| Australia is a county that loves its sport. Whether it | | | | Wales, Rugby League is by far more popular in this |
| is hitting or kicking a ball, racing an animal or vehicle | | | | state. Held in a similar time frame as the AFL, it is |
| around a track, manipulating a plane through a set | | | | also a full-contact sport, played by two opposing |
| course or surfing a wave, if Australians are not | | | | teams of thirteen on a grassed rectangular field with |
| participating in it, they are watching it. It is not | | | | an elliptical ball. The grand final, held on the long |
| surprising then that Australia has some of the best | | | | weekend in October, is well worth attending. |
| sporting events to attend while holidaying in this | | | | The Medibank International Sydney is a hard court |
| sports loving nation. | | | | outdoor event played annually in Homebush. Played |
| While all states have their fair share of events it | | | | before the Australian Open at Sydney Olympic Park |
| does appear that the state of Victoria dominates the | | | | Tennis Centre, it attracts some of the biggest names |
| field. It is in this state that you can watch Australia's | | | | in tennis. |
| race that stops the nation, the Melbourne Cup. Held | | | | Sydney is also the start of the Sydney to Hobart |
| at 3:00pm on the first Tuesday in November, at | | | | Yacht race, which occurs on Boxing Day each year. It |
| Flemington Racecourse, it is the world's richest 3 | | | | covers a distance of 630 nautical miles and is quite |
| 200m handicap race for horses over three years. | | | | dangerous for the mostly sloop contenders. There |
| Victoria also holds the Melbourne Grand Prix, part of | | | | are two winners in this event: line honours, first to |
| the F1A Formula One World Championship. The | | | | finish, and handicap. |
| formula one circuit is 58 laps, or 5 303km, through | | | | The Sun Herald City to Surf is a sporting event that |
| the streets of Albert Park Lake. It is usually held | | | | you can either observe or enter. It is run in August |
| annually in March. Staying on the theme of speed, | | | | and has the title of the largest fun run in the world. |
| Phillip Island comes alive each year with the Superbike | | | | The course takes in some of the most spectacular |
| Championships. | | | | scenery as it winds its way 14km from Sydney and |
| An Easter long weekend tradition is the Ripcurl Pro at | | | | finishes in iconic Bondi. The road race attracts both |
| Bells Beach. The event attracts some of the most | | | | serious and non-serious competitors. |
| well known men and women surfers as they | | | | The Red Bull Air Race is a newer sporting event |
| compete to ring the bell. Recent winners include nine | | | | gaining momentum in Australia. It is one of a series of |
| time world champion Kelly Slater and current | | | | international races where pilots individually negotiate |
| women's world champion Stephanie Gilmore. | | | | an obstacle course above the Swan River in Perth in |
| If ball sports appeal to you, Melbourne Park hosts the | | | | the shortest time. |
| Australian Open, A grand slam hard court tournament | | | | Being a nation of favourable weather, cricket is |
| held in January each year featuring men's and | | | | played throughout summer. While the Ashes are |
| women's singles men's, women's and mixed doubles, | | | | played every two years, you can be guaranteed a |
| junior's, wheelchairs, exhibition and legend's games. | | | | challenging Melbourne Boxing Day or Sydney New |
| Victorians are staunch Australian Rules Football | | | | Years test matches. More games are played in |
| followers. A type of physical contact -football played | | | | Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth but are fluid in |
| between March and September on an oval field | | | | their dates. One of the best ways to follow the |
| between two teams of 18 players with an | | | | cricket and see the country is to book campervan |
| ellipse-shaped ball, the grand final can be known to | | | | rental in Brisbane and drive down the coast to |
| attract over 100 000 spectators. | | | | Sydney to catch the action. |
| While Australian Rules Football is played in New South | | | | |