Dazzle All Five of Your Senses with These Unmissable Outdoor Events
Whether you're looking to take part in a challenge or explore regional NSW, we have the perfect outdoor festivals for you.
Dazzle All Five of Your Senses with These Unmissable Outdoor Events
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Whether you're looking to take part in a challenge or explore regional NSW, we have the perfect outdoor festivals for you.
There's always something happening in New South Wales, no matter what time of the year. So whether you're a local looking for extravagant summertime surf carnivals on the coast or an interstater on the hunt for cosy winter festivities, there's something for everyone.
So why not get a weekend getaway on the books? We've scoured the calendar for festivities taking place across the state, and here's our round-up of the outdoor events. Depending on where you go, you'll need some sunscreen, a good jumper or a couple of napkins. Adventure awaits.
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Get ready to get your mitts on the freshest oysters in the country at the Narooma Oyster Festival. The annual event is back with a mouth-watering selection of NSW-native rock oysters, seafood, and other gourmet treats from the Eurobodalla Coast region.
On Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4, Narooma’s Wagonga Inlet will play host to live music, cooking demonstrations, wine tasting, and, of course, plenty of oysters (almost 70,000 will make it from tide to table). Meet local oyster farmers and learn about the art of oyster shucking, tasting and cooking or simply sit back and enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery from the quay or on an oyster cruise.
Tickets start from $25 and are as plentiful as the oysters — but are selling fast, so head to the website to get yours. Pro tip: the festival is a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney, so local accommodation is popular and should be booked in advance. Coaches are bookable to and from Batemans Bay and Bermagui.
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Grab your goggles, don your lycra and get on your running shoes for the ultimate endurance test. IRONMAN Australia challenges the fittest athletes from here and abroad in the toughest triathlon. The race will take place in picturesque Port Macquarie, where competitors will take to the water in the Hastings River before biking along the Pacific Ocean and running through the heart of Port Macquarie.
Taking place on Sunday, May 5, the historic triathlon has three legs of different challenges (swimming, running and cycling) stretched over a whopping 226-kilometre course. There’s plenty of room to tag along and support any participants you know as the course will be lined with spectators — and dotted with fuelling points since cheers alone won’t carry participants to the finish.
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The Mudgee Classic is part of The Classics, a national series of cycling events that take the best parts of the celebrated hobby and scale it up to a level that makes it a bit above your standard Sunday morning ride. Set among the beautiful regional wine country of Mudgee, 268 kilometres north of Sydney, this yearly iteration is one weekend only and split into five different courses to cater to all experience levels.
On Saturday, May 4, those interested in an off-road adventure will take to the Dirty Mudgee gravel ride, a 55-kilometre loop trail of rough-yet-scenic trails and smooth rural lanes and country roads across almost 700 metres of elevation. Then, on Sunday, May 5, road cyclists can challenge themselves across the Social Classic (35 kilometres), Roulers Classic (65 kilometres), Challenge Classic (120 kilometres) or Maxi Classic (170 kilometres). These four courses cater to all levels and offer a variety of difficulty and scenic value to ensure you’ve got some pretty pictures for your pedalling.
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Get Ugged up, rugged up and ready to embrace all things chilly at the Bathurst Winter Festival. The two-week event runs from Saturday, July 6 to Sunday, July 21 and celebrates the magic of the colder months. Sure, summer’s great, but there’s something about cosying up with a hot chocolate or medium-bodied glass of red that just hits differently come July.
Located three hours northwest of Sydney, the city of Bathurst will light up in a blaze of colour and light as interactive installations are projected on the town’s historic architecture. Head to the Winter Playground, where you can enjoy live music, comfort food, warm drinks, wine events, show rides and an outdoor ice skating rink. The events and activations are spread across Bathurst and much of the festival is free — including a huge food and drinks festival, a pet parade and more. Either way, it’s a great excuse for a weekend away this winter.
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Despite what you may think, Sydney SuperNight is three days and nights of action-packed activity from all angles. From Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 21, the Sydney SuperNight will see a number of practice, qualifying and support racing sessions take place, culminating in the climax of the feature race when the sun goes down on Saturday evening.
This will be round seven of the Repco Supercars Championship so rivalries between the drivers are high, and the atmosphere can get intense. Plus, the fact that some of it is going down at night means you’ll be able to see the sparks literally fly — don’t be surprised if you get caught up in the theatrics.
Plenty of non-track action will be interspersed throughout the weekend, too. There will be events for all ages, merchandise, signings, live entertainment and much more. More information is likely to be released in the coming months, so keep your eyes on the Supercars channels.
Discover your next adventure in New South Wales. Plan your trip and find out more information about events happening in the state on the website.
Images: Destination NSW
