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Tag: unusual events

  • Cockroach Racing in Queensland – Unusual Australia Day Celebrations

    As the world is winding down after the festive season, Australia is looking forward to its next celebration. The country marks Australia Day on January 26, the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of British settlers in 1788. Events take place all around the country, but none are as colorful as Queensland’s cockroach races.

    It’s not as glamorous as the Melbourne Cup, but a day at this offbeat sporting event will also cost you far less than taking in Australia’s premier horse race. Spectators at the Story Bridge Hotel swap their champagne for schooners of beer and dress in shorts and thongs, or flip flops if you prefer, rather than cocktail dresses. The races have been run at this pub just outside Brisbane since 1981, a year when legend says Daz, Hawthorne, and Igor, or Gor to his mates, were arguing about whose suburb had the largest cockroaches. Bringing their insects to the pub was the only way to settle the matter, and racing the roaches seemed like the next logical step.

    Make sure you’re there at 11 am to get a prime viewing position amongst the 7000 strong crowd. A gold coin donation will secure you a spot in the tiered seating around the track. It might seem strange to start drinking before noon, but this is Australia after all. A few cleansing ales are just what you need to appreciate the spectacle of the sport. The actual races are run on a vacant plot next to the pub. There a four-meter wide square with a circle within it serves as a miniature race track for the cockies. Their stable is a big bucket, and names written on their back help the punters keep an eye on the action. Once the creepy-crawlies take to the track they can cross the circle in any direction they please, and the first to do so is declared the winner.

    There are usually 14 races on the day, and you can BYOR (that’s bring your own roach) or buy one at the pub for a fiver. If your six-legged stallion is one of the first three to cross the line you’ll win a trophy and prizes. There’s a charity component to the event as well, with funds raised benefiting Variety, a non-profit group that works tirelessly for sick, disadvantaged, and disabled children.

    While most champions are celebrated there’s no joy for the winners of this sporting event. Just like the rest of his competitors he’s unceremoniously sprayed once the race is run. However his name will live on as part of the Cockroach Hall of Fame, alongside other champions like Osama Bin Liner, Cocky ‘N’ Bullwinkle, and Crawl Keating, named after former Prime Minister Paul Keating.

    cockroachThe races are the centerpiece of the celebrations but there are still plenty of other activities to entertain locals and tourists alike. The title of Miss Cocky isn’t quite as prestigious as Miss Australia, but it nets the winner a $200 pub voucher, which will go a long way towards the evening’s drinks. The stakes are even higher for the Best Stable Costume Comp. Teams wearing their wackiest getup have the chance to win a $2000 party at the Story Bridge Hotel. There’s a $10 registration fee, but if you take out the title it’s worth the initial outlay. Bands and DJs are also on hand to entertain the masses, and there’s a dunking machine if the Queensland heat gets too much for you.

    The party lasts well into the night, as all good Australian parties do. You’re likely to wake with a fuzzy head but also some great memories of one of the most unique sporting events Down Under.

  • Rock and Roll Party at Parkes’ Elvis Festival

    It’s a long way from Graceland, but during the second week of January the small Australian town of Parkes honors the King of Rock and Roll at the Elvis Festival.

    You’ll find Parkes in the heart of New South Wales, 365 kilometers from the state’s capital city, Sydney.

    Around 11, 000 people live there, but during the five-day Elvis Festival the town literally doubles in size. Highlights of the event include the Elvis Gospel Church Service, the crowning of Miss Priscilla, the Elvis Street Parade, and of course the performances of hundreds of Elvis impersonators. Couples renew their wedding vows in a public ceremony presided over by the King himself, and aspiring singers cover classic rock and roll tunes in the Elvis Idol competition. Given the festival's popularity, it's unsurprising that Parkes' hotels, motels, and caravan parks quickly reach their capacity. It's advisable to book your accommodation early to avoid missing out. Alternatively you might like to stay in one of the neighboring towns, rough it in Tent City, or bunker down with a local. Houses in the Festival Home Hosting program are all inspected for cleanliness and privacy, and participating is a great way to make new friends. [caption id="attachment_4776" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Elvis Presley"]Elvis Presley[/caption] The best way to get to the festival is to take the CountryLink Elvis Express from Sydney. This is no ordinary train. Elvis impersonators entertain the passengers as they make their way to the festival. A ticket on the train also includes a shuttle bus pass, which allows you to get around Parkes during your stay. If you'd prefer a quicker trip, catch the Rex Airlines' Priscilla Plane.

  • Unusual Animal Races in New South Wales, Australia

    Australians regularly combine their love of sport with their thirst for betting with some wacky animal sporting races.

    We've looked at the Camel Cup in Alice Springs and cane toad races in Queensland, but it seems New South Wales has the market cornered with three unusual animal races. In the big smoke of Sydney they've got crab races. The Friend in Hand pub in the city's inner-west holds the crustacean races every Wednesday night to help folks liven up their working week. For $5 you can buy a crab, give it an inspirational name, and see it face off against 30 other competitors. The atmosphere is rowdy and raucous, especially once the crowd enjoys a few cleansing ales.Australia map The city is also famous for its greyhound races. They might not be as strange as the crab races, but these events are so popular that they're worth a mention. Visit the newly revamped Wentworth Park Sporting Complex in the inner-city suburb of Glebe to see the doggies chasing the robotic hare every Monday and Saturday night. You don't need to know anything about the sport to enjoy this evening out.
    There's plenty of time between races to catch up with mates and indulge in a quiet beer, and there’s nothing quite like the thrill of an unexpected win. Sheep aren't known for their speed, but the locals in the country town of Booligal in the Riverina district still turn out every October to see these animals race at the annual Booligal Cup. The event was originally conceived as a way to perk up the locals in the drought-stricken 1990s. Back then the sheep were only dressed up in colorful costumes, but in time sheep racing became part of the festivities. As sheep aren't the smartest of creatures it can take some effort to encourage them to run in the right direction, but that's all part of the fun of this quirky event. These unusual animal events may never catch on as international pastimes, but they're definitely worth experiencing when you're holidaying in New South Wales.

  • Unusual Camel Cup is The Race That Stops Outback Australia

    Most of the time the residents of the Australian Outback are happy to enjoy life at a slower pace.

    But every July the Northern Territory town of Alice Springs comes alive as it celebrates the annual Camel Cup. While horses are obliging animals, camel jockeys are faced with a much tougher task. The beasts live up to their cantankerous reputations, which can result in some interesting antics. They might sit down on the track, or leave it altogether if the whim takes them! They’re also prone to spitting and biting their rivals, which only adds to the fun. But once they get going, camels aren't a bad way to get about. They can maintain a speed of 40 km/h for around an hour, and reach up to 65 kays when sprinting. While the series of camel races are the main event, there's more to lure spectators including market stalls and live entertainment. Some of the biggest crowd pleasers are rickshaw races, belly dancers, live music, and a uniquely central Australian take on "Fashions in the Field." The first Camel Cup was raced in 1970 when two locals raced camels down the dry Todd River as a bet. It drew quite a crowd of curious spectators who enjoyed the race so much it became a regular fixture on the Northern Territory calendar. This year the Camel Cup celebrates its 40th anniversary on July 10.

  • Queensland’s Cane Toad Races Strike Back Against Environmental Pests

    If you’re traveling around Australia and end up in the far north Queensland region, chances are that you’ll happen upon one of the area’s infamous cane toad races.

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    These wacky events are a crowd-pleasing way to deal with the infestation of these pesky amphibians.

    The grotesque cane toads were originally introduced into Queensland to combat the beetles which destroyed the state’s sugarcane crops. Sadly the cane toads left the beetles alone, but began to decimate the rest of the landscape. They feasted upon small wildlife, while larger creatures that saw the toads as a meal succumbed to their poisonous glands. They also bred rapidly, and spread from Queensland to other Australian states.

    Cane toad races are a way for the locals to strike back against this scourge. Race organizers collect a bucket of cane toads before the race. The toads are assigned numbers and humans who can win prizes if their toad comes out on top. It’s tradition for participants to kiss their toad for luck, although one wonders whether this makes the beasts hop any faster!

    The cane toads are covered by a bucket placed in the middle of a central area, such as a dance floor. Once the bucket is lifted the crowds go wild, encouraging their toad to leave the area first.

    cane toad
    A hated cane toad

    Once the race ends the toads are disposed of in a humane manner. Some suggest the practice is cruel, but one must remember that the cane toad is regarded as Australia’s biggest animal pest. Every toad killed helps to save the country’s native wildlife, so the races serve as a kind of community service.

    You can watch a cane toad race nightly at Port Douglas’ Iron Bar Saloon, every Sunday at Mount Tamborine’s Bearded Dragon Tavern, and on Wednesdays at the Island Tavern on Magnetic Island.

    [Image Source: Sam Fraser-Smith/Flickr]

  • Crazy Beer Can Boats at Darwin’s Beer Can Regatta

    We all know Australians enjoy a beer, but what do they do with all those empty cans? Many of them make their way to The Outback for Darwin’s annual Beer Can Regatta.

    This madcap event sees its participants making boats from empty beer cans.

    All boats must pass tests for seaworthiness before setting sail in July or August. But this is no ordinary race. Once the crews are on the water they attempt to do away with the competition in mock battles. Some of the largest boats resemble Viking ships with their fire hoses and weapons, which are always kept under wraps until the big day. While the beer boats are an adults-only affair, children are invited to take part in their own soft drink can vessels. Since the first event in 1974, the Beer Can Regatta has grown to quite a spectacle with musical performances, market stalls, tug-of-war competitions, a thong-throwing contest (that’s the footwear, not the under garments), and the Henley-on-Mindil race all part of the fun. The latter sees competitors running bottomless boats around like the cars in The Flintstones! The 2010 event will be held on August 8, so get yourself to Darwin's Mindil Beach and enjoy the craziness! Or perhaps you could get creative and enter your own beer can boat. All funds raised benefit Darwin-based charities.