Cricket -- The Sydney Cricket Ground, at the corner of Moore Park and Driver Avenue, is famous for its 1-day and test matches, played October through March. Tickets cost from A$44 (US$35/UK£17). Over the winter months Aussie Rules games, featuring the Sydney Swans, are also played here. Look up the cricket ground website for match details. Tours of the stadium start at 10am and 1pm Monday to Friday and at 10am on Saturday. They cost A$25 (US$20/UK£10) for adults, A$17 (US$14/UK£7) for kids, and A$65 (US$52/UK£26) for a family. Call tel. 1300 724 737 to book.

Football -- In this city, "football" means rugby league. If you want to see burly chaps pound into each other while chasing an oval ball, then be here between May and September. The biggest venue is the Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park Road, Paddington (tel. 02/9360 6601, or 1900/963 133 for match information). Buy tickets through Ticketek (tel. 02/9266 4800).

Horse Racing -- Sydney has four horse-racing tracks: Randwick, Canterbury, Rosehill, and Warwick Farm. The most central and best known is Randwick Racecourse, Alison Street, Randwick (tel. 02/9663 8400). The biggest race day of the week is Saturday. Entry costs from A$10 (US$8/UK£4). Call the Sydney Turf Club (tel. 02/9930 4000) with questions about Rosehill and Canterbury, and the Randwick number for Warwick Farm.

Surfing Carnivals -- Every summer these uniquely Australian competitions bring crowds to Sydney's beaches to watch surf clubs compete in various watersports. Contact the Surf Lifesaving Association (tel. 02/9597 5588) for times and locations. Other beach events include Iron Man and Iron Woman competitions, during which Australia's fittest struggle it out in combined swimming, running, and surfing events.

Yacht Racing -- Sailing competitions take place on the harbor most summer weekends, but the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on Boxing Day (Dec 26) is a must-see. The race starts from the harbor near the Royal Botanic Gardens.