Sydney turns on the lights for the amazing Vivid Festival citywide, with Vivid Food + Minds + Music as well! This package includes flights, 3 nights 4 star accommodation, breakfast, and the Vivid Sydney lights harbour cruise as well on this unique Australian getaway. Upgrade to Luxe? – sure can!
The Southern Hemisphere’s largest multi-artform festival is Vivid 2026, when Sydney lights up the New South Wales capital from 22 May to 13 June 2026.
And, as the event edges closer, we are sharing the highlights and tips for the festival.
Vivid LIGHT will feature large-scale projections, immersive experiences and interactive artworks across the city
There’s also Vivid MUSIC a programme of live performances, concerts and DJ sets across diverse venues.
For the thinkers, there’s Vivid MIND, which consists of theatre, installations, engaging discussions, and more.
Check out the festival’s Vivid FOOD events, which celebrate the diverse culinary landscape of Sydney and NSW. Among the recommended experiences is Vivid Fire Kitchen.
What events are on for Vivid 2026? Look here for our list of suggestions.
Flights on Air New Zealand to Sydney
3 nights The Tank Stream Hotel Sydney. Within a short 5-minute walk you’ll be at major shopping precincts such as Pitt Street Mall, The Strand Arcade and The Queen Victoria Building, or you can catch the easily accessible light rail or train to reach many other Sydney attractions. Offering a French dining experience in the heart of Sydney, their restuarant Le Petit Flot is driven by a philosophy of serving straight-forward, flavoursome and honest food. Serving classic French cuisine using seasonal ingredients, guests can enjoy quick and friendly service in a relaxed atmosphere.
Breakfast daily
Vivid Sydney Lights Cruise – See the full canvas of Vivid Sydney lights from the water aboard a special Vivid Lights sightseeing cruise including dinner. Discover the unique perspective and enjoy 360 degree waterfront views of the entire city from the spacious indoor and outdoor decks.
Best bar in town for drinks, eats and oh the view? Hit the Intercontinental Aster Bar – 32 floors up… Book here Enjoy!
More tips? Use my curated Australia HOT list…
Look Here at our searchable Sydney and Australia page with the best of the best! Eats, bars, pubs, wine bars, distillery trails… food styles from Fine Dining to Modern Australian Gastro…
All tried true and tested by Tourism Australia and the best foodies in each state! Enjoy.
Official Vivid Site here Vivid Sydney is also in conjunction with Vivid Food. Food is an integral part of Aussie culture and the perfect complement to the programme of Light, Music and Mind. As the culinary capital of Australia (according to them!), Sydney has world-class hatted chefs, restaurants, producers and venues and Vivid Food is all about celebrating those that make the food scene so special.
Expect one-of-a-kind menus from visiting renowned chefs, multi-sensory dégustations, culinary pop-ups across the Vivid Sydney Light Walk, plus installations and artworks across some of Sydneys city’s finest bars and restaurants. And as the city’s chefs cook with more creativity than ever before, mixologists and bartenders will work hard to (cocktail) shake things up too, with innovation on both Vivid Sydney’s food and drink menus!
Want to see more of Vivid? We recommend adding in a trip to the Lightscape in the Royal Botanic Gardens, where you can wander beneath towering tree canopies illuminated in colour, stroll beneath larger-than-life flowers and through dynamic, glowing tunnels.
Or for the adventourous, and the best view in town – a Vivid Climb with BridgeClimb Sydney! See the dazzling light sculptures and grand-scale projections with an unforgettable experience that offers sweeping views from 134 metres high. The Vivid Climb runs nightly during Vivid Sydney, departing each afternoon in time to witness the big ‘lights-on’ moment from the summit – a sight you will never forget.
This package is based on 2 people travelling together with the above inclusions.
Note a $10 one way surcharge applies for outbound travel on Thursday and Friday & inbound travel on Sunday and Monday. Airfare and room rates are dynamic providing the best rate of the day dependant on current inventory as such these are subject to availability & change without notice. Prices are based on internet transfer of funds.
Please ask about Sydney hotel options and upgrades depending on the style you require. For Luxe or Boutique we recommend:
Sydney
Contemporary: A 6 star hotel, and the most exquisite Fine Dining in Sydney. Crown Sydney Barangaroo in a Harbour Bridge or Opera King room. I have stayed here and can absolutely recommend!
We can assist with bookings at Oncore by Clare Smyth, the first and only British female chef to hold three Michelin stars in the UK, this is her first international restaurant. Her London restaurant, Core, was the first to ever enter The Good Food Guide with a perfect score of 10 out of 10 in its opening year. With an emphasis on sustainable food and paying homage to Core, Oncore is an exceptional dining experience overlooking one of the most incredible views of Sydney Harbour from level 26 of Crown Sydney. Also onsite Nobu. Internationally renowned Chef, Nobu Matsuhisa – known to the world as “Nobu” has opened his new restaurant at Crown Sydney. It joins sister properties Crown Melbourne and Crown Perth as the exclusive Australian destinations for Nobu’s sublime dining experience.
Classic: Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour Club Junior Suite, with King Bed, & Harbour View (+Club Millésime Benefits). Located right in Darling Harbour. Classic French elegance with Club level inclusions.
Funky luxe: The Old Clare Hotel in a Suite. Housed in 2 beautifully restored heritage-listed buildings, maintaining many Art Deco features, a hotel carefully curated with curious travellers in mind. Located in Chippendale, in the land of art galleries, design studios, cafés and restaurants, it’s a place designed to keep the wanderlust going, an invitation to explore where you’ll leave feeling both rested and inspired. The rooftop bar and pool are worth a visit.
The Vivid Sydney Light Walk is an unbroken 6.5-kilometre journey featuring more than 43 installations and projections created by acclaimed local and international artists.
Look here for an interactive map where you can click on the area you are interested in and the light installations will come up on a map.
Locations:
Watch as the iconic sails of Sydney Opera House are illuminated with Yann Nguema’s new artwork Opera Mundi.
This breathtaking original commission is a powerful ode to transformations in nature – land, sea and sky – that inspired Opera House architect Jørn Utzon.
Sāmoan-Australian artist Angela Tiatia presents Vaiola, a large-scale light projection on the façade of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.
Vaiola transforms the MCA with a bright, lush palette that brings to life many of Tiatia’s signature visual motifs – pearls, water, fire, flowers and the female form.
You can’t miss this celestial laser installation.
Standing 23 metres tall on three metal legs, this 6.5-tonne meteorite sits above Barangaroo Reserve and is visible from Balmain and Chatswood.
Day or night, Molecule’s meteorite emits a tone set at 528hz, often called the “frequency of love”.
As smoky aromas, spices and slow-cooked feasts fill the air at Vivid Fire Kitchen, they rise to meet a River of Fire.
Made with 160 custom LED tubes, this canopy of flame shimmers above as light flows through it, quietly mesmerising.
Australia’s most ambitious free outdoor laser spectacular arrives, spanning light, sea and sky.
Over 23 nights, choreographed light transforms the Sydney Harbour sky unlike ever before with Laser Lightfall, the inaugural Vivid Sydney Laser Show and a free nightly tour-de-force over Cockle Bay.
Lighting up the night sky in a show-stopping blockbuster, the popular Vivid Sydney Drone Show returns for its longest season yet as Star-Bound.
There are 22 shows across 11 nights, every Sunday to Wednesday, in its new home above the waters of Cockle Bay in Darling Harbour.
Step, skip and snake across Piano Walk – an S-shaped supersized set of ivories on the IMAX Sydney Forecourt that sings out in song and colour with every press.
What would you tell a stranger if you could leave an anonymous message?
Letter is a digital whisper-chain, a 10-metre-long wall made of 30 waterproof touchscreens, each showing a sealed envelope. Which one is calling you?
Nightly during Vivid Sydney
Departs 5pm from Darling Harbour King Street Wharf
Inclusions:
Also available: 5pm Sunset Dinner, 7pm Vivid Special Dinner, 7pm Vivid Starlight Dinner and 7pm Vivid Gold Dinner.
Nightly during Vivid Sydney
Departs 6pm and 6:30pm from Stop #2 at Sydney Opera House
Inclusions:
Nightly during Vivid Sydney
The climb runs nightly during Vivid Sydney, with the first climb departing each afternoon to reach the summit in time to witness the big “lights-on” moment.
This unforgettable experience offers sweeping views from 134 metres high of the dazzling light sculptures and grand-scale projections beamed across the city’s world-famous landmarks. The tour takes 3 hours and includes 1,332 steps. Note – you will be breathalysed before the climb!
Nightly during Vivid Sydney
Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour
Located in the heart of Darling Harbour, Tumbalong Nights ignites Tumbalong Park with 23 nights of free music alongside the Vivid Light Walk’s vibrant artworks.
Explore a line-up of global icons, local legends and emerging talent that will spark your imagination and get you moving, from the best new Aussie pop to boundary-pushing indie, powerful First Nations storytelling and a diverse array of languages and cultures.
DJs keep the party going from Sunday to Wednesday, while live music starts at 7pm every Thursday to Saturday, and also on Sunday 7 and Monday 8 June for the long weekend. Kids’ shows run from 5pm to 6pm on Saturdays.
Best of all, this event is completely free.
Nightly during Vivid Sydney
Sydney Opera House
Every year as part of Vivid Sydney, Vivid LIVE takes over the iconic Sydney Opera House with epic contemporary music.
Featuring international icons, homegrown heroes and Australian-exclusive acts, every corner of the building comes alive with live music.
6 June, 7pm-9pm
City Recital Hall
Heartthrob Saint Levant brings his trilingual love songs to Sydney for the first time, serenading audiences at City Recital Hall.
Pulling from a range of cultures, the Palestinian, French and Algerian artist has created a distinct blend of R&B.
4 June, 6:30pm-10:30pm
Oxford Art Factory
One of the UK’s breakout alt-R&B stars of the 2020s heads to Vivid Sydney, set to transfix Oxford Art Factory with her soulful sounds.
Raised in Birmingham, RUBII’s music is deeply felt and delivered in an arresting combination of soft-spoken bars, syrupy vocals and chill, precise production.
5-7 June, 7:30pm-8:40pm
Sydney Opera House Forecourt
An open-air extravaganza of aerial acrobatics, dance and unbelievable circus feats arrives at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt direct from France.
Free for all and perfect for families, Cristal Palace dazzles with three shows over the June long weekend.
Across 70 minutes of pure spectacle, Cristal Palace reimagines the Forecourt as a baroque ballroom, complete with a gigantic chandelier overhanging the stage and home to an airborne wind orchestra.
With a talented ensemble of 29 performers, you’ll be dazzled by aerial trapeze and silk artists, hoop acts, clowning, plus talented dancers travelling through 150 years of music and dance.
4 June, 6:30pm-8pm
Sydney Town Hall
Insightful, outspoken and refreshingly unpretentious Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic Jerry Saltz brings his trademark irreverence and razor-sharp wit to Sydney Town Hall in his first Australian appearance.
Exclusive to Vivid Sydney, Saltz will tackle the challenges facing artists today, from visibility and sustainability to authenticity in the age of algorithms and AI.
24 May, 3pm-4:30pm
City Recital Hall
Music industry tastemaker and broadcaster Zane Lowe dives deep into the sound of now in a Vivid Sydney exclusive.
The renowned presenter will speak about how he builds trust with some of the biggest names in music, while breaking down his own creative process as one of the most influential broadcasters and voices in global music.
22 May – 13 June, Multiple Sessions
Australian National Maritime Museum
Explore a universe of light in this immersive, awe-inspiring and interactive adventure for young children and families.
Suggested for ages 4-10, Wonderverse encourages exploration, play and creativity as children meet mesmerising fireflies, explore a forest of light and contemplate the vastness of the universe.
Every night during Vivid Sydney
Barangaroo Reserve
At its new home in Barangaroo Reserve, Vivid Fire Kitchen unites Australian culinary talent in an ode to the great Aussie backyard, complete with open-fire cooking demonstrations, talks, tastings and more.
Open every night of Vivid Sydney from 6pm-11pm and free to enter, this vibrant casual dining hub builds community and connection, with authentic flavours and shared stories that span diverse cultures and cuisines.
Live music keeps the energy high, while a range of pop-up special events, including NSW wine tastings, will have you coming back night after night.
3 June, 5pm-midnight
Circular Quay and The Rocks
Shell House
Oysters in the House is a one-day spectacular at Shell House celebrating two of New South Wales’ most iconic culinary heroes: the Sydney Rock Oyster and NSW Semillon.
Climb your way through multiple levels of The House tasting the freshest oysters and crispest Semillon, with oyster shucking demonstrations, masterclasses and more.
29-30 May, Multiple Sessions
ILUMINA
Renowned chef and cookbook author Yotam Ottolenghi presents A Shared Table.
This exclusive dinner and lunch is a rare chance to step into Ottolenghi’s world of produce, colour, abundance and freshness, recreated right in the heart of the Sydney CBD.
3 June, 6:30pm-11pm
Circular Quay and The Rocks
Shell House
Southern bluefin tuna – a premium tuna with a marbled, melt-in-your-mouth texture – takes centre stage in a five-course dinner at Shell House, complete with a live Maguro Shoten tuna-cutting experience.
It is a visual and sensory feast as a giant bluefin tuna is expertly broken down by Narito Ishii in a moment of true theatre.
What is on in Sydney?
Local Sauce Tours – we love a secret bar!…Drink & discover secret bars of Sydney…
Soak up some Sydney/Warrane culture and take all the hard work out of finding the best bars with their new bi-weekly tour, the Drink & Discover Secret Bar Crawl. The tour explores Sydney/Warrane’s most vibrant nightlife neighbourhoods such as The Rocks, Surry Hills, and the city’s YCK laneways. Thursday night tours are the exciting new addition where Local Sauce guides take guests to The Rocks and Circular Quay, two fantastic locations thrumming with unique cocktail bars and spirit distilleries.
Hop on the Local Sauce Tours website for more information.
The Rover has unveiled the final phase of its reinvigoration with the opening of its British-inspired seafood bistro, located upstairs at the Surry Hills bar. Featuring a daily rotation of oysters, the coastal menu also features caviar and potato chips, raw scallop with horseradish
cream, cucumber and dill oil and a selection of cold poached crustaceans. More substantial dishes include Turbot chunk with pil pil and sauce vierge and a whole flathead served with clams and garlic. With a carefully curated drinks list and striking interior, The Rover’s newest restaurant is a must try for seafood lovers. Head to the website to make a booking.
Pour as little or as much as you like at Buddy’s, New South Wales’ first self-serve bar. Located on the iconic King Street, the heart of Sydney/Warrane’s cool suburb of Newtown, Buddy’s sprawls across two levels with alfresco footpath dining, the space is designed with conversation in mind, whether with friendly strangers or strange friends. Head upstairs to the dedicated event space and catch live music, DJs, gallery nights or a host of special events. With a selection of over 30 taps of craft beers, house-made cocktails, premium wines and a food menu inspired by long lunches with friends; a night at Buddy’s is a night of sharing, exploring, and spontaneity.
Check out Buddy’s Instagram to learn more.
What about…
• Ferries to Manly, Luna Park or Taronga Zoo
• Royal Botanical Gardens
• Bondi Beach with fish and chips
• Rushcutter’s Bay
• Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf
• Culinary and cultural walking tours
• Local art galleries
• Private harbour cruises
• Shopping in Paddington
Hunter Valley
Newly opened, The Artisan Farmer brings a true paddock to plate dining experience to the town of Nabiac on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. Three and half hours drive from Sydney/Warrane, Nabiac is full of unique shops and attractions, all dripping with classic country town charm. From the herbs grown in the garden, to the coffee roasted and the beef in the burger, everything served at this ultra local bakery, cafe and butchery is produced on site. With a dedication to creating vibrant culinary experiences centred on locally grown and sourced produce, The Artisan Farmer authentically delivers a dining experience like no other. Learn more about how the locals do it at The Artisan Farmer website.
Or…
• Private wine tours
• Hands-on wine blending
• Local produce tasting
• Hot air ballooning
• Spa Anise Day Spa (transfer to Spicers Vineyards Estate)
• Championship golf courses
• Local art galleries
• Hunter Valley Gardens
• Horse riding
Sydney: the capital city of New South Wales, is a city with a rich history that spans back to the arrival of the first European settlers in 1788. Here are a few fun facts and historical highlights –
Wineries of the Hunter:
Hunter Valley icon, Tyrrell’s, is a much loved Australian wine brand, family-owned since 1858.
Headed up by fourth generation family member Bruce Tyrrell, Tyrrell’s is home to some of Australia’s most awarded wines including the iconic Vat 1 Semillon. Since 1971, Tyrrell’s has been awarded over 5,000 trophies and medals and in 2010 was named “Winery of the Year” in James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion. Discover 160 years of winemaking experience with a trip to Tyrrell’s Hunter Valley winery. Visit the cellar door and taste some award winning wines, take a tour and experience first hand the old oak vats and historic red cellar still in full operation. You will also see the original iron bark hut that Edward Tyrrell lived in and the Short Flat Vineyard, home of Australia’s most awarded white wine, Vat 1 Semillon, with its vines first planted in 1923.
Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard and Cellar Door is one of the oldest wineries in the Hunter Valley wine region. The 270-acre vineyard is named after one of Australia’s early wine pioneers.
Audrey Wilkinson planted the first vines in Pokolbin in 1866 and was an early innovator in the production of fine wine. Audrey’s legacy of ‘It’s all about the taste’ is at the centre of everything the winery continues to do. Located in the foothills of the scenic Brokenback ranges in the Hunter Valley, 165 km north of Sydney, the family-run business produces award-winning Semillon. It is rated a 5-star winery by Australian wine critic and vigneron James Halliday and has been named in the top 10 wineries to visit in Australia by Gourmet Traveller.
Brokenwood was founded by three Sydney based lawyers, John Beeston, Tony Albert and James Halliday, who paid a then record price of $970 per acre for a 10-acre block in the foothills of the Brokenback Ranges. The original block was destined to be a cricket ground for the local community but was instead planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Its first Vintage won Gold at The Sydney Royal Wine Show. Brokenwood’s single vineyard philosophy has grown to capture the essence of its premium sites throughout Australia. The first single vineyard selection for the Graveyard Vineyard was in 1983. Since then the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz has gained considerable international recognition year after year. The new and much-lauded cellar door opened in 2018 offering guided wine tastings and a selection of immersive beyond-the-cellar-door experiences.
Ask about our daytrips:
The Hunter Valley is home to over 130 wineries producing a wide array of exceptional wines. It is recognised as a world leader in dry white wines made from Semillon. Hunter Valley Semillon is regarded as Australia’s unique white wine. We have a multitude of bookable experiences for you to enjoy in the area:
Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard:
Fortified and Fromage, barrel and cheese tasting
This is a truly unique and memorable experience for discerning wine and food connoisseurs. Guided by the in-house wine expert, your seated tasting experience will take place in the heritage listed museum space. Alongside sampling a range of premium wines, your host will deliver three generous tastings direct from the barrel where their fortified wines are maturing – an experience exclusive to this package. Wine will be delicately matched to Fromage, sourced from renowned local producers.
Tyrrells Winery:
Sacred Sites Experience
The Hunter Valley is home to some of the oldest vineyards in the world. Their Sacred Sites wines are made only from dry-grown vines that are more than 100 years old and on their own roots. The origins of most of these vines lie in the Busby Collection – cuttings brought to Australia from Europe by James Busby and planted in the Hunter Valley in 1832. These sacred sites are some of the most distinguished pockets of vineyard land in Australia, having survived the test of time and consistently making exceptional wines that have their own distinct character and unique qualities. In 2004, Tyrrell’s decided to bottle these wines on their own and today they’re among the rarest in the wine world, often available only on allocation. Among these wines is Old Patch Shiraz, which has been awarded a perfect 100-point score for the last four consecutive releases by influential wine journalist James Suckling. The Sacred Sites Experience is one of the most unique winery experiences available, and the only time the Sacred Sites wine collection is available for tasting.
Over 3 hours you will enjoy a private and personalised tour of Tyrrells Sacred Sites vineyards, located on the Ashmans property, followed by an in-depth winery tour and barrel tasting.
Finish the afternoon with a tutored tasting of the Sacred Sites collection, accompanied by a charcuterie board with locally sourced fresh produce.
Enquire about one of the holidays featured on our site or tell us where you’re keen to go for a customised experience.
Bryce will call to chat about your holiday goals, then create a fully customisable itinerary tailored to your budget.
Everything’s taken care of for you, so all you have to do now is make sure your passport is up to date, and enjoy your trip away.
If you have any questions or want to find out more information please fill out this form
If you have any questions or want to find out more information please fill out this form
