Page 48 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

46  INTRODUCING A USTR ALIA

Royal Easter Show (week
preceding Good Fri) Sydney.
Agricultural shows, funfair
rides, local arts and crafts
displays and team games.
Rip Curl Pro Surfing
Competition (Easter weekend),
Bells Beach. Pros and amateurs
take part in this premier
competition (see p433).
Easter Fair (Easter weekend),
Maldon. An Easter parade
and a colourful street carnival
takes over this quaint country
Australian Grand Prix, held in Melbourne in March town (see p436).
Bright Autumn Festival (last
Australian Formula One Grand week Apr–early May), Bright.
Autumn
Prix (mid-Mar), Melbourne. Top Winery tours, art exhibitions
After the humidity of the Formula One drivers compete, and street parades (see p451).
summer, autumn brings while the city celebrates with Anzac Day (25 Apr). Australia’s
fresh mornings and cooler street parties (see p407). war dead and war veterans
days that are tailor-made for St Patrick’s Day (17 Mar or Sun are honoured in services
outdoor pursuits such as before), Sydney. Pubs serve throughout the country.
bushwalking, cycling and green beer, and a family festival
fishing, as well as outdoor is held at Prince Alfred Park. May
festivals. There are numerous International Flower and Aussie Wine Month (all month),
sporting and cultural events Garden Show (late Mar– Nationwide. This is the country’s
to tempt the visitor. Many early Apr), Melbourne. biggest national celebration
of the country’s wineries Spectacular floral event of the diversity, quality and
open their doors during held in the beautiful regionality of Australian wines.
the harvest season and Exhibition Gardens Kernewek Lowender
hold gourmet food and (see p399). Cornish Festival (mid- to late
wine events. Anzac Day May), Little Cornwall. A biennial
(25 April) – the day in April celebration of the area’s Cornish
1915 when Australian Melbourne International heritage which began with
and New Zealand forces Comedy Festival (end the copper discoveries of the
landed at Gallipoli – Yarra Valley Mar– early Apr). Comedy 1860s (see p367).
has been observed wine acts from around the Vivid Sydney (late May–mid Jun).
annually since 1916 and world perform indoors Light installations and projections
is a national holiday on which and out. on landmark buildings.
Australians commemorate
their war dead.

March
Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Festival (varies), Sydney.
Flamboyant street parades
and events.
Day on the Green (weekends
in Mar). Concerts at Rochford
Winery in the Yarra Valley attracts
international performers.
Begonia Festival (first two weeks),
Ballarat. Begonia displays in the
Botanical Gardens (see p439).
Moomba Festival (second
week), Melbourne. International
aquatic events on the Yarra
River (see pp404–5).
Australian Celtic Festival
(second weekend), Glen Innes.
Traditional Celtic events
celebrate the town’s British
heritage (see p180). Anzac Day ceremony along Canberra’s Anzac Parade