10 things to do on the King’s Birthday Weekend in Sydney

Good news, Sydneysiders! Next Monday’s a public holiday and the forecast is all sun. Stuck on what to do? We’ve curated a list of all the best activities, events, sporting fixtures and concerts to get you in that long weekend mood.

From budget-friendly finds to extravagant experiences for those willing to splash a bit of cash, we’ve covered it all. There are free photography exhibitions, film screenings and Vivid concerts, to boozy bottomless brunches, whale-watching cruises and rollerskating; these are all the best things to do on Monday.

1. Do the Inner West Ale Trail

Nothing says ‘public holiday’ more than pints on tap and chit-chat. If you want to try different craft beers, head to one of the Inner West’s groovy suburbs and embark on Australia’s biggest urban brewery trail. The Inner West Ale Trail takes place around Marrickville, Camperdown, Newtown and St. Peters. You can visit 17 different local breweries on the trail, including Young Henrys, Philter Brewing and the Grifter Brewing Company.

If organised fun is more your vibe, book a guided brewery tour and learn all about the best beers in Sydney. The Urban Legends Tour Company offers a variety of tour packages, including a Sydney Brewery Bus Tour, which features a day of brewery hopping by bus around your chosen craft beer destinations.

2. See a free film at Martin Place

Every day at 8pm until 10pm, the Sydney Film Festival is lighting up Martin Place with free film screenings, thanks to their partner Norwegian Cruise Line. The central city location will be showing a curation of incredible short films at SFFTV, with the chance to secure some complimentary popcorn between 12pm–2pm.

The best thing about the big screen’s location? It’s right in the heart of the Martin Place Vivid festivities, meaning you can take a look at some of the festival’s stunning installations and projections after you enjoy your free film.

Where: Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia.
When: Every day at 8pm–10pm, Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15.
Price: Free.

3. Go rollerblading at Neon Dreams

Roller-blading, plant-based bites, and espresso martini soft serve— what do they have in common? They’re all part of the fun at Neon Dreams in Darling Harbour this Vivid. Under the Pier Street Overpass is a roller rink and DJ set, playing funky tunes all evening as you whizz around on your blades.

After you exhaust all your energy on the rink, head to the connecting diner and try delicious foraged cocktails by the award-winning mixologists at Trolley’d. Grab a plant-based chicken burger and loaded fries, served to you by a waiter on rollerblades. We checked it out last week, and trust us, this is one of the most fun experiences Vivid has to offer.

Where: Tumbalong Boulevard, Under Pier St Overpass, Darling Harbour.
When: Every night of Vivid, 6pm–11pm.
Price: From $18.

4. Grab a $10 ticket to the NRL local derby

The Parramatta Eels are taking on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at the Accor Stadium on Monday, and you can snatch up Public Holiday Saver Tickets from just $10. Watch the underdog Eels battle it out against the top-of-the-league Bulldogs in a game that is guaranteed to be fiery and fierce. If you don’t fancy seeing the game in-person, head to any pub in Sydney and they’re likely to be showing it on their big screens.

Where: Accor Stadium, Edwin Flack Ave, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
When: Monday, June 9, kickoff at 4pm.
Price: From $10.

5. Explore an art gallery

Sydney boasts a vibrant and diverse art scene, with numerous galleries across the city to choose from. Head to the MCA in Circular Quay and see Cerith Wyn Evans’ major winter exhibition titled: Cerith Wyn Evans …. in light of the visible. The Welsh artist and sculptor has created ‘epic contemporary environments of light and sound’ and includes a significant selection of his major works, many of which have never been seen in Australia before. There are mirrored columns, hanging light installations and lots of open space for kids to explore.

If you haven’t yet visited the Art Gallery of NSW to see the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes exhibition, this is the perfect weekend to go. See Julie Fragar’s Archibald-winning portrait of fellow artist Justene Williams, or Packing Room Prize-winner Abdul Abdullah’s epic portrait of his “best friend” and Archibald-finalist, Jason Phu.

If you’ve already delighted in the Archibald Finalists’ works, head to Nusra Latif Qureshi’s exhibition, also in the Art Gallery of NSW. The Melbourne-based artist first major solo exhibition is titled Birds in Far Pavilions, and traces her 30-year-old career, from her her early paintings in Lahore to her reimagining of traditional forms and move into sculpture.

READ MORE: ‘It doesn’t get better than that’: The 2025 winners of the Archibald Wynne and Sulman Prize

6. Enjoy a free concert at Tumbalong Nights

Tumbalong Nights offers free concerts all Vivid long and next Monday is no different, with a funky set from Gabriele Poso and GabzaK lighting up Darling Harbour. Gabriele Poso mixes deep house, Afro-Cuban rhythms and colourful funk that is “part dancefloor, part spiritual journey”. GabzaK joins the party with heavenly saxophone sounds and dreamy visuals, bring tribal house, folktronica and Andean beats to the table.

Where: Tumbalong Park, 11 Harbour St, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Monday June 9, 6pm–9pm.
Price: Free.

7. Visit one of Sydney’s award-winning zoos

If you’re an animal lover, there are plenty of places to see all kinds of creatures and critters in the Harbour City. From the famous Taronga Zoo, which has sweeping harbour views and a cohort of exotic and exciting animals, to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, where you can find shark dives, interactive rock pool adventures and even a dugong named Pig.

Sydney Zoo in Western Sydney has plenty of opportunities for animal encounters, from the beloved Rottnest Island Quokkas to white rhinos and koalas. Head to WILD LIFE Sydney in Darling Harbour to catch a glimpse of the Tasmanian devils and embark on a kangaroo walkabout.

8. Sip and play at a bottomless brunch

Celebrate this Monday with a boozy bottomless brunch. Sydney’s serving up a spread of brunches this June long weekend, all across the city. Sinclair’s in Penrith pairs hatted dining with bottomless sips ($85 per person), while The Butler in Potts Point delivers contemporary Mexican-style long lunches with a view of the skyline ($125pp). If you’re craving Asian flavours, Woollahra Hotel serves prawn wontons, green curry and DIY bao in its brunch offering ($89pp) – with a Champagne cocktail upgrade available too.

9. Set out on a whale-watching cruise

In Sydney and along the NSW coastline, the whale season peaks around the end of June and throughout July. Perfect timing for the long weekend. If you’re lucky, you can spot whales on various coastal paths, including the Bondi to Coogee walk, or you can opt for a whale watching cruise, with Captain Cook Cruises, Fantasea Cruising and Go Whale Watching all offering the chance to see the spectacular creatures.

Use the code ‘Stg15’ to take 15% off your whale watching Sydney cruise with Fantasea. This code is valid on all Whale Watching Sydney cruises until September 1, 2025.

READ MORE: Top tips for whale watching season in Sydney as experts share concerns

10. Go to the free World Press Photo Exhibition

The World Press Photo Exhibition takes place in the State Library of NSW, showcasing the best and most important photojournalism and documentary photography of the last year. This year, the photographs were chosen from 59,320 entries, submitted by 3778 photographers from 141 countries. The exhibition gives you the chance to reflect on the poignant and powerful moments captured, showing rare but important perspectives from across the globe.

Where: State Library of NSW, Exhibition Galleries, 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney NSW 2000
When: Until July 6, 10am–5pm.
Price: Free.