Sporting events: Go sports crazy in Sydney and surrounds

Aussies love their sport. Luckily, we can still expect some awesome sporting events to hit our shores in autumn and winter - especially in Sydney and surrounds.

If you're visiting from interstate, you can pick up a cheap car hire deal from Sydney Airport with DriveNow. Then you'll be able to hit the road for one of these popular NSW sporting events.

Harlem Globetrotters World Tour

13 April, 2019 Luckily, you won't have to travel far for the Harlem Globetrotters World Tour. A night of endless entertainment is coming right to Sydney! The team is known for their amazing performance and humour on the basketball court. The Harlem Globetrotters combine athleticism, theatre and comedy in their style of play. They have played more than 26,000 exhibition games for fans in more than 100 countries across the world. It's possible to meet, take photos with and play alongside your favourite players. You just need to secure a spot at Magic Pass, which is an exclusive pre-game event.

Derby Day – The Championships

6 April, 2019 Get involved with one of horse racing's most exciting and traditional events. Celebrate fashion, entertainment and racing with friends as Sydney's autumn racing calendar launches at Royal Randwick. Welcome to The Championships, which is the grand finals of Australian horse racing. The fiercest jockeys and horses compete for more than AUD20 million prize money across two consecutive Saturdays.

Sail Port Stephens

8-14 April, 2019 Sail Port Stephens is one of the fastest growing regattas on the Australian calendar. It's fast becoming an internationally-recognised yachting event that's both family friendly and affordable. You'll need to drive two hours north of Sydney to Port Stephens for the seaside town's annual yachting regatta. The gorgeous waterways of Port Stephens Marine Park make for a stunning backdrop. There's sailing opportunities for all classes of boats.

AFL games

March to September Aussie rules football takes over our stadiums and screens right through until September. Luckily, Sydney is one of the capital cities that enjoys a great share of footy games during the football season. Watch the intense games unfold with a roaring crowd at world-class venues like Sydney Cricket Ground and the Sydney Showground Stadium. This year you'll be able to watch Sydney's home team the Sydney Swans take on teams like Collingwood, Essendon and the Brisbane Lions. Check out the AFL website for fixtures.

Bright Night Run

3 May, 2019 Organisers of the charity Bright Night Run say this year's run will be bigger and brighter than ever! Drive four hours north of Sydney to Port Macquarie for a night of funky and loud entertainment. Before the IRONMAN stage kicks off, there's a Zumba warm up with dance music. The important thing is that you join in and give it ago… and wear something bright and colourful while you're at it. You may even win a prize for the best (or worst) dressed!

BRIANNA PIAZZA