5 Australia's winter hotspots you won't want to miss

Economic Times

9 hours ago

In June, Hobart hosts Dark Mofo, a festival of fire rituals, bold art, and immersive events scattered across the city . (Image: City of Hobart)
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.