Oceania — led by Australia and New Zealand — is one of the most advanced regions in the world for professional drone operations. The region is globally recognised for progressive drone regulation, large-scale BVLOS trials, mining and energy applications, geospatial innovation, and public safety use cases.
Rather than hobby-focused drone shows, Oceania’s exhibitions tend to be highly professional, industry-driven, and operationally focused, often embedded within aviation, geospatial, mining, and infrastructure events.
Below is a guide to the key drone exhibitions and drone-relevant events across Oceania.
Australian International Airshow
The Australian International Airshow is the country’s premier aerospace and aviation exhibition, and a major platform for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).
Drones are featured alongside crewed aircraft, advanced air mobility platforms, and defense systems. The event regularly showcases UAVs used for defense, surveillance, public safety, and future aviation concepts, making it one of the most influential events for high-end drone technology in the region.
Best for:
Aerospace companies, defense contractors, aviation authorities, and advanced UAV manufacturers.
RPAS in Australian Skies
RPAS in Australian Skies is one of Australia’s most respected professional drone conferences, focused on operational integration rather than consumer technology.
While more conference-driven than exhibition-heavy, it includes vendor showcases and demonstrations covering BVLOS operations, regulatory compliance, safety management systems, and enterprise drone deployment.
Best for:
Commercial drone operators, regulators, enterprise UAV managers, and aviation professionals.
Locate
Locate is Australia’s flagship geospatial and spatial data conference, and drones play a central role in its exhibition and technical sessions.
UAVs are showcased as essential tools for mapping, surveying, LiDAR, photogrammetry, digital twins, and land management, making this event critical for drone professionals focused on data and analytics rather than aircraft alone.
Best for:
Surveyors, GIS professionals, drone mapping companies, LiDAR vendors, and infrastructure planners.
Ozri
Ozri is a major innovation event for Australia’s resources, mining, and energy sectors — industries that are among the world’s largest adopters of drone technology.
Drones appear across exhibitions and sessions focused on mine surveying, asset inspection, safety monitoring, automation, and remote operations, often integrated with robotics, AI, and digital systems.
Best for:
Mining companies, industrial inspection firms, drone service providers, and automation vendors.
Civil Aviation Safety Authority Conferences & Industry Forums
Australia’s aviation regulator plays an active role in industry engagement and drone integration, often participating in or supporting forums, summits, and aviation technology events where drones are discussed alongside traditional aviation.
These forums are particularly valuable for understanding airspace access, certification, and scalable drone operations in one of the world’s most mature UAV regulatory environments.
Best for:
Operators scaling drone programs, compliance leaders, and aviation stakeholders.
New Zealand Drone & Aviation Events
New Zealand is internationally known for its aviation innovation ecosystem, including drone testing, aerospace engineering, and emerging autonomous flight programs.
New Zealand International Aerospace Expo
This expo brings together aerospace manufacturers, innovators, and researchers, with drones featured as part of future aviation, unmanned systems, and flight testing initiatives.
UAVs showcased here often focus on research, experimental platforms, and real-world operational testing.
Best for:
Aerospace startups, R&D teams, research institutions, and advanced UAV developers.
Drones at Broader Oceania Technology & Infrastructure Events
In Oceania, drones are frequently embedded into broader industry exhibitions, rather than siloed into drone-only shows. These include:
- Mining and resources expos
- Smart infrastructure and construction events
- Environmental management and conservation conferences
- Emergency management and disaster resilience forums
At these events, drones are presented as mission-critical tools, not experimental technology.
Why Oceania Drone Exhibitions Matter
Drone exhibitions and conferences in Oceania stand out because they:
- Focus on real-world, large-scale deployment, not consumer use
- Lead global thinking on BVLOS operations and safety frameworks
- Integrate drones into geospatial, mining, energy, and infrastructure workflows
- Emphasize regulatory maturity and operational excellence
- Serve as testbeds for next-generation aviation and autonomy
Australia and New Zealand consistently punch above their weight in drone innovation, making these events especially influential for global UAV trends.
Final Thoughts
Oceania may host fewer drone-only exhibitions than other regions, but the quality, maturity, and operational depth of its drone events are among the best in the world.
For drone manufacturers, service providers, regulators, and enterprise users, attending Oceania’s UAV-relevant exhibitions offers insight into how drones operate at scale, safely, and profitably.
If your blog series aims to map the global drone exhibition landscape, Oceania is an essential — and often overlooked — piece of the puzzle.