Australia Day extravaganza

Sydney is famous for its New Year’s Eve celebrations, however for equally spectacular fireworks displays, music festivals, boat and ferry races, beach BBQs, street parades and a great party atmosphere, then a trip during Australia Day, on 26 January, is an ideal alternative – and much more affordable!

Avoid sky-high flight prices and costly hotels over New Year’s Eve and enjoy more authentic Aussie-style celebrations at a fraction of the price.

Celebrate Australian Day in Sydney with Australian Sky which is offering a 10-night, twin-centre city package to Sydney and Melbourne from only £1,699 per person (based on two sharing). Valid for departure on 23 January, the price includes flights from London Heathrow to Sydney with Etihad, five nights’ accommodation in three-star quality hotels in both Sydney and Melbourne, internal flight transfers with Virgin Blue between cities and all taxes and surcharges.

For more information, visit australiansky.co.uk.

Australia Day is the national day of Australia and an official public holiday for all. Celebrated annually, it commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of the British at Sydney Cove in 1788 with over 5,000 events taking place throughout the country that celebrate everything that’s great about being Australian. Celebrations in Australia’s oldest and biggest city, Sydney, are particularly flamboyant with a marathon of events which run all day.

Start by watching the Woggan-ma-gule Morning Ceremony performed in the Royal Botanic Gardens, sacred land of the Indigenous Gadigal people. Then head over to Sydney’s biggest backyard, Hyde Park, with heaps of activities for kids and adults alike to include dancing, singing and interactive craft workshops, as well as entertainment, wine, great Aussie BBQ food, fun and relaxation. Alternatively, Sydney Harbour hosts a whole spectrum of events. From the shoreline, watch Tall Ships, tugs, ferries, barges and vessels of all shapes and sizes strut their stuff for the thousands of spectators.

The grand finale is, of course, the Darling Harbour Australia Day fireworks extravaganza. With a stunning multimedia symphony of pyrotechnics, light and music culminating in a massive fireworks display over Cockle Bay, the Australia Day Spectacular promises to be sensational.