Celebrate the Queen’s Birthday with a brilliant long weekend in Sydney 2017

Café Del Mar, Cockle Bay Wharf

The Queen’s Birthday is celebrated every year in NSW with a public holiday in June. This year, the Queen’s Birthday public holiday falls on Monday 12th June, and it’s the perfect opportunity to get out and about in Sydney. Here are some of the best ways to take advantage of the great events happening across the city.

Explore Lights, Music and Ideas at Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney

Experience Sydney’s largest arts and culture event at Vivid Sydney, a free event running from 26 May to 17 June. Vivid Sydney sees the city’s major landmarks illuminated in a stunning visual display; most famously, the sails of the Sydney Opera House are brought to life with stunning animations. Vivid  Sydney’s music program features performances from renowned international artists, while the Vivid Ideas program offers a host of forums and workshops from creative industry leaders.

Hit the beach

Coogee beach

Even in the winter, Sydney boasts plenty of sunshine. Pack a picnic and head south to Cronulla for some surf and sand; ‘The Shire’ boasts some of Sydney’s best surf beaches.  Jump on the ferry at Circular Quay and take the kids to Manly or Watsons Bay for an unforgettable beach day out. Take a trip to Bondi Beach to watch the surfers in action and join in the winter fun at Bondi Winter Magic.

Shop ‘til you drop

Paddington Markets

A long weekend is the perfect time to indulge in a little bit of retail therapy – and luckily, there are plenty of weekend markets to enjoy. Check out Paddington Markets and spend your Saturday afternoon browsing the handmade and secondhand wares on offer. You can also find plenty of treasures at the Glebe Markets, which boasts more than 200 stalls showcasing a fantastic selection of food, clothing and handicrafts.

Get Your Culture Fix

Sydney Film Festival, Sydney

Find time to check out some of the world’s best new films at the Sydney Film Festival. The festival will take place at a number of venues across the city showcasing the latest in cutting-edge cinema. There’s also a variety of art shows and exhibitions happening around the city, including Transformations: Art of the Scott Sisters at the Australian Museum. This exhibition will present a collection of work by 19th-century natural history artists, sisters Helena and Harriet Scott.

For more events and things to do this June Long Weekend, visit Sydney.com!