Page 49 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

A USTR ALIA THROUGH THE Y EAR  47

Public Holidays
New Year’s Day (1 Jan)
Australia Day (26 Jan, NSW;
1st Mon after 26 Jan, all
other states)
Good Friday (variable)
Easter Monday (variable)
Anzac Day (25 Apr)
Queen’s Birthday (second
Mon in Jun)
Christmas Day (25 Dec)
Racing in Alice Springs’ Camel Cup Boxing Day (26 Dec)
July
Winter Yulefest (throughout Jun, Jul, Almond Blossom Festival (end
Winter in the east can be Aug), Blue Mountains. Hotels, Jul–early Aug), Mount Lofty.
cool enough to require guesthouses and some Includes almond cracking.
warm jackets, and it is often restaurants celebrate a mid-
icy in Victoria and Tasmania. winter “traditional Christmas” August
Many festivals highlight with log fires and all the usual City to Surf Race (second Sun),
the change of climate in yuletide trimmings. Sydney. A 14-km (9-mile) fun
celebration of freezing Brass Monkey Festival run from the city centre (usually
temperatures. Other events, (throughout Jul), Stanthorpe. Hyde Park) to Bondi Beach.
such as film festivals, are arts- Inland Queensland turns the Shinju Matsuri Festival
based and indoors. The warm freezing winter temperatures (last weekend–first week Sep),
rather than sweltering climate into an opportunity for Broome. Pearl festival.
of the Outback in winter offers celebration (see p244). The Archibald, Wynne and
the opportunity for pleasurable Alice Springs Show (first Sulman Prizes Exhibition (late
outdoor events. weekend). Agricultural Jul–early Sep), Sydney. Held at
and historical displays are the Art Gallery of NSW, these
June combined with arts, crafts are the nation’s favourite and
Three-Day Equestrian Event and cookery demonstrations most prestigious art awards for
(first weekend), Adelaide. at this popular event. painting, with critics’ and
Spectacular riding skills Cairns Show (mid-Jul). people’s choice awards.
are displayed by the world’s A cultural celebration of Mount Isa Rodeo (mid-Aug).
best horses and riders. historical and contemporary Largest rodeo (see p261).
Sydney Film Festival (two life in the Australian tropics Henley-on-Todd Regatta
weeks mid-Jun). The latest (see p258). (third Sat), Alice Springs.
blockbuster film releases are Camel Cup (mid-Jul), Alice Races in bottomless boats
combined with retrospectives Springs. Camel racing on along the dry Todd River.
and showcases. the dry Todd River. Melbourne Writers’ Festival
Laura Dance & Cultural Melbourne International (late Aug–early Sep). This event
Festival (odd-numbered years), Film Festival (last week Jul– presents the best writers from
Cape York. Celebration of mid-Aug). The largest and Australia and around the world
Aboriginal culture. most popular film festival. in a 10-day programme.

Dragon Boat race, part of the Shinju Matsuri in Broome