A Greek Pavilion will appear at Melbourne’s Antipodes Festival for the first time in February 2027, as part of a Greek business and tourism mission targeting Australia and New Zealand.

The mission, Hellas in Australia 2027, runs under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO), its organisers said. At the Greek Pavilion, Greek regions, municipalities, chambers and leading companies will present together to more than 150,000 visitors.

“With Hellas in Australia 2027, we are not aiming at just one city or one country; we are going to cover the whole continent of Oceania, opening the roads of trade and tourism in both Australia and New Zealand,” organiser Leonidas Babanis said.

He added that the Greek Pavilion gives Greece its own organised presence at the festival for the first time. It brings regions, municipalities and businesses “directly into the heart of Melbourne”, he said.

What the Greek Pavilion will offer

During the mission, Greek producers will meet major food and drink importers from Australia and New Zealand. These include Basile Imports, Konsamo, Combined Wines & Spirits and Mavromatis Cellars.

The aim is to get Greek protected designation of origin (PDO) and specialty products into major chains across the region.

Organisers will also present Greece to more than 30 travel firms in Melbourne and wider Victoria. Among them are Flight Centre, Helloworld and Travel Associates.

The presentation focuses on extending the travel season, especially in April, May, September and October. It will also promote island-hopping packages.

In addition, Antonis Tsourdalakis will lead a Cretan delegation on the mission. A former president of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand, he heads the Archdiocese’s Union of Communities and Parishes of Melbourne.

Who is backing the mission

Besides the GNTO, travel agents’ federation FedHATTA and the Hellenic Hoteliers Federation support the mission. The Central Union of Chambers of Greece also backs it.

Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” is also taking part, to strengthen Greece’s air links and tourism promotion. Similarly, the GNTO’s Melbourne office, the Greek Community of Melbourne and historic diaspora federations and clubs have joined.

The Antipodes Festival takes over Lonsdale Street on 27 and 28 February 2027, according to the festival’s website. Run by the Greek Community of Melbourne, it is the world’s largest Greek festival outside Greece, mission organisers said.

For comparison, the 2025 festival drew more than 100,000 people over two days, as Greek City Times reported. However, the Greek Pavilion will be the first organised showcase of Greek regions and companies at the event.

Source: ERT News