Archive for the ‘Events around Australia’ Category

From country music events to spectacular Outback festivals, or food and wine extravaganzas to riverboats and jazz, there’s something worth driving to just about anywhere in Australia all-year round. Here are five diverse festivals worth packing your bags for and hitting the road in a drivenow campervan for a unique Australian cultural experience.

1. Riverboats, Jazz, Food & Wine Weekend – Echuca, Victoria.

Pick up your DriveNow Melbourne Rental Car and a leisurely three-hour drive along the Hume Freeway and Northern Highway will take you to the riverbanks of beautiful Echuca where this annual event creates a buzz in February every year. The region’s finest food and wine is on show, jazz musos from far and wide strut their stuff and the paddlesteamers from yesteryear chug along the mighty Murray. It’s a treat for the eyes, ears and tastebuds!

2. Tamworth Country Music Festival – Tamworth, NSW.

This one’s popular for lovers of Country music and is held every year in January. It’s a five or six hour journey predominantly spent on the Pacific and New England Highways from Sydney, but upon reaching the final destination you’ll be re-energised by the festival spirit. Country artists including Troy Cassar Daley, Felicity Urquhart, and hundreds more from all walks of life and ages, amateur or professional. It’s all about great food, friends, tents, caravans and super music over 10 days.

3. The Targa Tasmania.

One for car lovers, this amazing international event has been running since 1992 and basically is a tarmac rally with competitive stages on closed roads for some of the best touring, sports and GT cars from throughout the world – a calvacade of motoring history that is sure to delight as you discover the spoils of the Apple Isle. Visit www.targa.org.au  for more information.

4.  World’s Greatest Pub Crawl, Maryborough, Queensland.

This four hour journey along the Bruce Highway from Brisbane will get you to Maryborough, but that’s where you’ll have to pop the keys away for a few days as the ”world’s greatest pub crawl” whets your appetite for a good time. More than 3000 pub crawlers hit the streets in a bid to knock off the Guinness World Record for the most pub crawlers in one spot each year. Loads of fun … but don’t forget to pack the panadol and sleep well before the long trip back!

5. The Meeka Outback Festival, Meekatharra, Western Australia. Last but not least, this marathon nine hour drive from Perth along the Great Northern Highway will take you to this entertaining festival held every Queen’s Birthday Weekend in June. Enjoy the region’s unique culture as the festival ignites with fireworks, stalls and kids rides on the main oval on the Friday night. Then the colourful floats hit the town on the Saturday before the afternoon races encourage punters to have a tipple and a bet, before you enjoy watching and listening to bands perform under the desert stars.

AUSTIN BONHAM

EVERYONE loves a music festival, whether you love blues, country, jazz, pop or rock. So snap up a campervan rental deal with DriveNow, hit the highway and prepare to dance, sing, eat and drink ’til your heart’s content. While there are loads of big ones such as the Big Day Out, Good Vibrations and V Festival that do the rounds countrywide, don’t forget the smaller ones that might just offer something a little more intimate and also give you the chance to look around. Try these for size …

1) Riverboats Jazz Food and Wine Festival. Every July this one attracts jazz and wine lovers in their droves from all corners of the country, so head down the Hume Highway in your campervan or hire car to this historic river port township set on the banks of the mighty Murray River for some smooth jazz, great food and wonderful nearby attractions. It all happens in late February. Visit www.riverboatsjazzfoodandwine.com.au

2) Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival. Any time of the year is a good time of the year to visit this beautiful coastal hotspot. Enjoy the best of both worlds whether it be the beach or the hinterland. This world renowned music festival attracts some of the biggest artists in the world. Held over five days every Easter, visit www.bluesfest.com.au

3) Chill Island. Head south from Melbourne and find a patch on charming Phillip Island, home of Australia’s best known penguins and the Phillip Island motorsport circuit. Every January it comes alive to the sounds of easygoing, chilled music including artists covering such genres as folk, reggae, blues and pop. Visit www.chillisland.org

4) Womadelaide. This one stands for World of Music Arts and Dance and simply must be experienced if you’re ever cruising around South Australia. Thousands “bliss out” as they enjoy the sounds of the planet, street theatre, exhibitions and great food. Visit www.womadelaide.com.au

5) Tamworth Country Music Festival. No Aussie list of music festivals can be without this mighty country music fest when the greats of country music, and promising up and comers of all ages, hit the town for a fun time. Celebrations continue for 10 days every year from mid-January. Visit www.tamworthcountrymusic.com.au