Introduction
If you’re looking for a way to make your trip to Australia even more exciting, then look no further than its wonderful arts and culture. From the iconic Uluru to the Adelaide Fringe Festival, there are plenty of reasons to visit Australia’s cities and explore their museums, galleries and performing arts venues. Here are 15 events that will ensure your Australian travels are filled with fantastic art experiences:
The Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains are located in New South Wales, Australia. They are home to the famous Three Sisters rock formations and several other natural wonders. The Blue Mountains National Park is a World Heritage Site that was established in 2000 and has been protecting this area since 1914. It’s also Australia’s oldest national park!
Tweed Valley
The Tweed Valley is a region in northern New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the north coast of New South Wales between the cities of Sydney and Brisbane. The Tweed River flows through this area and forms its namesake river.
The Tweed Valley is one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations with numerous attractions including beaches, national parks, gardens and wineries within easy reach from each other by car or public transport.
The Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is a coastal road in Victoria, Australia, constructed by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932. It runs for 243 kilometres (151 mi) along the south-eastern coast of Victoria from Torquay to Allansford.
The Great Ocean Road was built as a memorial to those who fought in World War I and was paid for by public subscription through the Returned Soldiers’ Settlement Act 1916 (RSSA). Construction began on this road shortly after WWI ended and continued until 1932 when it was finally opened by King George V on 6 December 1932 at Apollo Bay where he unveiled a bronze plaque commemorating those who lost their lives during conflict.
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock) is a sacred site for the Anangu people, who have inhabited this part of Australia for over 40,000 years. Uluru is one of the world’s largest monoliths–a single piece of sandstone that rises 348 meters above sea level. The rock itself is believed to be about 600 million years old, making it one of the oldest living things on Earth!
Uluru is also an extremely popular tourist attraction; in fact, more than 500,000 people visit each year to climb its steep sides or simply admire its natural beauty from afar.
Adelaide Fringe Festival
Adelaide Fringe Festival is the largest arts festival in Australia, and it takes place every February. The Adelaide Fringe Festival was founded in 1972 as an alternative to the Adelaide Festival of Arts–a celebration of theater, music and dance that takes place over 10 days during October each year.
The Adelaide Fringe Festival features more than 1,500 performances across 200 venues throughout downtown Adelaide during its 11-day run (Feb 23 – Mar 4 this year). There’s something for everyone: comedy acts; musicals; dance performances; plays; cabarets…you name it! And if you don’t know what kind of show you’re looking for yet? That’s okay too because there are plenty more options available once inside each venue including food trucks selling tasty treats at affordable prices (think $5 burgers).
The Coober Pedy Opal Fields International Opal Festival
The Coober Pedy Opal Fields International Opal Festival is an annual event that celebrates the rich history of opal mining in Australia. It takes place over four days in early September, and includes a variety of activities such as tours through the mines, presentations by experts on everything from geology to artistry to geology (it’s a science), and entertainment like live music performances by local Aboriginal bands.
The best way to get there is by car or bus–but if you don’t have access to either of those things, there are some flights available into Coober Pedy airport during festival time! Once you’re there though…it’s pretty much just sand everywhere…so bring plenty of water with you if possible!
Highlights: There are lots of fun events happening throughout each day including mine tours where groups go underground together; competitions for children where they can win prizes like books about opals; auctions where people buy pieces made out from gems found locally; competitions where artists showcase their skills using local materials such as wood from trees growing nearby etc., so even if nothing else catches your eye then maybe take home some artwork after all this talk about “artistic expression” has got me inspired!
Sydney Writers’ Festival
The Sydney Writers’ Festival is an annual literary event that takes place in March. It was first held in 2009, and has since become one of Australia’s most popular festivals. The festival hosts events across genres, including fiction and non-fiction writing workshops for children; panel discussions with well-known authors; book launches; poetry readings; talks about creative writing techniques; public readings by local authors at libraries throughout Sydney (and sometimes other cities); collaborative workshops between writers and visual artists–the list goes on!
The audience at these events is diverse: there will be both people who have never written anything before as well as professionals looking to improve their craft or simply get inspired by others’ work. Anyone who loves books will enjoy taking part in this celebration of the written word!
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (NATSIAA) Awards
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (NATSIAA) Awards are Australia’s largest Indigenous art prize. They encourage and promote Indigenous Australian art by providing an opportunity for artists to showcase their work on a national stage.
The winners of the awards are decided by a panel of judges who are experts in their field, including academics, artists and curators. The NATSIAA prizes are awarded in five categories: painting, sculpture, drawing/printmaking, photography and installation/video/new media/performance. Prizes range from $15000-$20000 depending on which category you enter your work into!
Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF)
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF)
- Held annually in March, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the largest comedy festivals in the world. It attracts more than 100,000 people each year and has been running since 1987.
- The MICF has a reputation for being an event that brings together both comedians and comedy fans from all over Australia and beyond, making it an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF)
MIFF is the largest film festival in the southern hemisphere and has been running since 1952. It features over 250 films from around the world, including premieres, retrospectives, and competitions for Australian filmmakers. The festival also hosts panels, talks, workshops and parties–it’s an excellent way to meet like-minded people and learn more about filmmaking.
The Melbourne International Film Festival begins on August 1st and ends on August 19th this year (2019).
Darwin Festival (February/March each year)
Darwin Festival is a celebration of the arts, culture and diversity of the Northern Territory. It’s held in February and March each year with events taking place across Darwin’s region including Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Jabiru. The festival features live music, theatre, dance, film and visual arts competitions as well as workshops for adults and kids alike. There are also free community events such as art exhibitions at galleries around town or walking tours through historic buildings like Old Parliament House on Smith Street which was built between 1936-1938 by John Smith himself!
Brisbane Festival (May each year)
Brisbane Festival is a month-long celebration of arts and culture held every May in Brisbane, Queensland. It’s one of the largest festivals in Australia and attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year.
Brisbane Festival was established in 1954 by Sir Laurence Olivier as part of his visit to Queensland to film “The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan”. The inaugural festival was held at New Farm Park with performances by artists including Dame Sybil Thorndike (who played Queen Victoria) and John Gielgud (who played King George V).
Adelaide Fringe Festival (September each year)
The Adelaide Fringe Festival is the second largest festival in Australia, behind only the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. It’s also a global phenomenon, with festivals around the world taking inspiration from its success.
The Adelaide Fringe Festival is known for being a celebration of the arts where emerging and established artists can showcase their work to an audience willing to try something new.
You can travel Australia while also enjoying its arts and culture
When you’re traveling, art is a way to connect with a country and its people. It’s also a way to see the world differently. Art gives us common ground between people who might otherwise have nothing in common at all.
And it can be an excellent way of learning about history–a very important thing for travelers who want their experiences abroad to be meaningful and memorable!
Conclusion
Australia is a country full of natural beauty and culture. There are so many things to do in Australia that you could spend years exploring all its cities and countryside. If you’re planning on visiting this amazing country (and we hope you do), be sure not to miss out on any of these festivals or events!
