July is all about the arts in Melbourne, from Southbank's Arts Precinct to the city's buzzing East End Theatre district. Wander through mesmerising light trails at Lightscape in the Royal Botanic Gardens and see hundreds of ancient Egyptian artefacts at NGV's Pharaoh exhibition.
Out in the regions, tiny towns are abuzz with winter festivals and arty events. In Ballarat, Christmas comes early with Winter Wonderlights, an after-dark program of sound, lights and theatre at Sovereign Hill.