Seven things to do in Sydney this autumn

Cooler evenings, vibrant colours and the sights and sounds of the nation’s major sporting codes kicking off new seasons: autumn is in full swing in Sydney. 

Along with bringing some of the most enviable weather, autumn is also a great opportunity to explore the city in new and interesting ways. 

Here are our top seven things to do in Sydney this autumn. 

Open air jazz and cocktail nights in The Rocks

Delectable cocktails and soulful jazz melodies: it sounds like the ideal way to cap a Thursday in the city – and it’s now a weekly fixture. 

Jazz Sessions in The Rocks returns every Thursday from April 3 to September 25. 

Bask in the ambience of Sydney under a night sky and connect over cocktails from nearby Hickson House as home-grown talent captivates you with its sonic stylings. 

Jazz Sessions opens at 6pm and runs through to 8:30pm. It’s held at The Rocks Square, or in the event of wet weather, a couple of minutes up the road at 6-8 Atherden Street. 

Entry is free. More information here.

Visit the baby Quokkas at Sydney Zoo

Credit: Destination NSW

Sydney Zoo has three new reasons to visit this autumn – quokkas! 

The sprawling zoo in western Sydney has welcomed a trio of the adorable marsupials: a male and two females. 

Quokkas are considered the “happiest animals on the planet”, and this trio is settling into a brand-new habitat at Eastern Creek. 

You can visit them now, and you could even name them courtesy of a competition run by Sydney Zoo. More details here.

Visit Vivid Festival

Credit: Destination NSW

No Sydney autumn guide is complete without a mention of the southern hemisphere’s largest multi-artform festival. 

In 2025, Vivid Sydney celebrates its fifteenth year and it has been redesigned to feature five connected zones across the harbour precinct: Circular Quay and The Rocks, Barangaroo, Martin Place and the CBD, Darling Harbour, and the Goods Line and Inner City.  

Each zone will offer light installations, music performances, talks and culinary experiences – all based on the 2025 theme ‘Vivid Sydney, Dream’. 

Vivid 2025 runs for 23 days, from May 23 to June 14. Most installations are free to attend, though some do incur a charge. 

Visit the Vivid website for more.

Sydney Comedy Festival

Credit: Destination NSW

Nothing warms a cool autumn night like a belly laugh, and there are plenty in store at the annual Sydney Comedy Festival. 

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Sydney Comedy Festival will run from Monday, April 21 to Sunday, May 18. 

Launching the proceedings is the Sydney Comedy Festival Gala, which bundles numerous acts into one show. Other headline acts include Guy Montgomery, Arj Barker and Jimeoin. 

Visit the Sydney Comedy Festival website.

Bondi to Bronte Coastal walk

Credit: Destination NSW

Take in Sydney’s most picturesque locations at one of the nicest times of year with the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk. 

With a total distance of about 2.3km each way, the route offers stunning ocean views and some history, taking in Bondi Beach Tamarama Beach and Bronte Beach. 

It’s footpath all the way and, best of all, it won’t cost you a cent.  

Sydney’s autumn colours

Credit: Destination NSW

If the thought of spectacular golden ginkgo trees and fiery red maples inflames your aesthetic temperament, Sydney has much to offer in the way of autumn colours. 

Stop by the Royal Botanic Garden for a full spectacle of leafy reds, oranges and yellows. The 30-hectare site is home to more than 27,000 plants, many of which put on a show of colour in autumn. The nearby Centennial Parklands also offering all manner of autumnal delights. 

For more information, visit the Destination NSW website.

Sydney Bridge Climb

Credit: Destination NSW

It’s about as clichéd as a visit to the Eiffel Tower while in Paris, but few things capture Sydney’s beauty as well as climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

Sydney’s sunsets become particularly vibrant and spectacular during the later autumn months, owing to a lower sun angle and clearer air. In fact, the sky is regularly painted with rich red, orange and pink hues as the sun dips below the horizon. 

Additionally, the bridge offers evening climbs that coincide with the Vivid Festival during May and June – a unique way to see the event. 

Visit the Bridge Climb Sydney website for full pricing and offers.