Adelaide
Ground zero for live music in Adelaide, 'The Gov' hosts some legendary local and international acts. The odd Irish band fiddles around in the bar, while…
Must-see entertainment in Australia & Pacific
Darwin
During the Dry, the Darwin Film Society runs this fabulous outdoor cinema below the southern end of the Esplanade. Watch a movie under the stars while…
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Sydney
During the cricket season (October to March), the stately SCG is the venue for interstate cricket matches (featuring the NSW Blues), family-friendly Big…
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Adelaide
Adelaide's riverside stadium (capacity 53,000) hosts major sporting events through the year, including national AFL (www.afl.com.au) and state-based SANFL…
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Melbourne
Melbourne's original outdoor cinema hits the Royal Botanic Gardens from the end of November through March, screening current releases and retro classics…
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Cradle Country & The West
Billed as Australia's longest-running play (it celebrated its 25th anniversary in Strahan in January 2019), this 1¼-hour, two-actor performance tells the…
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Surry Hills & Darlinghurst
In what was once the Sydney HQ of Paramount Pictures, a heart-warming small cinema occupies the former screening room downstairs. It shows old favourites,…
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Hobart
The Republic is a raucous art-deco pub hosting live music every night (often with free entry). It’s the number-one live-music pub around town, with an…
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Sydney
The action at Sydney's most famous racecourse peaks in April with several high-profile races, including the Queen Elizabeth Stakes; check the online…
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Hobart
Saved from the wrecking ball in the 1980s, the 11-screen State (built in 1913) shows independent and art-house flicks. There’s a great cafe and bar on…
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Newtown & the Inner West
Roomy and decadently decorated with erotic ceiling paintings, Lazybones has live music nightly and a decent line in cocktails and food. At weekends it…
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Cairns & Far North Queensland
For a piece of real country nostalgia, head to this old-school drive-in cinema, the only one left in Far North Queensland. It screens two mainstream…
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Surry Hills & Darlinghurst
In a quiet corner of Surry Hills, this intimate venue, with two small stages, is the home of an often-experimental and consistently excellent theatre…
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Wellington
Wellywood’s cinema mother ship is an art-deco darling, built in the 1920s. Today she screens mainly mainstream films with state-of-the-art sound and…
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Victoria
Ballarat’s best original live-music venue showcases local and touring rock and indie bands in its grungy band room.
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Adelaide
In semi-industrial Thebarton 3km west of the city centre, the everlovin’ Wheatsheaf Hotel draws an offbeat, arty crowd of students, lesbians, gays, punks…
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Victoria
In operation since the 1850s, the Theatre Royal is a Castlemaine landmark that hosts a fantastic range of cinema as well as touring live bands. Recent…
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Hobart
This venerable old stager is Australia’s oldest continuously operating theatre, with actors first treading the boards here back in 1837 (the foundation…
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Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Brisbane
Known locally as QPAC, Brisbane’s main performing arts centre comprises four venues and the Tony Gould Gallery, the latter a small exhibition space…
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Tathra & Around
Tathra is a beautiful coastal town which was rocked by bush fires back in 2018. The town is often bypassed by travellers, but its beach is a beauty,…
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Sydney
Home to local heroes the Sydney Roosters rugby league team (www.roosters.com.au), the NSW Waratahs rugby union team (www.waratahs.com.au) and the Sydney…
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Newtown & the Inner West
Deep within the leafy grounds of Sydney Uni, this former women’s college now houses a 950-capacity venue with multiple levels and spaces. Check the gig…
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Rotorua
Modestly proclaiming itself one of the 10 best experiences in the world, Tamaki offers a 3½-hour twilight Māori cultural experience in its recreated…
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Melbourne
At the back of a car park near the train tracks is not usually a great spot to hang out, but here you'll find a street-art-covered warehouse facade…
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Victoria
The new owners of this much-loved grungy band room have made food a big feature, but thankfully they're still booking quality Aussie indie bands: there…
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Queenstown & Wanaka
This is what a cinema should be like: wide, ultra-comfortable seating with fine local wine, cheese boards and olives available to accompany the mostly art…
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Sydney
Since 1975 the ACO has been making chamber music sexy and adventurous, especially under the tutelage of artistic director and lead violinist Richard…
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Sydney
Musica Viva is the largest presenter of ensemble music in the world, providing over 2000 concerts around Australia annually in a number of musical styles …
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Brisbane
What was a 1920s power station is now a hub of nationally and internationally acclaimed theatre, music, comedy, dance and more. The complex also hosts a…
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Surry Hills & Darlinghurst
Focusing on jazz, roots, reggae, funk, gypsy and Latin music, this small, relaxed venue is run by artists and thoughtfully programmed. The space features…
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Sydney
The Melbourne-based Australian Ballet performs a wide repertoire of classical as well as contemporary works. See them twinkle their toes at the Sydney…
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Surry Hills & Darlinghurst
Indie kids party against an arty backdrop at this two-room multipurpose venue modelled on Andy Warhol's NYC creative base. There's a gallery, a bar and a…
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Sydney
Opera Australia is the big player in Oz opera, staging over 600 performances a year. The company's Sydney shows are performed in the Sydney Opera House,…
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Christchurch
This century-old dear survived the quakes and emerged restored to full glory in 2014. Its heritage features are enjoyed by patrons venturing inside for…
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Canberra
Canberra's longest-running live-music venue has been spruced up a little, but remains the city's same old darling of dirty rock. There are pool tables and…
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Sydney
Take a picnic and join the bats under the stars in magnificent Centennial Park; enter via the Woollahra Gate on Oxford St. A mix of new-release…
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Adelaide
In summer pack a picnic and mosquito repellent, and sprawl out on the lawn to watch old and new classics under the stars. 'Gold Grass' tickets, which cost…
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Darwin
This venue is Darwin's leading place for live music. A not-for-profit venue for musicians run by musicians, you won't hear cover bands in here. Original,…
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Napier
A vision in purple, this boutique 45-seat cinema screens art-house flicks in a sumptuous lounge, with ready access to pizza and dumpling snacks from a…
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Sydney
Australia's Shakespeare specialists stage their Sydney performances in the Opera House. Their repertoire occasionally deviates from the bard to the likes…
