Australian Major Events

Australia has several significant major events during the course of a year, here are just a few.....

ANZAC Day vigil - By tony_the_bald_eagle

Anzac Day is one of the most important dates on the Australian calendar. On the 25th of April each year, people from all areas of Australia gather to pay their respects to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC's) who landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula on the 25th of April, 1915.

This historic battle ended in defeat, but the day has become a celebration of the courage shown by these poor soldiers who were facing certain death. Anzac Day endures as one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand, a spiritual and solemn day of remembrance.

Over time, Anzac Day has evolved into the recognition of all the men and women involved with the Australian armed services. Throughout Australia, almost every town holds their own dawn service, march and game of 2-up - a betting game involving 2 or 3 coins. Anzac Day is a chance for all generations to remember, reflect, rejoice and look towards the future with hope.

Nikon Indy 300 By racestarphotos

The Nikon Indy 300 is an annual racing event held on the streets of Surfers Paradise, on the Gold Coast. Attracting many of the world's top racing teams, the event includes Indy Car Series and V8 Supercars. The Indy 300 is 4 days and nights of blazing sunshine and entertainment.

Acclaimed internationally as a benchmark for temporary street circuits, the challenging 4.47 km track has several fast sections and 4 chicanes. Held since 1991, the event has become just as well known for its beautiful Indy Girls as it has for world class racing.

Nikon Indy 300 attracts tens of thousands of spectators each day, with a huge range of non-racing events also on offer. The hottest cars, the hottest parties, the hottest beaches.

Tropfest - Canberra - By laRuth

Held annually in the month of February, Tropfest is a free, public, outdoor annual short film festival held in various locations throughout Australia. The event aims to encourage the production of short films, and provide an audience for the work of Australia's emerging filmmakers.

From more than 800 entries, each year 16 Finalists are selected to premiere to an audience of more than 150,000 people via simultaneous satellite screenings in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Hobart and 8 regional locations around Australia.

The only requirements to enter a film into Tropfest are - the film must have had no prior public screenings, must be less than 7 minutes, and must contain the Tropfest Signature Item (TSI).

Tropfest has tested the creativity of filmmakers all over the country by challenging them to reference TSIs such as pickle, chopsticks, a coffee bean and a muffin in their film entries.

Sydney Mardi Gras Parade By acon online

The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras is an annual gay pride event which sees the streets of Sydney come alive in a dazzling carnival of costumes, colour and dance music. More than just a parade, the event features live entertainment including cabarets, comedy, music and theatre.

What started originally as a protest march back in June 1978 has evolved into the world's largest event of its kind, attracting visitors from all over the globe. While the festival features many exotic costumes and colourful characters, it has always maintained a political edge.

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras is normally held around the end of February / beginning of March.

There aren't many race meetings in the world where spectators arrive by light plane, Birdsville Races is one of them. Held in early September, the annual event attracts thousands of people for a week of beer, betting and outback fun.

Great entertainment, class horseracing and premium hospitality makes for a fantastic week in the outback. The horses are generally nothing to threaten the Kentucky Derby but for a glimpse at what Australians get up to in remote areas, the Birdsville Races should be on your schedule.

Located in the Outback of Queensland, the town of Birdsville has limited accommodation for the event (the population outside race day is around 200), so the majority of visitors bring camping equipment or sleep in the back of the ute.

Sydney to Hobart 2009 - By Swandives

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is an icon of Australian sport. Attracting thousands of international visitors each year, the event sees Sydney Harbour become a mass of colourful sails.

Beginning on Boxing Day (26th December) each year, no other yachting event in the world attracts such huge international media coverage. Past years of the Sydney to Hobart have seen entrants from the United Kingdom, Canada, The Netherlands, Italy, and New Zealand - as well as every Australian state.

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race distance is approximately 630 nautical miles (1,170 km).

Weekend Hustler - By osedgman

Known as 'The race that stops a nation', The Melbourne Cup is held annually at 2:50pm on the first Tuesday in November. Flemington, where the race is held, is heaving with champagne, unusual hats, colourful dresses, jockeys, punters, and beautiful people vying for their spot in the limelight.

At least 150,000 people get to the track, and the same happens at every suburban and metropolitan race-track in the whole country. There are meetings all over Australia, from Kalgoorlie to Cairns, any of which would be an excellent place to gauge the nation's obsession with this huge race.

As a way of seeing what makes Australians tick, getting to Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day is right up there with watching them toss coins on Anzac Day.

More than a car show, Summernats is Australia's most well known car festival. Held in January each year, it's where street machine enthusiasts meet, display and strut their mechanical stuff.

Summernats offers over 160 exhibitors presenting the latest performance products, and vendors offering a variety of food and drinks to suit all tastes. Entertainment ranges from live bands and a beauty pageant to special vehicle performances and a spectacular stunt and fireworks show.

Summernats is a national celebration of spectacular customised, modified street machines, hot rods, sport compacts, factory muscle cars and other special interest vehicles - attended by over 100,000 people each year.