Kylie Minogue
Australia is famous for attracting celebrities, and this year promises to be no different with the opening of a luxury hotel, the L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival and the 2009 Australian Open.
Also on offer is a new penguin exhibition, International Pinot Noir Celebration, the world’s oldest surf competition, Rip Curl Pro, and Australia’s first dedicated walking lodge at Great Ocean Road. Read on to find out more...
Kylie Minogue
Pop star Kylie Minogue has lowered the sale price of her Australian retreat, as nobody is willing to pay the original asking price.
Located on the Western Port Bay of the virgin French Island, southeast of Melbourne, the house was initially priced at £550,000.
Now, the singer is asking for anything between £435,000 and £480,000 for the four-bedroom estate.
The area has only 100 habitants, and no electricity or gas, making it a perfect hideaway for celebrities.
It served as Kylie’s haven in 2005, during her battle against breast cancer.
Nick Reade
Executive chef Nick Reade if offering Australia a taste of his culinary skills at the opening of a newly revamped hotel.
The InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, in Melbourne, has recently undergone a £28 million redevelopment with marble and bluestone, sharp lines and subtle lighting, and a mosaic made up of 342,000 Italian tiles running the length of the court.
The chef, who trained under Albert and Michel Roux of London's renowned Le Gavroche, is the hotel’s executive chef.
The hotel was originally built in 1891, and has been transformed as one of the city's last remaining examples of 19th century gothic architecture, into a world-class international hotel.
Andy Murray
Tennis ace Andy Murray is in Melbourne this January as the 2009 Australian Open kicks off.
Having already beaten the world’s top two players, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Murray is the bookmakers’ favourite to win this year.
Crowds will be treated to an Australian premiere of Spiegelworld, which has been described as ‘Cirque du Soleil channelled through The Rocky Horror Show’.
There is also to be a new multi-million players’ restaurant, a night final for women and a revamped Legends’ Doubles event.
Last year’s event had a record attendance of 605,000 and also set the world record for a single-day attendance in the history of tennis, with over 62,000 people.
The Australian Open takes place from 19 January to 1 February.
Margareta van den Bosch
Design guru Margareta van den Bosch is to attend the L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival in March, along with other international industry icons.
The show will launch Australia's autumn and winter collections, and includes performances, art exhibitions, film screenings, retail events and plenty of glamorous parties!
Here’s what else Australia has to offer this year:
Penguin exhibition – Melbourne Aquarium has a new £13 million penguin exhibition, which includes a state-of-the-art enclosure, snow-covered ice and a special penguin pool. The display features majestic King and cheeky Gentoo Penguins.
International Pinot Noir Celebration - Victoria’s wine region, Mornington Peninsula, is hosting the fourth biennial Pinot Noir Celebration in February. Wine commentators will mix with international wine producers, media and consumers to taste Pinot Noir from around the world. The programme also features spectacular lunches at local wineries and an Al Fresco Dinner and Grand banquet.
The world’s oldest surf competition - Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest running professional surfing event, is taking place in April this year at Melbourne’s Bells Beach. Some of the world’s best male and female surfers will compete on Australia’s hardest-to-master waves.
Australia’s first dedicated walking lodge at Great Ocean Road – Situated in a natural rainforest amphitheatre on the midpoint of the Great Ocean Road, this eco-lodge features a spring-fed swimming pool formed from natural rocks, a foot spa, massage room and a restaurant kitchen.
By Kay Taylor