There’s real magic in the air when summer brings its sparkle to Sydney and New South Wales – you feel its energy move you on festival dance floors and in the grandstand at the sports showdowns you’ve been waiting for. And with so much to see and do across the state, you’re spoilt for choice as you pick and mix all the ingredients for your best summer yet. Here’s how to make the most of the season’s highlights and kickstart your 2022 with feel-good memories galore.

Light up your nights
Sydney’s balmy nights have a melody all of their own: the tinkle of the breeze, the clink of glasses, the hum of cicadas, Azure Ryder’s ‘Feeling Good’ on your Feel New Summer playlist... Move to the rhythm of the city’s soundtrack as Night at the Barracks showcases Jessica Mauboy, James Morrison and David Campbell at Manly’s historic North Head Barracks over 20 nights. Feel the groove at special club nights across the city all summer long, with a host of special guests and international DJs hitting the decks at The Ivy, Home Sydney and the Oxford Art Factory.

Be energized by moving stories
Good storytelling isn’t just entertaining – it tears down barriers, brings us together and redefines who we are. Book a luxurious stay at the recently opened Aiden Hotel, The Ace, or Crown Sydney, and head to the theatre where a stellar line-up of performances will move you. Feel your mind open as you experience Hamilton at the Sydney Lyric Theatre – this award-winning story inspires you to rethink everything you thought you knew about history. At Come From Away, your heart fills as the true tale of a community’s hospitality reveals the transformative power of human kindness; meanwhile, 9 To Five The Musical offers a rollicking good time as charming as the legendary Dolly Parton herself. Embrace the intrigue as Girl From The North Country tells its tale of facing up to the past, present and future – and leaves you feeling uplifted. At each remarkable show, there’s powerful performances, clever story-telling and heartfelt humanity to inspire you.

Follow the music
The hot summer sounds continue as Great Southern Nights brings its star-studded line-up to hundreds of venues across the state. From Julia Stone in Albury to Peking Duck in Byron Bay and Adam Harvey in Broken Hill, you can follow the music from town to town on that summer road-trip you’ve been planning. In a first, NSW local band The Rubens have announced ValleyWays, the band’s own festival in their hometown of Camden on 19 February 2022. See The Rubens perform alongside a curated line-up of Aussie artists.

Feel completely at home
Connect with friends old and new on Australia Day on 26 January to reflect on our country’s journey to the proud, multicultural land it is today. Celebrate Australia’s rich Aboriginal cultural heritage at the Yabun Festival or join the party around the Harbour for flyovers, parades and ferry races, cruise on luxury launches and historic tallships, and savour precious family moments at the Children’s Festival. As night falls, take your place in the glittering skyline around Circular Quay as festive fireworks bring everyone together to party as one.

Raise a toast to summer
Grab a glass of your favourite drop and toast the view at Smoke Bar in Barangaroo, The Rooftop, or Squire’s Landing. And afterwards, join the crew for a late-night dining feast at Restaurant Hubert on Bligh Street or head to Chinatown, where Golden Century serves up memorable dishes until 4am.

Refresh your sea view
Summer in NSW is all about hitting refresh with a fix of Vitamin Sea – and this season you can take in a show from your beach towel. On 26 December, head to a Sydney headland and feel your adrenaline surge as super-maxis thunder by in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, or later in the summer, head harbourside to experience all the thrills of the Sydney Harbour Challenge outrigger canoe race.

Soak up the surf
Stretch out on the Northern Beaches to watch the Surf Life Saving Championships from 24 February, head south to Cronulla for the Australian Surf Rowers League comp, or drive two hours up the Pacific Highway to Newcastle, where Surfest brings the world’s best wave riders to battle it out at nine events – including the Port Stephens Pro from 27 February and the Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final 5-6 February.

Be inspired by powerful creativity
Be awed by iconic masterpieces as Sydney International Art Series brings some of the world’s most influential artists to life in the city’s most revered galleries. Book a staycation at Swissotel Sydney and receive two tickets to 'Matisse: Life & Spirit, Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou, Paris' at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where you can also fine dine at Matt Moran’s new onsite restaurant, Crafted. Just down the road at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Doug Aitken’s New Era mesmerises with its ground-breaking installations and kaleidoscope of imagery and sound.

Let Sydney’s soul fire you up
The Harbour City bares its playful soul at Sydney Festival, and its effervescence flows through you. From the loud and proud to the gritty and innovative, there’s more than 130 shows from 6-30 January. Pick and mix from a genre-bending line-up of theatre, live music, dance, comedy, and visual art, including The Cat Empire at Parramatta Park, Qween Lear at the Hordern Pavilion, Speakers Corner in the heart of the city, and more.

Explore new ground
For a family friendly adventure, experience the thrill of dining with dinosaurs at the Erth’s Prehistoric Picnic, or marvel as a performer balances on a gigantic ice cube high above Sydney Harbour in Thaw. Make the festival extra memorable for the kids by booking a few days’ stay in the heart of the action, with landmark hotels such as the Four Seasons, Holiday Inn Potts Point, Novotel Sydney Darling Square offering exclusive staycation deals for families.

Go with the flow
Take a road-trip to the Riverina to catch all the action of the Southern 80 waterski championships in Moama on 11-13 February, and spend a few days renewing yourself in natural playgrounds along the Mighty Murray River aboard your own houseboat. Whichever wet and wild activity you choose, the action is as invigorating as its sparkling backdrop.

Feel exhilarated and elevated
Buckle up for a serious rush as summer’s motorsports put pedal to the metal across NSW. The season launches on 22-27 February with the Bathurst 12 Hour bringing Australia’s International Endurance Race to Mount Panorama, followed by the Newcastle 500 from 4-6 March, with both events set to get the adrenaline pumping. 

Explore on two wheels
Take the Grand Pacific Drive to the Shoalhaven where the Rising From The Ashes car and bike rally hits Sussex Inlet and beyond. Or, continue driving southwest to the Snowy Mountains where the TreX Triathlon and Snowies MTB showcase the best of human speed and endurance in Australia’s High Country throughout February.

See the city from a new perspective
ELEVATE Sydney literally stops traffic around the Harbour as the Cahill Expressway becomes a stage for Tones And I, Tim Minchin, Baker Boy, The Wiggles, and more all-star performers from 1-6 January. At Wonderdome, there’s inspiration at every turn as art, film and music come together to create the largest 360° immersive cinema experience ever to be seen Down Under – inviting you to explore an entirely new, pulsating reality, and refresh the way you see the world.

Have a ball with your tribe
Tis the season for the sport we’ve been waiting for all year long. Take in a live match and you won’t be just a spectator – you’ll be part of the awesome spectacle. There’s nonstop cricket action throughout the season, with everything from the Vodafone Men's Ashes, Commbank Women's Ashes, Big Bash League, Twenty20 and One Day International matches to catch. See tennis’ biggest names hold court when the ATP Cup returns to Sydney 1-9 January, followed by the Sydney Tennis Classic on 10-15 January, where Grand Slam champions compete for their share of the AUD$1.8m prize pot. And whether your favourites win or lose, the joy of connecting with thousands of likeminded fans is palpable – you just can’t beat the feeling of being there.

Savour every flavourful moment
NSW’s celebrated produce and legendary culinary creators make summer extra memorable. Visit the North Coast as the Festival of Flavour lays out a moreish spread of events from Port Macquarie to the Tweed – and everywhere delicious in between. From brewery banquets to family friendly farm-to-table experiences, there’s fresh fare for every craving. Closer to Sydney, the feel-good summer vibes are served on a platter as North Bondi Fish and iconic fashion brand Double Rainbouu join forces for beachside seafood feasts with a stylish twist throughout the season. Whichever foodie event you tuck into, NSW’s culinary gems bring people together to nourish both body and soul.

Discover a deeper connection
Letting loose with your community brings a true sense of belonging. You feel it as you make your moves on Tamworth’s grassy festival dance floors alongside 300,000 country music lovers; at Valleyways in Camden, where The Rubens headline their own festival on 19 February; and at Crank It Up – a three-day festival from 18 February that transforms Bateman’s Bay into a classic rock’n’roll mecca complete with rockabilly and jump swing bands, vintage hotrods, retro markets and dance workshops.

Cheer on your team
Join the roar from the grandstand as Australia’s Indigenous All Stars take on the New Zealand Maori All Stars in the battle for NRL supremacy in Parramatta – a special event to mark not just the return of footy to NSW, but for multicultural Western Sydney to stand tall and proud.

Listen here to make Feeling Good your soundtrack to summer in Sydney and NSW and share your Feel New Summer moments, #FeelNSW and #FeelNewSydney. 

Go to Sydney.com and Visitnsw.com for more information on how to Feel New South Wales.