Australia's latest tourist wheeze is to call 2002 The Year of the Outback, in an attempt to lure tourists away from the usual honeyspots. Events include:
Opening of Shear Outback
Date: January 26.
Description: Sheep shearers enjoy legendary status in Australia. This event includes music, sports, shearing competitions and horse riding.
Where: Australian Shearer's Hall of Fame, Riverina, New South Wales.
Wilpena Under the Stars
Date: February 23.
Description: A black tie dinner dance under a star-filled sky, raising money for the Australian Flying Doctor Service.
Where: Wilpena Pound, in the Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia.
Contact: Royal Flying Doctor Service (+8 8238 3333 flyingdoctor.net).
The Space Dive
Date: May.
Description: A record-breaking attempt by Australian ex-commando Rodd Milner to become the first man to break the sound barrier by parachute jumping from the blackness of space, some 130,000ft back to Earth.
Where: Around Alice Springs, Northern Territory.
The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive
Date: May 4- June 9.
Description: Experience the Outback from the saddle. A variety of trips of varying duration are available. You ride with experienced stockmen, driving 600 head of cattle over 500km from Birdsville, Queensland, to Marree, South Australia. Each evening relax with wine, Outback cuisine and storytelling around the camp fire.
Contact: A 12-night holiday including flights, six days on the cattle drive, a three-night self-drive trip to the Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound and Morlana Valley, and four nights in Adelaide costs £2,534 with Austravel (0870 1662070, austravel.com). It must be booked by December 15.
Outback to Adelaide Bushwalk (Flinder Ranges to Adelaide)
Date: July 1 - September 30.
Description: The Heysen Trail covers 2,000km, taking in huge sheep and cattle stations, historic towns, the Clare and Barossa Valleys, forests and national parks. Walkers can join for stages running between four and 12 days.
Contact: Ecotrek (+8 8383 7198, ecotrek.com.au).
ISA Rodeo Festival
Date: August 5 - 11.
Description: Rodeo and week-long festival incorporating an Outback Mardi Gras, country and western music, rock drilling, arts, crafts and cultural displays.
Where: Mount Isa, Queensland.
Outback Surf Classic
Date: October 4 -7.
Description: A community festival involving surf lifesavers, beach volleyball, river boat rides and Outback Ironman competitions.
Where: Brewarrina, NSW.
Total Solar Eclipse
Date: December 4.
Description: The eclipse will make its way over the Australian coastline and sweep 550km across the South Australian Outback to Lyndhurst, on the northern edge of the Flinders Range.
For a copy of the Australia Travellers Guide, please call 0906 8633235 (all calls cost 60p per minute) or visit australia.com
