Celebrate Australia Day

Australia Day, Saturday January 26, is a day for all Australians to come together and celebrate what makes our country great.

Research shows that 87 per cent of Australians celebrate Australia Day in some way on January 26 and, of course, a lot of us do it on the water. Meantime, more than five million Australians attend organised public events around the country.

Virtually every yacht club and boating-related club in the country has something happening on Australia Day.

The research also shows that 93 per cent of Australians consider Australia Day our most important national celebration, which demonstrates how proud we are of this diverse land and the waterways we share.

It’s a great time to get the flags out, dress up the boat and the crew and enjoy a day on the water where the camaraderie is great.

Geelong comes alive over the Australia Day long weekend as 100,000 people flock to the picturesque Geelong Waterfront to take part in the excitement that is the Festival of Sails.

The Festival of Sails is Victoria’s oldest ongoing sporting event, and the largest annual keel-boat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere. The event annually attracts over 400 yachts and 4500 competitors and, we’re told, 2013 will not disappoint, with 15 different race series catering from the highest performance Grand Prix yachts through to the sports and trailer sailers. 

Sydney Harbour is positively thronging on Australia Day. The action starts with the Great Sydney Swim at 8.30am in Farm Cove, which has 300m, 750m and 2.2km races (register swimseries.com.au), before the Ferrython at 11am, and a 21 gun salute at midday. 

There are new Floating Concerts in Athol Bay from 1pm, a F/A-18 Hornet flyover and RAN Search and Rescue helicopter demos from 1.30-2pm, when the Tall Ships race gets underway.

But for Sydney boaters, the big events are the Best Dressed Vessel Competition where $2000 is up for grabs. Boats of all shapes and sizes and their merry crews adopt themes from tropical Hawaiian to pirates, Aussie outback, mermaids and more. Most of the action takes place in Athol Bay. See australiaday.com.au for details and to register to be in the running for the cash prizes. The judging takes place from 12.30pm to 1.00pm

The other big boating event is the 177th Australia Day Regatta, the world's oldest continuously run annual sailing regatta, with races throughout the afternoon for all classes of yachts, old and new, and skiffs. 

There are speed and exclusion zones on the harbour during Australia Day. See www.rms.nsw.gov.au. 

The RMYC Broken Bay will be staging the biggest boating parades on Pittwater.

This Australia Day, the National Australia Day Council is encouraging everyone to be part of the celebrations and to also consider what it is you think makes Australia a great place to live.

There are thousands of organised events happening across Australia, from in big city centres to the smallest of our regional communities and all manner of waterways. To get involved in what’s happening in your local area, find all the details at www.australiaday.org.au. 

For more information about Australia Day and all the events happening around the nation, visit www.australiaday.org.au/events.aspx

A dynamic new light show exploring the history of migration to Australia and the compelling stories of those who’ve come across the seas will be the culmination of celebrations at the Australian National Maritime Museum this Australia Day.

Premiering on Australia Day and running after dark until 17 February, Waves of Migration is a thought-provoking eight-minute animated projection on the museum’s iconic roof that weaves together Australia’s rich tapestry of migration. 

The light show will be the culmination of a packed day of activities at the museum making it a great value day out for families. To celebrate this special day, entry to the museum’s galleries will be free and stay open until 7 pm. 

And for Australia Day only the museum is offering a special Australia Day Experience ticket for just $5. This gives families the opportunity to step on board its Daring class destroyer HMAS Vampire and to spend a day at the museum joining in the sea adventures in its summer family attractions – Ships and the Sea, Pirates and WetWorld.

Also on Australia Day there will be live entertainment – look out for our roving performers and inflatable characters and a special Australia Day menu in Yots Café.

And as we head towards the evening the museum’s waterside areas will remain open for families to enjoy live entertainment and their picnics while they settle in for the Darling Harbour Fireworks. Yots Café will remain open serving an evening menu and drinks, and funk/soul band Band of Brothers will play their funky tunes on the performance platform from 6 pm until 9.15 pm.  

There’s also the chance to join in all the action on Sydney Harbour on board the museum’s magnificent Endeavour replica which will be sailing out to watch the parade and taking part in the famous Tall Ship Race. Spaces on the Endeavour Australia Day sail are $250 each and include entertainment, morning tea and picnic lunch. For more information or to book call 9298 3777. 

The Australian National Maritime Museum, at Darling Harbour, is a short walk from the city across Pyrmont Bridge. Or catch a Sydney Ferry to Pyrmont Bay, the monorail to Harbourside or the Light Rail to Pyrmont Bay. All enquiries phone (02) 9298 3777 or visit www.anmm.gov.au/australiaday.