Wondering what’s happening around Sydney and the North Shore for Australia Day in 2022? Enjoy a little mid-week break and celebrate at one of these amazing events. Feel like avoiding the crowds right now? Nothing beats a BBQ in your own backyard too!
Australia Day is the first big celebration for 2022. The public holiday on Wednesday 26 January gives us a nice mid-week break, with lots of ways to get involved in celebrations, or if you prefer, you can attend community events around supporting Indigenous peoples.
Here is a lowdown on events happening on the North Shore, the city and nearby suburbs. Take your pick and have a memorable day with the family!
Australia Day events on the North Shore & nearby suburbs
- Australia Day Picnic, Lane Cove
- Australia Day Celebrations at the Concourse, Chatswood
- ‘Oddball’ screening at St Ives Showground
- Australia Day Concert at Hornsby Park
- North Ryde
- Northern Beaches
- Parramatta Park
Australia Day Events in Sydney
- Darling Harbour
- Dawn Reflection, Sydney Opera House
- Australia Day Live, Sydney Opera House
- Salute to Australia
- The Rocks
- Wulgulora Morning Ceremony, Barangaroo Reserve
Australia Day Events for 2022: North Shore
Australia Day Picnic, Lane Cove
Start your Australia Day in Lane Cove at The Canopy and welcome Lane Cove’s newest Australian Citizens. The ceremony will feature their Australia Day Ambassador and will be followed by live music in Lane Cove Plaza from 11am. Then join them at The Canopy as the live tennis action unfolds on the big screen later in the day.
- Where: The Canopy and Lane Cove Plaza
- When: Wednesday 26 January, 9am
- lanecove.nsw.gov.au
Australia Day Celebrations at The Concourse
Join the Mayor and Councillors of Willoughby City in celebrating Australia Day at The Concourse.
Welcome new citizens to Willoughby, hear a keynote speech from our Australia Day ambassador and congratulate their local Australia Day award winners, including the Citizen, Young Citizen and Environmental Citizen of the Year. Enjoy performances by the Willoughby Band, local choirs and various local performance groups. As numbers are limited due to Covid-19, bookings are essential.
- Where: The Concourse Chatswood
- When: Wednesday 26 January, 9.30am to 11am
- australiaday.com.au
Outdoor screen of Oddball, St Ives Showground
Celebrate Australia Day with a free outdoor movie screening of Oddball at St Ives Showground, 6pm-10pm.
Pack a picnic or choose some delicious street food from a selection of food trucks. Gates open at 5.30pm with pre-movie entertainment from 6pm where you will be entertained by The Freeman Dancers including a Welcome to Country, Didgeridoo performance and Smoking ceremony, then from 6.50pm local duo Jess & Matt will hit the stage for an hour performing all your Australian favourites with movie commencing at 8.15pm. Bookings essential.
- Where: St Ives Showground
- When: Wednesday 26 January, 6pm
- krg.nsw.gov.au
Australia Day Concert at Hornsby Park
Bring a picnic blanket & enjoy a fantastic COVID safe afternoon of live music & food trucks on Australia Day!
BYO picnic and rug for a great day outside, and enjoy music from Gawura Cultural Immersions, The Funky Monkeys and The Lily Guerrero Band. There will be food trucks & roaming entertainers.
When you’re ready for a dip, the Hornsby Leisure & Aquatic Centre will have free pool entry to enjoy the inflatable fun in the outdoor pool.
This is a free event, but you must register for tickets.
- Where: Hornsby Park
- When: Wednesday 26 January, 1-5pm
- More info: Hornsby Shire Council website
Australia Day Events for 2022: The City
Australia Day Sydney Harbour Events
The colourful aquatic spectacle of the Australia Day Sydney Harbour Program is back in 2022.
The world’s most beautiful harbour city will mark Australia Day in style. The day to day working harbour is transformed and takes centre stage for a host of activities on the water and in the sky, with the Australia Day activities all starting and finishing on or around this spectacular stage.
Returning to the harbour are some of the day’s most symbolic and historic events, as well as some new and exciting activities perfect for boaties and those enjoying summer outdoors along the foreshore.
A new-look crowd favourite – the Ferrython – plus the always spectacular Tall Ships Race, Harbour Parade, Australia Day Regatta and Defence aerial displays over one of the world’s most recognised and beautiful deep-water harbours are key highlights.
- When: Wednesday 26 January, all day. View program
- Where: Sydney Harbour
Wulgulora Morning Ceremony, Barangaroo Reserve
Rise with the sun and celebrate the world’s oldest living culture at Walumil Lawns at Barangaroo Reserve.
The WugulOra (one Mob) Morning Ceremony at Barangaroo Reserve is a reminder that Australia’s First Nations people are the foundation of Australia’s story and caretakers of the world’s oldest continual culture. The ceremony celebrates the Gadigal people of the Eora nation through music, dance, language and ceremony. The event will also be broadcast live on ABC TV and streamed on iview.
- Where: Walumil Lawns, Barangaroo Reserve
- When: Wednesday 26 January, 7.30 – 8.30am
- australiaday.com.au/whats-on/wugulora-morning-ceremony/
Salute to Australia
The Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force combine to deliver a stirring military ceremony. The event features HMAS Canberra on the water, a 21-gun salute on land and RAAF fast jets flying in formation above Sydney Harbour. Join Australians young and old to hear the Governor’s Address and to sing our national anthem.
- Where: 12A Hickson Road, Dawes Point
- Time: Wednesday 26 January, 11.30-12.05pm
- australiaday.com.au/whats-on/salute-to-australia
Australia Day Live, Sydney Opera House
Enjoy music on the steps of the Opera House
Watch some of Australia’s best artists perform on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt stage, accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display, a flotilla of yachts and jet-skis. If you can’t make it into the city this year, the concert will be broadcast live on ABC TV and ABC iview.
Details of the artist line-up for Australia Day Live will be made available in mid-January 2022.
- Where: Sydney Opera House
- When: Wednesday 26 January, 7.30 – 9.30pm
- More info: australiaday.com.au
Darling Harbour
Celebrate Australia Day with a fantastic line up of free entertainment at Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour is going full Aussie and firing up the barbie this Australia Day! Pop down to Tumbalong Park, enjoy cooling misting tents and ice-cold drinks along with outdoor games, and live entertainment on the stage.
Make sure you skip breakfast because the celebrations will include Darling Harbour’s biggest ever BBQ. The BBQ will feature street food stalls serving delicious, multicultural cuisine to celebrate the nation’s diversity. And the best part? This is a completely free event, no tickets required!
- Where: Tumbalong Park and Darling Quarter Village
- When: Wednesday 26 January, 12pm-6pm
- australiaday.com.au/whats-on/australia-day-at-darling-harbour
Australia Day at The Rocks
The Rocks Markets will take on an international flair this Australia Day, offering everything from tasty Middle Eastern fare by Tayim to Nepalese-inspired cuisine from The Orient.
- Where: 134 George Street, The Rocks, NSW
- When: Wednesday 26 January, 11am – 6pm
- australiaday.com.au/whats-on/australia-day-at-the-rocks
Dawn Reflection
In the first State, at first light, we recognise First Nations people. As the sun rises, connect with the world’s oldest living culture as First Nations artwork is projected on the Sydney Opera House and flags raised on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
- Where: Sydney Opera House
- When: Wednesday 26 January, 5.30am-6am
- australiaday.com.au/whats-on/dawn-reflection
Australia Day Events for 2022: Northern Beaches, Ryde & Parramatta
Northern Beaches
There are plenty of Australia Day events still taking place across the Northern Beaches over the Australia Day long weekend. There will be pool parties, performances, open air cinema, Australian made markets, food truck party, and more.
- Food Truck Party: Saturday 22 January, 11am-4pm @ Tania Park, Balgowlah Heights
- Australia Day Australian Made Market: 8am-1pm, Sunday 23 January @ James Meehan Reserve, Dee Why
- Australia Day themed Open Air Cinema – screening the iconic Australian movie, Red Dog 6pm-9pm, Tuesday 25 January at Winnererremy Bay, Mona Vale
- Australia Day Pool Parties: Wednesday 26 January at Warringah Aquatic Centre and Manly Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Aquatic Centre
Ryde
Battle of the Bands
In previous years there’s been an Australia Day concert at North Ryde Common, but it has yet to be confirmed for 2022.
Please register here if you are in a band, aged between 12-25 years of age, and are interested in receiving information for future Battle of the Bands competitions.
There are plenty of Australia Day events still taking place across Ryde over the Australia Day long weekend.
Events around Ryde
- Cinema in the Park: 5.30pm, Tuesday 25 January @ Fontenoy Park, Macquarie Park
- Aus Day Fireworks: 9pm, Wednesday 26 January @ Meadowbank Park, Constitution Road, Meadowbank
- Aus Day Fireworks: 9pm, Wednesday 26 January @ Ryde Park, Blaxland Road
Parramatta Park
Celebrate everything that makes this nation great at Parramatta’s massive all-day Australia Day party. Featuring the spectacular aerial hot-air balloon display, the Big Barbecue competition, the popular CARivale vintage car display and plenty of kids activities, workshops and amusement rides.
Don’t miss the main stage concert including the Parravision talent competition grand final at The Crescent followed two Australian headline performances and a massive fireworks finale.
- Where: Parramatta Park Macquarie Street, Parramatta
- When: Wednesday 26 January, 10am-4pm
- whatsonin.com.au/nsw/parramatta_park
