What's on... Melbourne

** MELBOURNE EVENTS **

For everything that is Happening in Melbourne,   visit the City of Melbourne on   www.melbourne.vic.gov.au search under For   Visitors to locate Melbourne Events

Australian Open Tennis

The Australian open tennis tournament is the first grand slam event of the year. From 18 January - 30 January 2010, Melbourne Park Stadium will play host to all the top ranked tennis players in world tennis. The Australian open is a notoriously tough event, with searing temperatures often reaching 40 degrees and one of tennis's most coveted prizes, a grand slam title, up for grabs.  The worlds best tennis players took centre stage at Melbourne Park for the first Grand Slam of the year. For the tenth consecutive year, Australian Open 2009 has attracted more than half a million patrons with an official tournament attendance of 603,160.    A star-studded mens and women's singles draw included eight mens Grand Slam champions and six women's Grand Slam champions and 31 of the top 32 men and 29 of hte top 32 women. A total f 46 nations were represented in the singles main draws.  American Serena Williams won her fourth Australian Open title and a dream final line up in the men's draw featured the world No.1 Rafael Nadal challenge the world No.2 Roger Federer for the coveted Grand Slam title.  Aussie Jelena Dokic enjoyed a remarkable return to form and a fairytale journey to the quarter finals captivating hearts from all around the world.  Entertaining the crowds were some of Australias top music acts including Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Vanessa Amorosi, Gabriella Cilmi, The Cat Empire, Daryl Braithwaite and Pete Murray.  The fastest serves of the tournament were recorded by Australias Sam Groth (230km/h) while Sabine Lisicki topped the women's fastest serves (196km/h).  Australian Open 2010 is set to be bigger and better and with the best value ticket - why wouldnt it be?

Boxing Day Test

December 26-30th   The traditional Boxing Day Test at the MCG is the most anticipated cricket match each year in world cricket and this year will be no exception.    The last time the Proteas played Australia in Melbourne 72,000 spectators were on hand for Day 1 to see the fiery clash and another big crowd is expected to be on hand for one of Melbourne s major annual sporting events.  As well as the action on the arena there will be plenty of activities in and around the MCG. The Outfield precinct will provided interactive cricket displays for families in Yarra Park, Federation Square again hosts a live site including all the action on the big screen. Merv Hughes will also be returning to host Merv s Walk to the G on the morning of Day 3

Equitana Asia Pacific

Thu 18 Nov - Sun 21 Nov 2010  Saddle up for Equitana - the largest equine event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.  At Equitana Asia Pacific you will experience a world of horses, showcasing the very best of competition, education and exhibition.  Since 1999, Equitana Asia Pacific has been held in Melbourne biennially, attracting more than 70,000 visitors per event. It continues to bring the entire Australian equine industry together under one roof, to celebrate and promote the industry as a whole to the rest of the world.  In 2010, Equitana Asia Pacific will be back again featuring more than 1,000 horses, 300 competitors, 50 educators and 200 exhibitors creating a festival of all things equine.

F1 Australian Grand Prix

Melbourne has secured the date it wanted. Staging the Australian Grand Prix on the last weekend in March takes advantage of an overlap of daylight savings in Australia and Europe.    This is the best of all worlds from a promoters point of view Melbourne will attract worldwide media attention early in the season and we can leverage off the first race action in promoting the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, Chief Executive Officer, Drew Ward said.    Formula One 2011 calendar:  Mar 14 - Bahrain (Sakhir)  Mar 24-27 - Australia (Melbourne, starting at 5pm)  Apr 4 - Malaysia (Sepang, starting at 4pm)  Apr 18 - China (Shanghai)  May 9 - Spain (Barcelona)  May 23 - Monaco (Monte Carlo)  May 30 - Turkey (Istanbul)  Jun 13 - Canada (Montreal, provisional)  Jun 27 - Europe (Valencia)  Jul 11 - Great Britain (Donington Park)  Jul 25 - Germany (Hockenheim)  Aug 1 - Hungary (Budapest)  Aug 29 - Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)  Sep 12 - Italy (Monza)  Sep 26 - Singapore (starting at 2000 local time)  Oct 3 - Japan (Suzuka)  Oct 17 - South Korea (Yongam)  Oct 31 - Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina, starting at 1700 local time)  Nov 14 - Brazil (Interlagos)

Loreal Melbourne Fashion Festival

Sun 14 Mar - Sun 21 Mar 2010  Loreal Melbourne Fashion Festival is the largest and most successful consumer fashion event in Australia. LMFF has established a vital resource to the fashion industry within the realms of marketing, promotion and exchanging of ideas. The Festival is an exceptional event that has as its core objective to engage and excite the public about fashion and all things fashionable while stimulating ideas and showcasing trends in design, business and innovation.    The Festival is a unique annual fashion event of the highest standard, with a constant focus on innovation and excellence. LMFF strives to foster extensive local, national and international partnerships to achieve targeted promotional exposure, for its participants and stakeholders.  Unlike most fashion events, LMFF provides public access to the exciting and magical world of fashion.

Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins is the musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, and premieres in Australia at Her Majestys Theatre in July, 2010.    legendary stage producer Cameron Mackintosh is hoping the Melbourne show will produce a new star in the lead role.    Premier John Brumby said the Tony Award-winning musical, which will premiere at Her Majesty's Theatre next July, will be the biggest show Melbourne has seen.

Melbourne Bride Wedding Expo

Annual Event: Dates to be advised     Unlike the average generic wedding exhibition, the Melbourne Bride Wedding Expo is the equivalent of fashion week for brides!    Be inspired by the cr me of Melbourne s couture designers who will be showcasing their most stunning gowns in a tri-daily catwalk show during the Expo.    With aisles of wedding suppliers, couture catwalk shows and a luxury prize, the Expo makes planning your wedding easier and lots of fun.

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival

Fri 12 Mar - Tue 23 Mar 2010  Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is the largest celebration of its kind anywhere in the world.   Melbourne and Victoria will burst with hundreds of flavoursome food and wine events.  Lovers of all things food and wine can choose a long lunch, extravagant dinner, wine tasting or casual bite, among many more tempting events on the menu. Novice and discerning bon viveur alike, learn the secrets of top chefs and winemakers from around the world at MasterClass.  Each year the Festival attracts experts from the globe over, including celebrity chefs and famed winemakers, growers, purveyors, authors, commentators and critics who present alongside Australia's best.  With so many spectacular Melbourne Food and Wine Festival events on offer in 2010, it s easy to see why Victoria is the epicurean epicenter of Australia!

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Wed 24 Mar - Sun 18 Apr 2010   Laugh til it hurts with the worlds premier funny people in Melbourne at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Laughter takes over the city as the best international and local comedians descend on Melbourne every year for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.    More than 200 different shows and over 2,200 performances tickle the funny bones of almost 400,000 comedy lovers in venues all across the city.    Along with Montreal and Edinburgh, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the world's largest comedy festivals.    Featuring a high profile line up of stand-up, cabaret theatre, visual art exhibitions, a comedy film festival and free performances along with many other events, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is bound to have you in stitches.

Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

Wed 24 Mar - Sun 28 Mar 2010   The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS),at the World Heritage Listed Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens, is set to return with an explosion of colour & design & after 14 years, still remains the biggest annual flower & garden show in the Southern Hemisphere!    The 2010 Show will see the creativity & passion of Australia s top floral & landscape designers delivered in their stunning displays as well as a strong environmental message for gardening in the climate we live in. Coupled with an extensive array of garden & floral retail products from rare & unusual plants to your old favourites, gardening tools to outdoor furniture, water tanks to floral art plus many new & innovative ideas for your garden, great food & entertainment for the whole family, this is certainly a must see.

New Years Eve in Melbourne

Every year, the City of Melbourne presents an exciting line-up of free New Years Eve celebrations at entertainment precincts across the city, with live entertainment and two massive fireworks displays.    In 2009, the City of Melbourne will introduce a new entertainment precinct dedicated to families. Yarra Park, located near the Melbourne Cricket Ground, will be the centre for family entertainment, including viewing of the 9.15pm fireworks.    Entertainment at Yarra Park will include a main stage for live performances, carnival rides, roving entertainment and childrens activities.    For the midnight event, entertainment will take place across the city and Docklands, with official event locations to be announced.    New Years Eve in the City is presented by the City of Melbourne and is an alcohol free event.  Fireworks    In 2009, there will be two spectacular fireworks displays.    At 9.15pm, families will be able to enjoy the fireworks from the new entertainment venue of Yarra Park.     At midnight, the traditional showcase will face a make-over with plans to release fireworks from city rooftops to provide a more expansive viewing area all the way from the CBD to Docklands.    Please note: In 2009 the 9.15pm fireworks will not be viewable from Birrarung Marr, Alexandra Gardens or Southgate. The family fireworks at 9.15pm will be best viewed from Yarra Park.

Royal Melbourne Show

There's nothing like the Royal Melbourne Show, an annual event not to be missed!    Animals & livestock. Award-winning food & wine. Arts & crafts. Amusement rides, showbags, free live entertainment, spectacular fireworks and much more. Bringing the best of the country to the city, for sheers fun, discovery and wonder, there's nothing like the Royal Melbourne Show.

Spring Racing Carnival / Melbourne Cup

30th October - 7th November 2009  The Melbourne Cup has long been lauded as the race that stops a nation and the race which has become ingrained in the Australian culture.   a race built on dreams, on hard luck and triumph. It is a race which is also survived by tragedy. But while the Cup continues to evolve it will remain the greatest 3200 metre horse race any where in the world and, by the nature of the conditions, arguably the most challenging to win.

Volvo Ocean Race - Melbourne Stopover

Waterfront City, Melbourne Docklands will be the place to be this January.    The eyes of the International Yachting Community will be firmly fixed on Melbourne when the Volvo yachts stopover after completing leg two of their eight month round the world challenge.    Meet the sailors, visit the interactive displays and learn more about this fascinating eight month epic sporting, technological and human challenge or visit one of the fine restaurants.

What's on... Gold Coast

** GOLD COAST EVENTS**

For everything that is happening on the Gold   Coast, visit   http://www.gold-coast-australia-travel-tips.com/Gold-Coast-events-in-2009.html   For visitors to locate Gold Coast events.

Australian Tennis Seniors Championships

Annual Event: Sat 9 Jan - Fri 22 Jan 2010   The Australian Tennis Seniors Championships are an annual two-week event that is hosted by the States on a rotational basis. In January 2010 the event is being hosted by Tennis Seniors Queensland on the Gold Coast. The Championships are open to tennis players who are 35 years or older. The first week of the Championships comprises a teams competition between the States while the second week is dedicated to individual championships (singles, doubles and mixed doubles).    As well as an active holiday playing tennis, the Gold Coast location offers world class surf beaches, shopping, dining and sightseeing. As they say, "beautiful one day, perfect the next!".

Coolongatta Gold

THE Coolangatta Gold is one of the most gruelling physical events on the planet and it is now run annually on the beaches of the Gold Coast. It is scheduled for Sunday, October 18 in 2009.  The nib Coolangatta Gold is Australia's premier Ironman and Ironwoman endurance race and brings together the top endurance athletes from around the country. Open male, masters male and mixed teams compete in a combination of board, ski, swim and run over 46.65 kilometres. Open female, masters female and Under 19 male categories compete over 30.5 kilometres.    First held in 1984, the Coolangatta Gold was made famous by the movie of the same name that stared surf lifesaving legend Grant Kenny. After a 13 year absence from the surf sports calendar, Surf Life Saving Australia brought the event back in 2005 and has committed to ensure that it is a regular feature on the sporting calendar and that it continues to grow. The 2009 nib Coolangatta Gold will be the third year Surf Life Saving Australia will open the event up to the public, and will celebrate 25 years since the release of Coolangatta Gold.

Fashion Design Awards

The AMP Capital Shopping Centre's Australian Fashion Design Festival, taking place at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre from 1 April to 8 April, invites shoppers to come and explore the festival and join in celebrating everything that is fashion.    There will be a variety of not to be missed events to attend, including open and student preliminary judging for the NRA Australian Fashion Design Awards presented by AMP Capital Shopping Centres, the next New York model search, retailer parades, style, beauty and fashion workshops and the pinnacle of the festival, the NRA Australian Fashion Design Awards presented by AMP Capital Shopping Centres.

Gold Coast Bridge Congress

The Gold Coast Bridge Congress run under the auspices of the Queensland Bridge Association and Australian Bridge Federation is an International event where players come from USA, England, New Zealand and Asia to participate in eight days of great bridge with the longest pairs event in the Southern Hemisphere, four days of teams concluded with the top two teams fighting it out for the honours where the other players in play in side events. Come and see the best Bridge players in the world fight it out to top spot in the International Bridge Association it's an event not to be missed.

James Reyne @ Lonstar Tavern

JAMES REYNE  Playing at the Lonstar Tavern Saturday 24th October 2009 Accommodation packages Available

Nitro Super GP

Get pumped for Nitro SuperGP!    This October, the Gold Coast will play host to Australias most exciting motorsport event when the Nitro SuperGP roars into town.    Combining the pure Aussie thunder of the V8 Supercars Championship Series with the lightning fast action of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport Powered by Ferrari, its the start of a new street racing era.    Grab a front row seat and get as close as you can to the thrills and spills of the V8 Supercars Championship Series as Ford and Holden do battle once more through the tight twists of this concrete jungle.    Plus, catch the A1GP Powered by Ferrari cars as they make their Gold Coast debut in the worlds only nation vs. nation motorsport series. Make sure youre there to cheer on the green and gold of our very own A1 Team Australia, as cars from over 20 countries hit the streets of Surfers Paradise.    Experience the unforgettable on-track action, unbelievable off-track entertainment and full-on fun in the Gold Coast sun at the Nitro SuperGP, October 22-25.

V Festival

Annual Event: Dates to be advised    V Festival is a hit music festival touring Sydney, Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne each year with a rocking line up of national and international artists.    After being a huge success in the UK, V Festival has arrived down under bringing you an amazing line up of big names on the international live music circuit.

What's on... Tasmania

** TASMANIA EVENTS**

Australian Teams Squash Championships Devonport

28 Oct - Sat 31 Oct 2009  An annual squash championship with teams from each state competing.  See the best players from each state competing in individual squash matches at the Australian Teams Squash Championships.  Watch the quick reflexes of these superb and agile athletes as they battle it out on the glass backed courts.

Devonport Cup

Annual Event: Dates to be advised  Flock to Spreyton Racecourse for the annual running of the Devonport Cup.  Come along to The Devonport Cup - its a good excuse to catch up with friends and enjoy a day of racing.  Devonport Cup has established itself as a premier social event as part of the Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival Series.  Be one of the thousands of people who flock to Spreyton annually for the running of the Devonport Cup.

Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival

The 13th Annual Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival is on again and ready to rock on Saturday March 20th 2010!    Get ready to enjoy 13 continuous hours of the best Blues music in a very relaxed setting in the pretty riverside town of Forth.  The Festival has showcased some of the very best in Australian Blues & Roots music talent, with both home grown Tassie acts and great mainland names. There has also been international performances from artists such Britain's Rod Garfield, New Zealand's Mike Garner, and Japanese blues rockers The Outloop way Blues band and Eddie Baytos from the USA.  Previous Australian acts have included Spectrum, Bondi Cigars, Chain featuring Phil Manning, The Detonators, Matt Corcoran, Kate Meehan and regular local favourite Pete Cornelius and The Deville's.   Forth Recreation Ground

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

Starts Boxing day 26th Decemer  Over the past 64 years, the Rolex Sydney Hobart has become an icon of Australias summer sport, ranking in public interest with such national events as the Melbourne Cup horse race, the Davis Cup tennis and the cricket tests between Australia and England. No yachting event in the world attracts such huge media coverage except, of course, the Americas Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race than does the start on Sydney Harbour. And the others only happen every four or five years.

Targa Tasmania

Targa Tasmania is an exciting International Event. A tarmac rally with competitive stages on closed roads for the best touring, sports and GT cars in the world. It's inaugural year was in April 1992 when Tasmania hosted this distinguished International motorsport festival.    The competition concept is drawn directly from the best features of the Targa Florio, Mille Miglia, the Coupe des Alpes and the Tour de Corse. However, Targa Tasmania is not a slow-motion re-run. It is a genuine "red-blooded" motor sport competition. It is also a unique annual opportunity for the owners of sports cars and GTs to drive them the way they were designed to be driven, on some of the most exciting and challenging tarmac roads in the world.   Year Day Date Day Date   2010 Tues 27 April Sunday 2 May

Triple Top Mountain Run

Sunday 8th November 2009  Tasmanias most gruelling mountain run spanning over Mt Claude, Mt Van Dyke and Mt Roland.    Be a part of this challenging run with breath-taking views and impressive mountain scenery.    While the event is attracting serious runners, fit walkers are also encouraged to enjoy the experience and participate in the event.    The run is approximately 19.7 kilometres, traversing three mountain peaks finishing at Claude Road at the foot of Mount Roland.    A physically demanding event over mountain walking tracks the traverse Mt. Claude, Mt. Van Dyke and Mount Roland, south of Sheffield.