The Best Out-of-Town Events Worthy of a Road Trip This Autumn
Get out of the city and visit festivals dedicated to potatoes, oysters and blues music.
Although summer is about to end, it's safe to say we're all still gearing to head outdoors for some quality time in the sun. Instead of sticking to your favourite hike or local park in the cooler days ahead, why not venture a little further afield into the countryside?
Spanning ocean and desert, Australia boasts an abundance of local food, live music and breath-taking nature to take in. From potato festivals to celebrations of oysters and long-running blues fests, there are festivals and events for every taste. And it's all happening in autumn, the season that isn't as hot or busy as summer. Do you need any more convincing?
Image: Narooma Oyster Festival
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EventEnlighten Festival 2020
Fri, 28 Feb - Sun, 15 Mar 2020
Around Canberra, Canberra
Watch the city light up as Canberra celebrates culture, music, performance and innovation.
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EventLichtenstein to Warhol: The Kenneth Tyler Collection
Sat, 7 Sep 2019 - Mon, 9 Mar 2020
National Gallery of Australia, Parkes
This free exhibition showcases the great American prints of the 20th century, including works by Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Joan Mitchell, Claes Oldenburg and Andy Warhol.
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EventBlue Lotus Water Garden 2019–20
Thu, 26 Dec 2019 - Mon, 13 Apr 2020
Blue Lotus Water Garden, Yarra Junction
The sprawling Yarra Valley garden is opening its doors to the public for lotus flower season.
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EventBarefoot Cinema 2019–20
Thu, 26 Dec 2019 - Tue, 3 Mar 2020
Various Melbourne locations, Melbourne
A mix of recent and classic films will screening under the summer sky.
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EventBathe-In Cinema
Multiple single dates
Peninsula Hot Springs, Fingal
Watch a rom-com from a 39-degree geothermal pool at the Peninsula Hot Springs.
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EventPort Phillip Mussel & Jazz Festival 2020
Sat, 7 Mar - Sun, 8 Mar 2020
South Melbourne Market, South Melbourne
Music and six tonnes of molluscs return to South Melbourne Market.
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EventPitch Music & Arts Festival 2020
Fri, 6 Mar - Tue, 10 Mar 2020
Pitch Music & Arts Festival, Mafeking
The multi-day Victorian camping festival is back with 47 musical acts, plus light installations and immersive art.
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EventWildlife Photographer of the Year 2020
Sat, 21 Dec 2019 - Sun, 26 Apr 2020
National Wool Museum, Geelong
Direct from London's Natural History Museum, the best nature photographs from the past year are coming to Geelong.
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EventPick Your Own Sunflowers
Sat, 7 Mar - Mon, 9 Mar 2020
Britt Farm, Dunnstown
Spend the long weekend frolicking through a field of sunflowers — and picking them.
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EventBoatshed Cheese Sale
Mon, 16 Mar - Fri, 20 Mar 2020
Boatshed Cheese, Dromana
With events being cancelled across Victoria, this Mornington Peninsula cheese shop has dairy to spare.
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EventKanzi U-Pick at Sanders Apples
Multiple single dates
Sanders Apples, Three Bridges
Celebrate the start of apple season by picking your own haul of crunchy kanzi apples, followed by a picnic in the orchard.
