Sydney's epic Wine Island is moving to Watsons Bay

Sydney’s tropical wine festival returns for three days of sun-sipping and cheese-biting, with Wine Island taking over Gap Bluff in NSW National Park.

Kicking off on Friday, November 29 and running through Sunday, December 1, Wine Island ’24 moves from its traditional home at Clark Island towards a sun-soaked patch of Watsons Bay. The new location, sandwiched between the majestic palm trees of Gap Bluff, will be scattered with pop-ups from some of Australia’s most underrated cellar doors including Thomas Wines, Irvine Wines, DAS Juice and Kies Family Wines.

Along with a select few breweries and distilleries, Wine Island will be fashioned as a day drinkers paradise, propped up with various wine-themed experiences including a VIP area, the Amalfi Beach Club, with its exclusive focus on Italian wines, spritzes and pizzettes, and the Latin-spiced Flavour Fiesta dining precinct.

The yearly wine festival is using its new location to rethink how the 3-day event runs each day as well. There will be a bigger focus on fun workshops this year, including a Pottery & Plonk pop-up, Yoga & Unwind sessions, and a Wine Selectors Tasting Terrace. And for when guests have had one too many, a silent disco—Club Tropicana—is ready and willing to tease out your worst dance moves. Perfect date idea? You bet.

Tickets are less expensive, as well. For its 2022 edition, Wine Island tickets started at $109 for General Admission. This year that same ticket will set you back $89 while First Class VIP tickets start at $189 (as long as you get in on the pre-sale).

First Class tickets include access to a special International VIP area where the views are sharper, there’s a wine bar set up with all kinds of imported drops, and your palate will be taken care of by an Oyster & Yarra Valley Caviar bar, as well as a Greek BBQ feast.

A pre-sale with discounted pricing kicks off on Wednesday, September 11 at 12pm. General sale will follow on Thursday, September 12 at 12pm.