5 Australia's winter hotspots you won't want to miss
Live Events
Blue Mountains, NSW – Christmas in July
Daylesford, Victoria – Music in Unlikely Places
Adelaide Hills, SA – Fireside Feasts & Winter Reds
Canberra, ACT – Truffle Hunts & Tastings
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
While most travellers chase sun-soaked beaches and balmy skies, Australia's cooler months offer a different kind of magic, crackling fires, misty mountains, and seasonal festivals that make you embrace the chill. From mulled wine under the Blue Mountains ' frost-tipped trees to truffle hunts in Canberra's crisp woodlands, winter down under isn't something to escape; it's something to savour.From fire-lit rituals in Tasmania to truffle hunts in the ACT, here are five top destinations worth exploring this season .(Image: City of Hobart)In June, Hobart hosts Dark Mofo , a festival of fire rituals, bold art, and immersive events scattered across the city . The festival transforms industrial spaces into Dark Park, where outdoor installations fill vacant lots. Evenings are warm and lively in Salamanca's pubs.The Nude Solstice Swim at Sunrise Beach is a daring highlight. Thousands strip off in freezing dawn waters to mark the shortest day. Want something less exposed? Alternative solstice celebrations offer comfort and festivity.(Image is from Tourism Australia)Just 90 minutes by train from Sydney, the Blue Mountains become Australia's festive heart each July . Yulefest , started 43 years ago, transforms heritage hotels with six‑course Christmas dinners, Santa visits, and valley views .Nearby Fairmont Resort and Nepean Belle steamers add buffet lunches and cruises. Clear skies and crisp air make winter ideal for rides across Katoomba Falls , the Three Sisters, and Jamison Valley, capped off with mulled cider in Bilpin .(Image is from Official site for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)Every August, Winter Sounds brings chamber music and acoustic performances to historic churches, heritage train carriages, and bush halls .The festival is 90 minutes from Melbourne and offers intimate shows in Art Deco theatres. Visitors can also relax in thermal springs or enjoy spa treatments between concerts .(Image is from Visit Adelaide)From July 25–27, Winter Reds Weekend invites visitors to 30+ wineries for fireside lunches, live music, and full-bodied reds . Cottages in Stirling and Hahndorf take on a European feel. Enjoy hearty local fare, stews, venison, and produce, paired with elegant wines. Make sure to leave space for bottles to take home .(Image is from Visit Canberra)Canberra's truffle season offers guided hunts with trained dogs between June and September to unearth black winter truffles . After digging, enjoy cooking classes and menus built around freshly harvested truffles.It's a sensory delight, 'dirt' with a decadent twist. You literally excavate and taste your dinner on the same day .Australia's winter landscapes and cultural events offer experiences you can't find in summer. Think fire, ice, music, wine, cold-water rituals, and foraged delicacies. And with off-peak travel, you enjoy fewer crowds and better deals. Whether you crave creative installations, festive feasts, or culinary excursions, winter in Oz delivers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
19 hours ago
- India Today
Sara Tendulkar recalls Australia memories, reveals why she never pursued cricket
For most of her childhood, Sara Tendulkar's connection with Australia was shaped by the rhythm of her father Sachin Tendulkar's cricketing tours. Today, years later, those personal memories are coming full circle as she steps into the spotlight in her own right as the new face of Tourism Australia's Come and Say G'day campaign for Indian campaign, which has already found global success with its animated mascot Ruby the Souvenir Kangaroo, marks one of Sara's first major brand collaborations. For her, though, the association is more than symbolic. Australia, she says, has been part of her life story for as long as she can my dad playing and travelling to Australia so much... The first time I visited Australia was in 1999. Ever since, I have visited the country once every four years. I have a lot of childhood memories there, and they were always very happy,' Sara told India Today on Wednesday, 20 August. 'My brother and I were very thrilled. We didn't get to see our dad too much because he was always travelling for cricket. When we would go there, we would be very happy to spend as much time with him,' she 27, fondly recalled spending New Year's Eves in Sydney with her father and the rest of the Indian cricket team. 'I distinctly remember spending New Year's Eve in Australia in Sydney, the ones we were there when we visited every four years. We would spend New Year's Eve on a boat with the whole team. That's something I will never forget,' she MYSELF TO GULLY CRICKETShe also spoke of her frequent visits to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground during her younger years. Just last December, she was spotted cheering for India during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, an experience that gave her a new appreciation of its atmosphere.'When I was young, I don't think I realised the significance of the MCG. But now, when I went back, all those memories came rushing back,' she said, reflecting on how her understanding of the stadium's importance has grown with time. Even with such intimate proximity to cricket, Sara is clear the sport was never on her horizon. 'Never. It's been my brother's forte. I have played gully cricket, but never thought about it.'She might have countless favourite memories of her father's iconic knocks, but the most vivid, Sara says, is of his farewell to the game in 2013.'If I have to pick one vivid memory, then I would pick his retirement match. I was old enough to really understand what that meant at that point. When I was younger, I went for the games, but I never really grasped the enormity of them.'Stepping into the limelight in her own way has also meant learning to navigate public attention. Sara credits her father for grounding her with advice that continues to guide her. 'He always told me that when I have freedom and independence, I should always be responsible. That's something that I have tried to follow when I left for college.'Her association with Tourism Australia reflects just that balance: personal history meeting new opportunities. The tourism board, which has identified India as one of its fastest-growing markets, has launched the second phase of its campaign tailored for Indian travellers, placing Sara at the centre as someone who has lived those experiences herself.- Ends
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Noida school holiday on August 21: All schools in Gautam Budh Nagar announce off for Guru Dronacharya Mela; Check details
Closure of all schools Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel All government and private schools in Gautam Budh Nagar will remain closed on Thursday, August 21, 2025, in view of the Guru Dronacharya Mela in Dankaur, Greater district administration has issued orders to suspend classes for the day, citing heavy traffic and large gatherings expected during the celebrations. The move aims to ensure smooth management of the event and the safety of to the district administration, the schools will remain shut for the day due to the organisation of Guru Dronacharya Mela in Dankaur. Thousands of devotees are expected to participate in the event, leading to the closure of multiple roads in and around the mela site. The authorities have taken this step to prevent any traffic-related disruptions and to maintain student confirmed that they received notifications about the school closure through official school WhatsApp groups and SMS messages. The information was shared in advance to ensure families were informed and could make necessary from the closure on August 21, 2025, students in several states will also receive holidays on account of Ganesh Chaturthi and Onam. Schools will remain closed in many regions on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, for Onam, followed by a holiday for Ganesh Chaturthi on Wednesday, August 27, closures are part of the regional observances and have been notified by respective state governments. Parents and students are advised to check with their schools for state-specific holiday authorities have urged commuters to follow traffic advisories during the Guru Dronacharya Mela to avoid congestion near the venue.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
IRCTC's 60-day rule: Planning to travel this festive season? What passengers should know about Indian Railways' reduced booking window for train tickets
Repres The festive season in India always brings a surge in train ticket demand, as migrant workers head home for Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath. The change, effective November 1, 2024, has intensified the scramble for seats and creating confusions on the actual right time to book tickets ahead of the festive season, when demand traditionally surges as migrant workers travel home. Shorter booking window Effective November 1, 2024, the new rule allows ticket reservations 60 days ahead of the journey date (61 days for trains reaching intermediate stations the next day). Select intercity express services retain shorter booking periods. For example, tickets for October 19, 2025, travel open on August 20, 2025. High demand, few options- When to book? Despite the 60-day window, festival tickets often sell out within minutes. Passengers unable to secure confirmed seats are forced to rely on costlier and uncertain Tatkal quotas. To improve chances, experts, quoted by Economic Times advise logging onto the IRCTC portal at 8 am on the opening day of reservations. Booking clarity Reservation status appears directly on tickets—either confirmed (with berth details), RAC, or waitlisted. Tools like the traindate booking calculator can help passengers plan by showing when the advance reservation period begins. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays , public holidays , current gold rate and silver price .
