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Northern lights light show
Photograph: Supplied

The best things to do in Sydney in June

Face the frost and enjoy wonderful winter events around town

Maya Skidmore
Written by
Maya Skidmore
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It’s official: June is here, and we couldn’t be more chuffed about it. With the biggest and brightest iteration of Vivid yet landing in town, this month is set to be filled with a glittering array of fantastical events, installations and experiences that we know we don’t want to miss. Whether it’s exploring the abandoned tunnels under Wynyard that are full of robots and lasers, eating our way through glowing food experiences at Vivid Food, or getting down at one of these incredible parties and gigs popping up across town, this year’s shine fest is looking like a mighty good one. 

On top of all the Vivid action, we will be losing ourselves in the wonders of the Sydney Film Festival, blowing our minds open at Remix, heading to Bowral to see the Northern Lights shine in a vineyard, and making sure we catch all the absolute best theatre and musicals showing this month. 

As we walk into the first chilly month of winter, we reckon that everything actually feels quite toasty.

June, we’re ready for you.

Make the most of this crisp time of year and adventure to one of these incredible natural hot springs in NSW, and then make sure you head on one of these glorious winter getaways close to Sydneytown.

The best of Sydney this June

  • Music
  • Classical and opera
  • Sydney

When you think of the top ten greatest movies of all time, chances are more than half of them feature music by revered film composer John Williams. This June, you can experience some of the best moments of William’s most illustrious scores, as performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. For decades, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra has performed film scores and soundtracks from the world’s greatest blockbusters, including complete Harry Potter™ Film in Concert Series and Lord of the Rings films. These are just some of the stellar compositions from composer John Williams that have earned him 25 Grammy awards, seven BAFTAs, five Oscars and four Golden Globes.  In these Sydney Symphony concerts, you’ll witness the magic of William’s biggest and most loved pieces live at the Sydney Opera House, including the theme songs from Jaws, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler's List, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone™ in Concert. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs will join the Orchestra on stage for incredible performances of ‘Somewhere in My Memory’ from Home Alone, ‘Hymn to the Fallen’ from Saving Private Ryan, and ‘Double Trouble’ from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™. Self-described film score geeks and Art of the Score podcast co-hosts Andrew Pogson, Dan Golding and Nicholas Buc will be there on the night sharing insights and untold stories behind the composer and his works, with acclaimed conductor Nicholas Buc al

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  • Art
  • price 0 of 4
  • Sydney

Are you ready to chase artistic escapades around the city? The Biennale of Sydney is back for its 24th edition from March 9 to June 10, 2024. Whether you’re a dedicated arts fanatic or a casual culture buff, you’ll find something to inspire and provoke you along this epic art trail. The largest contemporary art event of its kind in Australia, the Biennale is taking over six different locations with awe-inspiring installations and intriguing exhibitions. Titled Ten Thousand Suns, this year the festival explores a multiplicity of global cultures, taking on a transgressive spirit as it leans into the origins of Carnivale. As always, the Biennale is free for everyone to visit for a total of 16 weeks.   Of all the locations, White Bay Power Station is absolutely the main character of the Biennale’s 50th year anniversary (and 24th iteration – it takes place every second year). This is the first time the revitalised industrial site will officially open its doors to the public in more than 100 years – and what they’ve accomplished is pretty spectacular. Years of accumulated pigeon poop has been cleared out of the enormous factory spaces, making way for art installations that tower multiple storeys high, and more works hidden in various nooks and crannies. Pop-up bars and brand new bathrooms also set the stage for a packed program of live performances and music curated by Phoenix Central Park. Think of White Bay as a replacement for the role that Cockatoo Island has played in Sydney’s

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  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Theatre
  • Musicals
  • Darling Harbour

This is it, we have found the yassification of Shakespeare. Fuelled by a playlist of certified pop hits, this jukebox romp billed as “the greatest love story ever remixed” poses a simple but provocative question: What if, instead of joining Romeo in eternal slumber, Juliet decided to live? A contagiously joyous musical spectacular, & Juliet has finally landed at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre after being met with critical acclaim on Broadway and the West End, not to mention the rapturously received Australian debut in Melbourne.  Filled with sing-a-long-able chart-topping bangers made famous by the likes of Britney Spears, The Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry and more from the songbook of Grammy-winning Swedish songwriter/producer Max Martin, the Aussie cast is overflowing with talent in this feel-good, flashy production. & Juliet is Shakespeare remixed for the girls, the gays and the theys... [but does it] really cut it as the feminist reclamation that we are promised? Will you be entertained? Absolutely. Does & Juliet set a new standard for jukebox musicals? Yes. Will you see one of the most diverse and charismatic casts of triple-threats ever assembled on an Australian stage? Heck yeah. Does the story deliver on the feminist retribution we are promised? Not quite. “What if Juliet didn’t kill herself?” Anne Hathaway (played by the enthralling Amy Lehpamer) posits to her husband, William Shakespeare (the ever-charming Rob Mills). “She’s only ever had one boyfriend, and frankly, the endi

  • Museums
  • Science
  • Darling Harbour

Discover the hidden marvels of marine life and the remarkable woman who paved the way to better understanding marine conservation at Valerie Taylor: An Underwater Life. This free homegrown exhibition is more than just a tribute to one of the world’s most celebrated underwater storytellers, shark researchers and conservationists. It’s a call to action for all environmental enthusiasts and future changemakers to protect our beautiful oceans, their animals and their habitats from further threat. Dive straight into 60 years worth of stories as told through objects and ephemera donated by Valerie and her husband Ron Taylor, including cameras and underwater housings, Valerie’s iconic blue fins and dive suits, and the stainless-steel chainmail suit she wore to get up close and personal with sharks. You can also admire Hollywood movie posters from the past fifty years, including Jaws and The Island of Dr Moreau, plus more than 500 images from the Maritime Museum’s collection of animals, people and places now under threat.   Valerie Taylor: An Underwater Life is one of the headline exhibitions in the Maritime Museum’s summer program and will run until August 31, 2024. Be sure to catch the other special exhibitions while you’re there including Ocean Photographer of the Year. For more information on the exhibition head here. 

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  • Shopping
  • Markets
  • Willoughby

Spend a leisurely Sunday morning in France without the jet lag at these fabulous French markets in Sydney’s north. Le Marché is the only fortnightly French market in the whole of Australia, popping up every second and fourth Sunday of each month at Laurelbank Cottage in Willoughby. Here, you can say bonjour to more than 45 talented Frenchies selling everything from raclette and rillettes to choux buns and Champagne.   Start your morning in Le Marché’s culinary corner, which channels the vibes of a mini French supermarket. Fill your reusable baskets with farm-fresh eggs, truffles, saucisson, duck confit and of course, all the French cheeses your heart desires. Thirsty? Take a detour to sample fine French wines and locally brewed gin, or skip straight to the Champagne bar for a bubbly start to your day.  Experience the lively spirit of a French village market by chatting with Le Marché’s passionate line-up of artisans selling striped Breton t-shirts, colourful berets, linen tablecloths, straw baskets and more. Take a leisurely browse through the stalls, and when it's time to refuel, hit up the hot food stalls serving everything from buttery escargots and boeuf bourguignon to raclette and truffle-infused rotisserie chicken. Seal the deal on your market rendezvous with a flaky croissant, creamy eclair or delicate choux bun. Bring a taste of the markets home too by buying a freshly baked baguette or colourful box of bite-sized macarons.  RECOMMENDED: Hungry for more? Look at our

  • Things to do
  • Food and drink

This year, Hunter Valley icon Muse Restaurant – helmed by chef-owner Troy Rhoades-Brown – marks its 15th anniversary, a remarkable achievement in the hospitality industry. Time Out Sydney recently awarded the fine diner five stars, saying, “At Muse Restaurant, Rhoades-Brown’s exquisite presentation in each dish is backed up with sublime flavours and service as professional and endearing as what you’d expect to find at Australia’s best restaurants.” This winter, Rhoades-Brown is collaborating with Australian culinary royalty and the restaurants that have inspired him over the years to host an epic dinner series that food and wine lovers dream of. We don’t use the term 'epic' lightly – Muse Restaurant’s Winter Dinner Series will feature renowned Australian chefs from Pipit Restaurant, Shell House, Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Firedoor, Bathers' Pavilion, Ormeggio at The Spit, Aria Restaurant, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, and EXP Restaurant, joining forces with Rhoades-Brown. If there’s a better line-up of restaurants for a series, we’re yet to see it. Each dinner will showcase a collaboration between three guest chefs and Muse. On Saturday, June 1, Brent Savage (Bentley Restaurant and Bar), Ben Devlin (Pipit Restaurant) and Joel Bickford (Shell House) will come together. The next dinner will be held on Saturday, July 13, and will feature Lennox Hastie (Firedoor), Victor Moya (Ormeggio at The Spit) and Aaron Ward (Bathers’ Pavilion). The third dinner in the winter series will s

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  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • Chippendale

Dust off your street directory: A free laneway party with Ukrainian house DJs, beers from Young Henrys, and sausages by LP’s Quality Meats is going down on the first Sunday of every month in Grafton Lane. And the first one is kicking off in Chippendale on Sunday, April 7, from1-9pm. Spearheaded by Plate It Forward and Kyiv Social – the change-making team behind Colombo Social and Kabul Social – Beers and Bangers aims to be a fun, community-minded event and a celebration of both Australian and Ukrainian culture with delicious eats, cold beers, and ace tunes. And it may be because we’re hungry right now, but beers and bangers is an excellent name – and food and drink combination – and frankly the whole of Sydney should get around this shindig. Clover Moore, The Lord Mayor of Sydney, will be at the inaugural Beers and Bangers party to commemorate a grant by the City of Sydney to officially close Grafton Lane as it transforms into a permanent outdoor dining and drinking laneway. Hell yeah. On the menu there’ll be LP’s Quality Meats’ beef and pork Ukrainian sausages, Ukrainian-style gourmet hot dogs and Kyiv sliders. Plus, the team from Young Henrys will be pouring cold ones from a new outdoor bar. And all this will be soundtracked to groovy beats by Ukrainian artists and DJs. Since opening six months ago, Kyiv Social has provided 3,000 hours of employment to 22 newly arrived Ukrainian refugees. And now with Beers and Bangers, the team is keen to help even more people – and have s

  • Art
  • Digital and interactive
  • Sydney

Winter in Sydney can be pretty darn sparkly, with major thanks to Vivid – the annual multidisciplinary festival that lights up the city for a few weeks every year. One particularly glittery feature of the Vivid Sydney 2024 program is Lightscape – an immersive light show that will illuminate the Royal Botanic Garden from May 24 until June 15. After making its Botanic Garden debut with a sellout 2023 season, this multi-sensory experience of light, colour and sound is back, this year with a reimagined set-up.Originally created by a group of artists more than a decade ago, Lightscape has transformed spaces around the world into sell-out immersive experiences. And though some Sydneysiders were up in arms about having to pay to access the Botanic Garden (generally a free-to-access public space) during last year's season, once you’ve experienced Lightscape in the flesh, you’ll understand the reasoning. As the sun begins to set over Sydney Harbour, you'll wander under larger-than-life flowers, and tree canopies will come alive with light. Follow the 1.8km illuminated trail as your surroundings morph from one luminous delight into another. Food and drinks are available to purchase along the route, or you can hold out and head to one of the many excellent restaurants that Circular Quay has to offer. Tickets start at $30 for adults ($18 for kids aged 3-12), and the entrance for Lightscape is located at the Queen Elizabeth II Gates, which are right next to the Sydney Opera House forecour

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Carriageworks Farmers Market
  • Shopping
  • Markets
  • price 0 of 4
  • Eveleigh

It’s imperative that you do not eat before you visit the Carriageworks Farmers Markets. You’ll want to save maximum belly space for your personal version of The Bachelorette where you decide who gets your dollars and what delicious produce gets to come home with you. Maybe you like something soupy and savoury first thing? In that case head to Bar Pho for a traditional Vietnamese start to the day. On the veggie train? Hit up Keppos St Kitchen for a falafel breakfast, or head to Food Farm for a classic bacon and egg roll.Once the hounds of your hunger have been quieted it’s time to prepare for your next meal, or seven. Stock up on artisan cheese from Leaning Oak, smoked salmon from Brilliant Foods and Sydney’s favourite sourdough from AP Bakery and brunch is sorted. You can spend a whole lot of money if you want to here, but equally you could just grab a kombucha on tap from Herbs of Life and find a chair for some of the best dog-watching in the city.   Hungry for more? Look at our list of the best markets in Sydney – produce or otherwise. 

  • Art
  • Ultimo

Just as Sydney (and the rest of the world) is in raptures about a doctored image released by Catherine the Princess of Wales, the Sydney dates for a very royal photograph exhibition have been announced. The exhibition documenting the life of Princess Diana will take to Sydney from Wednesday, April 10 until July 10 – and tickets go on sale soon.  Hot on the regal heels of sold-out tours in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto and Puerto Rico, and a successful Aussie debut Melbourne, it's now Sydney's turn to spotlight Princess Diana's life, showcasing her version of events as told through the lens of her official royal photographer, Anwar Hussein.  Princess Diana: Accredited Access Exhibition will delve into the intimate relationship between a princess and a photographer, uncovering all sides of Diana. Accredited by the royal family, Anwar Hussein is famed for capturing the shifting perceptions of the Windsors through work that focuses on capturing the humanity of these aloof figures. His sons, Samir and Zak, have followed in their father's footsteps and won awards for their photographs of Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. Themes for the exhibition include The Photography Dark Room, Growing, Glam, Hats and Tiaras, Art Installations and Humanitarian and Unguarded. You can expect the showcase to whisk you on a journey with first-hand narration and images that transport you to a time and place where the people's princess reigned supreme.  Princess Diana: Accredited Access E

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