2012 Frankston Waterfront Festival is set to be the best event of the year. Starting on Sat the 14th and going to Sunday the 15th, you'll find free entertainment, live music, food and wine and activities all weekend. Come and try activities including human bowling, martial arts, circus skills, beach cricket and more.
There will be a main stage with an impressive line up: the Dirty Boogie Band, Ash Ball, Bac2 Bac, Geoff Achison and Hopwood, Matt Katsis and Blakiston's Owl and Heidi Louise. Performances from Code One, Brighter At Night, Sunday Rain, Peninsula Folk Club and the Mere Poets will also take place over both days.
Don't miss the fireworks on the Saturday night at 9.45pm.
See beach soccer on Frankston's award-winning clean and friendly beach, offering tricks from some of the state's best along with the chance for novices to try this exciting sport for themselves. The Australian Football Skool will be hosting a beach soccer tournament on both days.
If you want more, keep an eye out for croquet, craft activities, chalk art and fitness tips from Fenix Fitness Club, an interactive children's garden, environmental displays and cooking demonstrations.
There's no better way to spend your summer weekend in Frankston - just a short drive from Melbourne at the start of the Mornington Peninsula.
Mornington Peninsula is always got a lot of things happening and at the moment, the Snapper are biting in Port Phillip Bay. Snapper season starts around September and goes til Christmas.
Snapper is a great fish to catch and a great fish to eat. They often weigh in around 5 kilos and are typically caught with pilchards, but you'll also find lures working as well as squid and silver whiting.
Best time to get out there is around sunrise, but these fish are abundant now and can be caught throughout the day. You can catch them from boats or from shore. You might try the Frankston Pier for some fun with the kids. Or go a little further south to Dromana Pier.
Rhyll, Corinella, Tooradin, Warneet and all of that area around the top of the Port Phillip Bay has been productive in the start of the season.
Port Phillip Bay: Corio Bay and the Mornington Peninsula are fishing really well for snapper this week and the fish are holding in shallow water. Mornington, Carrum, Mordialloc and Ricketts Point have produced some fantastic reds with pilchards proving the most effective baits at this stage.
Queenscliffe, Point Lonsdale, and Sorrento are also providing some big squid with weights to 2kg.
The Port Fairy Folk Festival happens on the Labour Day long weekend (in Victoria, Labour Day is in March). The Port Fairy Folk Festival has been evolving since the first happening in 1977 and has become one the of the Great Ocean Road regions major events drawing artists and audiences from around the world.
The Port Fairy Folk Festival is a 4 day event that starts this year on March 9th. Tickets will be available online from the website from October and all tickets are 4-day Passes (http://www.portfairyfolkfestival.com).
Like all the festivals, Artist Announcements are not official until closer to the date. Port Fairy Folk Festival generally presents a mixed line-up of International and Australian bands that range from world music to blues and roots to jazz and country. There will be big names and lesser known artists that will surprise you with sounds that will win your heart.
Where is Port Fairy?
Port Fairy is a small fishing village on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria's southwest. If you're driving from Melbourne, it will take approximately 3 1/2 hours. Warrnambool is the closest larger town. (Map of Port Fairy).
Accommodation for the Port Fairy Music Festival
Camping is not included in your festival ticket and unlike other festivals they don't offer a camping/music package. The Southcombe Caravan Park, which is next to the festival grounds, has camping which is only available to ticket holders. You'll need to purchase your ticket in advance of buying camping because Southcombe Caravan Park will require your ticket number to make a booking.
Alternatively, there is a lot of accommodation in Port Fairy, including other camping options. Motels such as the Central Motel Port Fairy are great places to stay, but they are usually booked well in advance. For more info, you could try ringing the Port Fairy Visitor Information Centre on 03 5568 2682. You might also need to seek accommodation in Warrnambool, which is 20 minutes drive from Port Fairy.
This looks like a really fun endurance event... assuming you're part psycho. Something to get your heart going, test your physical endurance and have a lot of fun with a bunch of like-minded crazy people.
Tough Mudder is Ironman meets Burning Man
Quote from the official Tough Mudder website, "Tough Mudder is not your average lame-ass mud run or spirit-crushing ‘endurance’ road race. It’s Ironman meets Burning Man, and it is coming to a location near you. Our 10-12 mile obstacle courses are designed by British Special Forces to test all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. Forget finish times. Simply completing a Tough Mudder is a badge of honor."
Tough Mudder doesn't have typical awards and there aren't any cash prizes. The event gives equal value to costume as well as finishing times. They also award based on respect where the people who have overcome illness, injury and misfortune are celebrated as well.
Tough Mudder recognizes the Fastest Finishers
Top 3 Men
Top 3 Women
Top 3 Veterans (Over 45)
Equally important, Tough Mudder Costume Awards
Best costume — Most Bad-Ass
Worst costume — Most Dumb-Ass
Least Clothing — Most Ass
Most Likely To Have Been In The Village People
THE TOUGH MUDDER POST EVENT PARTY
Again in the spirit of fun and celebrating the process rather than the race, the 'After Party' is a continuation of the Tough Mudder ethos. It starts with a hose down by volunteer firemen and usually a free beer. As they say, no namby-pamby sport drinks for us. Also significant is the option to get tattooed.
Then, there is a BBQ and free live music. The whole event is a charity to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Preparing for a Tough Mudder
Tough Mudder is a really tough physical challenge. At the end of the day, however, it is just as much a test of mental toughness and grit. Tough Mudder is about completing a fearsome challenge, not renewing your sponsorship contract with Timex.
Each Tough Mudder course will be a little different, but you are basically looking at 10+ miles of hills, mud, water, ropes, walls, electric shocks, and of course, fire.
Tough Mudder Melbourne Australia is scheduled for Sat March 31 & Sun April 1, 2012. Now to be held on Phillip Island.
Tough Mudder Location and Directions - Phillip Island
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Back Beach Road, Cowes Victoria
Beechworth Victoria its annual 'A Feast of the North East' Harvest Celebration on May 13th, 14th and 15th. The festival starts with a gala Friday night dinner followed up by a weekend of great food, wine and music. Margaret Fulton, and her daughter Suzanne Gibbs, will be the celebrity guests for the Friday Gala Dinner held in Beechworth’s Memorial Hall.
This year, the Harvest Celebration in Beechworth has moved its festival site to La Trobe at Beechworth located on Albert Road; approximately 500 metres from the Beechworth town centre. There will be over 60 market stalls plus a Culinary and Wine Theatre, winery tours, themed dinners and menus, roving entertainment, children's activities and so much more!
The Harvest Celebration in Beechworth is managed and funded by the Beechworth and District Chamber of Commerce.
Victoria Travel Tips
Again in the spirit of fun and celebrating the process rather than the race, the 'After Party' is a continuation of the Tough Mudder ethos. It starts with a hose down by volunteer firemen and usually a free beer. As they say, no namby-pamby sport drinks for us. Also significant is the option to get tattooed.