Sydney

• New Year's Eve fireworks · Jan 1-7 · holiday

  The Harbour Bridge fireworks - the southern hemisphere's most-watched display, but hotels treble and the city is full.

• Sydney Festival · Jan 8 – Jan 28 · festival

  Three weeks of free open-air performances across the harbour - the city wide awake and outdoors.

• Australia Day · Jan 22-28 · holiday

  Beach BBQs and a tall-ship parade on the harbour - a public holiday that is also politically contested.

• Chinese New Year · Feb 5-11 · religious

  Lantern installations across Darling Harbour and Chinatown - one of the biggest celebrations outside Asia.

• Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras · Feb 26-Mar 4 · festival

  One of the world's biggest LGBTQ+ parades; Oxford Street takes over for a fortnight of warm-night street parties.

• Sydney Royal Easter Show · Mar 26 – Mar 22 · festival

  Two weeks of agricultural showbags, sideshow alley and country produce - the regions come to the city.

• Sydney Writers' Festival · Apr 9 – Apr 13 · festival

  Australia's premier literary gathering spreads author talks, panels and readings across the harbour city each April and May.

• Australian Fashion Week · Apr 9 – Apr 13 · festival

  Sydney's annual autumn runway showcase cementing its rank as the Southern Hemisphere's most glamorous fashion capital.

• ANZAC Day · Apr 23-29 · holiday

  Dawn services and city marches - a quiet, reflective public holiday with brief midday crowds.

• Vivid Sydney · May 28 – May 24 · festival

  Three weeks of building-scale light projections, music and ideas talks lighting up the harbour after dark.

• AFL Grand Final · Sep 24 – Sep 7 · sport

  Australia's most-watched sporting spectacle — the season-ending decider in late September that turns the entire nation into one enormous lounge room.

• Bathurst 1000 · Oct 1 – Oct 21 · sport

  Australia's most iconic motor race — Supercars thunder up Mount Panorama each October in a blue-riband event that stops the nation.

• Christmas school holidays · Dec 17 – Dec 31 · school break

  Domestic summer break - beaches and ferries packed with Sydney families, restaurants tight.

• St. Stephen's Day · Dec 24-31 · holiday

  A nationwide public holiday - many businesses close and the city takes on a festive note.

a reason to go mixed worth knowing about