Performers from both hemispheres have been celebrating the links between their countries ahead of the Military Tattoo in Australia.

Trooper Karl Lynch of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards joined Monica Simich-Pene and Kawama Waititi of Te Whanau-a-Apanui from New Zealand this week at the Yarra River in Melbourne.

They were among the international performers from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, Tonga and the United Kingdom who are preparing to entertain 265,000 spectators over five performances.

The series of shows, which begin at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium from Friday, will mark the fourth time in the Tattoo's history that the world class event has been staged away from its home at Edinburgh Castle.