Posts Tagged“australia”

Why No One Gambles like Australians

If Australians aren’t the best at playing rugby, then they’re certainly the best at gambling. Casinos and purveyors of pokies have seen stark rises in revenue over the last few years because no one gambles like Australians. Horse racing has a brave and noble tradition. The largest race in the world, the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, brought in nearly 300 million dollars in just one day. If the facts about Australian gamblers were ever a secret, it seems the world found out. The 2015 Melbourne Cup Carnival brought in $195 million dollars in tourism revenue alone. Australia’s Melbourne Cup,…

What to know about the Melbourne Cup

Photo by CC user 72562013@N06 on Flickr The weather might not be the best Down Under right now, but the blissful days of spring are just around the corner. One of the best-loved traditions of this season in Australia is the Melbourne Cup. Held on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington Racecourse (November 1st in 2016), it is a horse race that captures the imagination of an entire country. Wondering what to know about the Melbourne cup in advance of this year’s contest? This post will fill you in on the basics… What is the Melbourne Cup The Melbourne Cup…

Spending the perfect year in Australia

With global airfares dropping all of the time, it’s now cheaper than ever to visit some seriously exotic far-flung destinations. And Australia has swiftly risen to the top of the pile for many travellers, so if you’re looking to enjoy some spectacular and idiosyncratic Australian attractions in 2016, here are some of the best. Sporting excellence Australians are renowned for their sporting abilities and competitive spirit. And the Australian Open tennis championship at the end of January signals the beginning of the Grand Slam season and provides the perfect opportunity to sample the cosmopolitan charms of the host city Melbourne. As Australia…

A Week in Sydney

Ah, the week. The dreaded standard trip length that seems like too long to claim that you’re “just stopping through,” and not long enough to get a real sense of a city. For the backpacker planning a measly week in Sydney, Australia, those seven little days can seem terribly insufficient to get to really see the sights. So before you get overwhelmed with the wealth of beauty this city has to offer, here’s a quick guide to some “must see”‘s for a week down in Sydney. Crossing the Sydney harbor bridge This is one of Sydney’s most famous attractions, and…