Tourism

Australia’s largest regional writers festival explores the theme of 'Wild Imagination' - Featuring more than 120 writers, thinkers and commentators ... The festival also offers  writers’ workshops, an engaging program for children and several feature and satellite events in venues across the Northern Rivers.    

Owners of the Darling Downs Zoo, Steve and Stephanie Robinson have reluctantly placed the popular tourist attraction on the market due to Steve’s health. The Robinsons opened the Darling Downs Zoo in 2005 after many years of working with authorities to enable the project to go ahead.

The arrival of a DC3 aircraft on the morning of the Nhill Airshow on April 13th 2024, will be a special treat for visitors. For older Nhill residents, the sight of the magnificent DC3 landing on the airstrip will bring back memories of the regular passenger service that ran between Adelaide, Nhill and Melbourne from the 1940s to ’60s.

Mildura Rural City Councillor for Recreation and Events Mark Eckel has highlighted the success of the Penrite Hattah Desert Race as the iconic event prepares to mark its 25th  anniversary this weekend ... Cr Eckel said the event was now one of the most popular and sought-after off-road events in the country, evidenced by the fact the more than 800 available race entries are now snapped up in just seconds once they open.

Barossa Mayor Bim Lange is thrilled about the return of the 2024 Santos Tour Down Under, saying the Barossa will welcome not one Stage, but two ... “This is another great opportunity to put the Barossa on the world stage, and we couldn’t be happier Race Director Stuart O’Grady has yet again recognised our capacity for hosting this major international event”: Barossa Mayor Bim Lange.

Of the two budding NT government art galleries, one is making news: The one in Darwin, because construction is under way. At the opposite end of the Territory, and of government attention, there is no news about the Alice Springs “national” Aboriginal gallery because its senior director, Tracy Puklowski, is not able, not willing, not permitted, not whatever to answer media questions.

The Maldon in Winter festival kicks off tonight (Friday 23 June) with the long-awaited for Kangaroo Art Trail coming to life! Twenty-four life-sized kangaroos lovingly decorated by an array of local artists and community groups are creatively displayed in shop windows along Main & High Streets in Maldon throughout the festival.

Have you seen the new hand crafted signs for the Maldon Vintage Machinery & Museum? The eye-catching artistry was meticulously created by Signwriter and Graphic Designer Kim Johnson of Signsation, based in Hepburn Springs and each sign depicts one of the vintage machines on display at the museum.

The Grong Grong School of Arts hosted a successful fire circle session at the Royal Hotel over the weekend ... "We ended up with 17 musicians, many of whom didn’t know each other, playing at the pub all day… they came from Griffith all the way to the border and just drove up for the day, it was great": Gemma Purcell.

Hundreds of mountain biking enthusiasts and their families gathered in Rockhampton for the recent Rocky Trail Academy Schools Competition and  the Fox Superflow ® Gravity Enduro race, two of the fastest growing mountain bike racing formats held in Rockhampton during winter ... “Mountain biking tourism is considered one of the fastest growing recreational activities globally, with AusCycle reporting a $136.9 million direct economic impact to Australia, per annum": Parks, Sport and Public Spaces Councillor Cherie Rutherford.

Do you want the chance to witness stunning wildflowers in bloom and learn why they are so special? Then mark your calendar for Monday, July 3, to book a spot at the Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival, with guided walks running from Saturday, August 19, to Sunday, September 3, from Bribie Island to Noosa.

Now in its 11th year, the Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular happens over the weekend of June 17 and 18 at Boonah. It is the richest Clydesdale Show in the Southern Hemisphere, where the grand champions of the breed are judged, the heritage of the breed is shared, and the history of the breed in Australia is toasted.

The Campaspe Run H.V. McKay Rural Discovery Centre, a community-driven tourist attraction nestled in Elmore,   recently marked its 25-year anniversary. Established on April 26, 1998, following the closure of the Elmore & District   Hospital in 1994, the Centre honours H.V. McKay’s contributions to agricultural advancements and Elmore’s rich socio-historical heritage.

The second ever Ganmain Arts Festival on Ford will be held on June 24 and 25. The Art Festival will transform Ford Street with art from local artists in different disciplines to be featured in storefronts, businesses and the town hall.

cluBarham has been announced as the home of the Over 60s State Championships and Women’s Country Carnival for the next three years. Play will take place on the club’s state-of-the-art facility opened in September 2022, including two synthetic 9 rink greens, one of which is undercover.    

Legendary music icon Paul Kelly is heading to Alice Springs this October to headline an exciting new event, The Warm-Up ... His performance will complete a program of activity for The Warm-Up, which will celebrate one-year-out from the return of the 2024 Alice Springs Masters Games.

When the Kaniva Wetlands and Fauna Park was re-imagined by the Kaniva community in 2014, part of that plan included creating an aged and disability-friendly experience ... Resident and photographer Matt Bale had an idea to create a 360 tour of the wetlands and fauna park.

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) launches ‘The Winning Formula for Regional Victoria’, a document outlining the group’s priorities to ensure a lasting legacy is created for the whole of regional Victoria as part of the 2026 Commonwealth Games ... The Winning Formula for Regional Victoria examines six key areas with recommendations that will ensure a lasting legacy for every regional city beyond the event period and across the whole state, not just for the five cities hosting events...

Michelle Daw. Port Broughton’s laidback seaside appeal has made it a family holiday favourite for decades and now it has been recognised as South Australia’s best Tiny Tourism Town. The 2023 Tourism Town Awards were presented by the Tourism Industry Council of SA last week.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos announced construction will soon begin on the Wycheproof Wetlands Precinct – which is backed by the Labor Government. The project is helping to create a 70,000m2 wetland system, transforming the area into a world-class nature-based tourism experience while offering new recreation opportunities.

TRA has now published the  State of the Industry 2022  report. This annual report presents a snapshot of Australia’s visitor economy in 2022.

Queensland Country Rugby Union have announced that the 2023 Queensland Country Rugby Union Championships will be hosted at Victoria Park in Rockhampton, proudly sponsored by Rockhampton Regional Council. The event is expected to attract between 700-800 players and their families at the end of June this year and will be held in Rockhampton again in 2024.