The beautiful waters of Merimbula host swimming comps at WinterSun. Photo: WinterSun Festival.
There’s so much going on in the regions to get excited for – let us present to you the best family events, festivals, art, live music and more.
For a musical extravaganza bringing together 100 artists from around the country, check out Merimbula’s famous jazz festival and for athleticism, craft breweries and food, head to WinterSun.
Perisher officially opens the winter snow season with its Peak Festival, kicking off the long weekend and the ski season all in one with 20 bands across seven stages and kids’ events.
For those looking for the excitement and rush of the track, the Sapphire Coast Turf Club hosts a day of racing, betting and fun at its Winter Race Day.
Multiple Days
Each artist interprets the same theme in vastly different ways in Horizons. Image: Goulburn Regional Art Gallery.
Horizons – Art Exhibition at the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery
When: 6 to 12 June, 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday; noon to 4 pm, Saturday; closed Sunday
Where: Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, Civic Centre, 184 Bourke Street, Goulburn
Cost: Free.
Featuring multiple artists, Horizons explores the connection between the body, manmade spaces and the natural world by embracing a broad range of interpretations of these themes through the singular prompt – Horizons.
While some of the artists working within this theme interpreted Horizons as being fundamentally associated with freedom or opportunity, others saw it as a boundary or barrier. Through this art show featuring various artists across ceramics, photography, painting, installations and more, visitors get to see the breadth and diversity of artists’ visions from one singular idea.
Cool weather won’t deter daring swimmers. Photo: Wintersun Festival.
WinterSun Festival
When: 7 June, 8:30 am to 6:30 pm; 8 June, 7 am to noon; 9 June, 6:45 am
Where: Various locations around Merimbula
Cost: Free to $90 per person, event dependent. Book online.
Set on the beautiful coast of Merimbula, WinterSun is a festival of competitive races featuring cold water swims and trail runs where athletes get to compete against themselves and each other.
But it’s not just about the racing; WinterSun transforms Merimbula’s centre into a hub of music, craft brewing, distillers and food with StreetFest. Whether you want to test your toughness against other athletes or hang around in town and get a bite to eat, sample some local brews or just enjoy the great community atmosphere, this is for you.
Winter is here, which means Perisher is coming to life. Image: Peak Festival.
Perisher Peak Festival
When: 6 to 9 June
Where: Perisher Ski Resort, Kosciuszko Rd, Perisher Valley
Cost: Free entry.
Across the three-day long weekend, the Perisher Ski Resort celebrates the true start of winter with the Peak Festival by bringing local and international artists to Perisher Valley for entertainment and great tunes as the snow starts to fall.
With 20 bands across seven stages and kids’ events, there’s heaps to get excited for. Start winter off right at Peak Festival.
Four full days of jazz find their home in Merimbula. Photo: Merimbula Jazz Festival Facebook.
Merimbula Jazz Festival
When: 6 June, 4 to 10 pm; 7 June, 11 am to 10 pm; 8 June, 11 am to 10 pm; 9 June, 11 am to 3 pm
Where: Various locations around Merimbula. See the program for more detail
Cost: Three-day pass tickets are $130. Book online.
Bringing together jazz musicians and jazz lovers of all ages from all over the country, the Merimbula Jazz Festival gives locals and travellers the chance to check out just about every style of jazz – big band, swing, modern, funk, fusion, mainstream, traditional and more across a four-day program.
There are seven venues within a stone’s throw of each other with 100 bands performing, meaning there’s something for everyone and that’s to say nothing of the cafes and restaurants in Merimbula open to festivalgoers.
This local favourite festival has been running for more than 40 years, making it a must for jazz fans, music heads and festival-lovers.
The WinterMarkets have so much to see and do. Image: Queanbeyan WinterMarkets (Fri 6 and Saturday 7 June) by Aussie NightMarkets.
Queanbeyan WinterMarkets
When: 6 June, 5 to 10 pm; 7 June, 4 to 10 pm
Where: Queanbeyan Showground, Glebe Ave, Queanbeyan
Cost: $2 coin entry at the gate.
This weekend, celebrate the coming of winter at the Queanbeyan night markets, a two-day community event bursting at the seams with attractions.
There’s plenty for kids and adults alike with food stalls and trucks, retail stalls, desserts and sweets, rides and games, music until late, live roaming entertainment, prize giveaways and more.
Come and enjoy the sights, flavours and sounds of the Queanbeyan WinterMarkets with plenty of community spirit to boot.
Saturday
Start the long weekend right at the Moruya Waterfront Hotel. Image: Humanitix.
Usual Suspects and more at the Moruya Waterfront Hotel
When: 7 June, 4 pm to late
Where: Moruya Waterfront Hotel Motel, 1-5 Princes Hwy, Moruya
Cost: General admission tickets $20 plus fees. Book online.
The Moruya Waterfront Hotel is the spot to celebrate the start of the long weekend, providing an entire evening of live music across two arenas, backed by a lighting rig to keep the energy up.
Artists such as Stinks, Strap, Emdee, Tommy Dee, Usual Suspects, Another Luke and Just Josh will provide the great tunes; it’s up to the patrons to provide the dancing.
The fun starts at 4 pm in the beer garden practically on the banks of the beautiful Moruya River and as the evening gets cooler, the fun moves inside to the pub proper.
Three musical genres from three renowned artists. Image: Hume Conservatorium.
Baroque, Brazil and Beyond
When: 7 June, 7 to 8:30 pm
Where: Hume Conservatorium, 160 Bourke St, Goulburn
Cost: Tickets from $40 to $55. Book online.
Three respected musicians, Slava and Sharon Grigoryan and flautist Jane Rutter perform a very special concert at the Hume Conservatorium for one night only.
Covering the genres of baroque, South American and contemporary music, this concert is a great chance to see three virtuosos in their musical prime, showing off their skills in various disciplines.
From Handel, to Vivaldi, Granados and Piazzolla to more modern music, this concert shines new light on beloved classics as well as presenting new music sure to excite audiences.
Sunday
Winter Race Day brings seven races across a full day of fun on the track. Photo: Visit NSW.
Winter Race Day
When: 8 June, 11:45 am
Where: Sapphire Coast Turf Club, 1695 Sapphire Coast Dr, Wallagoot
Cost: Race Day entry for Adults $15 | Pensioners $10 | Under 18 Free | Reserved Seating Package $55.
The Sapphire Coast Turf Club hosts Winter Race Day, a seven-race event with free buses to and from the track with locations in Eden, Pambula, Merimbula, Tura Beach, Tathra and Bega.
Whether you love nothing more than cheering on your lucky pick or just dressing up and having a day out with mates on the green, it’s set to be a great day of fun and excitement.
The Reserved Seating Package includes entry, two drink tickets and a race book.
Jazzy, dreamy folk for a mellow Sunday arvo. Image: Piper Allen – Live @ The Steampacket, Facebook.
Piper Allen – Live Music at The Steampacket Hotel
When: 8 June, 4 pm
Where: Steampacket Hotel Nelligen, 963 Kings Hwy, Nelligen
Cost: Free.
Piper Allen is a local singer/songwriter whose music blends dreamy folky sounds with jazzy neo-soul. She loves songs that make you feel deeply and originally came to music through its incredible healing, soothing effects on the mind and heart. Influenced by her familial connection to South America she loves Brazilian music, particularly the soft smooth tones of bossa nova.
Wednesday
The wonder and adventure of the mountains on film at Jindabyne Cinema. Image: Humanitix.
Banff Mountain Film Festival
When: 11 June, 7 to 10 pm
Where: Jindabyne Cinema, Snowy Region Visitor Centre, 49 Kosciuszko Rd
Cost: Tickets from $24 to $32. Book online.
Presented by World Expeditions, the 2025 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is a three-hour celebration of the world of mountains and adventure sports, sharing the most exciting and pulse-raising short films from explorers, runners, mountain bikers, skiers, paddlers and climbers from around the world.
The tour is hot on the heels of Banff Mountain Film Festival, the largest and most prestigious mountain festival in the world, which takes place every November in the mountain town of Banff, Canada.
More than 300 of the world’s best mountain sports, culture, environment, adventure and exploration films are shown during the week-long event. A selection of award winners and audience favourites then tours the globe, visiting 390 communities and 35 countries as part of the festival’s official world tour.
