Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
January
It can get asphalt-melting hot, with the only respite to be found in cool-water beaches
or in the High Country. Beach towns are packed with local holidaymakers and their
families.
Australian Open
The world's top tennis players and huge crowds descend on Melbourne Park for Australia's
Grand Slam championship (
Click here
)
. Grab a ground pass or book ahead to see a top seed
from the arena seats.
Midsumma Festival
Melbourne's gay and lesbian arts festival (
Click here
)
features more than 150 events with a
Pride March finale. Expect everything from film screenings to same-sex dance sports and
massive riverside dance parties.
Big Day Out
National rock-fest Big Day Out (
www.bigdayout.com
)
comes to town at the end of January.
Big names are guaranteed, and if you miss out on the big day itself, many artists perform
'side shows' at venues around Melbourne.
Chinese New Year
Melbourne has celebrated the Chinese lunar new year since Little Bourke St became Chin-
atown (
www.chinatownmelbourne.com.au
)
in the 1860s. The time to touch the dragon hap-
pens either sometime towards the end of January or early February.
