From watching dogs surfing to tasting South Australia’s finest wines, these autumnal events offer something for every kind of traveller.
Summer is often touted as the best time for live music, outdoor activities and highly anticipated events. But wherever you find yourself at the changing of seasons, autumn in Australia is brimming with far-flung festivities worth the trip to witness.
Whether you’re eager for innovative art in Sydney, all dressed up for pride in pastoral Daylesford, or looking for top-shelf gin in the Top End, this state-by-state guide will get you set up for an unforgettable autumn.
Scroll down to fill your diary.
Queensland
Noosa Festival of Surfing (8–17 March 2024)
Since 1992, Noosa Festival of Surfing has offered surfers the chance to compete on Queensland’s famous Sunshine Coast. Now a staple of the global longboard competition circuit, the festival is equally known for its family-friendly atmosphere and radical surfing dogs.
Noosa Eat & Drink (30 May – 2 June 2024)
A weekend of delectable dining and masterful drinks should be enough to draw you to Queensland’s beautiful shores. Noosa Eat & Drink gives attendees access to a world of culinary delights, including live cooking demonstrations from celebrity chefs such as Gary Mehigan and Adriano Zumbo, and the unforgettable Long Lunch – a three-course street feast with expertly paired wines.
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New South Wales
24th Biennale of Sydney, Ten Thousand Suns (9 March – 10 June 2024)
The eagerly anticipated 24th Biennale of Sydney, titled ‘Ten Thousand Suns’, brings innovative art to Sydney’s most exciting venues, exploring legacies of collective resistance. With a wide selection of global artists displaying visionary works, the festival will also mark the public opening of the White Bay Power Station, transforming its century-old architecture into an artistic canvas.
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: West Side Story (22 March – 21 April 2024)
You may have seen West Side Story somewhere, but you’ve never seen it like this. At Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, the timeless musical retelling of Romeo and Juliet is brought to life in open-air splendour, with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge as the ultimate romantic backdrop.
Tenterfield Autumn Festival (29 March – 1 April 2024)
Over the Easter long weekend, the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales greet the season at Tenterfield Autumn Festival. Soak up the autumnal colours of nature at one of the open gardens, join a vineyard bus tour just over the Queensland border to the Granite Belt wine region, then take the kids for an Easter egg hunt in Jubilee Park.
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Australian Capital Territory
Enlighten Festival (1–11 March 2024)
See Canberra in the spotlight during the annual Enlighten Festival, an outdoor arts program centred around mesmerising light displays. Get the vibe started with live music at the Festival Hub, see the National Gallery and the National Library of Australia painted with vibrant projections, then step inside for a special after-hours visit to the extensive archives.
Victoria
ChillOut Festival (7–11 March 2024)
Billed as Australia’s premier regional LGBTQIA+ pride event, ChillOut Festival is Daylesford’s much-loved annual celebration, offering the town’s signature arts, dining and wellness experiences with an extra splash of colour. This year, Daylesford is going all out for its ‘Boots and Bling’ theme, staging a bush dance to remember, with a closing performance from drag superstar Courtney Act.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival (27 March – 21 April 2024)
Every March, travellers from across the world converge on Melbourne for the annual International Comedy Festival. Across the city, countless performance venues set the stage for several weeks of side-splitting laughs, from the Opening Night Gala at the Palais Theatre to up-and-coming cabaret acts at The Butterfly Club.
Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival (5–28 April 2024)
Featuring a mouthwatering ‘Autumn Pie & Tart Trail’ of over 40 bakeries, cafes and cellar doors, the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival is the ideal excuse for a trip to the countryside. Throughout April visitors can join an array of workshops, nature walks, performances and, yes, abundant dining experiences, set against the fiery colours of an autumnal landscape.
Grampians Grape Escape (3–5 May 2024)
In the idyllic town of Halls Gap, foodies and art-lovers alike are welcomed for the Grampians Grape Escape. Combining fine wine, live music and the breathtaking beauty of the Grampians, this is the perfect taste of regional Victoria.
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Tasmania
ECHO Festival (22–24 March 2024)
In Swansea, Tasmania, the changing of seasons is celebrated at the East Coast Harvest Odyssey, better known as ECHO Festival. In keeping with this year’s ‘oyster’ theme, guests will have the chance to craft their own oyster shuck under the expert tutelage of a local blacksmith and woodworking artisans. The immersive sensory experience culminates in a magnificent Native Bounty Feast, showcasing local produce served by candlelight.
Bruny Island Bird Festival (15–17 March 2024)
Off the coast just south of Hobart, avid birdwatchers have to opportunity to witness the region’s resplendent birdlife at the 7th Bruny Island Bird Festival. With guided walks, educational talks, and an avian-inspired art exhibition, Bruny Island invites travellers to turn their eyes to the sky and discover the soaring charms of Tasmania.
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South Australia
Adelaide Festival (1–17 March 2024)
Famed for its Fringe Festival, the South Australian capital steps into autumn with a truly packed events season, including the one and only Adelaide Festival. Newly commissioned creative works make their debut, while the world’s most respected opera, theatre and dance companies put on showstopping performances – the challenge is choosing from such a dizzying array of options.
Clare Valley SCA Gourmet Week (17–26 May 2024)
As one of Australia’s longest running food-and-wine events, Clare Valley SCA Gourmet Week celebrates its 40th anniversary this year with the help of the region’s best wineries. In a valley renowned for its riesling, you can participate in a wine masterclass, sit down for a paddock-to-plate dining experience and soak up the scenery in the long shadows of a late autumn afternoon.
Western Australia
Taste Great Southern (2–12 May 2024)
Go west for the 20th anniversary of Taste Great Southern, a culinary cavalcade of fine wine, exquisite flavours and rugged scenery. At various venues in and around the coastal town of Denmark, some four-and-a-half-hours south of Perth, guests can feast on Western Australia’s freshest seafood, sip outstanding shiraz and pinot noir, and embark on curated taste trails.
Ord Valley Muster (17–25 May 2024)
In the remote East Kimberley, Ord Valley Muster is a nine-day outback spectacular, sharing the region’s best music, arts and natural beauty. Catch classic Aussie music during the Kimberley Moon Experience, experience Miriwoong Gajerrong Indigenous culture and art at Corroboree Under the Stars and set out for a morning cruise along the Ord River to jaw-dropping Lake Argyle.
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Northern Territory
fabALICE Festival (7–10 March 2024)
Live out your Priscilla fantasies and follow the queens to the desert for fabALICE Festival. With a glittering assortment of drag performances, storytime for the kids, the Todd Mall parade and a special screening of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, it’s a kaleidoscope of campy fun in the Alice Springs outback.
Top End Gin Festival (25 May 2024)
Get ready to raise your glass at the annual Top End Gin Festival – your long-awaited excuse to finally fly north. For one glorious day, the country’s best gin distilleries pop up at Bundilla Beach, where you can partake in afternoon gin tastings as you send off autumn with top-tier live music, including a headline performance from fan-favourite Matt Corby.
Looking for more inspiration? Discover Destination Down Under: 10 Quintessential Australia Experiences.
