix and many other global events. Australia also organised a Hobart race where mega yachts were sailed out of the Sydney Harbour or into the historic Hobart in Sydney. Australia also has fashion festivals to showcase Australian designers in Melbourne and Sydney

Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival
It is a carnival and race with horse racing, fashion and fun which starts in September till mid-November. Flemington Racecourse is the venue for huge race days such as Derby Day, the Melbourne Cup, Oaks Day. Melbournians would to dress up fashionably to show their stylish fashions in off-field fashions in traditional black and white.
The biggest event of the carnival, Melbourne Cup which is a public holiday for Melbournians, who will join firstly for traditional car-boot breakfast parties or wave tickets for live music, champagne and canapés at one of the elegant soirees then they join the rest of Australia in cheering for race.
The Oaks Day, or the ladies' day, is when the focus is on racetrack fashion. The following day, children can would flaunt their style at Stakes Day, the unofficial family day that closes the Melbourne Cup Carnival.


Cultural Events



Complied events and festivals
Featured Australian Festivals
Big Day Out (All Areas, Australia)
Festival Types: Music - Rock, Music - Alternative, Party
Month: January

Australian Festivals
2high Festival (Brisbane, QLD, Australia)
Festival Types: Music - Varied, Performing Art
Month: November Adelaide Caberet Festival (Adelaide, SA, Australia)

Festival Types: Cabaret, Performing Art
Month: June Adelaide Festival (Adelaide, SA, Australia)
Festival Types: Art, Performing Art, Music - Varied
Month: March Adelaide Festival of Arts (Adelaide, SA, Australia)

Festival Types: Performing Art, Dance - Modern, Music - Varied
Month: February Adelaide Festival of Ideas (Adelaide, SA, Australia)
Festival Types: Innovation
Month: July Adelaide Fringe Festival (Adelaide, SA, Australia)

Festival Types: Fringe, Performing Art, Comedy
Month: February Adelaide International Film Festival (Adelaide, SA, Australia)
Festival Types: Film
Month: February AFL Grand Final Week (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Ball
Month: September Antarctic Midwinter Festival (Hobart, TAS, Australia)

Festival Types: Winter, Film, Photography
Month: June Antipodes Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Multicultural, Community, Cultural
Month: May ANZAC Day - Australia (All Areas, Australia)

Festival Types: Remembrance, Historical, National
Month: April Apollo Bay Music Festival (Apollo Bay, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Varied, Music - Rock, Music - Folk
Month: March Australia Day (All Areas, Australia)

Festival Types: National, Historical
Month: January Australian Blues Music Festival (Goulburn, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Blues
Month: February Australian Cotton Week Festival (Dalby, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Agricultural
Month: March Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Formula 1, Sport - Motor Sport, Party
Month: March Australian International Movie Convention (Gold Coast, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Film, Convention, Trade
Month: August Australian Italian Festival (Ingham, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Multicultural, Cultural, Community
Month: May Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix (Phillip Island, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Motor Sport, Motorcycle, Party
Month: October Australian Open Tennis (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Racquet
Month: January Australian Science Festival (Canberra, ACT, Australia)

Festival Types: Science
Month: May Australian Wooden Boat Festival (Hobart, TAS, Australia)

Festival Types: Maritime, Sport - Yachting, Historical
Month: February Barossa Vintage Festival (Barossa Valley, SA, Australia)

Festival Types: Wine, Food and Wine, Community
Month: April Beaudesert Country and Horse Festival (Beaudesert, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Animal, Agricultural
Month: January Bells Beach Rip Curl Pro Surf and Music Festival (Torquay, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Surfing, Sport - Water, Music - Rock
Month: April Bendigo Easter Festival (Bendigo, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Easter, Religious, Street Parade
Month: April Biennale of Electronic Arts Perth (Perth, WA, Australia)

Festival Types: Art, New Media
Month: September Birdsville Races (Birdsville, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Equestrian, Party
Month: September Blue Mountains Festival of Folk, Roots and Blues (Katoomba, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Folk, Music - Country, Music - Blues
Month: March Blueprint Festival (Ararat, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Rock, Music - Blues
Month: September Brisbane Festival (Brisbane, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Performing Art, Music - Varied, Dance - Various Styles
Month: July Brisbane Pride (Brisbane, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Pride, Gay and Lesbian, Street Parade
Month: June Brisbane Writers Festival (Brisbane, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Literature, Book, Writing
Month: January Brunswick Music Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - World, Music - Guitar, Music - Traditional
Month: March Bundaberg Arts Festival (Bundaberg, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Art, Literature
Month: October Byron Bay Writers Festival (Byron Bay, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Literature, Writing
Month: August Canberra Balloon Fiesta (Canberra, ACT, Australia)

Festival Types: Balloon, Community, Local
Month: March Casino Beef Week (Casino, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Agricultural, Food
Month: May Charleville Camel, Donkey and Yabbie Race Festival (Charleville, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Bizarre, Bizarre, Party
Month: August Christmas - Melbourne (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Christmas, Religious
Month: December Clipsal 500 (Adelaide, SA, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Motor Sport, Automobile
Month: March Coast to Coast Bike Ride (Cairns, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Cycling, Sport - Endurance
Month: June Cobargo Folk Festival (Cobargo, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Folk, Music - Folk
Month: February Coffs Harbour International Buskers and Comedy Festival (Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Busking, Comedy, Performing Art
Month: January Commonwealth Games (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Athletics, Sport - Multidiscipline
Month: March Coolum Kite Festival (Coolum, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Kite, Family
Month: October Cygnet Folk Festival (Cygnet, TAS, Australia)

Festival Types: Folk, Music - Folk
Month: January Darwin Beer Can Regatta (Darwin, NT, Australia)

Festival Types: Bizarre, Sport - Bizarre, Beer
Month: July Darwin Festival (Darwin, NT, Australia)

Festival Types: Indigenous, Music - World, Performing Art
Month: August Darwin Fringe Festival (Darwin, NT, Australia)

Festival Types: Fringe, Performing Art, Comedy
Month: July Deaflympics - Deaf Olympics (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Athletics, Sport - Multidiscipline
Month: Varies Deniliquin Play on the Plains and World Record Ute Muster (Deniliquin, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Bizarre, Automobile, Party
Month: September Dirt and Dust Festival (Julia Creek, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Multidiscipline, Music - Varied, Bizarre
Month: April Dog Show - Royal Melbourne Show (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Animal, Agricultural
Month: September Earthcore (Undera, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Dance, Music - Electronic
Month: November Easterfest (Toowoomba, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Gospel
Month: April Festival Cairns (Cairns, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Varied, Performing Art, Food and Wine
Month: August Flickerfest International Short Film Festival (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Film - Short, Film
Month: January Floriade (Canberra, ACT, Australia)

Festival Types: Floral, Family
Month: September Frances Folk Gathering (Frances, SA, Australia)

Festival Types: Folk, Music - Folk, Family

Month: February Frankston Sand Sculpting Exhibition (Frankston, VIC, Australia)
Festival Types: Art
Month: January Garma Festival (Arnhem Land, NT, Australia)

Festival Types: Indigenous, Traditional, Cultural
Month: August Geelong Tour (Geelong, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Cycling, Sport - Endurance
Month: February Gold Coast Airport Marathon (Gold Coast, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Marathon, Sport - Endurance
Month: July Gold Coast Bike Week (Gold Coast, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Motorcycle
Month: September Gold Coast Film Fantastic Film Festival (Gold Coast, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Film

Month: November Gold Coast Schoolies (Gold Coast, QLD, Australia)
Festival Types: Student, Party, Summer
Month: November Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive (Marree, SA, Australia)

Festival Types: Animal, Traditional, Agricultural
Month: July Great Southern Blues and Rockabilly Festival (Narooma, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Blues, Music - Country, Music - Folk
Month: October Home Brewed International Film Festival (Wollongong, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Film, Film - Short
Month: October Illawarra Folk Festival (Illawara, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Folk, Music - Folk, Music - World
Month: January In the Bin Film Festival (All Areas, Australia)

Festival Types: Film - Short, Film - Animation, Film
Month: Year Round International East Coast Blues and Roots Music Festival (Byron Bay, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Blues, Music - Country, Music - Folk
Month: April Isa Rodeo (Mount Isa, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Equestrian, Automobile, Music - Country
Month: August Jazz in the Valley (Ellensburg, WA, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Jazz, Music - Blues
Month: July Lorne Pier to Pub (Lorne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Water
Month: January Manly Festival of Surfing (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Surfing, Family, Sport - Water

Month: November Maslin Beach Nude Olympics (Maslin Beach, SA, Australia)
Festival Types: Nude, Naturist, Adult
Month: January Melbourne Art Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Art, Family
Month: April Melbourne Cup (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Equestrian, Party
Month: November Melbourne Fashion Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Fashion
Month: March Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Food and Wine, Food, Wine
Month: March Melbourne Fringe Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Fringe, Performing Art, Comedy
Month: September Melbourne International Animation Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Film - Animation, Film
Month: June Melbourne International Arts Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Performing Art, Art, Theatre
Month: October Melbourne International Comedy Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Comedy, Performing Art
Month: April Melbourne International Film Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Film, Film - Short
Month: July Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Floral, Trade, Convention
Month: March Melbourne Jazz (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Jazz
Month: April Melbourne Underground Film Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Film, Film - Documentary
Month: August Melbourne Writers Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Literature, Writing
Month: August Meredith Music Festival (Meredith, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Alternative, Music - World, Music - Rock
Month: December Merimbula Jazz Festival (Merimbula, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Jazz
Month: June Mildura Jazz, Food & Wine Festival (Mildura, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Jazz, Food and Wine
Month: October Mildura Writers' Festival (Mildura, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Literature, Writing, Book
Month: July Mother's Day Classic (All Areas, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Marathon, Sport - Endurance, Charity
Month: May Mount Beauty Music Muster (Mount Beauty, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Varied, Music - World, Family
Month: April Murray Marathon (Yarrawonga, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Paddling, Sport - Endurance, Charity
Month: December Musica Viva Festival (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Classical, Music - Opera, Music - Contemporary
Month: October National Multicultural Festival (Canberra, ACT, Australia)

Festival Types: Multicultural, Music - World, Dance - Various Styles
Month: February New Year's Eve - Sydney Harbour (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: New Year, Party, Fireworks
Month: December Noosa Jazz Festival (Noosa, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Jazz, Music - Blues
Month: September Noosa Long Weekend (Noosa, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Performing Art, Music - Varied, Family
Month: June Nude Beach Olympics (Maslin Beach, SA, Australia)

Festival Types: Naturist, Nude, Bizarre
Month: January Over the Fence Short Film Festival (All Areas, Australia)

Festival Types: Film - Short, Film , Comedy
Month: February Parkes Elvis Festival (Parkes, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Impersonators, Fan Convention, Party
Month: January Penguin Parade (Phillip Island, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Birding, Environmental, Family
Month: Year Round Perth International Arts Festival (Perth, WA, Australia)

Festival Types: Performing Art, Music - Varied, Dance - Various Styles
Month: February Phillip Island Penguin Parade (Phillip Island, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Birding, Animal, Environmental
Month: Year Round Pig Diving (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Bizarre, Agricultural, Animal
Month: September Pig Racing (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Bizarre, Agricultural, Animal
Month: September Port Adelaide Sand Sculpting Exhibition (Port Adelaide, SA, Australia)

Festival Types: Art
Month: November Port Fairy Folk Festival (Port Fairy, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Folk, Music - World, Folk
Month: March Queensland Music Festival (Brisbane, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Varied, Music - Classical, Music - Traditional
Month: July Rainbow Serpent Festival (Beaufort, Vic, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Electronic, Dance, Party
Month: January Reggae Town Festival (Cairns, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Reggae, Music - Creole
Month: September Revelation Perth International Film Festival (Perth, WA, Australia)

Festival Types: Film, Film - Short, Film - Documentary
Month: July Rip Curl Pro Surf and Music Festival (Torquay, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Surfing, Party, Music - Rock
Month: April Royal Melbourne Show (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Agricultural, Animal, Fair
Month: September Saints and Sinners Ball (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Nude, Party, Adult
Month: October Salamanca Market (Hobart, TAS, Australia)

Festival Types: Markets
Month: Year Round San Remo Pelican Feeding (San Remo, VIC, Australia)
Festival Types: Birding, Family, Animal

Month: Year Round Santa Claus Pub Crawl (Canberra, ACT, Australia)

Festival Types: Christmas, Party, Drink
Month: December Sheepdog Trials - Royal Melbourne Show (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Animal, Agricultural
Month: September Shellharbour City Festival of Sport (Shellharbour City, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Dragon Boat, Sport - Marathon
Month: March Short and Sweet (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Performing Art, Theatre
Month: July Smart Light Sydney (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Environmental, Walks, Family
Month: May Snowyfest International Film Festival (Thredbo, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Film, Snow, Winter
Month: June Splendour in the Grass (Byron Bay, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Alternative, Music - Rock, Party
Month: July Spring Carnival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Equestrian, Party
Month: October St Kilda Film Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Film - Short, Film
Month: May St. Kilda Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Community, Art, Summer
Month: February State of Design Festival (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Design, Convention
Month: July Summadayze (Perth, WA, Australia)

Festival Types: Dance, Music - Electronic, Party
Month: January Summernats (Canberra, ACT, Australia)

Festival Types: Automobile, Sport - Motor Sport, Convention
Month: January SWELL Sculpture Festival (Currumbin, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Art, Family
Month: September Sydney City to Surf (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Endurance, Sport - Marathon
Month: August Sydney City to Surf Fun Run (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Marathon, Sport - Endurance
Month: August Sydney Design Festival (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Design, Convention
Month: August Sydney Festival (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Performing Art, Music - Varied, Dance - Various Styles
Month: January Sydney Film Festival (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Film, Film - Short, Film - Documentary
Month: June Sydney Fringe Festival (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Fringe, Performing Art, Comedy
Month: January Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Gay and Lesbian, Mardi Gras, Street Parade
Month: February Sydney International Wine Competition (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Wine
Month: February Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Yachting, Sport - Water, Maritime
Month: December Sydney Writers' Festival (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Writing, Literature, Book
Month: May Tamworth Country Music Festival (Tamworth, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Country, Music - Blues, Music - Bluegrass
Month: January Tarerer Festival (Killarney, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Indigenous, Music - Traditional, Music - Rock
Month: November Tarra Festival (Yarram, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Easter, Street Parade, Family
Month: April Ten Days on the Island (All Areas, TAS, Australia)

Festival Types: Performing Art, Cultural, Music - Varied
Month: March Tesselaar Tulip Festival (Monbulk, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Floral, Family
Month: September Thai Culture and Food Festival - Melbourne (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Cultural, Food, Multicultural
Month: March The Big Exo Day (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Street, Music - Rock, Student
Month: September The Dreaming Festival (Woodford, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Indigenous, Cultural, Music - Traditional
Month: June The Falls Festival (Lorne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: New Year, Music - Electronic, Music - Rock
Month: December The Falls Music and Arts Festival (Lorne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Rock, Music - Varied, Music - Alternative
Month: December The Long Walk (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Indigenous, Cultural, Walks
Month: May The Longest Night Film Festival (Hobart, TAS, Australia)

Festival Types: Film, Film - Documentary, Film
Month: June The Taste Festival (Hobart, TAS, Australia)

Festival Types: Food and Drink, Performing Art, Music - Varied
Month: December Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival (Thirroul, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Art, Community, Family
Month: April Thredbo Blues Festival (Thredbo, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Blues
Month: January Thredbo Jazz Festival (Thredbo, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Jazz
Month: May Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers (Toowoomba, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Floral, Family, Street Parade
Month: September Top Half Folk Festival (Northern Territory, NT, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Folk, Folk
Month: June Tour Down Under (Adelaide, SA, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Cycling, Sport - Endurance
Month: January Townsville Running Festival (Townsville, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Endurance, Sport - Matathon
Month: August Tropfest (All Areas, Australia)

Festival Types: Film - Short, Film
Month: January Tunarama (Port Lincoln, SA, Australia)

Festival Types: Bizarre, Sport - Bizarre, Family
Month: January Two Up in Kalgoorlie (Kalgoorlie, WA, Australia)

Festival Types: Traditional, National, Cultural
Month: Year Round Vivid Sydney (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Environmental, Art, Family
Month: May Wagga Wagga Jazz and Blues Festival (Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Jazz, Music - Blues
Month: September Wakakirri National Story Festival (All Areas, Australia)

Festival Types: Indigenous, Childrens, Performing Art
Month: August Wangaratta Festival of Jazz (Wangaratta, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - Jazz
Month: October Warburton Nordic Festival (Warburton, VIC, Australia)

Festival Types: Multicultural, Community
Month: May Wintersun (Coolangatta, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Automobile, Music - Rock, Street Parade
Month: June WOMAD - Adelaide (Adelaide, SA, Australia)

Festival Types: Music - World, Performing Art, Dance - Folk
Month: March Woodford Folk Festival (Woodford, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Folk, Music - Folk, Music - World
Month: December World Championship Cockroach Racing (Brisbane, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Sport - Bizarre, National, Bizarre
Month: January World Environment Day - Melbourne (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)
Festival Types: Environmental

Month: June Yaamma Festival (Bourke, NSW, Australia)

Festival Types: Indigenous, Cultural, Music - Traditional
Month: October Yowah Opal Festival (Yowah, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Local, Collectors
Month: July Yungaburra Folk Festival (Yungaburra, QLD, Australia)

Festival Types: Folk, Music - Folk
Month: October