Australia's Best Festivals and Events

In Sustainable Australian Travel For Dummies, I provide a list of festivals and events that are attractive for tourists, especially sustainable tourists, wanting to experience the best Australia has to offfer - from a cultural, historical, environmental, artistic and just plain good fun perspective. Here is my list (in alphabetical order - the book lists these events in calendar order):

* Alice Desert Festival, Alice Springs, Northern Territory (mid to late August) is a showcase of life in Central Australia.

* Australia Day, Australia-wide (January 26) marks the landing of the First Fleet of convicts into Sydney Harbour in 1788. Some communities around Australia celebrate ‘Survival Day’ on this day in recognition of Aboriginal survival since European settlement.

* Barossa Under the Stars (picture left), Tanunda, South Australia (early February) has become a highly popular outdoor concert event within the premier wine growing region of Australia.

* City-to-Surf Fun Run, Sydney (second Sunday of August) is Australia’s premier road-running event with more than 60,000 Sydneysiders cramming the city streets on their way to Bondi Beach.

* Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend, Clare, South Australia (early May) showcases the Clare Valleys famous wines and gourmet organic foods.

* Coober Pedy Opal Festival, Coober Pedy, South Australia (Easter weekend) to celebrate the opal capital of the world and its unique outback culture.

* National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Exhibition, Darwin, Northern Territory (mid August) represents indigenous artists from all over the country – a great opportunity to purchase authentic Aboriginal art.

* East Coast Blues and Roots Music Festival, Byron Bay, NSW (mid to late March) is a celebration of great music, social values and environmental awareness in the “green” capital of Australia.

* Festivale, Launceston, Tasmania is a three day celebration of Tasmanian food, wine and culture (second weekend of February).

* Flickerfest International Short Film Festival, Bondi Beach, Sydney (early January) screens the best Australian and global short films in an outdoor beachside setting.

* Floriade, Commonwealth Park, Canberra, ACT (mid September to mid October) is a blooming sea of colourful flowers free to the public to enjoy.

* Freedom Day Festival, Kalkarindji Heritage Precinct, Kalkarindji, Northern Territory (late August) is a yearly festival to celebrate and honour the crucial precedence that the local Gurinji people played in attaining Aboriginal land rights and equal pay.

* Henley-on-Todd Regatta (picture right), Alice Springs, Northern Territory (late August) is a tongue-in-cheek version of Britain’s famous Henley-on-Thames regatta – except the Todd River is usually very dry at this time of the year. It got cancelled in 1993 due to too much water!

* Jazz in the Vines, Tyrells Vineyard, Pokolbin, NSW (late October) combines locally produced food, world-rated wines and a renowned jazz musicians in a relaxing and spacious out door setting.

* Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Melbourne (mid March to mid April) is one of the three largest comedy festivals in the world alongside Edinburgh and Montreal.

* Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, Carlton Gardens, Melbourne is Australia’s biggest flower show held in the picturesque Carlton Gardens and the adjoining Royal Exhibition Building.

* Moomba Waterfest and Parade, Melbourne, Victoria (early March) is one of Australia’s longest running festivals and street parades.

* NAIDOC and Jinjinburra Didgeridoo Festival, Gin Gin, Queensland (early July) is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and traditions.

* Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, Victoria (mid to late March) the world surfing tour for men and women hit Australia’s premier wave location this time every year.

* Sustainable Living Festival (picture left), Federation Square, Melbourne (mid February) has become one of the world’s premier green events.

* Sydney Film Festival, State Theatre, Sydney, NSW (throughout June) is Australia’s premier showcase of new and international films in the beautiful State Theatre.

* Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Sydney (late Feb/early March) is the world’s largest celebration of gay and lesbian culture with the highlight being the world famous Mardi Gras parade on Oxford Street.

* Sydney to Gong Bike Ride, starts Sydney and finishes Wollongong (first Sunday in November) Australia’s most popular bike ride for charity. A 90km ride from Sydney to Wollongong past some stunning coastal scenery.

* Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, NSW and Tasmania (Boxing Day December 26) is not only Australia’s premier yacht race but a Boxing Day institution, with its colourful spinnaker start drawing thousands to the Sydney Harbour foreshore. It finishes on the Derwent in Hobart around two (for the winner) to five days (for the stragglers) later.

* Tamworth Country Music Festival, NSW (Tamworth s 459km/285 miles north-west of Sydney) is Australia’s premier country music festival that takes place in late January.

* The Sydney Festival, NSW, in January is a month- long series of concerts, exhibitions and talks held in the centre of Sydney.

* Tour Down Under, South Australia (starts the third week of January) is Australia’s answer to the Tour de France – a week long cross country cycling event starting and finishing in Adelaide and taking in the Barossa and the Adelaide Hills.

* Tropfest, The Domain, Sydney (Sunday on the third weekend of February) is the largest short film festival competition in the world, simulcast from The Domain to other Australian cities.

* WOMADelaide World Music Festival, Botanic Park, Adelaide (early March) is a celebration of world music, culture and food.