Whatever your passions and whenever you choose to visit the lands Down Under, Australia and New Zealand serve up a colourful calendar of annual and special event: sporting, cultural, foodie, nature and wildlife. Here, we share some of the highlights coming up:
WHALE SEASON
The months ahead offer some of the best opportunities to see and interact with giants of the deep:
Heli-over New Zealand’s Kaikoura Coast with a marine biologist by your side for a unique perspective and fascinating insights as you spot migrating humpback whales (June – August) and resident sperm whales, dolphins and fur seals.
Swim with whale sharks (late March to July) on Western Australia’s Ningaloo Coast or Minke Whales on the Great Barrier Reef (June – July).
Dive into the turquoise waters of Fiji to observe graceful manta rays (May to October) and participate in local conservation research.
Humpback, Sperm, Blue Whale or Orca, Manta Ray, Whale Shark or dolphin, let our Travel Design team introduce you to these locals with ethical wildlife encounters across the region.
INTERNATIONAL RUGBY TESTS
Rugby fans have plenty of opportunities to catch an international tussle Down Under in 2026. Australia’s Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks will play each other (10 October in Auckland and 17 October in Sydney), and France, Italy, Ireland, South Africa and Japan in the months ahead.
Wallabies v Ireland (July 4, Sydney), France (July 11, Brisbane), Italy (July 18, Perth), Japan (15 August, Townsville) and South Africa (Sept 27, Perth).
All Blacks v France (July 4, Christchurch), Italy (July 11, Wellington) and Ireland (July 18, Auckland).
The Southern Crossings team can curate tailored touring and special access experiences for rugby fans, including introductions to legends of the game.
SYDNEY MARATHON
The newest addition to the Abbott World Marathon Majors, the TCS Sydney Marathon (30 August 2026) is a bucket-list event for any marathon runner with the 42km route crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, taking in some of the city’s most iconic sites and finishing up at the Sydney Opera House. Those who missed out on securing a place in the ballot can still participate in the event – reach out to our Travel Design team to find out how.
Registration for the 2027 Sydney Marathon is expected to open with a ballot system in late September / early October 2026. For further details or to register your interest, visit: www.tcssydneymarathon.com
NFL IN MELBOURNE: LA RAMS v SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
Melbourne will host Australia’s first regular American Football NFL season game this year with the LA Rams and San Francisco 49ers going head to head in the Melbourne MCG on Friday 11 September 2026.
HORIZONTAL FESTIVAL OF FOOD, WINE & MUSIC IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
Centennial Vineyard in the Southern Highlands (approximately 90 minutes south from Sydney) will host a delicious three-day festival (2-4 October 2026) celebrating local produce and world-renowned chefs (including a fabulous Fiesta del Fuego with Argentina’s internationally celebrated Francis Mallmann). Southern Crossings has access to VIP tickets and exclusive experiences.
FESTIVE SEASON 2026-27
If your new year’s resolution is to celebrate differently over the 2026-27 festive season, now is the time to start planning your ideal celebrations in Australia, New Zealand or Fiji. Whether just the two of you or the whole family; whether you’re looking for lakeside, beachfront or city centre; whether you’re seeking to get away from it all or immerse yourself in the centre of it all, we have that place; but our top tip for this time of year, is to book early.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS GRAND SLAM 2027
Whilst the excitement of the 2026 Australian Open is still in the air, now is the time to register your interest (and secure preferred accommodation) for next year’s highlight tennis event, hosted again in Melbourne 17 – 31 January 2027.
FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX 2027
Dates have yet to be set for the 2027 event (anticipated early April), but now is the time to register your interest with our team ausdesign@southern-crossings.com
150th ANNIVERSARY OF CRICKET – March 2027
150 years of cricket rivalry will be celebrated as Australia and England go head to head for their 150th Anniversary Test Match on the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground where this legacy first began, 11-15 March 2027.
WORLD CUP RUGBY UNION – October-November 2027
Now is also the time to start planning to catch the excitement when World Cup Rugby returns to Australia again in 2027 (with 52 matches played across Australia between 1 October and 13 November 2027).
TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE – July 2028
The path of totality for the 22 July 2028 Total Solar Eclipse will pass directly over Australia’s Kimberley region, the Mudgee and Orange wine country, the Blue Mountains and Sydney before crossing the Tasman and passing over New Zealand’s Queenstown and Dunedin, creating dramatic – and accessible – opportunities to capture this celestial phenomenon.
Header image: Brisbane’s Suncorp stadium regularly hosts international rugby matches