From opera on Sydney Harbour to Vivid Sydney, here’s how to make the most of a trip to Australia’s events capital in 2027.
Sydney is Australia’s events capital, and 2027 is shaping up to be a particularly good year to visit, with a world-class line-up giving New Zealanders another reason to make the trip.
You might think you’ve seen Sydney before, but there’s always a new reason to head over and experience it a little differently.
Its hatted restaurants, white-sand beaches and destination shopping have always been a draw for Kiwis, and next year’s events calendar adds another layer to the experience.
From Les Misérables at the Sydney Opera House to Aida on Sydney Harbour and Vivid Sydney, the 2027 programme offers plenty to plan a trip around. And when you’ve had your fill of the city, the Hunter Valley’s wine country is only a couple of hours’ drive away.
Aida on Sydney Harbour, 27 March‒25 April 2027
Few opera settings can compete with Sydney Harbour, with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge providing an extraordinary backdrop.
Aida is staged on a floating platform facing Fleet Steps at Mrs Macquarie’s Point in the Royal Botanic Gardens. It’s an intimate open-air experience with an incredible view, allowing you to enjoy a classic opera in an outstanding environment.
Set in ancient Egypt, Aida brings drama to the harbour on a grand scale, with an 18m-high, 15-tonne rotating bust of Nefertiti, 130 performers and musicians, and fireworks lighting up the sky at every performance.
For an even more special evening, upgrade to the HSBC Platinum Club for a two- or three-course dinner before the performance, followed by canapés and drinks during the interval.
With twinkling harbour views and a chance to make a night of it, it’s a memorable way to experience opera on the water.
Vivid Sydney, 28 May‒19 June 2027
As New Zealand heads into winter, Vivid Sydney offers a timely excuse for a mid-year getaway.
Held over 23 nights from late May, the world’s largest festival of light turns the city into a buzzy celebration of music, food and ideas.
All the icons are treated to a light show: Sydney Opera House’s sails, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Customs House and the Museum of Contemporary Art are illuminated with projections created by local and international artists.
Large-scale light installations make exploring the city’s streets and foreshore even more exciting, from Circular Quay through to Barangaroo.
Since launching in 2009, Vivid Sydney has grown into a multi-sensory festival, with Vivid Music bringing live performances to venues across the city, and Vivid Fire Kitchen offering fire-pit cooking, food trucks and collabs with top chefs.
Much of the festival is free, making it an accessible experience for visitors of all ages.
Another way to appreciate Vivid Sydney’s lights is from the harbour. YOU Travel & Cruise’s Vivid Sydney package includes a Captain Cook Cruises dinner cruise, which takes in the dazzling light display from the water.
Pro tip: Don’t miss the fireworks show on opening night.
Les Misérables at the Sydney Opera House, from 27 August-10 October 2027
For a classic musical in an iconic setting, Les Misérables comes to the Sydney Opera House for the first time.
The 2027 opera season marks 40 years since the musical first premiered in Australia, bringing its much-loved score, including ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ and ‘One Day More’, to the Dame Joan Sutherland Theatre.
For Kiwis, seeing a performance inside the Sydney Opera House is an experience in itself – the breathtaking architecture and phenomenal acoustics making for a genuinely immersive experience.
Where to stay in Sydney
The InterContinental Sydney makes an ideal base for a city break.
Its Circular Quay address offers panoramic vistas of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge – a particular boon during Vivid Sydney, when the hotel’s Opera and Harbour View rooms offer front-row seats to the illuminated harbour.
For those attending Aida on Sydney Harbour, the hotel is within walking distance of the performance venue, either along the waterfront or through the Botanic Gardens, or you can catch a water taxi.
Add on a visit to the Hunter Valley
After a few days in Sydney, extend the trip with a change of pace in the Hunter Valley, around two-and-a-half hours’ drive north of the city.
Australia’s oldest wine-growing region, it’s home to around 150 cellar doors specialising in semillon, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, verdelho and chardonnay.
You can spend a few days exploring its wineries, restaurants and artisan cheese and chocolate shops, or take to the skies on a sunrise hot-air balloon flight.
It’s also a chance to slow down and enjoy the countryside and gardens, with kangaroos often spotted among the vineyards.
Where to stay in Hunter Valley
YOU Travel & Cruise recommends staying at the voco Kirkton Park, a grand country estate set across 70 acres of rolling countryside and vineyards, which makes a picturesque base for exploring Hunter Valley.
With spacious, characterful rooms and a rural setting, it’s a welcome change of pace after a few days in the city.
Book your trip to Sydney now with YOU Travel & Cruise, phone 0800 968 872, visit www.youtravel.co.nz