Spring comes knocking with events that’ll get you out and about

04–07 Oct
BATHURST, NEW SOUTH WALES
V8 Supercar Championship

It may be a cliché but we just have to say it: the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 is great fun for the whole family! For the 45th year, cars will burn up the track at Mount Panorama (two hours from Sydney) at speeds of up to 300kph. Crowds of 40,000 are expected, so the motorhome park has returned, extra grandstands have been built and there’ll be dedicated family areas. The grand finale (30 November to 2 December) on Phillip Island in Victoria promises to be rip-roaring too! Tickets at the gate or through Ticketek, tel: 132 849.

06 Oct to 25 Nov
KOBE, JAPAN
Kobe Biennale

The Kobe Biennale visual arts festival is now bigger and better than ever in its 6th instalment. The festival theme, “Encounters: People, Town and Arts”, and categories like “Universal Design”, “Robot Media Art” and “Children’s Painting” promise to generate some interesting creations. We also love the idea of the new international competition for “Art in a [Shipping] Container” – no unpacking needed! Open daily 10am to 8pm (except last day), at Kobe Meriken Park Hatoba-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe (30 minutes from Osaka). Entry is ¥1,200 for adults. Tel: +81 (78) 322 6598.

05–07 Oct
SYDNEY
Hope Street Markets

Come and discover Australia’s next top designer – the Hope Street Markets feature some of the most exciting designing talent around gathered in one place. You won’t know how to choose between all the fab art, clothes, jewellery and accessories on show in the markets’ boho-chic warehouse site! Fortunately, there’s plenty of food, drinks and music for sustenance. The markets help support Hope Street, an urban compassion project for the homeless. 182 Campbell St, Surry Hills, 6–9pm (Friday) and noon–5pm (Saturday and Sunday). www.hopestreetmarkets.com

13 Oct
BIG ISLAND, HAWAII
Ford Iron Man World Championship

Don’t miss one of the most exciting Iron Man championships, held at Kailua-Kona on Hawaii’s stunning Big Island. The world’s top 1,700 athletes will be throwing themselves headlong into the 3.8km ocean swim, 180km bike ride and 42km run. It’s not known as the “Super Bowl” of triathlons for nothing! www.ironman.com

06–07 Oct
HOBART
Tulip Festival

The Tulip Festival at the Royal Tasmanian Botanic Gardens is Tassie’s most beautiful celebration of spring. Expect an explosion of flowers, fun, entertainment and lots of food from various cultures – including the Netherlands, naturally. Make the most of the chance to get out and enjoy the freshness of spring, from 10am to 4pm. Adults AU$10; concession AU$6, tel: +61 (3) 6236 3075. And if you leave wanting more, head to the town of Wynyard (two hours from Launceston, 40 minutes east of Devonport) the following week for the Bloomin’ Tulips Festival, 7–13 October. You’ll find tulips growing wild throughout the town!

07 Oct
MELBOURNE
Samsung Melbourne Marathon

Take part in the 30th birthday of a Melbourne institution – if you haven’t signed up to run the Samsung Melbourne Marathon, just station yourself along the scenic route through St Kilda, Albert Park and Port Melbourne or take a seat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) where the finishing lap will be run for the first time. Marathon Ambassador and 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kerry McCann comments, “Entering the stadium gave me the biggest boost of my running career at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and I’m sure everyone… will get a tingling sensation when they enter the MCG, whether they’re running, jogging or walking.” Tel: +61 (3) 9864 1137.

11–19 Oct
PHUKET, THAILAND
Vegetarian Festival

Photo: Shutterstock/
Ersler Dmitry
The annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival is the island’s biggest and most colourful event, with street processions from nine shrines over seven days. Those who want to really immerse themselves in this “cleansing” festival should look up the 10 rules of abstinence for participants and have a go. This somewhat shocking festival features unbelievable acts of faith, including walking over hot coals, body-piercing, and climbing ladders with razor-bladed rungs. Ouch! www.phuketvegetarian.com

11–27 Oct
MELBOURNE
Melbourne International Arts Festival

The city springs to life again for Melbourne’s leading international arts event, which features dance, theatre, music, multimedia and visual arts. Alongside homegrown talent in the shape of the Teapot Ensemble of Australia, the Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra and Chunky Move’s award-winning Glow – digital technology interacting with human movement – look forward to the return of the hugely popular Dan Zanes and Friends from Brooklyn. For after-dark glamour, don’t miss the Famous Spiegeltent. Call Ticketmaster on 1300 136 166 within Australia for bookings.

12–14 Oct
MANDURAH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The Little Nippers Maawit Kara Children’s Festival

With a theme of “Wild West”, this three-day fun-filled festival for children and families on the foreshore at Mandurah, an hour from Perth, promises to be even more madcap than last year. The weekend kicks off with a fireworks spectacular and rolls on with a chock-a-block program of puppet shows, strolling performers, rides, arts and crafts, and interactive shows. Best of all, entry is free! Tel: +61 (8) 9550 3999.