Fun and entertainment Australia

Timetable

Cultural and sporting events are part of the excitement of Australian cities: with their millions of inhabitants, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are cities that never sleep! Ambient bars, nightclubs, rooftops, secret clubs and other hidden addresses abound, closing their doors only at dawn. Nightclubs are generally open Thursday to Saturday from 10pm to 3am (later for afterhours). In more remote areas, such as small towns in the bush andoutback, clubs close much earlier.

It's worth noting that all major Australian cities, and often the smaller ones, have their annual festivals, which often last a few weeks and feature daily concerts and shows. These are good times to visit. In the same vein, there are also the Fringe Festivals, which program emerging artists, often featuring hilarious solo comedians or zany shows.

Budget & Tips

Discotheques, nightclubs and dance bars, operas, theaters, cinemas, festivals, concert halls... going out in Australia can quickly add up! Most of the infrastructure is based on a "Europeanized" admission system: you have to pay to get in when an artist, performance or show is on the program. Whether in concert halls or nightclubs, you'll need to reserve or buy your tickets online or on the spot. Don't forget to bring your ID, which is often requested at the door!

To be booked

For some iconic sites, such as the Sydney Opera House, it is best to book your tickets in advance. Over twenty thousand people visit the Sydney Opera House every day! Most visitors opt for the combination ticket of the Opera House tour, dinner and an opera performance. For all popular attractions, be sure to book a good week in advance.

Night transport

In the big cities, you'll have nothing to worry about: trains, streetcars, buses and other forms of transport run regularly and sometimes constantly. In Melbourne, for example, a party city par excellence, public transport runs 24 hours a day at weekends. Other alternatives: if you're far from a train station or streetcar stop, opt for a VTC service or cab. Drivers are plentiful and you'll only have to wait a few minutes.

Age restrictions

The legal drinking age in Australia is 18, so you need to be at least that age to enter pubs, bars and nightclubs. You'll also need some form of identification. A passport will obviously be accepted everywhere, but some establishments also accept a French identity card or driving license.

What's very local

You like to party until the end of the night? Then head for Melbourne! As unusual as it is vibrant, the country's cultural capital is full of little hidden addresses. You can walk into a place that looks like a kebab shop and discover a huge cellar converted into a nightclub behind the fridge door or a techno club behind the trompe l'oeil clock at the back of the bar. Temple of the party and of all the excesses, it must be said, Melbourne bubbles and proposes a very eclectic scene. Between November and March, the Victorian countryside gathers thousands of Melburnians, who come to participate in the numerous music festivals offered in the summer season.