South Coast NSW
It's worth scanning the movie listings just for an excuse to be inside this attractive cinema, a beloved landmark since it opened in 1935.
Must-see entertainment in New South Wales
Newtown & the Inner West
Good sightlines characterise this purpose-built venue that has a vibrant lineup of medium-sized touring and local bands in its main upstairs venue. The…
Newcastle
The pride of Newcastle, the Knights are the local rugby league side. They've had a rough trot of late, but there's plenty of passion around them here, and…
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Circular Quay & The Rocks
This historic venue showcases the talents of its students and their teachers. Choral, jazz, operatic and chamber concerts happen from March to November;…
Sydney
This purpose-built comedy venue lures big-time Australian and overseas stand-ups, and nurtures new talent with open-mic and new-comic nights. US, Irish…
Newtown & the Inner West
With live Australian and international contemporary jazz several times a week, this atmospheric and thoughtfully programmed venue has been a great shot in…
Sydney
The long-running Ensemble presents mainstream theatre by overseas and Australian playwrights (think David Williamson and David Hare), generally with well…
Kings Cross & Potts Point
Is it a pub? A theatre? A bistro? Actually, it’s all three. Grassroots company Red Line Productions stages loads of new Australian plays at this likeable…
Circular Quay & The Rocks
When the harbour glare and squawking seagulls get too much, follow the scent of popcorn into the dark folds of this plush cinema. Screening first-run,…
City Centre & Haymarket
The beautiful 2000-seat State Theatre is a lavish, gilt-ridden, chandelier-dangling palace. It hosts the Sydney Film Festival, concerts, comedy, opera,…
South Coast NSW
With a radiant sun shape emblazoned across its art-deco exterior, this fabulous 1920s building screams old-school Hollywood glamour. New releases, art…
Darling Harbour & Pyrmont
If you can drag them away from the neighbouring playground, bring your budding culture vultures here to watch Australian children's books come to life…
Sydney
Near Parramatta, this is one of Sydney’s most famous racecourses, with racing days normally every second Saturday. The big-ticket annual event is the…
Darling Harbour & Pyrmont
The shiny new International Convention Centre at Darling Harbour has three theatres, including a large one that seats 8000, and principally holds big…
Mid-North Coast
Wonderful little local cinema set in the weatherboard School of Arts Community Centre with front-row deck chairs and bean bags for a beachy vibe. Also…
Newcastle
A backpacker favourite that launched Silverchair, Newcastle’s most famous cultural export, this West End pub continues to showcase touring bands and local…
Newtown & the Inner West
This dark and atmospheric bar does seriously good cocktails and some excellent jazz and blues-y live music at weekends. There are also pizzas and other…
Surry Hills & Darlinghurst
Slide inside a gorgeously converted banking chamber for a quality French-inflected degustation dinner and a sexy show, blending circus, cabaret,…
Circular Quay & The Rocks
Opened in 2004, this state-of-the-art facility seats 850 and is managed by the Sydney Theatre Company. Sydney Dance Company and a host of other troupes…
Byron Bay & Northern NSW
Hosts a range of events from movie nights and live music in the 350-seat auditorium to spiritual workshops and free world/folk/roots music on the outdoor…
Surry Hills & Darlinghurst
Based in a beautifully restored Baptist tabernacle (1887), the Darlinghurst Theatre Company focuses on bringing pithy, intelligent Australian scripts to…
Newtown & the Inner West
Running earlier than most of Sydney's open-air cinemas, this is at the University of Sydney and shows a mixed three-week season with food trucks and pets…
Sydney
Sydney’s main booking agency for theatre, concerts and sports. There are outlets around town, or you can book online and get your ticket emailed to you.
Mid-North Coast
A gem of a cinema beloved by locals, so much so that it was saved from closure by a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign and reopened in 2016.
Sydney
Enjoy open-air screenings by the sea, with live bands providing prescreening entertainment. Online bookings are cheaper and recommended.
Newtown & the Inner West
Follow the buttery scent of popcorn into the dark folds of this plush cinema, screening first-run, independent world films.
Byron Bay
Part of the Byron Bay Brewery complex, this atmospheric lounge-cinema shows classic reruns and art-house flicks.
Sydney
Located inside the historic Paddington Town Hall, the Chauvel strives to offer distinctive and alternative cinema experiences, and to foster Sydney’s film…
New South Wales
Originally built in 1871, and now owned by the Gulgong Amateur Musical and Dramatical Society, the Opera House is the oldest still-operating theatre of…
Circular Quay & The Rocks
Sydney Theatre Company stages intimate performances in this beautiful Edwardian pier building they share with Bangarra, Australian Theatre for Young…
Mid-North Coast
This civic and architectural showpiece was built on the site of convict overseers’ cottages; archaeological artefacts are on display in the foyer and…
Sydney
This hefty movie complex has numerous cinemas, including an IMAX screen and Hoyts Lux, the cinematic equivalent of a 1st-class cabin, with waiter service,…
Surry Hills & Darlinghurst
Whether it’s the latest darlings of the British music press or some local sonic assailants made good, the occasional concerts at the Gaelic bridge the gap…
Australian Theatre for Young People
Circular Quay & The Rocks
This national youth theatre company puts on several performances a year; the Sydney ones are usually here in Walsh Bay. Redevelopment of the precinct…
Newtown & the Inner West
This edgy artists’ hub resident at Carriageworks stages performances of new dance, acrobatic and multimedia works – basically anything that can be lumped…
Sydney
This rebuild of the former Parramatta Stadium will hold 30,000 screaming fans of the local rugby league side, the Parramatta Eels, once it opens in 2019…
National Institute of Dramatic Art
Sydney
The former stomping ground of Mel Gibson, Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush, the NIDA stage is the place to see stars on the way up. Student and graduate…
Byron Bay & Northern NSW
'The Bowlo' is a brightly lit club, which we suspect does better from its poker machines than it does from lawn bowling. Still, it offers a bit of…
Byron Bay & Northern NSW
This university bar has great live music thanks to the university's Bachelor of Contemporary Music program. Gigs are listed on its Facebook page (www…
Newtown & the Inner West
Behind a glass curtain wall on an insanely busy intersection, this Sydney Uni–affiliated theatre (actually, four theatres) shows an eclectic selection of…
