The Best Events and Experiences in Regional Australia Worth Travelling For

A great book paired with a public holiday is the ultimate recipe for unwinding. Find yourself a new read – and hear from its author – in the North Coast hinterland of NSW, where the riverside town of Bellingen (just 30 minutes from Coffs Harbour) hosts a three-day readers and writers festival over the June long weekend. The event draws some of Australia’s most exciting authors, both leading and emerging, for intimate talks and round tables. In 2025, the festival welcomed the likes of Trent Dalton (Boy Swallows Universe), Markus Zusak (The Book Thief) and Man Booker prize-winning Richard Flanagan (The Narrow Road to the Deep North), and visitors also had the opportunity to hear traditional stories from Gunbaynggirr Elder, Aunty Bea Ballangarry.

Don’t miss: the quick-to-sell-out Poetry Slam. Each year, 20 poets take the stage with just two minutes to win over the audience (and the judges) with performances that range from heartfelt to hilarious. The top contenders progress through to a final round to battle it out for the crown.

When: 6 to 8 June 2026

Since launching in 1992, the annual Orange Food Week has grown from a celebration of the New South Wales region’s sprawling vineyards – including Bloodwood and Canobolas Smith – to a 10-day food and wine fest that has lured some of Australia’s most exciting chefs, including the late Toby Bilson, Peter Doyle, Luke Mangan and Steven Manfredi, to the country town, a four hours west of  Sydney. While dining on topnotch produce is the game here, festival-goers can also sip award-winning local drops on guided walking tours or roll up their sleeves in hands-on workshops exploring everything from the art of gelato to the benefits of fermentation.

Don’t miss: Follow the glow of fairy lights to Robertson Park where up to 50 stalls will be set up for the Night Market, which marks the start of the festivities. 

When: 20 to 29 March 2026

Get ready to don your Western boots and cowboy hat: the 2026 dates for the southern hemisphere’s biggest live country music event have been locked in – and it's just a one-hour flight from Sydney. First stop when you arrive? Snap a photo in front of Tamworth’s famed 12-metre-tall Golden Guitar, then make your way to buzzy Peel Street to see the festival’s headline acts as they ride in open-top cars during the opening parade. Throughout the 10-day celebration, the CBD hums with performing musicians on almost every corner, while Toyota Park is where you’ll find the big-name stars taking to the stage. Between sets, the beer garden at Tamworth institution Longyard Hotel is the place to be.

Don’t miss: When the party winds down, head 45 minutes north to the banks of Lake Keepit where a new glamping retreat has opened in the remote countryside. With only eight tents – each featuring a deep-soaking outdoor tub and plush king-size beds – it delivers the ideal reset.

When: 16 to 25 January 2026

A kaleidoscope of colour takes over Tasmania’s north-west coast each spring with the arrival of the Wynyard Tulip Festival, a two-hour drive from Launceston. Head to Gutteridge Gardens to wander through manicured rows of rainbow-hued blooms then follow the riverbank to find local vendors serving everything from warm chocolate brownies topped with berries to freshly shucked oysters. Keep your little ones busy with a ride on the ferris wheel or settle into a beanbag for a slower afternoon listening to live local bands. 

Don’t miss: The festival finale – a dazzling fireworks display at 9pm.

When: 11 October 2025

Inspiration is at the core of this annual gathering for creatives. Artists and art lovers converge on South Australia’s Southern Eyre Peninsula – a coastal region to the north of Port Lincoln, a 50-minute flight from Adelaide – to connect with like-minded thinkers and industry leaders. The program includes thought-provoking discussions, performances by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the likes of indie folk singer Nick Cunningham, creative workshops spanning lantern-making to silversmithing, plus exciting exhibitions. Innovation spills onto the plate too with opportunities to savour the region’s famed Coffin Bay oysters and Bluefin tuna at the festival’s Upwelling Seafood Feast, which celebrates the Eyre Peninsula’s topnotch produce. 

Don’t miss: the free Message in a Bottle evening by the water to watch as messages filled with hopes for the future, which have been placed inside glowing lanterns, are released onto Boston Bay in a spectacular display. Go to the link to write yours before heading down to the water’s edge.

When: The 2026 dates are yet to be announced

Tasmania has long been a must-visit destination for those with a passion for locally grown produce, but with so many gems and locales to sample, narrowing down where to eat in just one weekend can be challenging. The annual TrailGraze food festival takes you across the vast north and north-western expanse of the island, giving visitors the opportunity to follow their palates while taking in Tassie’s wild beauty. There are six mini food and drink trails on offer – each with up to five stops – that cover different parts of the region, or you can build your own itinerary depending on your appetite by using the handy map (2025’s iteration spotlighted 27 different providers to swing by). Dig into gooey baked brie at La Cantara Artisan Cheese, knock back briny oysters by the water at Tarkine Fresh Oysters and enjoy whisky-tasting flights paired with Tasmanian truffles at Hellyers Road Distillery. Along the way, you can also peek behind the scenes at Communion Brewery to learn about the beer-making process.

When: April 2026

Cabernet Sauvignon aficionados assemble. South Australia’s Coonawarra wine region, set in the heart of the Limestone Coast and 40 minutes by car from Mount Gambier, is renowned for producing some of the country’s finest drops – none more so than its signature red: the Cab Sav. Each year, wine enthusiasts descend on the region for a month-long extravaganza dedicated to the varietal. Think scenic walking tours and scavenger hunts through various vineyards, with indulgent long lunches at Ottelia and DiGiorgio Family Wines the ideal way to refuel between adventures. 

When: October 2025

A live symphony sounds different when it breaks the stillness of the outback air. That’s the magic that has drawn crowds to the Festival of Outback Opera across multiple dusty locations such as Winton and Longreach for the past five years. Under the night sky, musicians share stories through country and opera music with nothing but the rugged Australian wilderness surrounding them. Pack your best frock and head to the pub for the Gala Ball, where you’ll join your fellow music lovers in singalongs. Then gather beneath the stars for the Dark Sky Serenade to watch opera singers and various performers  sing atop of a remarkable natural stage: a slab of rock that stands 75 metres above the land for a concert setting like no other. The 2026 program is still under wraps but past headliners have included multi-award-winning soprano Sumi Jo.

When: 19 to 24 May 2026

Traditional stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are put on the global stage at Mparntwe Alice Springs International Film Festival. Returning in 2025 for its second year, the event shines a spotlight on First Nations voices and aims to encourage and preserve intercultural dialogue. The diverse range of talent from Central Australia is celebrated through screenings of feature films and shorts, alongside panel discussions and Q&As.

When: 10 to 19 October 2025

Tucked between Townsville and Mount Isa on the Flinders Highway, Hughenden is a remote outback town with bragging rights as one of Australia’s best stargazing spots, thanks to its crystal-clear skies and minimal light pollution. Each year, the community pays tribute to this natural wonder with a three-day festival that runs from dusk to dawn. Start the day with a yoga session by the lake, watch cowboys test their grit in the rodeo arena and learn the art of lantern-making before releasing them into the water.

When: 1 to 3 May 2026

We’re firmly of the belief that any time of year is ideal for live music and a glass of chilled Tamar Ridge Pinot Noir, but there’s something wonderful about experiencing it in the height of an Australian summer. Festivale is one of Tassie’s top summer gatherings, where crowds assemble under ancient elm trees in Launceston’s City Park to revel in food, wine and entertainment. Last year, Birds of Tokyo lit up the stage for a magical performance, comedian Mel Buttle had the crowd in stitches and celebrity chef Manu Feildel hosted a lavish long-table lunch at Stillwater Restaurant. 

When: 30 January to 1 February 2026

The artist behind Uluru’s dazzling Field of Light, British-born Bruce Munro, has brought his internationally famous lightscaping to Mildura. By day, Lock Island – in the middle of the Murray but accessible via a bridge – seems undisturbed. By night, its towering river red gums are illuminated for Trail of Lights. Less than two kilometres from town, the island appears dark on approach, save for some guiding lights. But as you move along and your eyes adjust, more than 12,500 fibreoptic light sculptures appear in the dense foliage, modulating their warm-white glow like fireflies. There are five walking tracks through the installation but let yourself wander and meditate, calmed by the fireflies dancing in the evening breeze and the gushing of the nearby weir.

When: Showing now to September 2025.

A special kind of alchemy happens when emerging and established First Nations artists from the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia converge on Mparntwe (Alice Springs) on Arrernte Country for Desert Mob, one of the nation’s oldest Aboriginal art festivals. There’ll be an extensive program of musical performances, curator talks, native food trails, artist workshops and an art marketplace. 

Don’t miss: The 2025 Desert Mob exhibition, where works from more than 30 Aboriginal art centres across Central Australia will be on display, with the chance to purchase pieces directly from the artists.

When: 11 September to 26 October 2025

Serenity gives way to speed when the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix returns to Phillip Island. The world’s top riders will converge on the seaside locale for three days of roaring spectacle at one of the most picturesque tracks anywhere. 

Don’t miss: Little revheads can get in on the action for free, with each adult Island Pass ticket admitting up to four juniors (14 years and under) at no additional cost.

When: 17 to 19 October 2025

Step into the embrace of authentic country hospitality at the Outback Festival in Winton, where quirky tradition meets nostalgic entertainment. Live bands, a bush poet’s breakfast, the truck pull, whip cracking workshops and the uproarious Quilton Australian Dunny Derby are just some of the events you can expect in this whole-town salute to bush life.

Don’t miss: A formal ball marking the town’s 150th birthday takes top billing on the 25th, with punters encouraged to pack their finest period costumes for the occasion.

When: 23 to 27 September 2025

Lactose intolerants: look away now. Gooey, velvety, umami goodness abounds as cheese devotees worship at the hallowed grounds of Rundle Park/Kadlitpina in Adelaide this October. Joined by local winemakers, distillers and brewers, the region’s best cheesemakers come to show off, while you reap the rewards. 

Don’t miss: The samples. Last year’s festival goers consumed 15 tonnes of cheese over the two-day event, and with the event celebrating its 20th birthday this year, it would be impolite not to exceed that collective achievement in 2025. 

When: 18 and 19 October 2025

Site-specific art, performance and cultural experiences reflect the remote, singular beauty of Western Lutruwita/Tasmania at The Unconformity Festival in Queenstown, a biennial celebration of the mining town’s rugged, paradoxical resilience. Expect art installations in abandoned mine sites, re-enactments of local historical events and immersive soundscapes you won’t be able to experience anywhere else.

Don’t miss: The Unconformity Art Trail, exhibiting the work of local West Coast artists across cafes, studios and stores around town.

When: 16 to 19 October 2025

The first thing you’ll notice at this Australiana spree is the sense of community. The second is the sheer number of blue singlets, the uniform of this rural gem. Expect music, food, a love of country culture and the pairing of two words you may never have expected: ute pageantry.

Don’t miss: From monster truck rides to a guest appearance by The Wiggles and the fiercely fought tournament of Bogan Bingo, if you’re at the Deni Ute Muster, you’re a local – no matter where you’re from.

When: 3 and 4 October 2025

There should be sonnets written about the crisp, blossom-laced air in Orange come springtime, but instead, there’s a wine festival where you can experience it for yourself. From intimate tastings to masterclasses and bustling night markets glittering out from the foliage in Robertson Park, you can take your pick from over 40 curated events, all in service of celebrating this regional jewel’s cool-climate wines. 

Don’t miss: Sit down for a languid lunch with some of the region’s top winemakers at Vintners Table, a chance to savour their stories and their truly excellent products simultaneously. 

When: 17 October to 2 November 2025 

That Darwin has some of the best laksa outside Asia is no longer a secret unearthed by delighted tourists, but a bright thread in the inimitable top end town’s multicultural milieu. Celebrating this fact is the month-long Laksa Festival, during which venues across Darwin put out their best takes on the crowd favourite, from variations on the spicy, fragrant noodle soup to thematically inspired eats like laksa ice cream. 

Don’t miss: After slurping their way through October, punters can vote for their favourite dish, the winner of which will be announced 1 November, on the Darwin Waterfront from 3pm. 

When: 1 to 31 October 2025

Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover lures some of the world’s top culinary talent to Western Australia’s premier wine region, with events taking over venues such as Juniper Estate and Vasse Felix to Busselton’s beachfront Pavilion. This year, Dave Pynt of Singapore’s Michelin-starred Burnt Ends is headlining the three-day affair, joined by Argentine celebrity chef Francis Mallmann and New Zealand-born viral cooking star Andy Hearnden for a flame-fired feast.

Don’t miss: UK-based chef Nathan Outlaw and Australia’s own Aaron Carr will serve up a four-course dining experience at the three-day Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover beach club pop-up.

When: 20 to 23 November 2025