Not only does Australia host some of the biggest sporting events in the
world, both local and international, but the country also boasts some of the
best beaches and climate in the world. Queensland has some of the oldest
rainforests on earth while Melbourne, Victoria is one of the most multicultural
cities on the planet. Here are some great reasons why Australia should be on
your travel list.
1. Melbourne International
Film Festival
One of the oldest film festivals in the world, the Melbourne
International Film Festival (MIFF) runs annually for three weeks and showcases
all types of film genres from filmmakers all over the world. It has been an
annual event since 1952, one of the oldest in the world, and has seen such
filmmakers as Werner Herzog, Gavin Hood, Caroline Leaf, and Academy Award
winner Shaun Tan participating. If you are a film buff, then it is worth checking
out the festival that takes place over approximately 18 days in August every
year. The festival is held at different theatres across Melbourne, so be sure
to check the MIFF website for up-to-date information.
2. Sporting events
Australians are mad-keen on sports of every kind and Melbourne in
particular is host to a wide variety of major sporting events. People from all
over the world flock to watch these events throughout the year. The Formula1 is
raced at the Albert Park Lake circuit in the early stages of the F1 calendar
and has been since 1996. This truly international event brings in a lot of
tourism to Melbourne, which is more than capable of handling it. Horse racing
is a huge deal in Australia, and the Melbourne Cup which takes place in
November at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne sees thousands of racegoers on
the day as well as millions more tuning in around the world.
Melbourne also hosts the final of the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup at the
Melbourne Cricket Ground and the T20 World Cup betting odds are always a subject for discussion
given that the best cricket team from all over the world compete in this short
but exciting version of the game. Tennis is also highly popular and Melbourne
hosts the first of the four major Grand Slam tournaments each year in January.
3. Climate and landscape
There is something for everyone in Australia. Some people like to climb mountains, some like to relax at the beach and some people like to take a road trip through the expansive desert. The far north of Australia has a tropical climate, and it rarely gets cold in places such as Darwin in the Northern Territory or the small city of Cairns in Queensland. The eastern part of the country has what's called the Great Dividing Range which spans the entire main continent from Torres Strait just north of Queensland down to the Grampians region in western Victoria. The Snowy Mountains in New South Wales are part of the Great Dividing Range and are home to Mount Kosciuszko, the highest place in Australia.
Thousands of ski enthusiasts visit this area every year during the peak snow season which is in July and August. Beachgoers have the pick when it comes to beautiful beaches. Bondi Beach in New South Wales is one of the most popular and famous beaches in the world, especially for surfers. Australia is an expansive and incredibly impressive country that should be on the bucket list for all international travelers.