Sydney is the place to be for the 2018 Australia Day Long Weekend, with the Harbour City offering visitors a wide variety of cultural experiences, world-class events and mouth-watering food options to entertain and delight.
11 January 2018Here are just some of the activities and events taking place in Sydney on Australia Day and across the long weekend:
- Kick-start the Australia Day holiday weekend by joining in a full program of memorable ceremonies and lively events taking place on and around Sydney Harbour, which starts with the WugulOra Morning Ceremony and concludes with Live at the Quay!; a breathtaking maritime, musical and dance extravaganza on the main stage in the middle of Circular Quay.
- Sydney Harbour takes centre stage with the ever-popular Ferrython race, one of Australia’s most iconic events. A hugely popular Australia Day tradition, watch as the ferries venture from Circular Quay to Shark Island and then back to a glorious finish at the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You can get a birdseye view of the race atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge as part of a special Ferryathon BridgeClimb.
- Following the ferry race, from 1.00pm, Sydney’s Tall Ships will lead a fleet of historic vessels from Bradley’s Head to the Harbour Bridge. They will be joined by the 182nd Australia Day Regatta, the world’s oldest continuously conducted annual sailing event, from 1.30pm.
- A highlight of the Australia Day festivities are two free* ticketed concerts by The Wiggles at the Summer Playground at Darling Harbour. Australia’s biggest, brightest and wiggliest entertainment group, The Wiggles, will perform their first show at 11.00am, with their second performance to commence at 2.30pm. *Tickets for these concerts will be via a ballot system and more information will be released in January via australiaday.com.au.
- Away from the Harbour Foreshore, Parramatta has an action packed Australia Day line-up starting with the aerial hot-air balloons display from 6.00am. Throughout the day, visitors can get up close to classic and vintage vehicles at the CARnivale display, feast at The Big BBQ competition and enjoy amusement rides and entertainment in the Kid’s Crescent. There will also be a fantastic program of live music and the festivities will finish with a 15-minute fireworks finale at 9.00pm.
- Over the Australia Day Long Weekend, watch as the top-ranked Men’s and Women’s Rugby Sevens nations contest three days of free-flowing, fast-moving, colourful action in the 2018 HSBC Rugby 7s from 26 – 28 January at Allianz Stadium.
- The long weekend is the last chance to experience the 2018 Sydney Festival, involving the biggest and best of the world’s performing and visual artists delivering in excess of 100 events across the City, as it concludes its three-week festival program on 28 January.
- Explore the Sydney International Art Series, featuring Pipilotti Rist’s Sip my Ocean at MCA and Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age, Masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum at the Art Gallery of NSW.
- Muriel’s Wedding the Musical delivers its final Sydney performances over the weekend. This iconic Australian movie has become a must-see, smash-hit musical. Make it part of your Australia Day Long Weekend plans in Sydney!
- While in Sydney, enjoy the city’s food scene, one of the finest in the world, with its reputation further enhanced with exciting new destinations. The Streets of Barangaroo has flourished into a dining destination by the Harbour, with leading lights of the Australian restaurant scene joining the party. In the inner west, Tramsheds at Harold Park is the cool new home for culinary artisans and Chippendale’s Kensington Street is another hive of gastronomic activity.
- A visit to Sydney would not be complete without experiencing the city’s magnificent waterways, with golden beaches, vibrant tributaries and the spectacular Harbour offering a range of activities for all ages and abilities. Take in the splendour of the Harbour from aboard the famous Manly Ferry, stroll along the picturesque Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, or take a refreshing dip at the many outdoor rock pools.
The Wiggles concerts at Darling Harbour, Live at the Quay! and Live at Sydney Opera House events are supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
For more information on Australia Day in Sydney go to Sydney.com and australiaday.com.au
To access the content library and download images go to content.destinationnsw.com.au
Media Contact:
Rebecca Trbojevich, Destination NSW
E rebecca.trbojevich@dnsw.com.au
P 02 9931 1462
M +61 477 753 833
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