I May Be Coming To Visit

[kah22]

I may be coming to visit.



A few friends and I are toying with the idea of taking a career break in 2009 - the year after next. We want to travel and one suggestion was that we spend a few months 3/4 in Australia and the same in the US. As normal I get to do the initial investigation. Myself well I'm more into old places and history and all of that sort of thing and to be honest I still think of Australia as a young country will no great history - not if you put it up against the like of Europe.



So is there anything I should know right away. I mean is there a better time of the year to visit Australia, is there a time when guys like myself should stay away. I



I accept of course that you are a little bigger than Ireland <img src='http://www.melbournechat.org/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> and that you probaly have a little bit more going than we do over here. Seriously though if there are any big festivals or events planned for 2009 that you know off I'd be delighted if you'd let me know.



Myself couldn't give a toss about sport, think it is a total waste of time so I'd probally be confining myself to the more gentile persuits of musuems, theatre and so forth



Anyway that's it. Maybe visiting in 2009 want to know whats going on, want to know what to see and do.



Kevin

Armagh City

Ireoand

[glen]

hi kevin,



Australia only has about 200 years of white history but the indigenous people have lived here for thousands of years so there is a lot of history from that point of view.



Best time to visit would be in summer or early autumn. That would be from Jan through to April. The weather is good and, given the current drought, it probably won't rain very much either.



In terms of events, we have quite a few sporting activities such as the Grand Prix, Australian Open (Tennis) etc. But given that you are interested in more theatrical/art stuff, then perhaps the following events might be of interest (this is a cut and paste from the That's Melbourne website):



[url="http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/"]http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au[/url]



January

[url="http://www.midsumma.org.au/"]Midsumma Festival[/url]

Melbourne's annual gay and lesbian festival.



February

[url="http://www.lmff.com.au/"]L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival[/url]

Annual fashion event held in the City.

[url="http://www.mso.com.au/"]Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl[/url]

A series of free performances held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.



March

[url="http://www.melbournequeerfilm.com.au/"]Volkswagen Melbourne Queer Film Festival[/url]

The largest and oldest queer film festival in Australia.



April

[url="http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/"]Melbourne International Comedy Festival[/url]

Annual comedy festival featuring Australian and international comedians.



May

[url="http://www.nextwave.org.au/"]Next Wave Festival[/url]

A bi-annual festival presenting contemporary works of young artists.

[url="http://www.melbournejazz.com/"]Melbourne International Jazz Festival[/url]

Features the best in local and international jazz musicians.



June

[url="http://www.circusoz.com/"]Circus Oz at Birrarung Marr[/url]

Melbourne’s own Circus Oz annually performing under the big top at Birrarung Marr.

[url="http://www.internationalpuppetcarnival.com.au/"]International Puppet Carnival[/url]

A week long festival featuring the most talented puppet masters from around Australia and New Zealand.



July

[url="http://www.nationaldesigncentre.com/"]Melbourne Design Festival[/url]

A ten day festival celebrating the best in Australian and International design

[url="http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/"]Melbourne Winter Masterpieces[/url]

An annual international exhibition presented by the National Gallery of Victoria



August

[url="http://www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au/"]Melbourne International Film Festival[/url]

Australia’s most significant film event, presenting an unparalleled programme of cinema from around the globe.

[url="http://www.mwf.com.au/"]The Age Melbourne Writers’ Festival[/url]

Features international and Australian writers, as well as a diverse program of events.

[url="http://www.artfair.com.au/"]Melbourne Art Fair[/url]

Biennial art fair held at the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens.



September

[url="http://www.melbournefringe.com.au/"]Melbourne Fringe[/url]

An annual festival presenting a range of contemporary and innovative work by independent artists.

[url="http://http//www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/info.cfm?top=259&pg=2183&cID=54"]Motorola Melbourne Spring Fashion Week[/url]

A week long frenzy that is one of Melbourne’s most innovative and stylish fashion events.



October

[url="http://www.melbournefestival.com.au/"]Melbourne International Arts Festival[/url]

One of Australia's leading international arts festivals.



December

[url="http://www.rmp.org.au/"]Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Christmas concert[/url]

An annual Melbourne tradition of the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Melbourne Town Hall.

[Guest]

[quote name='glen' post='2250' date='Jan 27 2007, 10:31 AM']hi kevin,



Best time to visit would be in summer or early autumn. That would be from Jan through to April. The weather is good and, given the current drought, it probably won't rain very much either.[/quote]



It is a funny old world our summer is June July Aug and autumm Sept Oct Nov. You really are mixed up down there.



Kevin



ps as a matter of interest we speak of Australia as been 'down under,' would you speak of Europe as been 'up above,' or anything like that. Just curious K

[glen]

no we never say "up above"!



we do use the term "down under" occasionally.



did any of those listed events interest you?



cheers, glen

[kah22]

[quote name='glen' post='2260' date='Jan 27 2007, 01:54 PM']did any of those listed events interest you?



cheers, glen[/quote]



September

Melbourne Fringe

An annual festival presenting a range of contemporary and innovative work by independent artists.



October

Melbourne International Arts Festival

One of Australia's leading international arts festivals



September and October seem to be raising their head. Maybe Christmas on the beech instead of Christmas snuggling up to a big log fire with a hot wiskey (Irish of course)



Kevin.