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The annual Australia Day celebration is almost upon us once again, with Australians all around the country preparing to mark the occasion with a beach trip or barbeque on the 26th January. Australia Day has also gone global, with formal and informal events being held all around the world. Here is our pick of some of the best.
United States
Australia Day is celebrated not just on one day, but over two whole weeks in the United States, with the annual G’Day USA Australia Week festivities. This year’s special 10th anniversary events will take place from the 9th-22nd January in the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, New York, Chicago, Houston, and Washington DC. The headline function is the G’Day USA Black Tie Gala, held in Los Angeles, featuring a gourmet menu designed by celebrity chef Curtis Stone. The 2013 function will be hosted by Richard Wilkins and Elle Macpherson, and screen icon Paul Hogan is amongst the famous Australians to be honoured at this year’s event.
United Kingdom
London is one of the biggest Australian expat hubs in the world, and there are many events celebrating Australia Day happening all around the city. The Walkabout pubs dotted all around London promise a wild time for those who like to party, with Australian DJs, the Triple J Hottest 100, and themed dress up competitions adding to the fun. For film fans, celebrate with a classic Australian film at one of many screenings, with The Castle, The Man From Snowy River and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert amongst the big-screen selections. There are also a range of black-tie events for something more formal, with the exclusive Australia Day reception at Australia House, which was last year attended by Prince Charles, and the Australia Day Business Celebration, which will feature a VIP guest appearance by Socceroo star Tim Cahill.
Japan
The annual black tie ball hosted by the Australian Society in Tokyo is a great excuse to dress up and enjoy a gourmet four course meal and Australian wine, in five star surrounds. Best of all, the evening is for a great cause, with all extra proceeds from the event being donated to charity. For those who are keen to partake in Australia Day festivities but will not be in Tokyo on the day, fear not, as there’s another celebration in April, ‘Australia Day in Spring’, hosted by the Australian Ambassador and Embassy. The event takes place in the stunning surrounds of the embassy gardens, with cherry blossoms in full bloom, and a showcase of the very best Australian food and wines.
China
The Chinese city of Shanghai hosts many events to mark Australia Day, with both expats and locals getting in on the fun. A highlight is the annual Aussie Barbie, held at Kakadu restaurant, which gets bigger and better every year. For the families, there’s the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai’s celebration, which features live music and a jumping castle. For those who can’t get enough of Two-Up on ANZAC Day, Shangai venue Sasha’s will be running the game all day, as well as serving up Aussie delicacies such as meat pies, sausage rolls, and burgers with beetroot.
Canada
The ski resort town of Whistler is almost like a ‘mini-Australia’, with thousands of young Australians flocking to work on the mountains every year. The month of January is the time of some of the best snow of the year around Whistler, so many here like to celebrate Australia Day with a ski or board run down the powdery slopes, with some donning Australian-themed fancy dress for the occasion. If the weather turns a little chilly, warm up in nearby Vancouver with an Australian-themed wine tasting day, with almost 120 wines on show from all around Australia.
Celebrate Australia somewhere different this year. Visit http://www.travelmanagers.com.au/ptm-search/ and start planning your next holiday.
We at Travel Managers Australia recognise the traditional owners of the country where we live and work. We recognise and celebrate the diversity of Indigenous people and their enduring cultures and connections to the land and waters of New South Wales.
