Must-see entertainment in Australia

  • Performance Space

    Newtown & the Inner West

    This edgy artists’ hub resident at Carriageworks stages performances of new dance, acrobatic and multimedia works – basically anything that can be lumped…

  • Baha

    Victoria

    A rough-and-ready Mexican cantina, Baha serves passable tacos ($13) and burritos ($25) but is most popular as a bar and live-music venue. Acts perform…

  • Western Sydney Stadium

    Sydney

    This rebuild of the former Parramatta Stadium will hold 30,000 screaming fans of the local rugby league side, the Parramatta Eels, once it opens in 2019…

  • Sharp's Magic Movie House & Penny Arcade

    Victoria

    This place has authentic penny-arcade machines (the $10 entry gives you seven pennies) and fudge tasting (a smidgen for free). The movie house shows old…

  • Irish Murphy’s

    Hobart

    Pretty much what you’d expect from any out-of-the-box Irish pub: crowded, lively, affable and dripping with Guinness. Free live music of varying repute…

  • Jokers Comedy Club

    Hobart

    Live weekly stand-up comedy at Hobart's Polish Club, just north of the main North Hobart strip. Cheap drinks and big laughs from Australian and overseas…

  • Charles Hotel

    Perth

    Hosts lots of live music, including the Legendary Perth Blues Club on Tuesday. It has a community vibe, with seniors lunch specials, tradies drinks prices…

  • National Institute of Dramatic Art

    Sydney

    The former stomping ground of Mel Gibson, Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush, the NIDA stage is the place to see stars on the way up. Student and graduate…

  • Peacock Theatre

    Hobart

    This intimate theatre (around 150 seats) is inside the artful Salamanca Arts Centre, along with a handful of other small performance spaces. Hosts theatre…

  • Ellington Jazz Club

    Perth

    There's live jazz nightly in this handsome, intimate venue staging professional-level jazz in all its forms. Standing-only admission is $10, or you can…

  • Derwent Entertainment Centre

    Hobart

    Tasmania's biggest indoor arena is the 'DEC', which puts 5400 bums on seats for everything from touring rock bands to circuses, the Wiggles to the Harlem…

  • Yamba Bowling Club

    Byron Bay & Northern NSW

    'The Bowlo' is a brightly lit club, which we suspect does better from its poker machines than it does from lawn bowling. Still, it offers a bit of…

  • The Deck & Lounge

    Byron Bay & Northern NSW

    This university bar has great live music thanks to the university's Bachelor of Contemporary Music program. Gigs are listed on its Facebook page (www…

  • South Bank Piazza

    Brisbane

    Located in the verdant oasis of South Bank Parklands, this outdoor performance space offers year-round events, from music concerts to sport screenings…

  • Federation Concert Hall

    Hobart

    Welded to the Hotel Grand Chancellor, this concert hall resembles a huge aluminium can leaking insulation from gaps in the panelling. Inside, the…

  • WACA

    Perth

    Main venue for interstate and international cricket, and home to the Perth Scorchers. Since 2018, one-day internationals have been held at Optus Stadium.

  • Govinda’s

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    The Hare Krishna Govinda’s is an all-you-can-gobble vegetarian smorgasbord, plus a movie room upstairs. Expect blockbusters, art-house classics, incense…

  • RAC Arena

    Perth

    Used for big concerts by major international acts such as Rhianna and the Rolling Stones. It's also used by the Perth Wildcats NBL basketball franchise…

  • Seymour Centre

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Behind a glass curtain wall on an insanely busy intersection, this Sydney Uni–affiliated theatre (actually, four theatres) shows an eclectic selection of…

  • Lass O'Gowrie Hotel

    Newcastle

    Built in 1877, this tiled beauty is the oldest pub in Newcastle and has been the heart of the local music scene for the last two decades. It's near the…

  • Ainslie Arts Centre

    Canberra

    Twin venues, Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres host interesting live music performances at night; by day they are home to exhibitions and workshops.

  • Perth Concert Hall

    Perth

    Home to the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, this brutalist-style building also hosts big-name international acts, musicals and comedians.

  • Yamba Cinema

    Byron Bay & Northern NSW

    Catch the latest flicks at this independent cinema with two screens and 1980s prices. At the time of research, the cinema was undergoing an upgrade due to…

  • Reading Cinemas

    West Coast Australia

    In the era of Netflix, it's more affordable to go to the movies now than it has been for years! New releases, popcorn, 'armchair stadium seating',…

  • Griffith Regional Theatre

    Southern NSW & The Murray

    This excellent venue shows that live entertainment is kicking along well in Griffith, with a year-round program of theatre, dance and music performances…

  • Canberra Theatre Centre

    Canberra

    Canberra's live theatre hub hosts all kinds of performances, from theatre to cabaret to comedy. Check online to see what's playing during your visit, or…

  • Civic Theatre

    Newcastle

    This noble central theatre was built in 1929 and looks the part with its Spanish lines and row of palms outside. It hosts theatre performances and…

  • Flemington Racecourse

    Melbourne

    Home of the Victoria Racing Club, Flemington has regular horse-racing meets, climaxing with the Spring Racing Carnival (including the Melbourne Cup) from…

  • Adelaide Symphony Orchestra

    Adelaide

    The estimable ASO has gigs at various venues including the Grainger Studio on Hindley St, the Festival Theatre and Adelaide Town Hall. Check the website…

  • Camelot Outdoor Cinema

    Perth

    Seated open-air cinema where you can BYO picnic (no booze). It has free live music ahead of the 8.15pm film screening on Wednesdays, ranging from jazz to…

  • Twin Cinema

    Broome

    Sun Pictures' modern sibling in the industrial estate screens mostly mainstream family-friendly films. Tuesdays is cheap night.

  • Dendy Cinema

    Brisbane

    Shows mostly mainstream fare at Portside Wharf, a short ferry trip downstream from New Farm. Discounted tickets on Tuesday.

  • 7D Cinema

    Hobart

    Something new for Hobart: quick-fire, short 3D film 'rides' where you sit on a moving simulator. No scheduled ticketing – just turn up and jump on the…

  • Musica Viva

    Melbourne

    Nationwide chamber-music company Musica Viva stages 'Coffee Concerts' five times a year at the Melbourne Recital Centre.

  • John Curtin Hotel

    Melbourne

    Popular with nearby uni students, the John Curtin is a great pub for a beer; it also hosts a solid line-up of local indie and rock bands upstairs most…

  • Pinchgut Opera

    Sydney

    This small player stages two intimate, oft-overlooked chamber operas every June and December at the City Recital Hall.

  • Brown's Mart

    Darwin

    This historic venue (a former mining exchange) features live theatre performances, music and short films – check the website for upcoming performances.

  • Sunset Cinema

    Sydney

    At picturesque North Sydney Oval, this outdoor cinema is one of several popular Sydney summer-night choices. Take a picnic, but no booze: it's licensed.

  • Melbourne Opera

    Melbourne

    A not-for-profit company that performs classic and light opera in various venues, including the Regent Theatre.

  • Qudos Bank Arena

    Sydney

    This is Australia’s largest indoor entertainment and sporting venue (21,000 seats). Everything from Disney on Ice to big rock shows take the stage.

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