What's on across Australia
Major Australian events, and how to get there by bus
One hundred of the country's biggest events, organised by month: festivals, royal shows, races and food weekends. Pick an event and we'll help you plan the coach trip there. Dates follow each event's typical pattern, so confirm exact dates on the official site before you book travel.
100 events
January
Melbourne, VICAustralian Open (tennis)Two weeks in mid-to-late January (finals on final Sunday)SportHow to get there
FreePerth, WACity of Perth Australia Day Skyworks26 January annuallyMajor EventHow to get there
Cygnet, TASCygnet Folk FestivalSecond weekend of January (3 days)MusicHow to get there
Perth, WAFringe World PerthMid-January to mid-February (approx. 4 weeks)Arts & LiteratureHow to get there
Gold Coast, QLDMagic Millions CarnivalEarly-to-mid January (sales week plus race day on the second Saturday)SportHow to get there
Melbourne, VICMidsumma FestivalMid-January to early February (3 weeks); Carnival on a mid-January SundayCultural FestivalHow to get there
Parkes, NSWParkes Elvis FestivalSecond week of January (5 days, around Elvis's 8 January birthday)MusicHow to get there
FreeAdelaide + regional SA, SASantos Tour Down UnderApprox. 8 days in mid-to-late JanuarySportHow to get there
Canberra, ACTSummernatsFirst weekend of January (4 days)Major EventHow to get there
Sydney, NSWSydney FestivalFirst three weeks of JanuaryArts & LiteratureHow to get there
Tamworth, NSWTamworth Country Music FestivalTen days in mid-to-late JanuaryMusicHow to get there
FreeSydney, NSWYabun Festival26 January annuallyIndigenous CultureHow to get there
February
Adelaide, SAAdelaide FringeMid-February to mid-March (31 days)Arts & LiteratureHow to get there
FreeCanberra, ACTEnlighten FestivalLate February to mid-March (approx. 2.5 weeks, including the Balloon Spectacular)Arts & LiteratureHow to get there
Launceston, TASFestivaleSecond weekend of February (3 days)Food & WineHow to get there
FreeCanberra, ACTNational Multicultural FestivalThird weekend of February (3 days)Cultural FestivalHow to get there
Perth, WAPerth FestivalMid-February to early March (approx. 3 weeks)Arts & LiteratureHow to get there
Canberra, ACTRoyal Canberra ShowLast weekend of February (3 days)Agricultural ShowHow to get there
Sydney, NSWSydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi GrasMid-February to early March; parade on first Saturday of MarchMajor EventHow to get there
March
Adelaide, SAAdelaide FestivalApprox. 17 days across the first half of MarchArts & LiteratureHow to get there
FreeBallarat, VICBallarat Begonia FestivalLabour Day long weekend, March (3 days)Family FestivalHow to get there
FreeBendigo, VICBendigo Easter FestivalEaster weekend (4 days)Cultural FestivalHow to get there
Byron Bay, NSWByron Bay BluesfestEaster long weekend (5 days, Thursday to Monday)MusicHow to get there
Melbourne, VICFormula 1 Australian Grand PrixFour days in mid-MarchSportHow to get there
FreeMandurah, WAMandurah Crab FestThird weekend of March (2 days)Food & WineHow to get there
Melbourne + regional VIC, VICMelbourne Food & Wine FestivalTen days in late MarchFood & WineHow to get there
Melbourne, VICMelbourne International Comedy FestivalLate March to mid-April (approx. 3.5 weeks)Arts & LiteratureHow to get there
FreeMelbourne, VICMoomba FestivalLabour Day long weekend, early-to-mid March (4 days)Family FestivalHow to get there
Canberra, ACTNational Folk FestivalEaster long weekend (5 days)MusicHow to get there
Oakbank, Adelaide Hills, SAOakbank Easter Racing CarnivalEaster Saturday and Easter MondaySportHow to get there
Port Fairy, VICPort Fairy Folk FestivalLabour Day long weekend, March (4 days)MusicHow to get there
FreePerth, WASculpture by the Sea, CottesloeFirst three weeks of MarchArts & LiteratureHow to get there
Sydney, NSWSydney Royal Easter ShowApprox. 12 days spanning Easter (late March to mid-April)Agricultural ShowHow to get there
Statewide Tasmania, TASTen Days on the IslandTen days in March, odd-numbered yearsArts & LiteratureHow to get there
Adelaide, SAWOMADelaideFour days over the Adelaide Cup long weekend (second Monday of March)MusicHow to get there
April
Barossa Valley (Tanunda), SABarossa Vintage FestivalApprox. 5 days in late April, odd-numbered yearsFood & WineHow to get there
Bright, VICBright Autumn FestivalLate April to early May (10 days)Regional TourismHow to get there
Orange, NSWOrange F.O.O.D WeekTen days in early-to-mid AprilFood & WineHow to get there
FreeAlice Springs (Mparntwe), NTParrtjima - A Festival in LightTen nights in AprilIndigenous CultureHow to get there
FreeTorquay, VICRip Curl Pro Bells BeachCompetition window spanning Easter, typically mid-to-late AprilSportHow to get there
FreeStatewide Tasmania, TASTarga TasmaniaSix days in AprilSportHow to get there
Adelaide + SA regions, SATasting AustraliaTen days from late April to early MayFood & WineHow to get there
FreeMargaret River, WAWestern Australia Margaret River ProCompetition window of approx. 10 days in mid-to-late AprilSportHow to get there
May
Carrick, TASAgfestFirst week of May (Thursday to Saturday)Agricultural ShowHow to get there
Halls Gap, VICGrampians Grape EscapeFirst weekend of May (2 days)Food & WineHow to get there
Pokolbin, Hunter Valley, NSWHunter Valley Wine and Food FestivalThroughout May and JuneFood & WineHow to get there
Kununurra, WAOrd Valley MusterTen days in mid-to-late MayRegional TourismHow to get there
Brisbane, QLDPaniyiri Greek FestivalThird weekend of May (2 days)Cultural FestivalHow to get there
Sydney, NSWSydney Writers' FestivalOne week in late MayArts & LiteratureHow to get there
Sydney, NSWVivid SydneyLate May to mid-June (23 nights)Major EventHow to get there
June
Adelaide, SAAdelaide Cabaret FestivalApprox. 2 weeks in JuneArts & LiteratureHow to get there
Barunga, NTBarunga FestivalKing's Birthday long weekend, June (3 days)Indigenous CultureHow to get there
FreeCoolangatta, QLDCooly Rocks OnFive days in early-to-mid JuneMusicHow to get there
Hobart, TASDark MofoApprox. 2 weeks in mid-June, around the winter solsticeArts & LiteratureHow to get there
Alice Springs, NTFinke Desert RaceKing's Birthday long weekend, June (4 days)SportHow to get there
Melbourne, VICRISINGApprox. 12 days in early-to-mid JuneArts & LiteratureHow to get there
Manjimup, WATruffle KerfuffleLast weekend of June (3 days)Food & WineHow to get there
July
Cairns, QLDCairns Indigenous Art FairFour to five days in mid-JulyIndigenous CultureHow to get there
FreeDarwin, NTDarwin Beer Can RegattaOne Sunday in mid-JulyCommunity EventHow to get there
Darwin, NTDarwin Cup CarnivalJuly racing carnival culminating in Darwin Cup Day, first Monday of AugustSportHow to get there
Gold Coast, QLDGold Coast MarathonFirst weekend of July (2 days)SportHow to get there
August
Airlie Beach, QLDAirlie Beach Race WeekOne week in mid-AugustSportHow to get there
FreeNortham to Perth, WAAvon DescentFirst weekend of August (2 days)SportHow to get there
FreeCairns, QLDCairns FestivalLate August to early September (approx. 10 days)Community EventHow to get there
Sydney, NSWCity2SurfSecond Sunday of AugustSportHow to get there
Darwin, NTDarwin Festival18 days in early-to-mid AugustArts & LiteratureHow to get there
Gulkula, northeast Arnhem Land, NTGarma FestivalFour days in early AugustIndigenous CultureHow to get there
Amamoor, near Gympie, QLDGympie Music MusterLast weekend of August (4 days)MusicHow to get there
Alice Springs, NTHenley-on-Todd RegattaThird Saturday of AugustCommunity EventHow to get there
Melbourne, VICMelbourne International Film FestivalFirst three weeks of AugustArts & LiteratureHow to get there
Brisbane, QLDRoyal Queensland Show (Ekka)Nine to ten days in early-to-mid August; People's Day on the second WednesdayAgricultural ShowHow to get there
Broome, WAShinju Matsuri (Festival of the Pearl)Nine days in late August to early SeptemberCultural FestivalHow to get there
Sydney, NSWSydney MarathonOne Sunday in late August to mid-SeptemberSportHow to get there
September
Melbourne, VICAFL Grand FinalLast Saturday of September (typically)SportHow to get there
Birdsville, QLDBirdsville RacesFirst weekend of September (Friday and Saturday)SportHow to get there
Brisbane, QLDBrisbane FestivalFirst three weeks of September, closing with RiverfireArts & LiteratureHow to get there
FreeCanberra, ACTFloriadeMid-September to mid-October (approx. 30 days)Major EventHow to get there
FreePerth, WAKings Park FestivalThroughout September (month-long)Family FestivalHow to get there
Perth, WAPerth Royal ShowApprox. 8 days in late September (WA school holidays)Agricultural ShowHow to get there
Adelaide, SARoyal Adelaide ShowNine days in early SeptemberAgricultural ShowHow to get there
Melbourne, VICRoyal Melbourne ShowLast week of September into early October (11 days)Agricultural ShowHow to get there
Bowral, NSWTulip Time BowralMid-September to early October (approx. 2 weeks)Regional TourismHow to get there
Winton, QLDWinton's Outback FestivalLate September in odd-numbered years (5 days)Regional TourismHow to get there
October
Deniliquin, NSWDeni Ute MusterNSW October long weekend (Friday and Saturday, early October)Regional TourismHow to get there
Gold Coast, QLDGold Coast 500Last weekend of October (3 days)SportHow to get there
Melbourne, VICMelbourne FringeEarly-to-mid October (approx. 18 days)Arts & LiteratureHow to get there
Noosa Heads, QLDNoosa Triathlon Multi Sport FestivalLate October to early November (5 days, race on Sunday)SportHow to get there
Sydney, NSWNRL Grand FinalFirst Sunday of October (typically)SportHow to get there
Adelaide, SAOzAsia FestivalLate October to early November (approx. 2.5 weeks)Arts & LiteratureHow to get there
Bathurst, NSWRepco Bathurst 1000Second weekend of October (4 days, race on Sunday)SportHow to get there
Hobart, TASRoyal Hobart ShowThree to four days in late October, including Hobart Show Day (Thursday)Agricultural ShowHow to get there
FreeSydney, NSWSculpture by the Sea, BondiLate October to early November (approx. 3 weeks)Arts & LiteratureHow to get there
November
December
Melbourne, VICBoxing Day Test26-30 DecemberSportHow to get there
Meredith, VICMeredith Music FestivalSecond weekend of December (3 days)MusicHow to get there
FreeSydney, NSWRolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race (start)26 December (Boxing Day) annuallySportHow to get there
Sydney, NSWSydney New Year's Eve31 December annually (9pm and midnight fireworks)Major EventHow to get there
Hobart, TASTaste of Summer27/28 December to 3 January (7-8 days)Food & WineHow to get there
Woodford, QLDWoodford Folk Festival27 December to 1 January (6 days)MusicHow to get there