5 Aussie sporting events to put on your bucket list
When it comes to sport, few countries come close to Australia. Not only do we bat above our average (sometimes quite literally) on the international stage, we also have a range of exciting events to attend on the domestic front.
Here are five Aussie sporting events to put on your bucket list:
1. State of Origin – Game 3
Whether you’re attending a match in the Harbour City or the Sunshine State, the atmosphere at this annual contest for eastern Australian bragging rights is always something to savour. Even if the series has already been decided, Game 3 is a chance to witness what is undoubtedly the greatest exhibition of rugby league on the planet.
2. AFL Grand Final Day
Perhaps rivalled only by the ANZAC Day Match in terms of scale, AFL Grand Final Day is footy’s afternoon of afternoons, and the most highly-anticipated bounce of the year. Even if your team didn’t make it to the last weekend in September, it worth the price of admission to be among the hundred thousand fans screaming their team home.
3. Melbourne Cup
There’s a reason they call it the “race that stops a nation”. Australia’s biggest horse race has been going for over 150 years, attracting a field of some of the best horses and jockeys the world has to offer. Legends are made on the famous Flemington race track, with many Australian’s waking up next day to contemplate a legendary hangover.
4. Boxing Day Test Match
When it comes to summer sport in Australia cricket is still king, and the best place to watch it Down Under is among a hundred thousand cricket lovers at the MCG. The energy of the crowd leading up to the delivery of the first ball is incredible, making this a must-do experience for every sport lover – just pray there aren’t any rain delays!
5. Australian Open
The only tennis grand slam in the Southern Hemisphere, the Australian Open attracts approximately 650,000 people to Melbourne Park every year to see some of the best tennis in the world. In recent years, the quality of the tennis has been incredible, and it’s the best opportunity to see the sport’s biggest names in our own backyard.
Additional mentions:
- Bathurst 1000
- Australian Formula One Grand Prix
- Bledisloe Cup
- Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
- A-League Grand Final
- Australian Open (golf)
Have you been to any of these Aussie sporting events? Share your experience in the comments below.