In the southern hemisphere, Aussies are shaking off old man winter and getting ready for another summer. That means sunglasses, flip-flops or thongs, board shorts (which happens to be the brainchild of Quiksilver™, headquartered in Victoria, Australia) and surfboards. Lots and lots of surfboards.
Bodyboards, longboards, short belly boards, any boards - surfers are choosing their waves and carving them up like a Christmas goose. Thanks to the warm sea temperature, consistent swells and great summer cyclones that blow in during the peak summer season (December to February), Australia has some of the greatest surfing on the planet.
World-famous surfer and Aussie, Nat Young, once tried to have the sport of surfing registered as a religion. His petition was ultimately rejected, but clearly the people of Oz take their surfing very seriously.
The eastern coast, known as the Gold Coast, is home to such legendary spots as Kirra, the region's most famous surfing beach - probably because you'll find waves for every experience level. Then there's Burleigh Heads, the former training ground of world champions and a right break point made famous by the Stubbies surf contest. Here, the warm, green waters play host to what is surely one of the largest single-break surf populations on the earth. Plus, it's decidedly off the tourist track. Great swells litter the length of the coastline, with a variety of both reef, point and beach breaks. The Gold Coast is also home to several locations of Walkin’ on Water surf school, so take in a class then paddle out and hit the waves with confidence.
The southern coastline is an area reserved for "Big Kahunas." The deep, low pressure weather system tracking across the bottom of the country creates spots where waves crest at 20-plus feet. The main surfing area is near Torquay, the gateway to the Great Ocean Road. The water is a little colder in this area, so a wet suit's usually a good idea. And Bells Beach is probably the most famous break in the area, so it's likely be crowded. With a coastline that stretches more than 2,000 mi (3,200 km), however, the south coast area has plenty of room for everyone.
Westward ho to the famous city of Perth, and you'll find a shore pounded by a surf so powerful you won't find many beginner beach breaks. For an easier ride, head over to Rottnest Island, where they get the swell that Perth misses out on, and there are breaks to suit everyone. A little further north you'll leave the crowds behind and find the classic, empty waves that all surfers dream about.
Check out this Aussie's perfect wave, shot with a slow-motion underwater camera. Then start planning your own locum surfing summer Down Under.
What do you do once you’ve mastered the wind and waves of Australia? You take your thirst for adventure underground – and we’re not talking about the counterculture. It’s time to go caving, or spelunking if you prefer. So, strap on your gear and hit the caves.
Adventure seekers have been tramping through Mother Earth’s wonders since prehistoric days - sparking their torches and heading into the dark abyss in search of food and shelter or as a refuge from rogue wooly mammoths. These days, caving is a sport where you negotiate pitches, squeezes, water, darkness and
more in search of forgotten passages, caverns and waterways. Cavers climb, rappel (or abseil) down the side of limestone cliffs, scale slick rock faces, squeeze through damp crevices, leap from subterranean waterfalls and crawl under rock formations that are thousands of years old.
For those of you daring enough to take the plunge (pun intended) there’s no better place to experience caving than Australia. The country's rich limestone deposits have created more than 100 known cave systems scattered throughout seven territories, and cavers - including our adventurous locum doctors - claim the caves in Oz are the best in the world. The country’s caves range from walk-through caverns with spectacular formations (for beginners) to extremely tight squeezes and underground rapids guaranteed to give you that adrenaline rush. There are countless caves to visit, but here's a few we recommend:
Jenolan Caves is in a huge nature reserve which forms part of the Blue Mountains World Heritage area. With 11 spectacular show caves, pure underground rivers and amazing formations, it’s among the oldest cave systems in the world and it’s often regarded as Australia’s most outstanding cave system. First, it’s on with your wetsuit and into the action, negotiating your way through rainforests, caves, waterfalls and crystal streams via swimming, rapelling and walking. The walk out is often the most impressive part of the day with magnificent views admist a carpet of King Ferns, Coach Wood and Sassafras.
The limestone Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge National Park in New South Wales has more than 360 known caves, with evidence that dates human and animal habitation to more than 40,000 years. Start with Boranup forest and explore the maze of tunnels and chambers with their spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. Then rappel down a solution pipe in the darkness to the entrance of the cave, then view the glittering cave formations by torchlight.
The enchanting Aboriginal hand prints of the Murrawijinie Caves on the Nullarbor Plain are also a must see. Covering an area of 77,000 square miles, the plain was created about 25 million years ago when it emerged from the sea. In more recent times, massive cathedral-like caverns and underground lakes have been found beneath the surface.
Jewel Cave is Western Australia’s largest show cave and is home to one of the longest straw stalactites found in any tourist cave in the world. Inside the cave you will be bewildered by the colossal formations. The first descent takes you down a long, narrow tunnel which opens into a giant cavern. Jewel Cave creates the sensation of being under the ocean without the water. It has a soft golden glow and the sheer magnitude of its structure dwarfs its visitors.
In an effort to preserve and protect the pristine conditions of cave systems and educate cavers, Caving Organizations have sprung up all over, and believe it or not, the mass appeal of the sport has done wonders to preserve caving areas. They’ve called attention to the many rare species that call the caves home, and discouraged development on the sites. In other words, you won’t find Wal-Mart parked on a cave site anytime soon. What we do hope to find there is you, working in a great locum tenens assignment and caving during the off hours. After all, there’s a whole other world under your feet in Oz.
A few months ago, Locums for a Small World was spot on when we wrote that the 2010 FIFA World Cup might spell redemption for New Zealand’s All Whites. Making their first appearance in the tournament in 28 years, this 78th ranked squad - made up of four amateurs and led by the lowest-paid coach - left the World Cup as the only undefeated team in the world. They also took home the Fox Sports News Team of the Tournament award. Their captain, Ryan Nelsen, remarked, "Cinderella stories happen and that's why football (soccer) is the best game in the world."
Dancing in the streets continues Down Under, as Kiwis turn their eyes to the other end of the color spectrum and the All Blacks, the country's premier rugby union. The team is ramping up their run to the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC), and they won't have to go far: New Zealand was selected as the host country for 2011. Could be why so many doctors are planning Down Under locum assignments now.
Selection for the RWC was awarded in 2005. As one of the biggest sports events in the world, the RWC is an incredible opportunity for New Zealand to showcase itself to an audience estimated at four billion. Over 70,000 overseas visitors are expected to land on New Zealand’s shores, and they won’t be disappointed: no one does rugby like the Kiwis, who believe rugby is more of a religion than a sport.
As New Zealand's unofficial national sport, rugby attracts huge audiences - as many as 5,000 fans turn out just to watch the All Blacks practice; the country boasts a rugby “telly” network that broadcasts hundreds of games every year; New Zealand's national symbol, the Kiwi, was even adopted after the All Blacks outperformed their competition on a British tour at the turn of the century.
This brings us to the haka - and an event as big as the rugby itself. A Maori tribal war dance, the haka has now been immortalized by the All Blacks who perform it at the opening of each and every match. The haka is an expression of passion, vigor and racial identity, and it's intimidating as well as entertaining. But it's not merely a pastime, it’s a custom of high social importance in the Maori culture. As a vital part of the welcoming and entertainment of visitors, a tribe’s reputation rose and fell based on their ability to perform the haka. Now, the haka's mystique has evolved along with the fierce determination and high level of skill that’s become the hallmark of New Zealand’s national game. You can see the All Blacks in haka action here, but nothing compares to seeing it live.
Rugby excitement is building on both islands. With more than 400 days to go until the RWC kickoff, kiosks are already lining the streets peddling various World Cup wares. Queen’s Wharf in Auckland has begun outfitting itself as the main gathering zone where fans - nay, disciples - of rugby gather to share stories of yesteryear amidst the carnival-like atmosphere. And despite the warm temperatures, black is now the color of choice for die-hard fans in Land of the Long White Cloud.
Yes, personal devotion to individual teams will be set aside as Kiwis unite for the RWG and don black, all black, in support for their revered and storied club. Thirteen venues in 12 cities from Whangarei to Invercargill will host matches, beginning with the opening kick-off match at Auckland’s Eden Park. The matchup? New Zealand vs. Tonga. Time to start planning a locum assignment in New Zealand, ay? If you aren't convinced, get a taste of the incredible scenery and rugby action here and then tell us you don't want to go to New Zealand.
Summer doesn’t have to be jam-packed with overrated theme parks. Pack a picnic basket and enjoy a lunch lakeside in Minnesota. Sure, there are 10,000 lakes to choose from (actually, there are 11,840-something), but with knowledge on our side - and a childhood spent in Minnesota - we’ve managed to whittle it down to a select few (excluding Lake Wobegon, of course).
This easy-going midwestern state doles out simple, affordable pleasures like fishing, canoeing, hiking and world-famous desserts at every turn. And, of course, water. You may know that the great Lake Superior is the world’s largest freshwater lake, but did you know that the state of Minnesota has more shoreline than California, Florida and Hawaii combined? While Lake Superior is, well, superior in size, you’ll find some quaint towns along its edge, including our first stop: Grand Marais.
Grand Marais is the kind of lake town that’s busting at the seams with “quaint.” Before you head out to fish, swim, hike or bike, load up on some carbs at World's Best Donuts - a cornerstone here since 1969. And the name is not laying it on thick. These simple cake doughnuts, with their dense, chewy inside and golden, just-crisp-enough outside, are little miracles. The donuts still go for about 70 cents, too, last time we checked.
Here in northern Minnesota, the evergreen trees blanket the surrounding landscape and the abundant wildlife—elks, caribou, beavers, ravens, bald eagles—outnumbers vacationers. That goes for trout and salmon, too. Thanks to a successful restocking program, fishing here has improved vastly over the years. You’ll find another “favorite hole” right in town at the bait and tackle shop. They claim a trip here will better your chances at
fishing; we think it will better your chances of getting your photo taken with a big fish. Speaking of fish, head to the Angry Trout Cafe at sunset and ask for a table outside. The combination of the lake, the fish, the breeze and the sunset will make you want to stay year round (note: the trout are not angry, nor are the proprietors of this establishment).
From this small town on a big lake, head for some smaller lakes in a big town, namely the Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis. Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, and Lake Harriett (our favorites, though there are more) each have a charm of their own - and lakeside paths will get you from one to the other. Walk, bike, run or rollerblade, or jump off and canoe for a couple of miles from Lake Calhoun to Brownie Lake; take a sailing lesson on Calhoun; listen to live music at the Lake Harriett Bandshell; visit the bird sanctuary or gardens near Lake Harriett; or park on a bench and simply be.
If you think a locum tenens assignment in Minnesota is limited to the summertime, think again. As the days grow shorter and the trees reluctantly change, there’s still leaf-peeping, and (eventually) snowshoeing, skiing, skating and mushing that remain to be experienced in this land of loons. Not to mention the 11,836 or so other lakes.
Those Aussies are an ingenious bunch. Thousands of years ago, they came up with the boomerang; more recently they invented the inflatable aircraft slide (which doubles as a flotation device). Oh, and then there's the ice-making machine and the pop-top can. Sure, they did come up with Vegemite, but they're also the single source of many notable world firsts. You just may be using one now.
1. WiFi anyone? In 1992, an Australian named John O' Sullivan was trying to detect the radio pulse of exploding mini black holes when he and his colleagues discovered WiFi technology and realized its potential. Like the estimated 1 billion devices worldwide? We'd say one thousand times one million is "potential."
2. Then there's the two audacious Australian brothers named Lars and Jens Rasmussen. In 2004, they were jobless and had $16 between them. They also had a "sophomore product" that they said would "kill email." So they flew from Sydney to Silicon Valley and managed to sell their little web application to a little company called Google. Their Wave found a home with Google Maps and the Rasmussen boys found a cushy job.
3. Now here's something Qantas Airways can appreciate: When Melbourne resident, David Warren, was asked to investigate the mysterious crash of the world's first jet-powered aircraft in 1953, he argued that a cockpit voice recorder would be a useful way to solve otherwise unexplainable aircraft accidents. Hmmm, let's see: a durable box designed to record and replay flight data and audio from the final moments before a plane crash, revealing what went wrong. Warren was the only one who thought the idea had merit, so he went ahead and built one anyway. It took several years and an airliner crash in 1960 to get noticed, but then Australia became the first country to make the ruling that all airlines must carry flight recorders. Imagine a world world without a "black box" - which, by the way, is never, ever black.
4. Listen up: A bionic ear does exist and it has nothing to do with the Six Million Dollar Man's girlfriend, though it has a lot to do with an Australian named Graeme Clark. As a young boy, Clark's father became deaf, and it inspired a lifelong mission to help deaf people, culminating in the Cochlear implant or "bionic ear." The electronic device is implanted into the head to stimulate the auditory nerve and provides a sense of sound even for the profoundly deaf. The first surgery in 1978 was a success, and today nearly 200,000 people benefit from the bionic ear.
5. Last, and certainly least, the Speedo. Americans love to hate the swimwear, but the rest of the world has embraced it - and it originated in Sydney at the MacRae Knitting Mills. Also called the "racerback," the Speedo was the first athletic design for a suit, and the name was allegedly conjured up by some guy named Jim Parsons who won a competition with the slogan "Speed on in your Speedos."
From exploding mini black holes to the world-renowned swimwear, the Aussies always want you clamoring for more. Take a locum assignment Down Under and check out the rumors that Ultrasound and Latex Gloves were invented there, too.
Ah, yabbies. Lovely freshwater crustaceans known to most of us as crawfish or mudbugs, yabbies (which are often quite large) are more than a delicious delicacy Down Under, they're as much a part of Australian culture as the didjeridu and the akubra. And our locum tenens doctors love them.
The name "yabby" comes from the Webma Aboriginal language and the succulent,
lobster-like flavor of yabbies has been enjoyed by indigenous Australians for centuries.
The humble art of yabbying (hunting yabbies) has also long been a popular pastime. The hunting method - really just a game of coaxing the little critters out - still harkens back to ancient times: sitting on the edge of a dam (pond) with a small piece of rotten meat tied to the end of string as bait. Some summer evenings never change! While some of the yabbies caught today make it home to be steamed, most are boiled right then and there in a tin over a campfire.
Generations of Aussies have childhood memories of tramping through creek beds, turning logs and rocks over, or digging tunnels with sticks in the pursuit of yabbies. Often done in bare feet, the risk of being nipped on the fingers or toes made the hunters fierce - though according to a new Yabbying Facebook page, real yabbiers dive in creeks and catch them with their teeth! Pumping yabbies from the ground is popular practice, too, and you can learn how to do it right here.
The beloved yabby can be found in water holes, ponds, swamps, creeks and, yes, billabongs all over Oz. You'll even find yabbies in Narembeen, Western Australia, thanks to a farmer who brought some from Victoria in hopes they'd survive in his farm dams. The didn't just survive - they thrived on the muddy water and warm water temperature, and now farmers who live hundreds of kilometers from the coast enjoy the novelty of catching their own seafood.
None too late, the rest of us are waking up to the delights of yabbies. Their delicate, sweet flavor and fir
m texture has won lavish praise from foodies, chefs and new yabbie fans everywhere. Take a locum assignment in Australia and treat yourself to a local farm stay and have yabbies around the campfire. If hunting them with a string and rotten meat isn't your thing, you can always get some at a local fish market or online from Southern Yabby Farms.
Just like Bubba's "fruit of the sea," you can prepare yabbies in a myriad of ways: Barbecue, boil, broil, bake, sauté. There's, um, yabby kebabs, yabby Creole, yabby gumbo, pan fried, deep fried, stir fried. There's pineapple yabby and lemon yabby, coconut yabby, pepper yabby, yabby soup, yabby stew, yabby salad, yabby and potatoes, yabby burger, yabby sandwich...That's about it.
Nowhere in Dr. Leonard Bentch's CV does it mention his knack for writing, but his talents extend well beyond Internal Medicine. A retired physician, Dr. Bentch was sailing the Caribbean when he received a call that took him on a six-month locum adventure with his wife, Sue. He recently put his many remembrances to paper, and we're proud to present the last of the three-part series here (if you missed the first installments, read them here and there.)
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New Zealand was definitely not all work. Day and weekend hikes in Cormandel were precursors for even more spectacular and rigorous multi-day experiences: Tongariro Crossing, Milford Track, the Siberia Experience, Franz Joseph (for glacier hiking), and more.
We flew to Sydney with a transfer to Hobart, arriving just in time to revel in the celebrations marking the completion of the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race, which is probably the most vigorous and dangerous ocean race in the entire world. Hundreds of sailboats complete in a 680 nautical mile journey with colorful spinnakers prodding their hulls forward for just a few more miles to cross the finish line. The not so 
fortunate ones crept into Constitution Harbor with busted masts, defrocked rigging, and tired crews. Celebration with beer by the barrel, fish and chips by the bushel, and hugs and kisses from anxious family and friends by the score spilled onto the venerable quays and marina of this picturesque and noble seaport.
Out from Hobart, the countryside reminded us of Texas: dry, relatively flat, small towns with limestone buildings built during the mid 19th century, friendly and tough people throughout. The restored convict prison at Port Arthur was an incredible site. The endless views along the South Pacific, the long stretches of barrier islands offering sanctuary to countless sea birds, and th
e knowledge of the magical legacy of Captain Cook inspires reflection of times long past. The Captain Cook museum, a small locally maintained facility, is well worth the stop.
We thoroughly enjoyed driving from Hobart to Launceston. The graceful river arch at Campbell Town and the restored windmill at Ross are particularly striking remembrances of beautifully simple classic architecture. In Launceston, we enjoyed a river boat cruise up into Tamar River Gorge. So enticing was this spectacular geography, 
that we returned for a day hike, ending with a luxurious swim in the huge public pool and adjacent Tamar River cascades. The swing bridge hovering hundreds of feet above the cascading river offered a fabulous walk and photo opportunity.
Launceston to Sydney is only 45 minutes by air, but nearly a world apart. Launceston is a quaint provincial town, while Sydney is one of the most cosmopolitan urban 
environments in the world. The famous Opera House and background bridge are icons for all and both lived up to their reputations. Travel within Sydney by foot, subway, or ferry is easy, fun and rewarding. The harbor scene is spectacular and a cruise is well worth the time. We enjoyed international food, regional Australian wines, and "hip" music.
Our six months Down Under seemed to fly by. Between work and travel, it felt like we were only in country for only a few weeks - though we made the most of our journey in the short time we had in New Zealand. To truly appreciate this area, aptly named the "Land of the Long White Cloud", you really have to experience it for yourself.
It was with some pride a few nights ago, as I watched Jeopardy! (America's Favorite Quiz Show) that my host, Alex Trebek, hit me with the $2,000 question in a category called "Hollow" - and I knew it! See if your wit matches mine:
Alex: "This Aboriginal instrument, also called a 'drone pipe,' is traditionally made from a Eucalyptus branch that is hollowed out naturally by termites."
Me: "What is a didjeridu?! What is a didjeridu!"
I yelled the answer so loudly I terrified my cats (who were otherwise unimpressed), but for someone who prides themselves on knowing that Australian culture goes well beyond developing a tolerance for Vegemite, it was a nice moment.
Pronounced "did-jury-doo" (and sometimes spelled didgeridoo), it's believed to be the world's oldest wind instrument - dating back thousands of years. It originates from North Australia, and because it takes at least one year for termites to hollow out a Eucalyptus tree, harvesting has to be timed precisely to ensure that the wall thickness is just right.
Have you ever heard a didjeridu? Its deep drone is not something you'll soon forget. The sonorous tones are hauntingly beautiful. In fact, the term didjeridu is believed to be an onomatopoeia developed by Westerners to describe the sound the instrument makes, not a name of indigenous origin.
A finished didjeridu is around four-to-five feet long and two or more inches in internal diameter. Its mouthpiece is usually made of beeswax or hardened gum, and the player blows into the instrument trumpet style. Traditionally, the didjeridu is played in ceremonial dances called Corroborees, accompanied by clap sticks or boomerangs clapped together; players also tap out rhythms on their didjeridu with their fingers or sticks.
Still in widespread use today - both in Australia and around the world - the didjeridu is often painted in remarkable colors and designs. The instruments are musically soulful works of art.
Thanks to American Idol, millions of people are now better acquainted with the didjeridu - but reality TV does not do it justice. One of our fine locum doctors, Dr. Raymond Lewandowski, took up the didjeridu while he was Down Under. Why don't you go Australia for a lesson, or better yet, a performance? Until then, check out didjeridu artist Jeremy Donovan.
Have your own locum story of didjeridus and more? Bring it on!
Saralynn White is our Creative Director and Resident Sherpa. A season writer, producer, blogger and idea monger, she holds a BA in Communications and English and a Masters in Plethora. She's been strutting her creative and writing talents for going on (gulp) 25 years.
It may take a bit to acclimatize to the altitude in Colorado, but once your locum feet are firmly on terra firma, look up. It's a bird...it's a plane...it's 450 avian species who all call Colorado home. In fact, that renowned Rocky Mountain high has a lot to do with the sport of birding.
Now, don't go "tsk-ing" your tongue. Birders are no longer khaki or tweed-wearing geeks or binocular-toting Miss Jane Hathaways; they come from every walk of life and there are over 50 million of them in the United States alone. Some birders travel the world to add another "lifer" to their list. Others sit quietly in the woods, certain that one day a black-capped chickadee will look them straight in the eye. Still others take locum assignments in Colorado.
That's right, countless locum doctors are also birders (you could say they travel with binoculars and an MD), and as they take to the rivers and trails of Colorado, they also take to the "sights": falcons sharing the sky with droves of tiny white-throated swifts; owls snoozing inside hollow trees; and prairie chickens strutting across vast stretches of golden short grass.
Slip on your environmentally friendly CrocsTM and wander Colorado's Kingbird Trail, nestled among the Black Forest of Ponderosa Pines that tower proudly over the region. This eponymous trail is home to the flying "tyrants" - their genus name and a richly deserved moniker (Kingbirds are known to guard their breeding territories aggressively, often chasing away much larger birds). They're also known to wait on an exposed perch for food or trespassers, though birders need not be concerned - unless they forget their wide-brimmed hats!
This land of birds is also home to some of the most beautiful grasslands along the fruited plain, where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play. Spend some time in the high country above the tree line and you'll sight rosy-finches, grouse and woodpeckers. You'll also discover golden eagles, mountain plovers, belted kingfishers, jays and bluebirds.
Scenery freak? Get on over to America's Mountain, the great Pikes Peak, where the landscapes change as often as the weather. Spruce-fir forests, sagebrush hills and short grass prairies are home to green-tailed and spotted towhee, woodpeckers, hummingbirds and pygmy owls. Other notable wildlife includes bighorn sheep, pika (a small, chinchilla-like animal), mule deer and bobcats - the latter of which we advise you to avoid whenever possible.
Finally, save the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge for last. Here in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (which means Blood of Christ), you may glimpse a bald eagle nestled in the tops of cottonwood trees or fishing in the ponds, wetlands or Rio Grande River. This emblem of a nation impresses even non-birders with their strength and majesty.
Any birder will tell you that great sightings come and go with the seasons, so if birding is in your blood, head to higher elevations this summer. After all, Colorado is for bird lovers and locum tenens alike.
All eyes in the tennis world are on Paris, where the French Open wraps up this week.
After that, it's a mad dash to the UK for Wimbledon, then on to New York for the last of the four Majors, the U.S. Open. Each of the four matches offer players the possibility of winning most prestigious prize in tennis - the Grand Slam - and it all begins in Australia.
Hosted every January during Melbourne's summer, the Australian Open is the first stop of the Majors; a win here means a sweep of all four in the same calendar year - and the Grand Slam title - is possible.
Swiss boy, Roger Federer, had a 2010 Grand Slam dream that began in Melbourne, but was dashed this week when Robin Soderling of Sweden beat him in the French Open quarterfinals. The last player with any hope of winning a 2010 Slam, American Serena Williams, was also defeated by Australia's own Samantha Stosur. Headlines everywhere read: Smokin' Sam Downs Serena. Ace!
Winning four Slams in one calendar year is quite a feat. Only two players in history have ever done it: John Donald "Don" Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1969). It's no coincidence that the Australian open is played in the Rod Laver Arena, but whether it was the Rockhampton, Queensland native's success that inspired the passion or something else tennis is "all the go" in Australia. In fact, the country has the highest tennis participation rate in the world.
More than 700 courts have been built or resurfaced in Australia in the last two years and more than $134 million has been spent on new tennis facilities. The resurfacing idea is an attempt to move to something more cushioned and less likely to retain heat; the new the blue surface even looks cool. Oddly enough, the Australian Open is the only one of the four Grand Slam venues to have adopted an extreme heat policy - even though temperatures at the U.S. Open are likely to get as high as, or higher than, Melbourne's in January. Australia is also one of the few tournaments with indoor play when it's hot.
So, if you're heading Down Under, bring your racket and have a go at tennis - Aussie style. You're bound to find some competition. After all, three of the 25 top youngest male players in the world with an ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) ranking are Australian.
Locum tennis, anyone?