Australians will seize on just about any excuse for a celebration, and while you’re visiting this country it only makes sense to follow the light-hearted, self-indulgent lead of its inhabitants. The year gets off to a champagne-swilling start when fireworks explode high above Sydney Harbour on New Year’s Eve. The new year is also vigorously celebrated further south during the Hobart Summer Festival, when Taswegians stuff themselves with food, wine and song. In late January the streets of Tamworth in NSW are littered with broken guitar strings and broken hearts during its famous Country Music Festival, while Sydney vamps itself up in February when the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras overwhelms Oxford St with rowdy, colourful glam. The exuberant Adelaide Festival of Arts and its eccentric sibling, Adelaide Fringe, fill the SA capital with culture and idiosyncratic performances in March every two years. And in April in Victoria, Melbourne repeatedly smacks its own funny bone with the outstanding International Comedy Festival. The outback Queensland town of Longreach droves itself crazy with dust-raising thrills during the three-day Outback Muster in May. Meanwhile, for sheer quirkiness and dedication to silliness, the NT’s long-running Beer Can Regatta in Darwin in July is an absolute must-see. Indigenous music is the highlight of Stompen Ground, held September/October in the WA town of Broome. Golden beaches, baked red deserts and glam­orous cities. An ancient indigenous history and a young, vibrant culture: welcome to Australia! Stick around, hang out with us a while. With this bestselling guide to the Land Down Under tucked under one arm, let us show you why Lonely Planet calls Australia home. The worlds best-selling guide to Australia! 208 detailed and easy to use maps Full coverage - bustling cities, outback trails and everything in between Unique Green Index to help make your travels as ecofriendly as you wish 16-page colour map section, to navigate the countrys highways and byways Accommodation to suit all budgets