30 May 2024
25 mins Read
There’s so much going on across the country this May, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by it all. But fear not, we have compiled a comprehensive guide to all the best happenings in your state this month. From food and wine festivals to Mother’s Day events, sports games and live music events – we’ve got you covered.
Grab your notebook and pen, you’re going to need it for the annual Sydney Writers’ Festival at Carriageworks this May. The 2024 program is packed to the brim, featuring conversations with internationally acclaimed writers such as Holly Ringland, Ann Pratchett, Christos Tsiolkas, Abdulrazak Gurnah and Charlotte Wood, among many other talents.
Both free and ticketed events are your gateway to learning about what inspires authors and their work, the stories behind their books and how it all relates to the world we live in today. Between talks, you can enjoy a pop-up bookshop with all the latest releases and grab a photo with your favourite writer at a book signing.
Make sure to check out the bookshop for new releases.
Vivid Sydney is back – and this year’s list of highlights is long and varied. Across 23 nights, the festival will connect our city to light artists, music makers, brilliant thinkers and creatives through four key concepts: Light, Music, Food and Ideas. In 2024, Vivid Sydney explores everything that falls under this year’s theme, Humanity.
Discover secret tunnels laced with light. Take part in interactive art installations. Feel the pulse of a new beat and move together as one, while talented performers transform the city with live shows in unexpected spaces. Dance to live tunes in the park. Learn from evocative artwork aimed at educating people. Discover parts of Sydney that light you up.
Vivid Sydney is back. (Image: Destination NSW)
In the Northern Tablelands town of Armidale, winter isn’t a season, it’s a celebration. The Big Chill Festival is all about bringing people together to appreciate everything that the colder months have to offer. Grab your best beanie and take a deep breath of fresh mountain air before sampling craft beers and boutique wines. You can also enjoy chatting by the warmth of firepits, feasting on slow-cooked barbecue meats, dancing along to live music and wandering stalls.
World-class act The Reubens will take to the stage on the first day of the festival, while legendary band Diesel will perform the next. You can also expect performances by Jack River, Kingswood, Splashpool and Tori Darke. Tickets are on sale now.
Dance the night away to live music acts including The Reubens.
Discovery awaits in the Hunter Valley region of Broke Fordwich with A Little Bit of Broke. This year, the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary, encompassing the region’s best wine, food, farm-gate produce, events and live music across 16 locations. Think alpaca farm visits, award-winning wine tastings, masterclasses in mead making, art gallery meandering, coffee house collaborations and so much more.
Try the Festival Starter Kit, which includes festival entry, a take-home Riedel glass, a festival map and four to eight tasting tokens redeemable at your choice of wineries. It’s got to be one of the coolest things to do in the Hunter Valley yet.
Take part in one-off experiences at A Little Bit of Broke.
Head down to Sydney’s Northern Beaches this May for a full month of good food and great wine. Taste of the Beaches is all about spotlighting local restaurants, Australian fine wines, the region’s plethora of local breweries and a line-up of live musicians.
Expect everything from bottomless brunches and wine-tasting sessions to historical walking tours and interactive workshops, all with local brands and companies. With both free and ticketed events, this is one the whole family can enjoy.
Sample offerings from local and national favourites.
The Shoalhaven Food Network has curated an itinerary designed to inspire visitors to eat and drink their way around the NSW South Coast region. The Shoalhaven Gourmet Getaway will include everything from afternoon tea at Farmgate Restaurant to dinner at Ponte Bar and Dining and a Cupitt’s Estate Winery Long Lunch hosted by local industry legend Rosie Cupitt.
The long weekend will also loop visitors into the Jervis Bay Love of Mussels Cruise, a Bites of Berry experience and an immersive Long Lunch with chef Doug Innes-Will at Ramox in Bundanon. Be sure to book!
Join the long lunch hosted by Rosie Cupitt herself. (Image: Destination NSW)
This year’s Caper Byron Bay Food & Culture Festival aims to showcase the culinary diversity of NSW’s Northern Rivers. The program for the 10-day celebration, which has partnered with the North Byron Hotel, has been curated by chef Louis Tikaram (ex-Tetsuya’s, Longrain) of Stanley restaurant in Brisbane.
Highlights include the Taste the Cape opening party held at Three Blue Ducks, live music performances, cooking demonstrations and cheese and wine tastings. As an official partner of the event, Elements of Byron is offering 15 per cent off the best available rate across the festival dates.
Experience Byron Bay at its finest. (Image: Jess Kearney)
It’s time to discover the distinctive flavours of NSW’s rock oysters and sustainable seafood at Narooma Oyster Festival, known as southern NSW’s largest food and wine event. This year, guests can expect a truly jam-packed program, all centred around the delicious briny bivalves.
Enjoy live demonstrations from renowned chefs like Hao Chen, Serif Kaya and Corey Costelloe. Visit Oyster Farmers Alley. Cheer on contestants at Australia’s Oyster Shucking Championships. And witness the biggest oyster in Australia.
The event is a must for oyster lovers. (Image: Oyster Rocks, home of Narooma Oyster Festival)
Bursting with the exhilarating sounds of the best of jazz, blues and related music, Cronulla Jazz & Blues Festival is a family-friendly extravaganza featuring more than 100 superb artists. Held in the beachy Sydney suburb of Cronulla, the event offers ample licensed bars, incredible food selections, retail stalls, kids activities, a film festival and a record fair, all adding up to a vibrant and fun collision of music and good times.
Now in its 23rd year, the Melbourne Good Food & Wine Show is Australia’s longest-running food event and a staple in the diaries of foodies around the country. This year, the event will be taking over the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre for three days, bringing a host of new offerings to the proverbial table.
Featuring over 300 exhibitors, the show will highlight the best of Australia’s culinary scene. Attendees will get to sip, sample and shop, plus meet the makers behind some of their favourite foodie products. keep an eye out for celebrity chefs like Miguel Maestre, Kirsten Tibballs, Emelia Jackson, Alastair McLeod and Sarah Todd, among others.
Sample some of Australia’s best food and wine.
Unfolding under the roof of the iconic Queen Victoria Market, the Hawker 88 Night Market is ready and willing to feed hungry bellies from all over Melbourne. Every Wednesday night until 8 May, the space comes alive with the sounds, smells, sights and most importantly, tastes of Asia. Transport your tastebuds from China to India, Vietnam to Korea and Malaysia to Japan.
Those attending can expect a diverse cultural mix of street food, retail pop-ups and free live music and entertainment across more than 20 stalls. Think dumplings, ramen, spring rolls, kimchi fries, durian ice cream and bubble tea. Entry is free, with prices for food and wares varying between stalls.
Devour delicious dishes from all over Asia.
Head inland this month for the 2024 Ballarat Heritage Festival, which highlights the city’s past, appreciates its present and celebrates its future. The 10-day program will feature a vintage car show, maze and antique fair. Visitors can also expect live concerts, art exhibitions, workshops and rides on an old steam train.
The festival is held annually to bring the community together and invites tourists to experience the splendour of the region. Immerse yourself in the rich history of Ballarat while experiencing new local offerings through both free and ticketed events. It’s one of the best autumn festivals in Australia.
Enjoy the splendours the Ballarat region has to offer.
Grab the family and head to Victoria’s Yarra Valley this May for Mother’s Day at Oakridge Wines in Coldstream. You’ll step into the extraordinary with Oakridge’s long lunch, featuring four courses in the cellar door’s hatted restaurant. Your ticket includes a delicious glass of Blanc de Blancs, plus Cuvee chocolates for Mum to take home. Kids are also welcome to enjoy a two-course option.
Spoil mum with a four-course lunch at Oakridge this Mother’s Day.
What do you get when you combine art and literature in one of the most stunning spaces the Victorian capital has to offer? The Melbourne Art Book Fair of course! Held at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), the 10th annual Melbourne Art Book Fair is a state-wide celebration of art book publishing and Melbourne’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature.
The program is practically bursting at the seams, from a two-day book market with over 100 stallholders to live conversations, book launches, zine-making workshops and so much more. And while you’re there, you may as well check out some of the NGV’s stunning exhibitions and art displays.
Visitors enjoying the Melbourne Art Book Fair at NGV International Melbourne. (Image: Courtesy of NGV)
A highlight of Victoria’s High Country, Bright is best known for its autumnal foliage and cosy vibes come the cooler months. And each year, the town celebrates the turning of the seasons with the Bright Autumn Festival.
This year, the 10-day program is jam-packed with things to do. Think markets, music, parades, historical tours, campfires, art exhibitions and guided walks. Local businesses will also be showcasing the region’s best, including the very cool Bright Brewery.
Sample some of Bright Brewery’s delicious beers at the festival.
Tie your laces folks, the Great Ocean Road Running Festival is back for another year of pounding the pavement. And what better way to see one of Australia’s most stunning stretches of coast than on foot, running alongside like-minded people and smashing PBs along the way?
Inclusive of all ages and abilities, the running event features nine different distances (from 1.5 kilometres to 60 kilometres) across two days, closing off the road from cars so you can safely race along the famous trail. There will also be lots of other fun things happening, including glamping, yoga, live music, kite flying and more.
The running festival caters to all ages and abilities.
To celebrate 50 years in wine, Chapel Hill in South Australia are treating Melbourne to a divine time. Chief winemaker Michael Fragos will lead the charge, with senior viticulturist Rachel Steer at his side.
You’re invited to a series of epic Evening Cellar Door Sessions that will take you through four brackets, one each for Chapel Hill’s new releases. Each wine will be accompanied by museum or barrel samples of future vintages, smuggled out of the winery just for this event. There are two sessions on offer: pre-dinner from 5:30 pm to 7 pm and post-dinner from 7pm to 9: 15 pm. Tickets are on sale now.
Guests will be among the first to taste a new Chapel Hill Icon range wine, the Devil Shiraz.
Just one ticket is your personal pass into a range of delightful venues and unlimited transport buses with Grazing The Granite Belt this May. Think two days of lazy grazing, award-winning wines and dozens of gourmet dishes at cellar doors, breweries and eateries across the Southern Downs region. Tickets are on sale now, priced at $155 per person.
Ballandean Grove Estate is just one of the Granite Belt pit stops. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
Hosted by Opera Queensland, the Festival of Outback Opera is a week-long event of outdoor concerts in the Outback Queensland towns of Longreach and Winton. Autumn colours won’t just be found in the changing of leaves but in the golden light cast against this stunning landscape.
This year, singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke will headline the festival, joined by tenor Rosario La Spina, soprano Rachelle Durkin and more. Guests can also look forward to a long-table lunch and a spectacular gala ball.
The Brisbane Street Art Festival is back this year with its largest program yet. The festival is an annual public art event that provides opportunities for creatives and the wider community to engage and collaborate. Artists from around the world will come together to revitalise the city with workshops, panel talks, a cycling tour of the city and live mural painting.
The Superordinary Northshore will act as a hub for the festival – hosting many of the highlights of the program. From there, mural sites will spread across a variety of locations across the city.
Admire artists at work during the festival. (Image: Cassidy Cloupet)
Don’t miss Blues on Broadbeach this month, one of Australia’s largest free music festivals, backdropped by the spectacular Gold Coast. Held over four days in the heart of Broadbeach, the line-up features talented artists from both Australia and around the world including Melissa Etheridge, Samantha Fish, Jesse Dayton, Eric Bibb and Dallas Frasca.
The festival will be surrounded by plenty of restaurants, cafes, bars and fast food chains, with licensed venues onsite too. The Broadbeach precinct is also home to a variety of places to stay, so guests can book accommodation just minutes from the action.
Rock out to rockin’ tunes at Blues on Broadbeach. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
The Noosa Eat and Drink Festival is back for another year, and grumbling bellies across the Sunshine Coast are as excited as ever. Across four days in May, many mouth-watering events will unfold in some of Noosa’s most stunning locations, including Noosa Main Beach and Arcadia Street.
There are plenty of events in Noosa to wrap your tastebuds around, but the Festival Village is the place to be. With over 80 local, Australian and international brands, markets, live music, masterclasses and chef demonstrations, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Tickets on sale now.
The festival unfolds across some of Noosa’s most stunning locations.
Grab your Akubras and dust off your boots, it’s Rodeo time! In 2024, the Nebo Rodeo, partnering with the Nebo Hotel, is bringing you a fantastic weekend full of entertainment for the whole family. It’s all happening in the rural town of Nebo, just over an hour’s drive inland from Mackay.
The event kicks off on Friday night, with the Nebo Hotel Street Party. Guests can expect free kids’ entertainment, market stalls, a mini eat street and live music from some great Aussie talents. On Saturday, Queensland’s biggest one-day Rodeo event will take place.
The event is the biggest one-day rodeo in Queensland. (Image: Terry Hill)
Queensland’s stunning Mary Valley, 45 minutes inland from Noosa, is preparing for a bumper month of food events with the annual GourMay Mary Valley Food Festival. The region is known as one of the country’s great food bowls thanks to its fertile soil and microclimates that allow for an extraordinary variety of produce to be grown.
Throughout May, attendees can eat their way through a massive program, including long lunches, campfire dining, guided tours, cooking competitions and new wine launches. There will also be film nights based around food themes and a spectacular gala ball to conclude the festival.
Campfire cooking is a delicious festival highlight.
The Australian Musical Theatre Festival is an unparalleled opportunity for musical theatre lovers, makers and industry professionals to get together, share and celebrate this wonderful genre. Held in Launceston, the annual festival includes a diverse program with ample opportunities to teach, collaborate, engage and – of course – enjoy.
Whether you’re working in the industry, a passionate audience member, a teacher or a member of a community musical theatre society, this is the festival for you. Keep your eye out for legends like American songwriter John Bucchino, Moulin Rouge star Patrice Tipoki and Helpmann Award winner Kerrie Anne Greenland.
Sit back to enjoy live musical theatre shows. (Image: Cameron Jones Visuals)
Head to Norfolk this May for the 7th annual Cracker Night and watch the sky illuminate. Gather around the warmth of a giant bonfire and admire Bright Star Fireworks Australia’s display as it lights up the sky in a rainbow of different colours. The event will also include live music and food trucks offering burgers, wings, loaded fries and drinks. Tickets for this special community event are on sale now, ranging from $5 for children to $20 for adults.
Enjoy an amazing fireworks display surrounded by friends.
National short film competition the Very Short Film Festival showcases the talents of Australian filmmakers, inviting them to express their unique stories within just a five-minute format. And although the competition element of the event is now closed, there’s still a lot to be excited about. The premiere event will showcase the Very Short Film Festival finalists and feature special award-winning shorts, with an afterparty to match.
The festival is a great opportunity for up-and-coming film enthusiasts.
Divulge in the ultimate autumn activity – picking fresh walnuts in an orchard, surrounded by scenic mountains and meadows. This May, you can join the annual Coaldale Walnuts Open Farm to make those autumnal dreams come true.
BYO basket or bucket for collecting walnuts and even a picnic if you like – there’s plenty of room. Guests can also attend pickled walnut tastings and sample food showcasing Coal Valley’s famed produce. Tickets are on sale now at $6.80 a head, with walnuts priced at just $7 a kilo.
Taste your pickings at Coaldale Walnuts. (Image: Jasper Da Seymour)
Held at the iconic Josef Chromy winery in the Tamar Valley is Festa Tarfufo, a much-loved event among locals and visitors alike. Albeit an homage to the truffle, the one-day event brings together a community to celebrate much more: the beauty of Tasmania’s winter and the joy of shared simplicity. Despite the event falling on 2 August, tickets are being released on 2 May, so be sure to snag one before they’re all sold out!
Josef Chromy is popular for a reason. (Image: Andrew Wilson)
Escape to a world where words, creativity and expression have no limits at the 16th annual Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival. Lose yourself in a weekend of panel talks and workshops with authors, journalists and academics – who dare to dream big – at the biggest regional literature event in the state.
Many of the events will take place at the festival hub, Nala Bardip Mia – Margaret River HEART (Hub of Entertainment, Arts and Regional Tourism). There will also be parts of the program held in local libraries, the Margaret River Bookshop and even over in Busselton.
Attend panel talks to hear writers discuss their works.
Taste Great Southern celebrates the local food, boutique wines and amazing flavours of the Great Southern region of WA. With over 20 acclaimed chefs across 40+ culinary experiences, this event is not to be missed by foodies. Think long lunches, degustations, premium pairing events, community markets, music events, wine sessions and more.
The award-winning wineries and breweries of the Great Southern region will feature across the program. Expect to sip delightful wine varietals and local craft beers. Then savour incredible fresh and local produce such as seafood, meat, vegetables and cheeses. Participating towns include Albury, Denmark, Mt Barker, Frankland River, Porongurup and Katanning.
Sample delicious treats made from locally sourced ingredients. (Image: Amazing Albany)
The Perth Comedy Festival is the city’s biggest annual comedy event. Every April and May, the best comedians from Australia and beyond take to stages across Perth for a massive month of comedy. The festival program features performances from the finest Aussie acts, international stars and promising emerging talent.
Guests can expect everything from stand-up to sketch, satire, improv, theatre, magic and kids’ comedy. Those making up the program this year include Alexandra Hudson, Nina Oyama, Adam Kay, David O’Doherty and Emma Holland.
Get ready for a belly full of laughs this May. (Image: Matthew Gedling)
From its Corroboree Under the Stars with traditional bush tucker to a black-tie dinner with special guests The Screaming Jets, the annual Ord Valley Muster is a bucket-list nine-day event in Kununurra, Western Australia. Other program highlights include Yoga on a Boat, Art in the Park, the Gibb Challenge (a bike ride along the iconic outback road) and cultural storytelling by local Miriwoong people. If you love food, art, culture, music and the colours of the WA outback, this is one for you.
Marvel at Art in the Park at the Ord Valley Muster. (Image: Daniel Njegich)
Celebrating 25 years in 2024, the Bickley Harvest Festival is sure to delight autumn lovers. Expanding over three days at 20 different local venues, guests are invited to enjoy the area’s finest wine, cider, spirits, produce, food, scenery and attractions. The region, just 35 minutes from Perth, is absolutely stunning during autumn. Look out over orange-hued vineyards, wander through apple orchards at cideries, try delicious seasonal produce at a variety of restaurants, and so much more.
Be transported to the French Alps this May with the Raclette Igloo Experience. Grab your mates and book out one of 14 private igloos, then indulge in a delicious charcuterie board with a side of melted raclette and mulled wine.
The exclusive and intimate dining experience also features French-speaking staff to enhance the atmosphere. Cap off the night around your own fire pit, roasting marshmallows with friends and family. Tickets are on sale now, priced at $99 per head.
Welcome to foodie paradise. Savour the best the country has on offer at Tasting Australia, which spans 150 events and 10 days across a number of stunning South Aussie regions. From flying to the Eyre Peninsula onboard a Tasting Australia Airlines flight to dining in a unique art gallery in the heart of Adelaide, there’s truly something for everyone.
Choose a destination or event and transport your tastebuds. Think intimate tastings hosted across the capital, special Mother’s Day events, winery tours in the Barossa and dinners showcasing endemic produce on Kangaroo Island. And that’s just a taste of what’s to come.
Dive into some of South Australia’s most divine produce.
Past, present, wander – this is what you can expect from South Australia’s History Festival. The month-long event explores the constantly evolving nature of history and what we can learn from its perspectives and voices.
The program is well and truly jam-packed, with over 500 interactive and educational events for attendees to choose from. Each event covers different regions and cities of the state, falling under a variety of categories; music, sport, literature, art, and food. There will also be specific focus programs on LGBTQIA+ history and First Nations history, too.
South Australia’s History Festival runs for a month. (Image: Sia Duff)
Held annually, the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival has grown exponentially, now recognised as one of the most energetic regional art festivals in South Australia. Fusing literature, art and the finest wines from the Coonawarra region, expect only the best of the Limestone Coast to be on display.
Those attending can look forward to a variety of exhibitions, market stalls, activities, performances and events for kids. Don’t miss the iconic Makers Markets, full of stalls by creatives, craftspeople, foodies and more.
Get creative at the Penola Arts Festival. (Image: Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival)
Lovers of this buttery white wine will rejoice this month as Chardonnay May takes over a variety of wineries across the breathtaking Adelaide Hills region. Cellar doors are inviting chardy lovers in to experience their version of the wine, with tasting flights, themed parties, masterclasses, lunches and dinners. A number of wineries will also unveil new chardonnays, so you can be the first to taste the new tipples.
Participating wineries include Tilbrook Estate, Murdoch Hill, Ashton Hills, Lofty Valley Estate, Howard Vineyard, Bird In Hand Winery and Anderson Hill, just to name a few.
Sample a variety of delicious chardonnay across the Adelaide Hills. (Image: Ben Macmahon)
Treat yourself to Autumn Vibes – Gourmet Festival Weekend at the stunning Kilikanoon Cellar Door in the Clare Valley this May. This event is music festival meets foodie fun, dialled down to the pace of your favourite Sunday market. Laze about on the cellar door lawn and enjoy live music with a side of wood-fired pizza and warm cinnamon doughnuts. Kilikanoon will be serving its delicious wines by the glass and bottle, as well as Sawmill Gin and beer from Watsacowie Brewery.
This year’s BASSINTHEGRASS is increasingly looking like the biggest event of 2024, offering plenty of reasons to nudge visitors into travelling to the Top End. The festival’s relocation to Darwin’s iconic Mindil Beach in 2019 continues to allow for further additions to the entertainment line-up.
This year, a stellar set of Australia’s top musical acts includes Macklemore, Jet, King Stingray, Middle Kids, Jungle Giants What So Not and Young Franco. New to this year’s festival is the 360-style EDM stage called BASSment, giving festival-goers a place to keep the party going between acts.
The music event is a must for festival lovers. (Image: BASSINTHEGRASS)
Running for three days this May, Karrimanjbekkan An-me Kakadu: Taste of Kakadu will take you on a stimulating journey of taste and sound to discover the foods, stories and customs that have sustained the world’s oldest living culture for more than 65,000 years.
This year’s program features dinner under the stars, guided walks, live music, workshops, cooking presentations and so much more. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience Indigenous culture, food, art, music and entertainment while visiting the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park.
Join the Anbangbang Billabong ground oven event. (Image: Parks Australia)
The Freds Pass Rural Show is a premium community event in the rural areas around Darwin. It features classic car shows, live entertainment, competitions and market stalls, plus exciting extras showcasing local food. Those attending can look forward to a car show, animal nursery, paddock-to-plate dining experiences, live music and children’s entertainment. It’s a community event for the whole family.
Competitions range from farm animals to wood chopping.
Autumn sees temperatures drop, especially in places like Canberra. Whisky lovers don’t have to worry though, their drink of choice is known for its warming benefits, which are catered to at Whisky Live. The premium whisky-tasting event features top-shelf, high-quality whiskies and spirits from around the world.
Whether you’re new to whisky or a tried-and-true connoisseur, there’s something for all palettes. Apart from whisky, guests can look forward to an array of food stalls that’ll keep the autumn chill at bay.
Sample top-shelf whiskies from Australia and around the world.
The eclectic sounds of musicians from all over Australia will fill the autumn air in Canberra with special performances as part of this year’s Canberra International Music Festival. The festival was founded in 1994 by the late Ursula Callus. It has been held annually since 1997 and features concerts, lectures and masterclasses.
Join in for a musical journey around the globe, from new works to timeless classics. This year, the festival will feature a boundless collection of thought-provoking acts by Australian and international artists in some of Canberra’s most beautiful venues.
Both Australian and international musical acts are set to perform. (Image: Peter Hislop)
Footy heads unite – the Super Rugby Pacific has taken over the Australian capital this month. The beloved ACT Brumbies are taking on several national and international teams at GIO Stadium, including the Fijian Drua and Melbourne Rebels. The high-intensity matches are great for a family night out, with tickets priced at $15 for juniors and $25 for adults.
The matches are a must for all brumbies fans. (Image: Richard Poulton Photography)
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