Nielsen Park, VaucluseCredit: Destination NSW
Scenic views of Sydney Harbour from Nielsen Park, Vaucluse.
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Sydney doesn’t hibernate in winter: the cooler months herald some of the city’s most unique experiences. Rug up, step out and enjoy everything from festivals to whale watching — including plenty of crisp, sunny days.
Be captivated by Vivid Sydney
Watch Sydney come alive as the city lights up during Vivid Sydney for three weeks across May and June. The largest festival of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, this annual celebration offers full sensory immersion, with wonder-inducing light displays, thought-provoking discussions and experiences, music from the soul, and the best of the world's cuisines. Wander the 8km Light Walk along the harbour (which is completely free!), dance the night away at Tumbalong Park, see a performance art piece at The Goods Line while feasting on flame-licked snacks at The Fire Kitchen and much, much more.
Embrace the chill at more winter festivals
Roll up to a range of other magical festivals held throughout Sydney during winter. Watch Bondi transform into a winter playground during the Bondi Festival, held over 17 days in July, and embrace the world’s best filmmaking in June at the Sydney Film Festival. Enjoy weekends of frosty fun at the Darling Harbour Winter Festival in July, with food stalls, ice-skating and epic entertainment; or hit the outdoor ice rink at Campbelltown’s ChillFest in July.
Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Views of Harbour Lights installations over Sydney Harbour during Vivid Sydney 2023, as seen from Quay West , Sydney.
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Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Views of Harbour Lights installations over Sydney Harbour during Vivid Sydney 2023, as seen from Quay West , Sydney.
Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Couple explores the Vivid Fire Kitchen, Vivid Sydney 2023. Vivid Fire Kitchen brings together Sydney's hottest dining concepts with local and internationally-acclaimed pitmasters and a collection of the finest NSW producers, curated drinks and fire-inspired cocktails for three weeks of flame-fuelled festivities
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Vivid Sydney 2023 Credit: Destination NSW
Couple explores the Vivid Fire Kitchen, Vivid Sydney 2023. Vivid Fire Kitchen brings together Sydney's hottest dining concepts with local and internationally-acclaimed pitmasters and a collection of the finest NSW producers, curated drinks and fire-inspired cocktails for three weeks of flame-fuelled festivities
Stay up late in a cosy bar
Warm up for a big night out at one of Sydney’s moodiest bars. Recline on a leather banquette in front of the fireplace with a gin cocktail in hand at Frank Mac’s in The Rocks, or descend into a late-night lounge bar for expertly shaken cocktails and a live music roster of jazz, new-wave and soul at Caterpillar Club. Head underground for a clandestine cocktail at Palmer & Co, also centrally located, and sample a taste of Sicily at subterranean Apollonia, hidden in the moodily lit basement of Hinchcliff House, just behind Circular Quay.
Settle in for a decadent meal
Retreat from the elements to experience Sydney’s renowned culinary creativity at some of the city’s finest restaurants. Take a quick trip to NYC via Clam Bar, a bistro inspired by the steakhouses of the great city, with classic cocktails and bone-in steak cooked over charcoal with all the sides you could want. Descend the spiral staircase behind a mysterious wooden door on Bligh Street in the city centre to the basement dining room at Hubert, where classic French fine-dining is de rigueur. Imagine you’ve stepped into a friend’s rustic country home as you linger over a long paddock-to-plate lunch at Fred’s in Paddington. Or tuck into one of Sydney’s best Sunday roasts by a crackling fire at the charming Glebe Hotel.
Lana, Hinchcliff House in Sydney Credit: Steve Woodburn
The Bar at Lana, Hinchcliff House in Sydney
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Lana, Hinchcliff House in Sydney Credit: Steve Woodburn
The Bar at Lana, Hinchcliff House in Sydney
Restaurant Hubert, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying food and drink at French restaurant Restaurant Hubert, Sydney.
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Restaurant Hubert, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying food and drink at French restaurant Restaurant Hubert, Sydney.
Be mesmerised by migrating whales
Marvel at the majesty of nature as whales put on a spectacular show in Sydney during the cooler months. Each year from May to November, more than 40,000 humpback and southern right whales make their way along Sydney’s coastline during their annual migration from Antarctica to the warmer waters of the Pacific and back again. Watch in wonder from coastal vantage points such as North Head at Manly and the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, which traces the clifftops of the city’s inner eastern beaches. Or get up close to these giants of the deep on an action-packed whale-watching cruise from Circular Quay, Darling Harbour or Manly with the likes of Whale Watching Sydney, Oz Whale Watching, Ocean Extreme and Manly Ocean Adventures.
Seek warmth through wellness
Get a taste of Sydney’s renowned wellness scene via an array of restorative experiences ideal for the winter months. Warm up from the inside out during a calming infrared sauna session at Nimbus & Co or Slow House, both located at Bondi. Hop between the sauna, mineral spa, ice bath and steam room at Surry Hills’ slick new space Capybara. Try something different and bathe nude at Arisoo, women-only Korean-style bathhouses in Paddington and Chatswood. Float in the 20-metre indoor pool under a canopy of twinkling ‘stars’ following a decadent treatment at the subterranean The Day Spa by Chuan at The Langham. Or treat yourself to a decadent day of bespoke facials and body therapies at the two-storey Spa at Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour.
Whale watching, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
A whale breaches out of the water off Sydney waters.
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Whale watching, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
A whale breaches out of the water off Sydney waters.
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour Spa Credit: Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour Spa
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Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour Spa Credit: Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour Spa
More Inspirational Stories
Vivid Sydney 2023Credit: Destination NSW
Views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Harbour during Vivid Sydney 2023, from the View Hotel in North Sydney.
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
From street art and experimental artists to festivals that take over the city and grandstand international acts, Sydney is shaped by an innovative spirit and creative soul. It’s an ethos shared by the city of Austin, Texas, and its legendary festival, SXSW (South by Southwest). In 2023, Sydney became the first city in the world to host an international edition of this iconic event.
From 14-20 October 2024, Sydney will once again transform into a vibrant creative hub, welcoming the world’s most inspired thinkers to celebrate film, music, tech and culture. In the lead up and during SXSW Sydney 2024, discover why the Harbour City is the ultimate creative playground.
The world of art brought to Sydney
See why the city is a magnet for inspired thinkers every day of the year. At the sleek Museum of Contemporary Art, perched on the edge of Sydney Harbour, the Sydney International Art Series showcases the world’s great creative trailblazers. Over summer 2024/2025, it will feature exclusive shows from international icons Julie Mehretu, René Magritte and Cao Fei. The Art Gallery of NSW has recently completed the $344 million Sydney Modern Project, a work of unparalleled art, architecture and landscape. In Chippendale, the White Rabbit Gallery holds one of the world’s greatest collections of contemporary Chinese art.
A city celebration of cinema
At SXSW Sydney’s Screen Festival, ground-breaking visual storytellers showcase their ideas. Catch the premiere of leading feature films, hear Australian legends offer commentary over their most famous works or enter your piece in the Short Film Competition. In Sydney, the screen celebration continues with events like the long-running Sydney Film Festival, FlickerFest, and the Westpac OpenAir Cinema in summer.
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Friends arriving outside the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in The Rocks, Sydney.
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Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Friends arriving outside the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in The Rocks, Sydney.
Art Gallery of New South Wales’ new building Credit: Iwan Baan
Aerial view of the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ new SANAA-designed building, 2022
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Art Gallery of New South Wales’ new building Credit: Iwan Baan
Aerial view of the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ new SANAA-designed building, 2022
Featuring huge names in music and the next names to be discovered
Emerging talent is firmly in the spotlight for the 2024 SXSW Music Festival, with up-and-coming artists from Australia, Asia Pacific and beyond taking the stage. The festival is centred around the inner-city suburb of Chippendale, with artists playing at The Landsdowne Hotel, The Abercrombie Hotel, The Lord Gladstone and The Chippo (outside of the festival, you’ll find live music and late-night good times at these iconic venues every weekend). The beat goes on over summer, with festivals like Listen Out, Monolith, Good Things and Harbourlife. And catch big names in concert over the coming months, including Coldplay, Olivia Rodrigo, Crowded House and Billie Eilish.
The city’s stages reserved for the biggest musicals
Be inspired by an impressive line-up of international touring musicals in Sydney’s historic theatres. March each year welcomes the dazzling Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, performed on an open-air floating stage. In 2025, the showgirls and gangsters of Guys & Dolls will sparkle against the glittering backdrop. The record-breaking SIX the Musical returns to the Theatre Royal Sydney from October and multi-award-winning Hamilton is playing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre until January 2025. MJ the Musical, celebrating the work of iconic entertainer Michael Jackson, will have its Australian premiere at the Lyric in February 2025. The outrageous musical comedy The Book of Mormon will be back for another Sydney season at the Capitol Theatre from July 2025. And for a night of Celine Dion celebration, snatch up tickets to see hit, Titanique.
Innovation in the fabric of Sydney
SXSW Sydney’s Tech & Innovation events will challenge your perspective as you learn from tech pioneers and party alongside the current and future game-changers. Beyond the festival, explore buzzing Chippendale: immerse yourself in bold design at Central Park, admire the blend of old and new at The Old Clare Hotel, catch a cutting-edge show at Phoenix and take a walking tour. In nearby Eveleigh, Carriageworks has a jam-packed multi-media arts calendar and a commitment to challenging the status quo that continues in the creative spaces of nearby Newtown, Surry Hills, and Paddington.
Titanique Credit: Titanique
Setting sail for Australia, Titanique will play a limited season, exclusive to Sydney at The Grand Electric.
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Titanique Credit: Titanique
Setting sail for Australia, Titanique will play a limited season, exclusive to Sydney at The Grand Electric.
MJ - The Musical Credit: Myles Frost as Michael Jackson in the original Broadway production of MJ_photo by Matthew Murphy
MJ - The Musical
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MJ - The Musical Credit: Myles Frost as Michael Jackson in the original Broadway production of MJ_photo by Matthew Murphy
MJ - The Musical
Mystery, history and the future converge
Listen to the stories of the city, from the first inhabitants to convict days and modern creatives, at the Museum of Sydney. Follow in the footsteps of legendary Australian explorer Ernest Shackleton in the immersive virtual reality experience Thin Ice at the Australian Museum. The new Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta is set to open in 2025 and will be a repository of Australia’s greatest artefacts of innovation and achievement, with a purpose-built STEM learning and play space and a food program dedicated to Western Sydney stories and food innovators.
It’s ‘game on!’ around the clock
The SXSW Sydney Games Festival will upgrade your playtime with live challenges, talks, demos, parties and a showcase of 120 brand new, independent games. Much of the action will take place at Fortress Sydney – Sydney’s massive, year-round gaming haven with arcades, state-of-the-art PC gaming, tabletops games and consoles, as well an epic esports arena. Battle your crew in a VIP booth before kicking on with a late-night feast at Chippendale’s laneway eateries on Kensington Street. Or rock on in the neon of Chinatown’s Dixon Street before exploring Haymarket, Darling Harbour and Barangaroo, and clinking glasses in the YCK Laneways’ cosy speakeasy-inspired small bars.
Melbourne artist JACOTÉNE performing at SXSW Sydney launch party Credit: Jess Gleeson
Melbourne artist JACOTÉNE performing at SXSW Sydney launch party. @sxswsydney, @jessgleeson, @jacotene
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Melbourne artist JACOTÉNE performing at SXSW Sydney launch party Credit: Jess Gleeson
Melbourne artist JACOTÉNE performing at SXSW Sydney launch party. @sxswsydney, @jessgleeson, @jacotene
Spice Alley, Chippendale Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying food and drink in Spice Alley, Chippendale.
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Spice Alley, Chippendale Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying food and drink in Spice Alley, Chippendale.