Australians are unfairly portrayed overseas as BBQ-flipping, beach slothing, sports fiends. Sure, we char grill the animals on our flag, and have an ex-PM who once held the speed record for beer sculling, but the point is, we can do the decorum too, you know! If you’re pining for a more refined holiday, enjoy your next one critiquing, quaffing, scribing or dancing at a fair dinkum Aussie festival of culture…

You don’t need botox and a personal trainer to strut down the red carpet at the Opening Night Gala of the Sydney Film Festival on June 8. Even if you leave the first night sequins at home, there are 12 days of amazing films from over 40 countries, including everything from documentaries through comedies and love stories to drama, suspense and more. Plus free talks and forums to tickle your celluloid intellect.

Film buffs love the Fraser Suites where all rooms have an LCD TV, home entertainment audio system and DVD player.

See more great Sydney hotel deals for 8 June.

Say cheese! Then eat it at the York Gourmet Food and Wine Festival from 25-26 June near Perth. Save yourself thousands of kilometres of driving and savour all the tasty delights of WA in one place: nibble your way through 40 plus stalls of chilli, yabbies, jams, pickles and just about anything discerning taste buds lust after.

Begin your days of feasting with a hearty buffet breakfast at the Perth Ambassador Hotel, then finish off the adventure in the evening at the comfy lounge bar.

See more great Perth hotel deals for 25-26 June.

Get your head out of the pages and into the real scribe world at the Torquay Froth and Bubble Literary Festival from 18-19 June near Geelong. Whether you’re an aspiring writer, or just love the magic of words on a page, attending workshops with playwrights, authors and publishers is a great way to get a buzz of inspiration for that novel lurking inside.

Let the ideas float about in your head as your body relaxes in the swimming pool and sauna of the Chifley Apartments On The Esplanade Geelong.

See more great Geelong hotel deals for 8 June.

Stir some South American spice into your life at the Darwin International Latin Dance Festival from 24-26 June. See some of the world’s best Latin dancers strut their stuff in energetic shows, attend some of the 20 workshops on offer (whether you think you can dance or not), and unleash your dancefloor beast at the wild after-parties (and shake it like the world is watching).

The Mantra Pandanas Darwin blends exotic and sophisticated, with its tropical resort pool and balconies rooms overlooking Darwin Harbour.

See more great Darwin hotel deals for 24-26 June.