Tourism

The top 20 hottest beaches for 2022 have been announced. “The 2022 list covers every state and territory, with a selection of our most spectacular beaches that will inspire and excite holiday makers all over Australia and the world" Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan.

The countdown to the 2022 barramundi season is well and truly on with keen anglers across the Rockhampton region and country ready to wet a line and chase their New Year barra personal bests (PB’s) from the 1st of February. Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams said the number of trophy Barra over the magic metre in length continues to grow each season.

Western Australia's clear skies are ideal for high-quality astronomical observation and have long been a destination for both scientific and recreational stargazers. The policy sets out to preserve and protect the night sky through limiting light and dust pollution, while signalling support for astrotourism - an emerging niche within the local tourism market - with countless opportunities across the State.

The Museum has had a number of donations recently ... The most recently donated item, in January 2022, is an original 1795 lithograph of Admiral,  Lord Howe – from whom, of course, the island gets its name.

Townsville is a step closer to welcoming ships up to 300 metres long with the arrival of Australia’s largest backhoe dredge, Woomera, at the Port of Townsville. The $232 million Channel Upgrade is the largest infrastructure project in the Port’s 158-year history and is vital to ensuring trade, defence and cruise opportunities no longer bypass Townsville.

Sean Cunningham. Covid has swept through regional communities leaving a trail of economic destruction and Narrandera, like many small towns, has been right in its path. One of the industries which has been the most severely impacted has been the tourism sector.

Ali Bohn. 2022 looks to resemble a regular season with businesses wanting to put 2021 behind them and look to a more positive year ahead. The Bridge took a moment to catch up with some local businesses for their feedback on how the summer trade has been tracking.

Jamie Heffernan. When Kevin Moloney and Janetta Stones opened their BnB known as The Little Cottage (or TLC), in Maldon last year, they wanted to add a few points of difference ... One point of difference was the inclusion of a minibar in the cottage. “Who doesn’t love a mini bar?” Janetta explained.

Australia’s history is populated with maritime related stories. With over 1,000 rivers and a coast that stretches for more than 36,000 kilometres, it is no surprise that Australia abounds with stories of people who have lived and worked on the water. This exhibition presents some of those stories, exploring the remarkable connections between people and their boats.

Emma Pritchard. Orchestrated by Maclean teenager Nash Crofton, Clarence Tunes is a home-grown music festival which aims to provide local performers with an opportunity to gain valuable experience and boost their confidence on stage in front of a live audience. Nash told the Clarence Valley Independent he felt inspired to organise the event to help support the live music industry in the region, and the response from musicians and singer-songwriters keen to join the line-up has been incredibly positive.

Emma Pritchard. As the Clarence Valley welcomed visitors from many parts of the country during the Christmas and New Year period, local businesses embraced the opportunity to boost sales during one of the busiest times on the calendar. Hospitality venues exuberantly greeted travellers, retail outlets rejoiced at the increase in trade, and accommodation throughout the Clarence Valley was in hot demand.

Fancy a spiced pumpkin ale? Or are you willing to try a watermelon beer? The Commercial Hotel is serving both in keeping with the spirit of Kyogle’s Giant Pumpkin and Watermelon Festival on this Saturday.

Tweed Regional Museum in Murwillumbah is gearing up for a jam-packed school holiday program, including a special display which will appeal to people of all ages. The Museum will have 2 special micro cars on display over the holidays; a Goggomobil Dart and a Goggomobil sedan.

A giant of the Cape York fishing industry has pulled anchor on his long-standing career. Alan “Fish” Philliskirk was a pioneer of the fishing guide business in Cape York – along with a couple of others – and is one of the reasons why Weipa is now one of the most desirable fishing destinations in Australia, if not the world.

Serena Kirby. This December marks 40 years since the first Denmark Arts Market was held at Berridge Park. What started with just a handful of stallholders and a few locals casually playing music on the grass has grown into a regional drawcard that brings thousands of people to town on market days.

The Koala Art Trail Design competition is to encourage creative designs for decorated fibreglass sculptures that will become a feature of a Koala Art Trail. This will be a project proposed by the Tourism Department of the Narrandera Shire Council to increase engagement of visitors and locals within the various tourism and retail businesses. The aim is to create an art trail of 800mm high, decorated fibreglass Koala Sculptures in and around Narrandera.

As part of the UN’s Decade on Nutrition, Western Murray Land Improvement Group (WMLIG) with Forestry Corporation, hosted a field trip to the Pollack Wetlands, food and fibre displays and a barbecue for 40 community members. The visit to the Pollack Swamp Wetlands allowed the community to see first-hand the amazing transformation and rehabilitation of the area from recent watering events, whilst learning about its natural resources.

Emma Pritchard. The streets of Ulmarra were filled with seasonal festivities, joviality and plenty of community spirit over the weekend when the riverside village hosted a special Christmas evening ... President of the Ulmarra Village Inc Steve Pickering, who also owns the Coldstream Gallery in Ulmarra, said local business owners were thrilled to be involved with the event and he estimated upwards of 500 people attended throughout the evening.

It was an exciting day for Moulamein as officials and locals celebrated the opening of the Moulamein Heritage Village. Situated on the corner of Cedar Avenue and Paterson Street, the former vacant land is now home to some of the district’s historical gems. Locals pursued a vision to construct the historical village for visitors and locals to enjoy with the added benefit of doubling as a venue space for events, weddings and music concerts.

The Museum of the Riverina is showcasing the link between artists and regenerative farmers in a new exhibition at the Museum’s Historic Council Chambers site. Earth Canvas touring exhibition explores the creative experiences of both regenerative farmers and artists, their respective engagement with the land, and their vision for a healthier world.