WHAT’S ON DOWN UNDER? A CALENDAR OF AUSTRALIA EVENTS – SPORTING, CULTURAL & MORE
The Australian Open Grand Slam Tennis may be over for another year (returning to Melbourne again 19 Jan – 1 Feb 2026), but the line-up of exciting sporting and cultural events keeps rolling out across Australia and throughout the year, with just some of the highlights including:
FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
14-16 March 2025 in Melbourne
Catch all of the excitement both on and off the track at Albert Park at this adrenalin-fuelled annual feature on Australia’s event calendar that regularly attracts the world’s best .
HANDA OPERA ON SYDNEY HARBOUR
21 March – 20 April 2025 in Sydney
This year, see an energetic performance of Guys and Dolls on the floating stage on Sydney Harbour with the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as its backdrop.
PARRTJIMA
4 – 13 April 2025 in Alice Springs and surrounds
A 10-night celebration of Australia’s indigenous culture with light installations, artworks, performances, storytelling, talks and workshops in and around Alice Springs.
VIVID SYDNEY
23 May – 14 June 2025 in Sydney
See Sydney in new light with sound and light installations across the city. The annual three-week winter festival includes immersive light installations and large-scale projections, performances by local and international artists and a series thought-provoking talks.
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS RUGBY UNION TOUR
28 June – 2 August 2025 in Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney
Returning to Australia for the first time in 12 years, the Lions (combined English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish rugby union squad) will play nine matches across Australia, including three tests against the Australian Wallabies.
HAMILTON ISLAND RACE WEEK
16 – 23 August in Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands
Attracting sailors and spectators from around the globe, the annual Hamilton Island Race Week is Australia’s largest off-shore keelboat regatta. Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025 the annual sailing event provides a full-calendar of events both on and out of the water: culinary, cultural and musical.
SYDNEY MARATHON
31 August 2025 in Sydney
In 2025 the Sydney Marathon officially joins the ‘World Major Marathon’ circuit alongside New York, London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and Tokyo in an event that attracts 35,000 runners from both near and far. The 42.195km course travels over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishes at the Sydney Opera House forecourt.
ASHES CRICKET TOUR
21 November 2025 – 8 January 2026 in Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney
For the first time in eight years, the Ashes tour is coming Down Under. After a draw in England in 2023, the English-side will be looking to regain the urn in earnest with this five-match test series played out across Australia.
SYDNEY TO HOBART YACHT RACE
26 December 2025 – 2 January 2026 on Sydney Harbour and Hobart’s waterfront.
Farewell the spectacular parade of sail on Boxing Day on Sydney Harbour or be there to greet the winners as they sail down the Derwent in Hobart.
NEW YEARS EVE FIREWORKS
31 December 2025 in Sydney
Now is the time to secure your front row seats to the world’s most spectacular annual fireworks display over Sydney harbour and its iconic landmarks.
he above calendar of annual and special events is just a small sampling of sporting and cultural events across Australia and throughout the year. From performances at the Sydney Opera House to fishing competitions and food festivals, there’s something for everyone and every day of the year. Let us know your specialinterests and ask our Travel Design team to weave colourful local events into your next Australian itinerary.
NEW LUXURY SUITES:
The new ‘Aurora’ and ‘Australis’ suites will bring an unparalleled level of world-class luxury to Australia’s epic rail journeys. Each one boasting a separate bedroom with a fixed queen-size bed, en-suite and private lounge area. The generously proportioned Australis suite also has a writing desk and space to host family or friends.
Both luxury suites convey a true sense of place with a contemporary take on art-deco luxury that also paying homage to the pastoral and outback Australian landscapes which they travel through. Rivalling rail comforts globally, they are characterised by quality, comfort and attention to detail – in everything from the pillow menu to the private-bar curated to guests’ preferences..
Guests of the new suites also enjoy the services of a dedicated butler, Bollinger Champagne served throughout the journey, exclusive off-train adventures and the option of in-suite dining – or joining fellow travellers in the new Platinum Club carriage.
NEW ITINERARIES FOR THE INDIAN PACIFIC: Perth to Sydney
Travelling from coast to coast, the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, Australia’s longest rail journey just got even longer (and better!) – with an additional night from Perth to Sydney to include some fabulous new off-train experiences.
The iconic Indian-Pacific rail journey that traverses the Australian continent east-west has a new eastbound itinerary. The 5-day journey from Perth to Sydney includes 14 new off-train experiences to choose from across Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales. These includes panning for gold or trying your luck at ‘Two Up’ in Kalgoorlie, paint-and-sip sessions at the Pro Hart studio in Broken Hill and an exclusive dining experience at Seppeltsfield in the Barossa Valley wine country as the iconic journey travels through a rich diversity of Australian landscapes.
Eastbound journeys depart Perth on Saturdays, whilst the 4day/3night Sydney-Perth journey departs Wednesdays.
THE GHAN: Darwin to Adelaide
Bisecting the Australian continent North-South through the Red Centre between Darwin and Adelaide, the legendary Ghan train reveals places and stories that have shaped the nation.
The Ghan Expedition travels Darwin to Adelaide over 4days/3 nights between April and October, and includes a collection of unique outback off-train experiences in Katherine, Alice Springs, Coober Pedy and Manguri – such as a spectacular star-lit dinner at the historic Telegraph Station in Alice Springs.
The shorter 3 day/2 night Ghan journey operates Darwin-Adelaide from November to March and Adelaide to Darwin all year round, without stopping in Coober Pedy.
GREAT SOUTHERN: Adelaide to Brisbane
The newest of Australia’s iconic rail journeys, the Great Southern, travels the tracks between Adelaide and Brisbane.
The 4 day/3 night Brisbane to Adelaide journey takes in sparkling coastlines and rolling vineyards, multicultural cities and with off-train experiences including a unique beachside dinner in Coffs Harbour, opportunities to sample Hunter Valley wines among the vines and wander Melbourne’s colourful laneways.
The 3 day/2night journey north from Adelaide to Brisbane provides opportunities to hike in the Grampians National Park, explore the nation’s capital and stretch your legs with a coastal scenic walk in Coffs Harbour.
DESIGN YOUR IDEAL AUSTRALIAN RAIL JOURNEY:
Contact the Southern Crossings Travel Design team to start designing your personalised Australian rail journey:
ausdesign@southern-crossings.com
Header image: Australian Open Tennis Grand Slam in Melbourne annual event (image credit: Morgan Hancock)
