The best Aussie winter family festivals

Liz Schaffer Liz Schaffer
hero media
As winter officially sets in, Australian Traveller searches for family friendly festivals that will entertain and astound.

With the cold air finally arriving, skies turning grey and gas bills increasing exponentially, now is the perfect time to explore Australia’s family festivals. There will be freshly fallen snow, luminous installations, evocative activities, quirky events and the opportunity to observe our country’s artistic talent. All you need is a sense of adventure and a few festive plans.

 

To help fill the calendar, AT has been on the lookout for exciting events unfolding across the country, winter warmers the family will not want to miss.

1. The Antarctic Midwinter Festival, Hobart

Rug up this winter and see a breath of ice and Deep Ocean hit Australia’s Antarctic Port. From June 18-21 the innovative Antarctic Midwinter Festival celebrates Tasmania and Antarctica’s historic and living connections by uniting exceptional exhibitions, performances, tours and social events. It’s an opportunity for adventurers and amateur scientist to enjoy the planet’s last pristine wilderness.

 

If the world of Antarctic science and exploration captures your family’s imagination, check out A Midwinter’s Night at the Museum at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. The combination of strange creatures, deep space and weird science is guaranteed to entertain.

 

Photography buffs can also enter The Extreme Environment Photographic Competition by submitting images from remote parts of the globe. For more events visit www.antarctic-tasmania.info

2. The Light in Winter, Melbourne

Federation Square gives us a bright reason to apply the layers and head for the city. Directed by Robyn Archer, The Light in Winter is a light-based festival uniting artists, designers and communities in exploring concepts of light, enlightenment and hope.

 

13 installations created by part of Melbourne’s multicultural community make up the spectacular display, “The Light in Winter". The works explore the cultural significance of light, warming the city’s seasonally chilled heart as just one of the exhibitions on show.

 

Families can also celebrate the Winter Solstice by packing a picnic and enjoying live music and performance to herald the arrival of longer and brighter days. For information see www.fedsquare.com or call 03 9655 1900.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

3. Winter Magic Festival, Blue Mountains

Watch the Winter Magic Festival transform one of Australia’s most spectacular regions as local musicians, mask makers, dancers, poets, clowns and choirs sprinkle winter magic and wonder around Katoomba.

 

There’s the inevitable embarrassment or chance to demonstrate unexpected skating prowess at this year’s outdoor ice rink, inside the picturesque Carrington Place town square. Alternatively, you can show your “universal" appreciation when The Winter Magic Grand Parade celebrates the International Year of Astronomy.

 

Festival favourites, including ArtStreet and the Short Film Festival, will again turn Katoomba’s main streets into a visually exciting artistic space. To discover more visit www.wintermagic.com.au

4. Mary Poppins Festival in the Park, Maryborough

For a storybook escape to the Queensland coast in the winter school holidays, Hervey Bay is “practically perfect", with the Mary Poppins Festival in the Park landing gracefully on their shores on July 5.

 

The world famous nanny works her magic to transform Richmond and Wharf Street into the fantasy Cherry Tree Lane, with young and old invited to meet Mr Banks, the Bird Lady, The Chimney Sweep and Mary Poppins herself. Countless activities, rides, steam trains, brass bands and fine arts and crafts markets to amuse all and cap off a weeklong event to honour the Mary Poppins author PL Travers, who was born in Maryborough in 1899.

 

Hervey Bay celebrates the Mary Poppins Festival by offering accommodation packages to suit all price ranges.

5. Alice Springs Beanie Festival, Alice Springs

Once a humble “beanie party", the distinctive Alice Springs Beanie festival is ideal for fans of all things warm and woolly.

 

From June 26-28, be enthralled by beanie central, otherwise known as the Araluen Cultural Precinct, the centrepiece for the festive long weekend. Here the mayhem and thrill of the beanie chase takes place as you search for the perfect beanie from more than 4000 on display and up for sale.

 

Music, workshops, kids craft, Beanie Olympics and a signature teashop make this the perfect winter remedy. The Opening Night party is also not to be missed – enjoy the entertainment and see the prize-winning beanies paraded under the stars.

 

Visit www.beaniefest.org to learn about the festival and year-round Beanies, Baskets and Bush tucker tours.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

6. City of Perth Winter Arts Season

A rich tapestry of arts events will keep sandgropers warm throughout the cooler months. From June 1 to August 30, the Perth Winter Arts Season embraces the State’s growing creative scene through diverse stage performances, arts organisations and exhibitions.

 

To mark the largest festival to date, watch parents behaving badly and uncensored playgroup politics in the delightful stage production God of Carnage. The Museum of Performing Arts will also present the moving ANZAC Coves, named in honour of the troupe of soldier entertainers who dodged bullets and bombs to perform on the battlefronts of Europe.

 

The presence of Australian superstar Ben Lee proves that the unorthodox and embracing season has something for everyone. For a complete program visit www.perthwinterarts.com.au

7. 2009 Whaletime Playtime Festival, Victor Harbour SA

Two days of fun and excitement will capture the imagination children as the 2009 Whaletime Playtime Festival splashes around from July 4-5.

 

Exceptional SA performers including the innovative Ticklish Allsorts and the Amazing Drumming Monkey’s will help bring the aquatic world to life. Don’t miss Victor Harbor’s much-loved Professor Blubber and keep an eye out for Henrietta the Humpback.

 

This year’s festival coincides with the opening of SA’s Whale Watching Season, making it a rare family experience. Exposure to these magnificent mammals and original event is an apt reminder of the need to conserve and protect our natural surroundings. Find a full program at www.whaletimeplaytimefestival.com.au

Liz Schaffer

Liz Schaffer

View profile and articles
This app can predict flight delays up to 25 hours in advance
Australia

This app can predict flight delays up to 25 hours in advance

Using live data and smart technology, this flight-tracking tool is keeping travellers one step ahead.

Read more
A pink-hued full moon in the sky
Australia

Why you shouldn’t bother looking for a pink moon tonight

Despite the name, the moon won’t, in fact, be pink.

Read more
aircrafts on field of Alice Springs airport in the Northern Territory
Australia

Australia’s most delayed flight routes revealed

A new report has ranked Australia's worst-performing domestic and international flight routes.

Read more
Krinklewood Winery, Hunter Valley
Australia

Affordable Easter getaways in every state to beat soaring fuel costs

Skip the fuel sting with these affordable Easter getaways and staycations across Australia.

Read more
hero media

What it’s really like to stay on the world’s largest sand island

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
    Continue
    Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

    The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort  with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

    But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

    Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

    Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

    Exploring K’gari

    ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island
    Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

    This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

    If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

    The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

    kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island
    Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

    If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

    While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

    The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

    Unwind at sunset

    two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort
    Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

    As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

    The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

    When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

    Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

    Indulge and disconnect

    woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa
    Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

    Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

    The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

    Getting there

    kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island
    The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

    Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.