The sporting calendar kicked off strong in the Cobram-Barooga district with the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour making its return to Thompson's Beach with elite volleyball players from around the country. The Cobram Barooga Golf Club is maintaining the momentum with its annual Easter Tournament, where amateur golfers flock to the region for a social yet competitive weekend on the greens.
May promises to be a busy month for Victorian golf fans with the Victorian Men's and Women's Country Championships also taking place at the Cobram Barooga Golf Club. This tournament stands as an important fixture for emerging golf talent across the state. Later in 2025, the same venue will host a leg of the Australian Long Drive Championships and will showcase the raw power and technical skill required for golf's most explosive discipline.
New South Wales sports fans have plenty to anticipate, particularly rugby league supporters. The opening match of the 2025 State of Origin series will unfold at Sydney's Accor Stadium on May 28th, continuing one of Australian sport's greatest rivalries as New South Wales squares off against Queensland. The women's competition continues to grow in prominence, with Game II of the Women's State of Origin scheduled for May 15th at Allianz Stadium.
Rugby union fans will not be disappointed, either, as the NSW Waratahs will host New Zealand's Crusaders on May 16th at Allianz Stadium in what promises to be a thrilling Super Rugby Pacific match between two teams with proud histories.
For those who prefer participation sports, the Runaway Sydney Half Marathon on May 4th allows runners to race through the harbour city's streets, passing iconic landmarks. That same day, Byron Bay hosts the Winter Whales Ocean Swim Classic, a challenging 2.2-kilometre open water event that draws swimmers from all over Australia.
Victoria's sporting calendar remains equally packed in 2025. The state's best athletes, coaches, and community members in every sport are honored at the Victorian Sport Awards ceremony on May 1st in Melbourne. Later that month, the historic Hanging Rock serves as a dramatic backdrop for the first round of Athletics Victoria's cross-country series, with club runners taking on an 8-kilometre course through one of the state's most distinctive landscapes.
From professional competitions to community events, the 2025 sporting calendar in Victoria and New South Wales has something for every fan. Sports fans in eastern Australia have an action-packed year ahead of them, with opportunities to engage with their favourite sports in a variety of ways, whether it's watching elite athletes compete at the highest levels or participating in community events.
