After dark Down Under Catch a live band or chill out at an all-night pub, risk a few dollars on the poker machines, play pool until sunrise, listen to Jennifer Lopez or Dean Martin on the jukebox and then leap into the surf.

It’s not all music. Comedy shows and live theatre (amateur and professional) stand ready to entertain. The range of nightlife depends on the size of the town – you’re unlikely to run into world-shattering talent in a small outback bar, though you might get lucky.

In Australia’s big cities, seasoned clubbers will discover that venues run all night, with top UK and New York DJs alternating with their Aussie counterparts. Nights of frenetic dancing may be followed by a ‘recovery party’ at a local pub. These can start from about 6am or 7am, allowing revellers to lurch, stagger or stroll from nightclub to pub without missing a beat.