Vivid Sydney 2017: The absolute best part of winter in NSW

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Last Updated on 23 May 2025

Ah yes, it’s that time of year again. Winter officially started just 4 days ago, and while we may not have the chilly weather to go with it yet, Vivid is here and everyone is flipping out (mostly me).

Every year, Sydneysiders get to enjoy a month-long light festival centred around Circular Quay, which includes, most notably, the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, the Rocks, and the Botanic Gardens. Artists design elaborate light shows that are projected up onto the MCA, across the train station, and all around the harbour, often synchronised to music, and dozens of other art installations are spread throughout the city, as well.. It’s pure magic.

Vivid provides a great excuse for what feels like millions of people to hit the streets of Sydney, eat incredibly unhealthy desserts on sticks, watch loud parades, and just generally gawk at the Opera House as it changes colour.

So, I’m sure this is no secret by now: I absolutely froth Vivid. Every year, I make the train trip up to Sydney multiple times to see the amazing lights, and every year I am blown away by what they’ve come up with. It’s always different, and it just never gets old.

Being that it’s Cal’s first June in Wollongong, it’s also his first trip to Vivid and I have been talking it up since last year, so I’m sure he’s eager to see what all of the fuss is about. Unsurprisingly, we have the time of our lives and eat enough sweets to put a small child into a coma. Vivid never disappoints, and we leave with intentions to come back up next week for another look around.