WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Kalbarri Canoe and Cray Carnival
02 June 2012 to 03 June 2012
Location: Kalbarri
The Canoe and Cray Carnival is a community event held annually over the Foundation Day long weekend for the past six years. This year also marks the 300th Anniversary of the Zuytdorp Wreck. In commemoration they will also be hosting the inaugural Zest festival. Zest is a combination of food and spice, reflecting the cargo the Zuytdorp was carrying when it was wrecked off Kalbarri’s coastline in June 1712. The key-note event of the weekend is the "Murchison Dash" a 16.5 kilometre canoe race from Murchison House Station, which attracts competitors from all over the state. There are also many other canoe races for adults and children, games and activities (Pirates of the Murchison 'street theatre' being very popular), food and bar, market stalls, fireworks, bonfire and live band entertainment. The list goes on so expect a fun weekend.
Perth International
18 October 2012 to 21 October 2012
Location: Karrinyup, Perth
The Perth International is a new addition to the international golf calendar. The tournament is a partnership between global sports, entertainment and media company IMG and Tourism Western Australia to deliver a world class sporting event in Perth. The Perth International will be co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and the European Tour with leading international golfers vying for prize money of USD2 million, currently Australia’s richest annual golf tournament.
Red Bull Lighthouse to Leighton
15 December 2012
Location: Rottnest Island to Leighton Beach
At 19 kilometres, the Red Bull Lighthouse to Leighton kite surfing race is the longest in the world. Starting at Phillip Point on Rottnest Island, kite surfers speed across the Indian Ocean through the Gage Roads channel and finish at Leighton Beach in North Fremantle.
TASMANIA
Tasmanian Red Wine Weekend
26 May 2012 to 27 May 2012
Location: Sullivans Cove Wharf, Hobart
On this special weekend, vignerons and wine makers from across Tasmania come together to pour their very best Pinot Noirs, Gamays, Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, Sparkling Reds, Rosés and more for you to try. So make your way to PW1 or Princes Wharf No. 1 to try the fabulous line up of over 70 different wines and meet and chat with the people who make them.
Seafarers Festival
21 October 2012
Location: Boardwalk Bellerive, Hobart
A unique action-packed free family event with activities and entertainment on and by the sea. Welcome aboard! Come along and enjoy the Seafarer's Festival, it's a dynamic day of activities for water lovers and landlubbers alike. Music, comedy, quirky water events, maritime and history stalls, competitions, children's activities, fine foods and wines and much more. Kids - dress up for the Seafarin' Costume Competition at 2.00pm!
Devonport Spring Show
30 November 2012 to 01 December 2012
Location: Devonport
The Devonport Agricultural and Pastoral Spring Show is a great weekend out for the whole family, held in the coastal city of Devonport in late November each year. The Devonport Spring Show has something for every age group: sideshow alleys, crafts, farming displays, fashion parades, live entertainment, animal displays and judging and much more. After the Show Devonport is the perfect place to make your base in Tasmania's North-West where you'll discover some of Tasmania's best national parks, food and wine experiences and history and heritage.
NEW SOUTH WALES
Shifting Sand
15 May 2012
Location: Bathurst
Discover the ocean's many faces with Graham Hilgendorf 'Shifting Sands' that is all about sounds, thunderous taiko drumming and dynamic dancing. Graham Hilgendorf is part of the TaikOz group that are notorious for not just making a visual and audio impact, but one that can be felt throughout your whole body.
Sculpture by the Sea
18 October 2012 to 04 November 2012
Location: Bondi Coastal Walk, Bondi
See the spectacular Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk, transformed into a 2km long temporary sculpture park, featuring over 100 sculptures by artists from across Australia and all over the world. Held since 1997, this free to the public exhibition captures the imagination of Sydney and its visitors for 3 weeks each spring and is established as the largest annual sculpture exhibition in the world.
Valley Stampede 2012
17 November 2012
Location: Glenworth Valley
Valley Stampede is definitely not your average fun run. Take it off-road, add a whole lotta mud, some crazy obstacles and angry cows and hold on for the most insane day of your life. Bring your mates, have a laugh and expect the unexpected all the way to the finish line. Run for your life.
VICTORIA
Melbourne International Film Festival
02 August 2012 to 19 August 2012
Location: Forum Theatre, Melbourne
The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is an iconic Melbourne event with a devoted audience. MIFF hosts a feast of cinematic delicacies from over 50 countries for some 17 days each winter, heavily garnished with a range of parties and special events that envelop the CBD. In addition to screening the very best in world cinema, MIFF is Australia's largest showcase of new Australian cinema and most vocal champion of both emerging and established local filmmaking talent.
Toast to the Coast – 11 Year Anniversary!
03 November to 04 November 2012
Location: Geelong Wineries
Geelong’s wine, food and music festival - Melbourne Cup Weekend. A SIGNATURE VICTORIAN EVENT – GETTING BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE. . . Wineries across Geelong - one of Australia’s truly iconic wine regions - will be celebrating in style as they ‘Toast’ the 11 Year Anniversary of this major annual festival. More than 25 wineries will be showcasing their premium cool climate wines in a weekend of sensational wine, food, music and fun! $40 per weekend pass includes a $10 commemorative Geelong Wine glass – your passport to free wine tastings at all host vineyards. Unleash your senses and discover Geelong Wine and this enchanted epicurean region. . . it doesn’t get better! Tickets, touring maps and shuttle bus details online at www.toasttothecoast.com.au
Melbourne Cup Carnival
03 November 2012 to 10 November 2012
Location: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
The Melbourne Cup Carnival is a week long celebration of racing, food and wine, fashion and entertainment. It's when fabulous Flemington becomes the corporate, social and sporting epicentre of Australia. The event not only captures the imagination of Melbournian's but attracts visitors nationwide and from all points of globe.
QUEENSLAND
Noosa International Food & Wine Festival 2012
17 May 2012 to 20 May 2012
Location: Sunshine Coast Region
Recognised as the premier food and wine event in Australia, the Festival boasts an influential line-up of over 180 leading international and national chefs, iconic winemakers, high profile food and wine media, restaurateurs and serious foodies who converge on the magical setting of Noosa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast to taste, talk, debate, dine and indulge..... Noosa Style!
Armor All Gold Coast 600
19 October 2012 to 21 October 2012
Location: Gold Coast
First appearing on the Australian motorsport calendar in 1991 as an IndyCar event, the Gold Coast Street Circuit is a high speed, concrete-lined thrill ride.The layout allow of this year's race allows spectators greater on-track action and more entertainment opportunities and reduced the length of set-up and take down of the track by approximately five weeks in total.The Armor All Gold Coast 600 is a family-friendly event, with off-track entertainment providing something for everyone.
International Laser SB3 World Sailing Championship 2012
13 December 2012 to 20 December 2012
Location: Brisbane
The 5th World Sailing Championship to be held for the International Sailing Class, Laser SB3 will see competitors enjoy unique racing/sailing in trade wind conditions, blue skies and tropical Australian exeprience. Up to 120 teams are expected to compete from 16 nations. A once in a lifetime opportunity for many sailing teams across the globe.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide Cabaret Festival
08 June 2012 to 23 June 2012
Location: Adelaide
All under the one roof at South Australia’s creative heart, the Adelaide Festival Centre, you can experience the Adelaide Cabaret Festival every June beginning on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. Over the last eleven years the Festival has become a major event in the international and Australian arts calendar, as the most comprehensive cabaret festival in the world with a reputation of highlighting the best local, national and international artists in the cabaret genre, with classic and contemporary cabaret performances. In 2012 the Adelaide Festival Centre will present its twelfth annual Adelaide Cabaret Festival under the Artistic Directorship of award winning singer and songwriter Kate Ceberano.
Moon Lantern Festival
30 September 2012
Location: Adelaide
The soul of the OzAsia Festival. On the 15th day of the eighth month in the Lunar calendar, gather your family and friends to admire the full moon and think of absent loved ones. Celebrate the Asian mid-autumn harvest and eat moon cakes. Enjoy diverse performances on the main stage by local Asian community groups followed by a stunning Moon Lantern Parade at dusk and fireworks. This is a free family event.
Moonta Open Gardens Festival
13 October 2012 to 14 Ocotber 2012
Location: Moonta
The Moonta Open Gardens Festival has been popular for a number of years. It was moved recently from the October Holiday weekend which proved a wise decision. Not conflicting with school holidays, and other holiday weekend activities meant that buses were able to bring visitors from out of town, and more locals were free to participate. Visitor numbers consequently increased. Comparing how gardeners have dealt with water restrictions by planting water wise plants that still are beautiful is always of interest. Each year new gardens are opened with about a dozen for this Festival. It’s a wonderful time for roses! Come along for a relaxing day (or two) and visit some interesting and unusual gardens, several of which will have refreshments, trading tables with produce and plants, benefiting local community organisations and charities.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Bass In The Grass
26 May 2012
Location: Darwin
It’s the day every young Territorian looks forward to, a day to have fun in the sun. The day we are talking about of course is BASSINTHEGRASS, an institution now in its ninth year proudly brought to the people of Darwin by the Northern Territory Government.On Saturday 26 May 2012 the Darwin Amphitheatre will stage an enormous line-up of Australia’s hottest artists. In 2011, The Presets, Birds of Tokyo and Sneaky Sound System captivated 7500 revellers whilst Justice Crew, The Potbelleez and local lads Ned and Friends stirred the frenzy all afternoon.
Rotary Club of Darwin North Championship Rodeo
17 August 2012 to 18 August 2012
Location: Darwin
Dust, daring deeds and determination will once again herald the 2012 Darwin Championship Rodeo presented by the Rotary Club of Darwin North. The rodeo is staged at Robbie Robbins Reserve at Berrimah over two exciting nights of skills, thrills and spills on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 August 2012 commencing at 6pm sharp. Some of Australia’s leading riders are drawn to Darwin to match their skills against these beasts. Eight seconds of raw courage is the required time needed for these bareback bull riders to ‘master’ the bull in the open bull ride section. There’ll be food and drink stalls available on both nights as well as plenty of entertainment for the kids. And of course, the ever-reliable and brave rodeo clown(s) will be there.
Alice Springs Masters Games
13 October 2012 to 20 October 2012
Location: Alice Springs
In the early 1980’s the Australian Sports Commission first suggested an idea of a masters games and the philosophy of masters sport. The development of masters sport included an underlying belief that each participant is a champion in his or her own right, as long as the physical and mental attributes for each stage of life have been maintained at their optimum levels. Participation in sport is a lifelong activity. That is why masters sports contain fun, camaraderie and good-spirited competition. That is why the Alice Springs Masters Games adventure continues in 2012.
