Circular Quay & The Rocks
The glamorous jewel of Australian performance, Sydney's famous Opera House has five main stages. Opera may have star billing, but it's also an important…
Must-see entertainment in Australia
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…
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…
St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick
You could spend all day going from room to room now that the beloved 'Espy' is back, after a $15 million renovation. Antiques complement its Victorian…
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…
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…
Melbourne
Melbourne's original outdoor cinema hits the Royal Botanic Gardens from the end of November through March, screening current releases and retro classics…
Victorian High Country
The tiny hamlet of Swanpool – population 207 – is a blink and you'll miss it kind of place 38km north of Mansfield en route to Benalla, but the village's…
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…
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,…
City Centre & Haymarket
Based on the classic configuration of the 19th-century European concert hall, this custom-built 1200-seat venue boasts near-perfect acoustics. Catch top…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford
One of Melbourne's most iconic live-music venues, this divey pub has been hosting a roster of local and international punk, heavy metal and hardcore bands…
Alice Springs
This atmospheric 1½-hour musical performance evoking the spirit of the outback with didgeridoos, drums and keyboards, plus wonderful photography and…
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…
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…
City Centre & Haymarket
The Metro is easily Sydney’s best midsized venue for catching alternative local and international rock acts in intimate, well-ventilated, easy-seeing…
Victoria
Ballarat’s best original live-music venue showcases local and touring rock and indie bands in its grungy band room.
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…
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…
Fremantle
Newly opened in the historic Brush Factory, this is a fun, lively, hugely approachable jazz bar where dancing between the tables (there's no designated…
Hobart
This venerable old stager is Australia’s oldest continuously operating theatre, with actors first treading the boards here back in 1837 (the foundation…
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…
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,…
Fremantle
Part live-music haunt, part microbrewery, part food-truck and beer-garden hang-out, Freo.Social is difficult to pigeonhole. Open since March 2019, the…
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…
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…
Geelong
The BC has long been Geelong's premier live-music venue, and has spawned the likes of Magic Dirt, Bored! and Warped, seminal bands in the 'Geetroit' rock…
Circular Quay & The Rocks
Established in 1978, the STC is Sydney theatre’s most prominent company and has played an important part in the careers of many famous Australian actors …
St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick
Rising gracefully beside Luna Park, the art deco Palais (c 1927) is a St Kilda icon, with everyone from the Rolling Stones and Rufus Wainwright to the…
St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick
This 1936 art deco darling has had more ups and downs than a fading Hollywood star. Saved from permanent closure, it's one of Melbourne's best-loved…
Fortitude Valley
From music to comedy, you can expect international notables and local success stories treading the boards at this elegant art-deco stager, built in 1917…
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…
Fortitude Valley
Going strong since 1992, the Zoo remains a grungy spot for indie rock, folk, acoustic, hip-hop, reggae and electronic acts, with no shortage of raw talent…
Fortitude Valley
A steroids shot for Brisbane's already muscly live-music scene, ballroom-inspired Fortitude Music Hall has some serious backers, including ex-Powderfinger…
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…
Fortitude Valley
The Foundry serves up good times in the form of pool tables and a solid line-up of top-notch, up-and-coming Aussie bands. The joint is a proper music and…
