What's On

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday May 24, 2008

Rope and brand 'em

August 8-10

The largest and richest rodeo in the southern hemisphere is the Isa Rodeo. A week of festivities include the rodeo ball, Mardi Gras, horse race, ute muster and live entertainment. www.isarodeo.com.au

Water, everywhere

August 30 - September 7

If you've got it, flaunt it. The Burdekin region celebrates its abundant supply of water in the Burdekin Water Festival, with a wide range of events. For details, email: n.mperry@bigpond.net.au.

Swim with a minke

June - July

Minke whales are commonly seen along the Ribbon Reefs north of Cairns between May and August. In June and July there are minke whale expeditions which allow you to snorkel with the whales. www.queenslandholidays.com.au

Race The Whitsundays

August 14-21

Racing starts each day at 10am and finishes at 4pm during the internationally renowned sailing regatta, the Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race week. www

.airliebeachraceweek.com.au

Return of the Light Horse

October 1-5

Horse sports, cultural and military heritage will be celebrated at Monto in Central Queensland at the Australian Light Horse Re-Enactment and Reunion 2008. For details, email: edith.rutherford@hotmail.com

An epic bike ride

August 22-24

Slip into the lycra shorts and take part in the Cycle Epic races in South East Queensland Country. The Flight Centre Cycle Epic follows a 100-kilometre course along the Bicentennial National Trail. www.cycleepic.com.au

Hatching turtles

October - March

Many varieties of turtles such as the loggerhead, green, leatherback and flatback nest from October to March each year along the Queensland coast from Bundaberg to the Cape. www.queenslandholidays.com.au

Run up a gorge

June 14

The Porcupine Gorge Challenge in Hughenden is an eight-kilometre run or walk along the base of the Gorge system, with $1200 in prizes. Race categories include open, men's, women's and junior events. www.hughenden.com

One hump or two

August 22-24

The tiny outback Queensland town of Hughenden will host a 160-kilometre camel endurance race with total prizes in excess of $50,000. People, and camels, come from around the world for the event. www.aridlandsaustralia.org

Drop on in

October 11-19

The eighth Equinox Skydiving Festival, or Boogie, will be held at the Ramblers parachute drop zone at Toogoolawah, about an hour and a half from Brisbane. All facets of skydiving and parachuting will take place. www.skydiveramblers.com

Catch a new boat

July 18-26

The Mitsubishi Rainbow Beach Family Fishing Classic is open to all ages and levels of experience. The competition is run over eight days at the Rainbow Beach Sports and Recreation Club. www.rainbowsportsclub.com.au

Kiss a fish

October 23-25

The Fitzroy River at Rockhampton is the focus of the Rocky Barra Bounty Tag and Release Barramundi Fishing Event. Teams of two anglers compete across two days.

www.info-fish.net

Getting there

AIR

Virgin Blue flies into 10 Queensland destinations from Sydney and Melbourne including Brisbane, Cairns, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Mackay, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Townsville and the Whitsunday Coast. For fares, see www.virginblue.com.au.

Drive

Whichever way you turn there is always something to discover on a touring

holiday in Queensland. For more information on your Queensland drive holiday see www.driveqld.com.au.

Rail

Rail travel in Queensland offers style and comfort on journeys through some of Queensland's most scenic landscapes. Choose from a range of different Queensland rail adventures from The Sunlander (including Queenslander Class), Spirit of the Outback, Tilt Train and more. See www.traveltrain.com.au.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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