January
Sydney Festival. Highlights of Sydney's visual and performing arts festival are free jazz or classical music concerts held outdoors on 2 Saturday nights near the Royal Botanic Gardens. (Take a picnic and arrive by 4pm to get a place.) Call tel. 02/8248 6500 or go to www.sydneyfestival.org.au. January 5 to January 26, 2008.
Hyundai Hopman Cup, Perth. Tennis greats from the world's nine top tennis nations battle it out in a 7-day mixed-doubles competition. For tickets, contact Ticketek (tel. 132 849 in Australia; www.ticketek.com), or check www.hopmancup.com.au. December 29, 2007, to January 4, 2008.
Tamworth Country Music Festival, Tamworth (459km/285 miles northwest of Sydney), New South Wales. It may look like an Akubra Hat Convention, but this gathering of rural folk and city folk who would like to be rural folk is Australia's biggest country music festival. The Tamworth Visitor Information Centre (tel. 02/6767 5300; www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au) takes bookings. January 18 to January 27, 2008.
Australia Day. Australia's answer to Fourth of July marks the landing of the First Fleet of convicts at Sydney Cove in 1788. Every town puts on some kind of celebration; in Sydney, there are ferry races and Tall Ships on the harbor, food and wine stalls in Hyde Park, open days at museums and other attractions, and fireworks in the evening. January 26.
March
Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. A month of events, culminating in a spectacular parade of costumed dancers and decorated floats, watched by several hundred thousand onlookers, followed by a giant warehouse party (by invitation only). Contact Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras (tel. 02/9568 8600; www.mardigras.org.au). The parade is scheduled for March 1, 2008.
Australian Formula One Grand Prix, Melbourne. The first Grand Prix of the year on the international FIA Formula One World Championship circuit is battled out on one of its fastest circuits, in Melbourne. For tickets, contact Ticketek (tel. 132 849 in Australia) or order online at http://cars.grandprix.com.au. Four days in the first or second week of March.
Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, Scarborough Beach, Perth, Western Australia. Traditionally held at Queensland's Gold Coast, this event has moved across the country until 2009. It sees up to 8,000 bronzed Aussie and international men and women swim, ski paddle, sprint relay, pilot rescue boats, parade past admiring crowds, and resuscitate "drowning" swimmers in front of around 10,000 spectators. Contact Surf Life Saving Australia (tel. 02/9300 4000; www.slsa.com.au). Four or 5 days in mid to late March.
June
Sydney Film Festival. World and Australian premieres of Aussie and international movies take place in the State Theatre and other venues. Contact the Sydney Film Festival (tel. 02/9318 0999; www.sydneyfilmfestival.org). Two weeks from first or second Friday in June.
August
Sun-Herald City to Surf, Sydney. Fifty thousand Sydneysiders pound the pavement (or walk or wheelchair it) in this 14km (8 3/4-mile) "fun run" from the city to Bondi Beach, which has been run for the past 35 years. For entry details, visit http://city2surf.sunherald.com.au (from June onward) or call tel. 1800/555 514 in Australia. If slots are available, you can enter the day of the race. The fee is A$30 (US$24/UKţ12). Second Sunday in August.
September
Floriade, Canberra. A million tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other blooms carpet the banks of Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin in stunning themed flower-bed designs at this celebration, which features performing arts and other entertainment. Contact Canberra & Region Visitors Centre (tel. 1300/554 114 in Australia; www.visitcanberra.com.au). For more detail on Floriade, check out the website, www.floriadeaustralia.com. September 13 to October 12, 2008.
Henley-on-Todd Regatta, Alice Springs. Sounds sophisticated, doesn't it? It's actually a harum-scarum race down the dry bed of the Todd River in homemade "boats" made from anything you care to name -- an old four-wheel-drive chassis, say, or beer cans lashed together. The only rule is the vessel has to look vaguely like a boat. Contact the organizers at tel. 08/8952 6796 or www.henleyontodd.com.au. September 6, 2008.
October
Lexmark Indy 300 Carnival, Surfers Paradise, Queensland. The world's best Indy-car drivers race a street circuit around Surfers Paradise on the glitzy Gold Coast, as part of the international FedEx Championship champ car motor-sport series. Contact Ticketek (tel. 1300/303 103 in Australia; www.ticketek.com), or check the event's website (www.indy.com.au). Four days in mid- or late October.
November
Melbourne Cup, Flemington racecourse. They say the whole nation stops to watch this horse race. That's about right. If you're not actually at the A$3.5-million (US$2.8-million/UKţ1.4-million) race, you're glued to the TV -- or, well, you're probably not an Australian. Women wear hats to the office, files on desks all over the country make way for a late chicken and champagne lunch, and don't even think about flagging a cab at the 3:20pm race time. For tickets, contact Ticketmaster (tel. 1300/136 122 in Australia; www.ticketmaster.com.au); for information, visit www.vrc.net.au. First Tuesday in November.
December
Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race. Find a cliff-top spot near the Heads to watch the glorious show of spinnakers as 100 or so yachts leave Sydney Harbour for this grueling world-class event. The organizer is the Sydney-based Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (tel. 02/8292 7800; www.cyca.com.au). Starts December 26.
New Year's Eve. Watching the Sydney Harbour Bridge light up with fireworks is a treat. The main show is at 9pm, not midnight, so young kids don't miss out. Pack a picnic and snag a Harbour-side spot by 4pm, or even earlier at the best vantage point -- Mrs. Macquarie's Chair in the Royal Botanic Gardens.