For the Culture Vulture

CULTURE Attractions of Australia will provide a single point of contact for travellers, trade partners and media to access premium, behind-the-scenes cultural experiences in iconic locations. 

As a collective, its strength lies in the diversity and iconic nature of the sites and collections represented, as well as the direct connection they hold with the people and cultures of #Australia. 

The founding members of Cultural Attractions of Australia are Adelaide Oval, Arts Centre Melbourne, Australian War Memorial, WA Maritime Museum, Fremantle Prison, Melbourne Cricket Ground, MONA, National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Opera Australia, Parliament House, Port Arthur Historic Site, Qantas Founders Museum Longreach, Sovereign Hill and Sydney Opera House. 

Each of these institutions has developed one or more rare, premium experiences, ensuring unrivalled access and attention for their guests who can expect the unexpected.  

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A destination to take your breath away

ONE of Australia’s fastest growing, must see destinations is proud to introduce ‘The Tweed Tourism Company’ (TTC) to manage the destination’s marketing, tourism experiences, product development, industry events and visitor information services on behalf of the Tweed region.

The Tweed is located in Northern NSW and offers an abundance of food, art and nature based experiences. The region boosts lush green valleys, majestic mountains, natural river streams and a vast coastline of untouched beaches. With ideal weather, pristine natural environment and a burgeoning arts scene, this is one of Australia’s most desirable travel destinations.

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Picture credit: By Froggydarb at the English language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9592249

Direct flights from Sydney to Fiji

QANTAS is making it easier for customers to holiday in #Fiji by launching new direct flights from Sydney, meeting a growing demand from customers wanting a premium travel option to the islands. 

From 31 March 2019, the direct service will operate four times per week to Nadi, the country’s main gateway, with a Boeing 737 aircraft, offering a checked baggage allowance, inflight entertainment and food and drinks all included as part of the fare, and the option to fly or upgrade to Business class. 

The flights add to Jetstar’s direct services which also operate four times per week and will see the Qantas Group offer customers more than 75,000 seats on the route annually and the choice to fly to the popular holiday destination six days a week.

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Brisbane Airtrain beats strong competition

BRISBANE Airtrain has received global recognition for its work in connecting travellers to the Gold Coast following the highly anticipated launch of the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2 tram in December 2017. Airtrain has taken out the highly regarded 2018 Marketing Campaign of the Year Award at the Global AirRail Awards ceremony in London, beating strong competition from six others, including Stansted Express, Heathrow Express, Hong Kong Airport Express, and Sydney Airport Link.

Airtrain is the fastest, easiest and most cost-effective way to reach Brisbane and the Gold Coast from #Brisbane Airport. It is the sole rail service connecting Brisbane Airport to Brisbane CBD with more than 21 million passenger trips taken in the company’s 16 years of operation. Airtrain offers seamless travel from Brisbane Airport’s Domestic and International terminals to Surfers Paradise and all major stops in between, with one simple transfer from Airtrain to the G:link tram at Helensvale station.

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Picture Credit: David McKelvey Brisbane International Airport, Queensland via photopin

Cruising Australian Waters

THE Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built, Seven Seas Explorer, will cruise Australian and New Zealand waters as part of her 2020/21 season for the first time since debuting in 2016. 

With over USD $450 million spent on building the exclusive, 375 suite ship – including over an acre of marble, an enviable US$7 million art collection, and one of the biggest suites at sea – it is no surprise that Seven Seas Explorer has been hailed as The Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built.

Seven Seas Explorer will be entering Australian waters for the first time on the 28th December 2020, visiting Darwin before she sails down to Sydney on the 6th January 2021.

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Australia's Gold Revolution

SOVREIGN Hill has announced that its new multi-sensory sound and light show Aura will officially open on February 8th, 2019. The new show, featuring state-of-the-art projections and detailed historical sets, will place the visitor right in the centre of the action, as stars explode in front of eyes, land is transformed by the gold rush, and the Eureka Rebellion comes to life as never before.

Designed by Accolade, the brains behind White Night and the Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies, together with Sovereign Hill’s own historical experts, Aura is the story of how gold revolutionised Australia, and will take guests of all ages on an adventure as they witness the creation and discovery of the world’s most precious metal. Be one of the first to experience how gold changes everything.

aurasovereignhill.com.au

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Celebrate the New Year Down Under

RING in the New Year surrounded by seahorses, penguins and sea stars at Sea Life Melbourne where you can roam from the Coral Caves to the Crocodile Lair with a drink in hand and music pumping through the air.

Revellers have full access to the underwater wonderland and its thousands of marine creatures, as well as panoramic views of the Yarra River and the city’s spectacular fireworks display.

Silver, Gold or Platinum tickets,Platinum ticket holders have exclusive access to Sea Life Melbourne’s outdoor deck, which faces the Yarra River and the sparkling Southbank skyline.



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Visit the Alps, Down Under

VISITORS to the Alpine National Park can now experience the Bogong High Plains like never before thanks to Parks Victoria’s new Alps Discovery Days at Wallace’s Hut Heritage Trail. The Alps Discovery Days experience will immerse visitors in the cultural heritage of the Bogong High Plains, while showcasing the unique flora and fauna of the Alpine National Park. 

The Volunteer Park Guides will lead both guided tours and more informal chats of Wallace’s hut and the surrounding wetlands between 10am to 2pm during the summer school holidays and on the Easter long weekend in April 2019.

The Alps Discovery Days tours will be available on Thursdays, Saturday and Sunday. They are free, fun and educational for all. To book a place on a Volunteer Park Guide tour, visit www.parkstay.vic.gov.au/alpine-discovery-days or simply arrive at Wallace’s Hut within the designated time.


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Picture Credit: By Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia - Wallace's Hut, Bogong High Plains, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29767279

Australia's Top 10 Wine Tours

AUSTRALIA'S Top 10 wine tours, based on booking data from the past four seasons has been unveiled by TripAdvisor. The data, which dates back to 2015, has underlined some key trends in Australia’s contemporary wine-scene, including: Victoria is the country’s most popular state for a wine tour, with three entries in the Top 10.

But South Australia is home to Australia’s #1 most booked wine tour overall Queensland has emerged onto the wine-tour map for the first time, with the Mount Tamborine Wine and Winery Tour now amongst the top 10 booked tours in the country New South Wales.  Western Australia and Tasmania are also represented With over 140,000 bookable tours and activities around the world on TripAdvisor Experiences, it’s a one-stop destination for planning all of your travel activities. From traditional sightseeing to food and wine tours, day trips, and local experiences, travellers can find it all on TripAdvisor Experiences. 

Top 10 Australian bookable winery tours for 2018: 

1.   Small-Group Barossa Valley Food and Wine Tour, South Australia 

2.   Mount Tamborine Wine and Winery Tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast,          Queensland

3.   Swan Valley River Cruise and Wine Tasting Day Trip from Perth, Western 

      Australia 

4.   Moorilla Estate Winery Tour Including Wine Tasting, Lunch and Mona 

      Admission, Tasmania 

5.   Gourmet Vineyard Lunch and Yarra Valley Winery Tour from Melbourne, 

      Victoria 

6.   Small-Group Hunter Valley Wine and Cheese Tasting Tour from Sydney, 

      New South Wales 

7.   Barossa Valley Wineries Tour with Tastings from Adelaide, South Australia 

8.   Yarra Valley Wineries and Puffing Billy Steam Train Tour from Melbourne, 

      Victoria 

9.   Hunter Valley Gatherer’s Full-Day Food and Wine Tour, New South Wales 

10. Experience Yarra Valley: Beer, Cider, Wine and Food from Melbourne, 

      Victoria 

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Get steamed up in Queensland

THE future is looking bright for one of Queensland’s most -loved tourism attractions, with the steam and diesel engines of the Mary Valley Rattler again chugging their way through some of the Sunshine Coast hinterland’s most picturesque countryside. 

After many years of extensive upgrades to existing track work and improvements to its fleet of historic steam and diesel locomotives and carriages – each with their own unique story – the heritage railway experience has been relaunched after an almost seven-year hiatus. 

At its peak, the Valley Rattler, as it was then known, played host to upwards of 30,000 passengers annually. Morning and afternoon services on the Mary Valley Rattler will now run three days per week on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays for a return journey from the historic Gympie or Amamoor stations via Dagun. 

Reputed to be the largest timber railway building owned by Queensland Rail during the 20th century, the historic Gympie station is the headquarters of the Mary Valley Rattler and arguably one of the most stylish and elaborate in the context of timber railway architecture.   


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Picture Credit: By Sue Allen, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org 51488514

The Gold Coast: A Lifesaver

THE Gold Coast will host lifesaving’s most prestigious event for the first time in 35 years – this week securing the rights to the 2024 Lifesaving World Championships. Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the event would bring more than 5000 competitors from 50 countries to the Gold Coast over 17 days of competition.

Lifesaving World Championships – Fast Facts: 

- The Lifesaving World Championships were last held in Queensland in 1988,  

   hosted by the Gold Coast.
- The Championships are expected to attract more than 5,000 competitors from 

   approximately 50 countries.
- In addition, roughly 450 technical officials and 300 volunteers will be involved.
- More than 12,000 spectators and supporters are also anticipated to converge 

  on the Gold Coast across the duration of the event.
- The economic impact is estimated to exceed copy5 million.
- Competition will be split between Kurrawa Beach and the Gold Coast Aquatic 

  Centre.
- World Championship events include pool rescue, surf boats, inflatable rescue 

  boats, surf ski, board, surf swims, team events, beach sprints and flags, and 

  the ironman/woman.
- Age groups include Masters (30+ years), Open (19+ years) and Youth (15-18 

  years).

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Gazing at the stars in Australia

THE southern hemisphere’s first and only Dark Sky Park is in the Warrumbungle region of NSW, #Australia renowned for its breathtaking starry nights. What is a dark sky park? #DarkSkyParks are recognised internationally for their outstanding nocturnal environment and clear, dark skies, says Dr James Gilbert, astronomer and engineer, Australian National University. “These are unspoilt places where anyone can marvel at the universe just by looking up, even without a telescope,” says Dr Gilbert. The Warrumbungle National Park is currently the only Dark Sky Park in the Southern Hemisphere.

For breathtaking views of the galaxy, you can camp under the stars in Warrumbungle National Park at various camping grounds and heritage huts. You can pitch a tent in Balor Hut campground or stay in a historic walkers’ hut. For a more rustic experience, Burbie Camp is a remote bush camping area neighbouring a natural spring with stunning views, while Camp Blackman is a popular base to explore the park and star gaze, well-equipped with hot showers, barbeques and picnic tables. www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au 

Warrumbungle Observatory, 9km from Coonabarabran at the foothills of the Warrumbungle Mountains, holds nightly viewing sessions and astro-photography sessions. www.tenbyobservatory.com 

Milroy Observatory has a popular Night Sky Show and also offers customised tours of all kinds for school groups, universities, senior citizens – even events such as birthdays and wedding proposals. www.milroyobservatory.com.au 

Siding Spring on the edge of the Warrumbungle National Park is a working research observatory with no public stargazing facilities, but they do offer daytime bookable experiences. www.sidingspringobservatory.com.au

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Roaring to life in the Blue Mountains

SCENIC World Blue Mountains is a private, family owned tourist attraction located in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia, about 100 kilometres west of Sydney. 

Their new attraction, Dinosaur Valley has opened, bringing the ancient rainforest to life with prehistoric dinosaurs, daily events and family fun from November 1 – January 28.

Marking the first event of its kind in the Blue Mountains, Dinosaur Valley will take visitors on a journey through time to explore the fascinating world of dinosaurs among towering Jurassic rainforest.

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Dundee campaign targeting Americans

TOURISM Australia has launched the next phase of its A$36 million Dundee campaign with a series of videos inviting Americans to book a trip Down Under and visit the ‘set’ of the movie. 

Starring Aussie actor Luke Hemsworth, the videos will take US travellers on an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the Dundee movie backlot, showcasing the breadth of spectacular and unique experiences on offer across #Australia. 

The second phase of activity, Visit the Set of Dundee: Son of a Legend, builds on the momentum of the Dundee: The Son of a Legend Returns Home campaign, which was unveiled at the Super Bowl in February to over 100 million American TV viewers.

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Working together in the air and on the road

AIRASIA and SkyBus have announced an enormous boost in bus services to Melbourne’s West, as the region prepares for the first-ever international flights to touchdown at Avalon Airport on December 5th. 

Around 4,500 new SkyBus services per year will be delivered under the deal, almost doubling the number of existing services connecting Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station in the heart of the CBD with Werribee and the new international terminal at Avalon. Those flying with AirAsia will also get access to discounted SkyBus fares and onboard offers in hotspots right across Asia, making the entire experience one of the most affordable ways to travel between Melbourne and the more than 130 destinations found in AirAsia’s network.

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Tourism campaign to stimulate your dog

VISIT Victoria is putting your next short-break in the paws of your dog with the world’s first tourism campaign optimised for dogs. The campaign, developed by Clemenger BBDO, highlights how dogs love the quality experiences of regional Victoria as much as much as their pet owners and non-pet owners alike. It is the first digital tourism campaign optimised to stimulate dogs’ sight and sound, featuring content curated by local pet-fluencers @MyAussieTribe, @Tomandcaptain, @ChandlerThePug and @HuckAndCo.

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Exclusive beach club on board

P&O Cruises Australia will be offering a limited number of guests exclusive access to a private ‘beach club’ onboard its newest ship, Pacific Adventure. Called the “Byron Beach Club”, the retreat will be available to guests booked in to Pacific Adventure’s suites and mini suites. 

The exclusive-access retreat offers a private outdoor pool, whirlpool spas and comfy seating situated on the top deck (16) of the ship. With expansive sea views, club-goers can enjoy pure relaxation and pampering in stylish surroundings. In addition to the pool and spa area, Byron Beach Club guests can enjoy their own private dining concierge service.


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A heroes send off from British Airways for Team UK

BRITISH Airways is proud to announce it will be the official airline partner of Team UK, a 72-strong group of wounded, injured and sick serving military personnel and veterans, who have been specially selected to represent Great Britain at the #Invictus Games #Sydney 2018, presented by Jaguar Land Rover.

The competitors, along with their families and support staff, will head down under on October 15 after a heroes’ send-off at Heathrow. During the games, which run from October 20 to 27, the team will participate in 10 different adaptive sports against 500 men and women from 18 countries.

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From water to wine

IN a new approach to attract the visiting friends and relatives of expats living in Australia, today the Mudgee Region launches its new tourism campaign, Water to Wine – supported by the Australian Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package. 

Each year, thousands of visiting friends and relatives flock to the shores of Sydney, spending time with their loved ones and enjoying the beach-lifestyle. Too often, however, hosts who live fast-paced lives are tasked with coordinating activities and adventures to keep their guests occupied.

What is most interesting, is that more than half of international Visiting Friends and Relatives visitors (55%) will take over-night trips on their own, with 17% of the hosts accompanying them on overnight/short break trips.

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Miles ahead of the competition

AVIS Car Rental Australia has been awarded ‘Australian Leading Car Rental Company of 2018’ at the 25th Annual World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony. Avis achieved the recognition ahead of competition from the likes of Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar Rent A Car. 

In addition to this national accolade, Avis also celebrated several wins in the Pacific region, including the ‘Leading Car Rental Company 2018’ category in Fiji, French Polynesia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

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