Irrespective of when you are heading Down Under, there is guaranteed to be something to celebrate. A year round calendar of entertainment from watching the first rays of sun open the new year in Gisborne to the spectacular fireworks over Sydney Harbour at the year’s end.

There is something for everyone:

Colourful festivals such as the annual Festival of Sydney, the biennial Wellington Arts Festival, the Sydney Mardi Gras or the Wearable Arts Festival in Wellington.

Food and wine events across the region from October through to March with highlights such as the Hawkes Bay Harvest Festival in February or Jazz in the Hunter Valley vines in October.

Celebrations of national identity with events such as the Australia Day festivities on Sydney Harbour, Waitangi (National) Day celebrations in New Zealand or a Christmas celebrated in the sun. Along with perplexing oddities which reflect the region’s irreverent sense of humour such as the Henley on Todd – where leg powered bottomless boats race along the Northern Territory’s dry river beds !

And then of course, there is sport .. it is no secret that these nations harbour a passion, bordering on obsession with their sport. As a result the region is host to a wide range and number of local and world stage sporting events. The Australian Open and A1GP in January, Super 14 Rugby in February, the Formula Grand Prix in Melbourne in March. June opens the ski season whilst July brings with it the Northern Territory’s Camel Cup! The Darwin Rodeo is held in August, the Aussie Rules Grand Final follows in September. The international test cricket season across the region opens in October. The Melbourne Cup Horse Race stops the nation in November. A parade of sail fills the harbour as the Sydney to Hobart contestants set sail in December. Even countries that don’t play rugby, know that New Zealand does and visitors to the region can watch matches played by all ages throughout the Southern Hemisphere autumn and winter months.

The Polynesian peoples also love to sing, dance and celebrate. Colourful local parades, sporting competitions, festivals and traditional feasts entertain visitors across the region and throughout the year.