Masters Games

The Alice Springs community and the organisers of the Friendly Games look forward to welcoming back old friends and also greeting new friends as competitors, volunteers, spectators and visitors to Central Australia for the Alice Springs Masters Games.

Participants compete for medals in 32 sports, and there is always a stellar entertainment lineup for opening and closing festivities.

In 2016 the Alice Springs Masters Games will celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Year 2016

08 October - 15 October

Fringe Festival

If you are looking for the wildest festival ride of your life, then come join us at the Adelaide Fringe! If you are looking for an unbelievable eclectic program of cabaret, comedy, circus, dance, film, theatre, music, visual art and design, then this is it.

It’s Carnivale meets Mardi Gras, with the entire city of Adelaide transformed for one mind-blowing month, in the summer sun and across balmy, star-filled nights. From mid-Feb to mid-March each year, thousands of artists surprise and amaze, they wow us, make us laugh, cry and gasp in amazement.

At the Adelaide Fringe you’ll be awash with choices, with artists of all genres, in venues of all sizes and styles. We foster new talent, independence and risk-taking. We aim to surprise and forever present the unexpected. We are open access for all.
This is the place to see ground breaking work, new talent, original voices, new ideas, innovative thinking, day and night.
Adelaide Fringe. You have to see it to believe it. 

Year 2017

26 February - 28 February 

Riverfire

Watch Brisbane ignite in all its glory from the best seat in town this September! Tucked away on the rivers edge underneath the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Riverlife is the perfect place, away from the crowds, to enjoy Brisbane come to life under the stars.

This exclusive event boasts unobstructed views from the rivers edge, with spectacular food, drinks and live entertainment and a guest DJ to make this the ultimate Riverfire experience.

Take in the spectacular pyrotechnic extravaganza in style whilst sipping sparkling wine with a live broadcast of the Triple M choreographed music.

Our Pop-Up Restaurant will satisfy your taste buds with signature dishes from executive chef, Daniel Stewart.

Join us at Riverlife for an explosive event, away from the crowds, to enjoy Brisbane come to life under the stars.

Year 2016

24 September 

Floriade 

Floriade – Australia’s biggest celebration of spring – returns to Canberra for the 29th year from Saturday 17 September until Sunday 16 October 2016.

There’s plenty of activities for kids at Floriade this year including Reptiles inc, The Circus Playground, Get Active, Play Up, Balloon Benders and Craft Activities!

Year 2016

17 September - 16 October 

Darwin Cup

Since the first Darwin Cup in 1956 no Darwin Cup winner had had to survive a protest alleging interference. But there is always a first time and it happened in 1971 when Kentuckey Colonel’s jockey Peter Dempsey lodged a protest against Apian for Interference over the final 100 metres. The protest was dismissed by Stewards.

Since the turn of the Century the Darwin Cup has become the biggest sporting event in the Northern Territory with over 20,000 people attending every year. As one of only a few dirt tracks in operation on the provincial circuit, the picturesque racecourse in Fannie Bay is the venue for which sees several illustrious racing names vie for over 1.95 million dollars in prize money and trophies over the month long event.

Standing alongside visitors will be thousands of locals who will proudly showcase the territory with their unique style and world famous hospitality that can only be experienced in the Top End.

Year 2016

2 July - 1 August 

Gold Coast Marathon

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is held annually in one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world. It is Australia’s premier road race and was the first marathon in the country to hold an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Road Race Gold Label.

The event is held on the first weekend of July and attracts more than 27,000 participants of all ages and abilities across a number of races including the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, Wheelchair Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Wheelchair 15km, Southern Cross University 10km Run, Suncorp Bank 5.7km Challenge and Junior Dash 4km and 2km races.

The 38th annual Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be held Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 July 2016.

Year 2016

2 July - 3 July 

Wooden Boat Festival 2016

Welcome to the MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival, an exciting celebration of our nation’s rich maritime culture and one of the world’s most anticipated maritime events.

Held across Hobart’s vibrant and bustling waterfront, the four-day festival brings together the largest and most beautiful collection of wooden boats in the southern hemisphere. From its humble beginnings in 1994, it has grown to become the most significant event of its kind in Australia.

Along with the exhibition of these beautiful boats, the festival delivers a lively combination of incredible local food, live entertainment, music, demonstrations and displays. From the state’s best seafood at our Seafood Market, the MyState V.I.K (Very Important Kids) Area, Maritime Marektplace and our very own tavern, the MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival has all the elements of a summer celebration by the sea.

And thanks to the assistance of the Tasmanian State Government, Events Tasmania and our generous sponsors, the MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival is absolutely free!

Year 2017

10 February - 13 February

Grand Prix 2016

For sixty-six years Grand Prix racing has sat at the pinnacle of world motor sport. First organised in 1950, the FIA Formula 1™ World Championship now embraces more than 900 races; the 2016 Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix will be the 21st to be staged in Melbourne and the 32nd in our country.

The inaugural World Championship included just seven rounds, but one of them was the famous Indianapolis 500 and was included only to enhance the ‘global’ status of that original series. The other six Grands Prix reflected the sport’s European origins, starting at the windswept Silverstone circuit in England and ending on the sweeping banked curves of Monza in Italy.

Nowadays the World Championship encompasses virtually every continent on the planet, with 20 races the modern rule rather than the exception. F1’s reach extends from Australia to Abu Dhabi, with stops in places like the USA, Mexico, Singapore and other exotic locations.

Throughout its rich history F1 has reflected manufacturers’ and rule-makers’ concerns with technical innovation, from super-charging and turbo-charging to normally aspirated engines and on to the highly sophisticated ‘power units’ in the environmentally friendly – or less unfriendly – Grand Prix world of today.

Wallabies VS England

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) was formed in 1949 to give the game in this country a national governing body and a seat at the International Rugby Board (IRB).

Australia was among the first eight member countries of the IRB along with New Zealand, South Africa, England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and France.

Melbourne Cup

The Emirates Melbourne Cup is a truly spectacular event: each year on the first Tuesday of November at 3pm, the greatest thoroughbreds from around the world gather at Flemington and battle it out for a stake of the $6.2-million prize money and to cement their names in history.

Emirates Melbourne Cup Day sits at the pinnacle of the Australian racing calendar and is the focal point of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. There's nothing like being there amongst the 100,000 plus crowd to experience the day that puts Australia firmly in the international sporting spotlight. 

Trainers from around the world set their sights on the Emirates Melbourne Cup, a race widely considered to be the best staying handicap in the world. Over 3200 metres, the Emirates Melbourne Cup offers the richest prize in Australian sport and a 18ct solid gold Hardy Brothers trophy valued at $175,000. With such significant international standing, the anticipation of history in the making creates the electric atmosphere that is 'the race that stops a nation'.™

Year 2016

17 March - 20 March

Year 2016

18 June

Year 2016

29 October - 4 November

World Masters Athletics Championship

Australian Masters Athletics Inc, in partnership with the Western Australian Government, is pleased to host the 2016 World Masters Athletics Championships.

When it comes to events, Perth has a reputation for innovation and a ‘can do’ attitude.

Perth is one of the world’s great event locations and is committed to using its experience and infrastructure to enhance the sport of athletics on a global scale by hosting the 2016 World Masters Athletics Championships.

Perth’s climate, facilities and friendly people, backed by strong Government support, have in recent times attracted some of the world’s best events to Perth.

Opened in May 2009, the West Australian Athletics Stadium is one of Australia’s newest sporting facilities and is the proposed site for the primary venue. The new state of the art athletics facilities recently hosted the 88th Australian National Athletics Championships, and selection trials for the 2010 Commonwealth Games took place at this stadium in 2010.

Perth has first-rate experience as well as an outstanding reputation for hosting and supporting major international events and festivals that are embraced by its people.

As a host destination, Perth can provide an experience like no other, appealing to athletes, sponsors, media and spectators. Perth’s beautiful parks, magnificent beaches, warm climate and welcoming locals will ensure that the visiting sporting community experience unforgettable memories as a result of the World Masters Athletics Championships.

Year 2016

26 October - 6 November

Vivid Sydney 2016

Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, will run for an additional five nights in 2016. 

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said the extraordinary growth of Vivid Sydney is undeniable.

“In just seven years, Vivid Sydney has established itself as the largest festival of its kind in Australia, attracting a record 1.7 million people in 2015,” Mr Ayres said.

“The festival has been instrumental in reinforcing Sydney as the creative industries’ hub in the Asia-Pacific region and transforming a traditionally quiet visitor period into one of the year’s busiest, delivering a record $63.2 million in visitor expenditure to NSW last year.”

More than 112,000 international and domestic overnight travellers specifically visited NSW to enjoy Vivid Sydney in 2015, an increase of 25 per cent on 2014. 

“Expanding the festival to 23 nights is a significant opportunity for our State's creative, live performance and hospitality businesses as well as the travel industry to extend the positive benefits Vivid Sydney brings to the visitor economy,” Mr Ayres added. 

“Sydney is the events capital of Australia and Vivid Sydney is its star, and one that will shine even brighter in 2016.”

Year 2016

27 May - 18 June