Feel the diverse and spectacular scenery of NSW sweep you away with new dining venues, immersive experiences and unique stays launching throughout the state. Get to know new artists, artisans and chefs; relax in a new bathhouse; experience an arts festival with a difference; and more.
NEW ACCOMMODATION
Outdoor glam
Wake up among the rolling hills of Jerrara at Cicada Luxury Camping, a new eco-friendly, adults-only glamping accommodation close to Kiama, and just 90 minutes south of Sydney. Cicada offers two safari-style tents (king bed, en suite, kitchenette, outdoor bath) and two large bell tents (queen bed, shared bathroom and kitchen).
Group luxury
Get the gang together for an unforgettable escape at Burrawang House in the Southern Highlands. Completed in 2022 and immaculately finished inside and out, the sprawling Hamptons-like mansion caters for up to 14 guests and boasts five bedrooms and bathrooms. Spend your days discovering the picturesque surrounding wine region or relaxing by the resort-style pool and spa, and of an evening, cosy up and reminisce on the day's adventures by one (of three) fireplaces.
Cabins by the ocean
In need of some rejuvenation? Hit reset and enjoy some well-deserved rejuvenation on a Reflection Holiday Parks coastal stay. The nature-forward accommodation group has extended their offering at Reflections Byron Bay with six additional ‘tiny homes’, while Reflections Bermagui welcomes eight new stylish cabins, all of them just steps from the beach.
Cherry ripe
Smell the fresh country air, taste a cherry picked from a tree you can see out the window, and luxuriate in a designer studio at Basalt, a new luxury farmstay just a 10-minute drive from Orange. The three distinct, architecturally striking studios are beautifully finished and sit on the highest point of a cherry orchard, looking out over Orange and the wider Central West region.
Skate and dine in the Mountains
Overlooking the Jamison Valley, the iconic Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains by MGallery has launched a new adults-only modern Australian dining experience, No.1 Sublime Pt, offering produce-based fare on white tablecloths and an exceptional view. Chef Patrick Morris’ seasonal and ever-evolving five-course menu is paired with wines to complement the local produce. And if you fancy a little winter in your Aussie summer, Fairmont’s new 600-square-metre indoor Blue Mountains Ice Skating Rink is suitable for all skill levels and ages, and open all year round.
Bermagui River, Bermagui Credit: Destination NSW
Couple kayaking along Bermagui River, Bermagui
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
Bermagui River, Bermagui Credit: Destination NSW
Couple kayaking along Bermagui River, Bermagui
NEW FOOD & DRINK
Pasta on the South Coast
The interiors of Huskisson’s new Italian eatery Pasta Buoy might look slick, but the menu is fuelled with nostalgia. Head chef Gabriele Olivieri (Pentolina Pasta Bar in Melbourne) invites you to choose your handmade, cooked-to-order pasta and sugo (sauce), and enjoy the traditional flavours in their Mediterranean-style courtyard.
A new look in Byron
A classy refurbishment of Light Years in Byron Bay has given their popular Asian Bar and Diner a stunning makeover. Take a stool at the terrazzo table-top bar and soak up the vibe, then place your faith in executive chef Robbie Oijvall’s modern exploration of Chinese, Japanese and Southeast Asian cuisines.
Tastier trail
The Central Coast Makers Trail just got even more delicious, with the addition of four new artisan producers to its journey. Joining the trail, which begins just an hour north of Sydney, are Herbie’s Spices, Block ‘N Tackle Brewery, Six Strings Brewing Company and Sydney Oyster Farm Tours.
NEW EXPERIENCES
Mullumbimby bathing
Soak away your stresses at The Banya in Mullumbimby, a European-style bathhouse featuring a marble-tiled lap pool, two large hot mineral pools, a wood-fired sauna, a steam room, and a cold plunge pool. Relax in the bathhouse, have a massage, and stay on for a snack, meal or a cocktail leaving you silk-skinned and feeling like European royalty.
Splash out in Coffs
Take your kids, or just be a kid at Coffs Harbour’s The Big Banana Fun Park, now bigger and wetter. The Water Park has been expanded to include the Duelling Raft Ride, a race starting from a 16m platform; and the Wading Pool, a kids’ water-wonderland playground that includes water cannons and mushroom showers.
Walk to the falls
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has completed a new two-kilometre walking track to the stunning Unicorn Falls in Mount Jerusalem National Park in the Tweed area on the North Coast. The pristine waterfall cascades gently into a waterhole that is perfect for a dip after the walk.
Tocumwal chocolate truffles
Eat, make and play with chocolate with renowned chocolatier and chef Wendy Alford’s new Tocumwal Chocolate School and B&B. As well as chocolate making classes and tasting tutorials, a visit here is sweetened with a stay at one of two luxury bed and breakfast studios that overlook the Murray River, with breakfast and dinner cooked by the host herself.
Berry arty
Berry turns even prettier this June as the open air, immersive OpenField Arts Festival rolls into town. Twenty highly regarded artists, including acclaimed photo artist and local Tamara Dean, and their works will be displayed with energetic, creative installations in unlikely spaces.
The Big Banana, Coffs Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Mother and daughter enjoying a toboggan ride at The Big Banana in Coffs Harbour.
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
The Big Banana, Coffs Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Mother and daughter enjoying a toboggan ride at The Big Banana in Coffs Harbour.
OpenField Arts Festival Credit: Ainslie McNamara
OpenField is a new multidisciplinary arts festival to be held across four days in the town of Berry NSW, opening in June 2023 and every two years after.
#feelnsw
OpenField Arts Festival Credit: Ainslie McNamara
OpenField is a new multidisciplinary arts festival to be held across four days in the town of Berry NSW, opening in June 2023 and every two years after.
More News
Vivid Sydney 2024Credit: Destination NSW
The 'Nest' installation at the Stargazer Lawn, Barangaroo during Vivid 2024. Artist: Leila Jeffreys & Melvin J. Montalban. An expansive circular structure welcomes you to bear witness to the ritualistic mating dance of the Brolga, one of only two species of crane native to Australia. Projected onto a transparent surface, the huge bird apparitions appear to float in the air and are visible from both out and inside the Nest.
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Calling All Dreamers: Vivid Sydney Wants You
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest multi-artform festival, is calling on the best creative minds to submit ideas for next year’s event.
Vivid Sydney 2025 will take place from Friday 23 May to Saturday 14 June 2025, with a program centred around the theme of Vivid Sydney, Dream.
Artists, musicians, thought leaders and food creatives are encouraged to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the opportunity to be part of Australia’s largest event and showcase their work to a mass audience across the festival pillars of Light, Music, Ideas and Food.
Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox said: “Since 2009, Vivid Sydney has grown to become Sydney’s vibrant cultural showpiece, driving significant visitation to Sydney and regional NSW and positioning our state as the arts and creative industries capital of the Asia Pacific.
“Vivid Sydney is more than a light show, it is Sydney’s living legacy that captures imaginations and shares with visitors and locals alike the very best talent from our creative, entertainment and hospitality industries.
“I encourage the brightest talents to join Destination NSW in creating an event that elevates the Harbour City as the Asia Pacific’s leader in world-class cultural experiences.”
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Patrons enjoying a night out at Machine Hall during Vivid 2024
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Patrons enjoying a night out at Machine Hall during Vivid 2024
Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini said: “Vivid Sydney 2025 is pushing the creative boundaries across our theme of “Dream” to deliver another unforgettable global celebration.
“Dreaming is something we all do. It’s as old as time and as universal as life itself. Dreams don’t discriminate – they are borderless, ageless and endless. They can be personal or public. When shared, our dreams can become a movement. They can inspire, motivate, spark excitement and connection.
“The whole world dreams, it is something we have in common, something that unites us. Our human story is embedded in dreams, they help explain our existence and our past.
“We want the very best in homegrown talent to be part of our vibrant Vivid Sydney event program, with a unique opportunity to foster community connection, spark imagination and showcase the multitude of ways creativity can enrich our lives.
“Each year Vivid Sydney aims to deliver unparalleled artistic brilliance and we look forward to welcoming the inspirations within our community that will help shape Vivid Sydney 2025 into a show-stopping cultural phenomenon.”
The Vivid Sydney EOI outlines opportunities for artists, designers, creative industry professionals, equipment suppliers, architects, engineers, promoters, restaurants, event companies, chefs, producers and educational institutions to present their ideas, designs, concepts and interest for inclusion in the annual event.
Light and Cross Art Form EOIs will close on Monday 2 September 2024 with Ideas, Music and Food closing on Friday 27 September 2024.
This year’s Vivid Sydney attracted 2.42 million attendees, making it the third largest on record. Highlights included a record-breaking opening night and the busiest single night in the festival’s history on Sunday 9 June.
While Vivid Sydney 2024 attracted millions of people from across Australia and the globe, it also had a profound impact on the creative minds who helped bring the event to life, including Sydney’s retail, hospitality and accommodation sectors.
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Shifting Perspectives at Walsh Bay Arts Precinct for Vivid Ideas during Vivid Sydney 2024
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Shifting Perspectives at Walsh Bay Arts Precinct for Vivid Ideas during Vivid Sydney 2024
Leila Jeffreys the artist behind popular Vivid Light 2024 installation Nest said: “Thank you to Festival Director Gill Minervini and all at Vivid Sydney for giving me and my artistic collaborator Melvin J. Montalban the opportunity to create art on a scale that we could not have achieved on our own.
“I visited Nest many times throughout the festival and was always moved to see people from all walks of life and ages stand together to witness the courtship dance of the Brolga, a moment where we all felt the link between the natural world and the human journey.”
Tekno Train creator and composer Paul Mac said: “When I set out to create Tekno Train I wanted to make an experience that fused my love of techno and trains with lights and to share this joy with as many people as possible. The positive reactions I have received from people on the train, as well as the drivers, guards, and random folks on social media has absolutely blown me away.
“Vivid Sydney 2024 has been an unexpected career highlight, and I am forever grateful to everyone who helped bring this together.”
Club Broadway MC & Music Producer DJ Dan Murphy said: “Bringing our Club Broadway show to a Vivid Sydney audience has been an absolute joy. We loved making our show accessible to a whole new audience who love the world of musical theatre.
“Vivid Sydney is such an amazing and important festival for our city, and we were thrilled to be on the program. From old to young, we had them all on the dancefloor for Club Broadway at Tumbalong Park. The night was absolutely magical and a great way to celebrate our community.”
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Sex Work; A Social History Walking Tour at Elizabeth Bay for Vivid Ideas during Vivid Sydney 2024. This fascinating walking tour is an invitation to see the area and profession in a new light. Led by writer, performer and Kings Cross local Vashti Hughes and the Inner City Legal Centre's Managing Solicitor Katie Green, you will be immersed in the sights, history and contemporary challenges of sex work in Australia's most famous redlight district.
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Sex Work; A Social History Walking Tour at Elizabeth Bay for Vivid Ideas during Vivid Sydney 2024. This fascinating walking tour is an invitation to see the area and profession in a new light. Led by writer, performer and Kings Cross local Vashti Hughes and the Inner City Legal Centre's Managing Solicitor Katie Green, you will be immersed in the sights, history and contemporary challenges of sex work in Australia's most famous redlight district.
Service and Creative Skills Australia (the Jobs and Skills Council for Arts, Personal Services, Retail, Tourism and Hospitality) CEO Natalie Turmine said: “Vivid Sydney showcases brilliantly our talented and vibrant creative arts, tourism and hospitality workforce, demonstrating the wealth of exciting career opportunities available in this sector.
“Thank you to all the creative artists, technicians, performers, hospitality staff and event organisers for delivering another successful Vivid Sydney.”
Plate it Forward CEO and restaurateur Shaun Christie-David said: “Vivid Sydney shows the diversity of Sydney, shining a positive light on our city, culture and produce. As a social enterprise hospitality group, it was a privilege to partner with Vivid Sydney to bring the 2024 festival theme humanity to life through food. Food is all about sharing, love, respect and community.
“There is so much pride, joy and power that can be found in food, it is a platform to celebrate culture, make meaningful connections and create jobs. Through working with Vivid Food and selling more than 1000 tacos, more than 1500 meals will be donated to community kitchens for people in need.”
Tourism & Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said: “Between the lights, the music, the ideas, the food and the incredible vibe…Vivid Sydney has once again delivered a spectacular event for visitors and locals of all ages, with the big winners being local tourism and hospitality operators.”
“The bright lights of Vivid Sydney have showcased first-class hospitality, creativity and our beloved Sydney CBD and Harbour icons to audiences across the globe, demonstrating the value and huge potential of this event and the need to continue investing in world class events.”
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying the Fire Kitchen at The Goods Line during Vivid 2024. It's back and blazing brighter than ever. Vivid Fire Kitchen returns, igniting its new home at The Goods Line with flame-seared street food from around the globe. Come and enjoy the universal language of BBQ, the best NSW produce and the diversity of Sydney's food scene as we gather round the fire once again.
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying the Fire Kitchen at The Goods Line during Vivid 2024. It's back and blazing brighter than ever. Vivid Fire Kitchen returns, igniting its new home at The Goods Line with flame-seared street food from around the globe. Come and enjoy the universal language of BBQ, the best NSW produce and the diversity of Sydney's food scene as we gather round the fire once again.
Accommodation Australia’s Michael Johnson said: “Once again, the juggernaut that is Vivid Sydney illuminated the city, shining a light on the beauty and culture of the city.
“Over the course of the event, hotels in the CBD enjoyed 75 per cent occupancy with bookings reaching as high as 90 per cent on weekends. There is no denying major events such as Vivid Sydney, that have the capacity to draw a high level of overnight visitation in the middle of winter, create an incredible boost for the city’s visitor economy.”
Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.
For more information and to submit an Expression of Interest for Vivid Sydney 2025, go to www.vividsydney.com