Special flight
Naracoorte will host an event of the popular Tasting Australia program in May 2024. And for the first time ever, the festival will bring visitors from interstate direct to regional South Australia, with a charter plane flying from Melbourne direct to Naracoorte as part of a new Tasting Australia Airlines experience.
A day at the races – Bong Bong 2023
For those of you who have never spent the day at a picnic races in country Australia, if you make your first foray the Bong Bong Picnic Races at Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands, the odds are you'll be hooked. Simply everyone is happy to be there.
Carnival of Flowers breaks records
Statistics from Tourism and Events Queensland unveil a fresh milestone for the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers in total attendance, with a record-breaking figure of 417,517 - an impressive 14 per cent surge compared to the 2022 results.
Spend Australia Day in Narrandera Shire
On Australia Day, all around this great land, we reflect on our history, its highs, and its lows ... Narrandera Shire is hosting a variety of events and activities this Australia Day ... Join staff from Lake Talbot Tourist Park at Lake Talbot boat ramp for free kayaking in the lake’s kayak area.
Sea to plate dining is a catch at Gippsland Lakes: Tierney
Bullock Island’s new café will add to the charm of the Gippsland Lakes and draw new visitors to the area ... Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney joined representatives from the Lakes Entrance Fishermen Limited (LEFL) at the brand new café at Lakes Entrance, offering spectacular water views as diners enjoy their locally sourced meal.
Karen New Year celebrated in Nhill
After months of planning by the Nhill Karen Community, our town really came to life on Saturday with the celebration of the Karen New Year. There were over 1,000 in attendance travelling from around Victoria and some even from interstate.
Local projects in line for art awards
Three recent additions to Yorke Peninsula’s large-scale art scene have been nominated for the 2023 Australian Street Art Awards. Projects at water tanks in Minlacowie and Wool Bay, both completed in the first half of last year, are nominated for Best Mega Mural and Best Rural Art respectively.
Full throttle for low cost airline
Any conversation about the livability of Alice Springs will quickly hit on atrociously priced air fares making personal contact with loved ones interstate a nightmare. The touchdown of Bonza is bringing significant relief. But why can’t it fly to Sydney?
A new year – lots to look forward to!
Chris Johnston. 2023 was a fantastic year for the Hub: so many highlights it’s hard to choose ... First up this year is our Instrument Makers Gallery, a special event in partnership with Newstead Live.
Blast from the past – Tarrangower Tower advances Maldon
Australia Day, 26 January 2024, is the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Tower on the Mount. To mark this significant event, the Maldon Museum currently has a special exhibition on display, which includes interesting photos and maps.
Cunnamulla Hot Springs and River Walk experience
An exciting day in Cunnamulla ... for the Paroo Shire Council and community with the official opening of the Cunnamulla Hot Springs & River Walk Project ... It will become part of the Shire’s newly formed Hot Springs Trail.
Allora Heritage Weekend has engines humming
Glyn Rees. One of the region’s premier events, the annual Allora Heritage Weekend, will see the Allora Showgrounds host a two-day feast of historical machinery displays and activity on Australia Day weekend, January 27th and 28th. Vintage vehicle and machinery enthusiasts from around the nation will again have the opportunity to take to the many roads leading to Allora and its picturesque showgrounds.
Sharks “more aggressive around boats” – YP fisher
Michelle Daw. A southern Yorke Peninsula fisher is worried sharks are becoming more aggressive around boats — and believes shark tourism is partly to blame ... Mr Bishop fishes in Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf and said he’s seen more sharks come close to his boat recently than at any other time in his 21-year career.
Grow ’em big and they will come – Giant Pumpkin Fest contenders vie for biggest yet
Fred Beck grew pumpkins in the 1920s on Mount Pleasant, Woodenbong. Mr Beck’s grandson, David Smith said when the pumpkins were ripe they were carted to the pigsty ...This year Lillian Cox ... has cracked the 300kg mark ...
2024 Parkes Elvis Festival comes to a close
Elvis has left the building! Around 25,000 Elvis fans donned their bejeweled jumpsuits, poodle skirts and pompadour wigs to shake rattle and roll the week away in Parkes, New South Wales, for the 2024 Parkes Elvis Festival.
Mayor seeks to invite royals
King Charles III and Queen Camilla as guests of this year’s Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers? That is the aim of Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald. The King and Queen have announced that they will be visiting Australia during the spring of 2024, in what will mark their first visit to our country since Charles became Monarch.
Accessible Abrolhos infrastructure opens new world of possibilities: DBCA
Join wheelchair user Chris Kerr as she samples new disability-friendly infrastructure and equipment at Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park. You can't help but delight in her wonder and excitement as she's able to don mask and snorkel and descend into a magical underwater world at the Abrolhos for the first time.
Parking, staff shortages make for holiday blues
Patricia Gill. A café proprietor says Denmark is having ‘growing pains’ and an acceptance is needed that the town is now ‘on the map’, particularly over peak holiday periods. Mrs Jones Café proprietor Sam Jackson is among other accommodation and food-provider businesses which have been under the pump over Christmas and New Year. “Things will change whether we like it or not,” Sam said.
Businesses welcome busy holiday trade
Holidaymakers have flocked to the Clarence Valley for the 2023-2024 summer holidays with businesses reporting increased trade compared to last year, delivering a welcome economic boost in the current tough financial climate.
Gallery: Whistle stop or gate to The Centre’s soul
“Visitors are welcome to our gallery where you can purchase paintings and learn more about the history of Papunya and its artists.” This message is on the Papunya Tjupi website and Yuendumu’s Warlukurlangu Artists have a similar one. Meanwhile the plodding preparations continue for the bombastically named National Aboriginal Arts Gallery (NAAG) in Alice Springs.
Lord Howe Island Tourism Association News
Pia Funch & Trina Shepherd. It has been a busy year for Lord Howe Tourism! Lord Howe Island received a lot of media coverage through our familiarisation program in 2023.
Slow but steady economic growth for Toowoomba Region
The Toowoomba Region’s diverse economy and a steady population increase over the past five years have been the major contributors to the region’s steady economic growth, according to data contained in a report prepared for Toowoomba Regional Council.
