Must-do autumn events in Queensland
Event
By Danielle Reckless
Year-round sunshine is something worth celebrating and here in Queensland, we do so with an action-packed events calendar.
From hosting world-class surfing and cycling competitions to events that captivate young minds, inspire through art, or encourage you to work up a sweat, add these must-do events in Queensland to your autumn calendar.
March events
Noosa Festival of Surfing: 14 - 23 March 2025
Noosa Festival of Surfing, Sunshine Coast
Share the stoke at the Noosa Festival of Surfing, considered Australia's largest surfing event. The festival hosts world-class competitions including the WSL Longboard Open but also celebrates surf culture through art, film, live music and environmental awareness. Make sure you get your camera out for the crowd-favourite dog surfing too. Intrigued? Read more here.
Mooloolaba Triathlon: 29 - 30 March 2025
Like a challenge? While most descend on this Sunshine Coast holiday destination to chill out, it’s also home to the second-largest triathlon in the country. More than a race, the Mooloolaba Triathlon is a festival of fun – if you’re not up for the Olympic Distance Triathlon, tackle the sprint triathlon or teams entry.
Get race-ready with your guide to the Mooloolaba Triahtlon, which includes event essentials, competitor information, things to do in Mooloolaba and more. Looking for more Queensland triathlons? Mark your calendar for the Gold Coast Triathlon on 7 April.
CMC Rocks QLD: 21 - 23 March 2025
CMC Rocks QLD, Brisbane
Dust off your cowboy boots for Australia's biggest international country music festival, CMC Rocks Qld. The sold-out three-day mega festival on the outskirts of Brisbane will welcome Chris Young, Lainey Wilson, Tyler Hubbard, Morgan Wade and countless others – you won’t want to miss a moment of it.
Here's what you can expect at the 18th year of CMC Rocks Qld. Join in on the boot-scooting fun.
World Science Festival: 21 - 30 March 2025
World Science Festival, Brisbane
A celebration of science, art and technology returns to bring big ideas to Brisbane. The World Science Festival is back this March and its first program announcement includes talks with Brian Greene and Dr Karl, along with exciting Robowars. Explore interactive art installations throughout the city, get hands-on in a workshop, be fascinated by artist talks and get your mind bending as we spark creativity through the River City, with fun for all ages.
Read up on what to expect here.
Brisbane Cycling Festival: 21 March - 13 April 2025
Brisbane Cycling Festival rolls back into town with six weeks of action-packed events to get every cyclist sweating – whether you’re a novice seeking a social ride or a professional athlete ready to compete. This multi-discipline event will transport cyclists from velodrome to the road, to mountain biking, gravel, cyclocross and BMX freestyle.
Fan favourite, Tour de Brisbane, returns alongside AusCycling's Track National Championships and the Oceania Cycling Championships for road, track and freestyle BMX – plus plenty of festival fun. Find out more about the event and explore more of Brisbane with this handy guide.
Australian Surf Life Saving Championships: 29 March - 6 April 2025
The sparkling Sunshine Coast will host the biggest annual Surf Life Saving competition in the country this April. Members from Australia’s 314 Surf Clubs come together to compete in more than 480 beach and ocean events at Alexandra Headland SLSC, Maroochydore SLSC and Mooloolaba SLSC - come grab a spot on the sand and catch the action.
April events
Roma’s Easter in the Country: 17 - 21 April 2025
Easter is celebrated a little differently in the outback town of Roma but if you want to soak up all things country you can’t miss the annual Easter in the Country festival. Whether you want to taste the flavours of the country, listen to country music, or compete in some interesting and laughter-inducing events, there’s something for everyone out west.
Julia Creek Dirt n Dust: 11 - 13 April 2025
Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival, Outback Queensland. Photo Credit: Jo Thieme
Looking to get your hands dirty? There’s no better opportunity than Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival, which celebrates outback spirit with an epic weekend of events, including a triathlon with a twist, outback horse races, nightly outdoor concerts, the Dirt n Dust Bullride and of course, the annual Australia’s Best Butt competition. Turn your visit into an outback road trip with this itinerary.
Outback River Lights Festival: 11 - 13 April 2025
Want to explore outback stories through light, music and storytelling? Make your way to Cunnamulla in Queensland's south west for the Outback River Lights Festival. Meet local Elders while being immersed in Kunja culture, hear stories about growing up in Cunnamulla and on the Yumba, and learn what connection to place means in the outback.
Learn how to fire twirl, build and decorate your own lantern and join in the lantern procession which culminates in a spectacular light show on the Warrego River.
Cooly Classic 12 - 13 April 2025
Cooly Classic, Gold Coast. Photo by @worldseriesswims
Cooly Classic is a rare opportunity to swim a course with some of Australia’s most revered surf breaks as your backdrop: Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta and Kirra. There are four distances, from 1km to 5km, but it’s always the 2km Cooly Classic from Snapper Rocks to Kirra Beach which attracts the masses.
Wondering about what swim is right for you? Take a look here and plan your trip to the Cooly Classic.
The Outback Trail 2025: 20 April - 3 May 2025
Take in iconic destinations in Outback Queesland on a self a one-of-a-kind self drive music trail. The Outback Trail will guide you through the outback's most breathtaking destinations, with each stop inviting a celebration of music moments, enriching cultural experiences and heartfelt local hospitality.
May events
Women's State of Origin Game One: 1 May 2025
Be at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium for the first round of the Women's State of Origin, as the best female NRL players tackle the game's biggest rivalry - Queensland v NSW.
NRL Magic Round: 1 - 4 May 2025
NRl Magic Round, Brisbane
NRL’s biggest weekend returns to Brisbane, when an entire round of footy plays out at Suncorp Stadium across three days. Magic Round is your chance to see all your favourite players and soak up the atmosphere of the River City at its most sports-mad. To tackle the mega few days of footy here's what you need to know on where to stay and what to do while you're in Brisbane.
Kalbar Sunflower Festival: 2 - 4 May 2025
Kalbar Sunflower Festival, Scenic Rim
Head for the Scenic Rim as it bursts in fields of golden sunflowers for the Kalbar Sunflower Festival. Just an hour’s drive outside Brisbane, the festival offers more than the chance to snap stunning photos and there’s art workshops, cooking classes, entertainment, helicopter rides and more. Plan your visit with this guide and spend a weekend embracing nature’s gold.
Boyne Tannum Hookup: 2 - 4 May 2025
Throw a line in for some family-friendly competition at this year’s Boyne Tannum Hookup. Held on the Gladstone coast at Boyne Island, the three-day fishing competition has adult and junior categories – will you weigh in with the biggest catch?
SummerSalt: 3 May 2025
There's no better place to soak up the sounds of Australia's best artists than SummerSalt music festival. This year's lineup includes Missy Higgins, The Cat Empire, Birds of Tokyo, The Waifs, Hollow Coves, and Betty Taylor. It’s the perfect event to bask in the sunshine with live music, food trucks, family-friendly activities and more.
Planes Trains & Autos: 3-5 May 2025
Buckle up for an action-packed weekend at the Planes Trains & Autos Festival. Enjoy thrilling aerial displays, journey on a heritage-hauled train and admire a great range of classic and muscle cars.
Gold Coast Pro: 3 - 13 May 2025
Coolangatta's iconic Snapper Rocks also sets the scene for one of surfing's biggest competitions, the Gold Coast Pro. The world's most famous right-hand sandy point break attracts international TV coverage and elite surfing superstars - along with thousands of spectators.
Festival of Outback Opera: 13 - 19 May 2025
Opera might have been the last thing you expect to see between the red dirt and big skies of Outback Queensland, but this highly anticipated festival returns to Winton and Longreach for an extraordinary celebration of opera. There will be live concerts, pop up performances, opportunities to meet the artists and more.
Blues on Broadbeach: 15 - 18 May 2025
Blues on Broadbeach, Gold Coast
Blues is making its way back to the beach as one of Australia’s largest free music festivals, Blues on Broadbeach, returns to the Gold Coast. Catch a huge line-up of the best in blues across four days of music performances, including two-time Grammy award-winner Melissa Etheridge; blues-rock genre-bending artists Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton; fiery bluesman Eric Bibb and returning favourite Lloyd Spiegel. It’s going to be a massive 23rd year for Blues on Broadbeach.
Paniyiri Greek Festival: 17 - 18 May 2025
Australia's longest-running Greek festival returns to Brisbane for its 48th year and all are invited to dance, dine and party like a Greek. Paniyiri will take over Musgrave Park in South Brisbane. Come to devour baklava and honey puffs, join in the zorba and celebrate Greek culture.
Crankworx Cairns: 20 - 25 May 2025
Crankworx World Tour, Cairns
Queensland has become quite the mecca for mountain biking, with Smithfield outside Cairns taking the crown as the highest-profile rainforest trail system in the world. It’s also the only place on earth where you can ride alongside two World Heritage areas. The best excuse to check it out yourself is during the world’s largest mountain bike festival: Crankworx, which brings together elite riders, amateurs, youth and kids. For the second year in a row, it's making an adrenalin-fueled stop in Cairns.
Whether you’re competing or a spectator, pro events like slopestyle, downhill, dual slalom, speed and style and pump track are sure to raise the hairs on your arm. While you’re in Cairns, keep the adventure going by diving the Reef, thundering down Barron River rapids, or jumping Australia’s only bungy.
Not sure where to begin? Our guide has everything you need to know about the event as well as things to do in Cairns, and the best restaurants, and places to stay.
Port Douglas Carnivale: 16 -25 May 2025
The Great Barrier Reef is known for its vibrancy but sparkling Port Douglas becomes even more colourful for Carnivale – a huge celebration of tropical proportions. Flavour, fun and festival atmosphere meet for street parades, cabaret, symphony under the stars, long lunches, pop-up art, and so much more. Extend your weekend to explore beyond Port Douglas - the Great Barrier Reef and ancient Daintree Rainforest are an easy day trip away.
1770 Festival: 23 - 25 May 2025
Community pride runs deep in Gladstone’s coastal towns of Agnes Water and 1770, and there’s no better time to experience it than during the 1770 Festival. It celebrates the area’s history with Indigenous performances by the Traditional custodians, the Gooreng Gooreng People, a street parade, live music, fireworks and more.
Runaway Noosa Marathon: 24 May 2025
Lace up your runners for Noosa's fast, flat and friendly multi-lap course that winds its way through the stunning village. There's a marathon, half marathon and 10km distance to choose from, and plenty to keep you occupied in Noosa afterwards.
Put on your running shoes and plan it out with our Noosa Marathon Guide, outlining all the event essentials as well as the must-dos in this coastal paradise.
Noosa Eat + Drink: 29 May - 2 June 2025
Noosa Eat + Drink Festival, Sunshine Coast
One of Queensland's most lively food festivals, Noosa Eat + Drink returns with four days of flavour and more than 75 free and ticketed events to get a good taste. With tickets to some major events already on sale, foodies will need to swoop in quickly to attend vibrant long lunches, soirees on the sand and exclusive restaurant events. The new-look festival village will be pumping throughout the weekend, with plenty of local and Australian goodies to sip and sample, alongside live entertainment, masterclasses, guest chef demonstrations and a VIP experience worth the wait.
Great Barrier Reef Masters Games: 29 May - 1 June
Get ready for some friendly competition in paradise. The Great Barrier Reef Masters Games brings together athletes of all abilities for four action-packed days in Cairns - where the courts, tracks, and fields come with a tropical backdrop. Play hard and soak up the unbeatable combination of sport, sun, and reef-side fun.
Torian Pro: 30 May - 1 June
Oceania’s premier CrossFit event is coming to Brisbane with world-class athletes battling it out for a spot at the CrossFit Games.
From toes-to-bars and muscle-ups, athletes will bring all they’ve got to be crowned the fittest in Oceania. The Torian Pro offers opportunities for everyone to compete and be part of this incredible event.
Wondering what else is on in Queensland? Discover our huge calendar of events here.
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