Tourism

There will be pumpkins. Giant ones and they’ll be weighed at 9am on Saturday, January 21 in Kyogle at the Summerland Giant Pumpkin and Watermelon Festival in Stratheden St ... There are cafes and clubs in Kyogle offering special dishes as part of the festival and right through January.

Taj's Small Fries presented by Board.Store concluded in emphatic fashion yesterday in Yallingup, with eight champions crowned in classic summer conditions in Yallingup marking the end of three days of amazing surfing at WA's biggest, best and most prestigious junior surfing tournament.

The Australian Government welcomes the entry of a new airline into the Australian market, with Bonza today being granted its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) following a rigorous assessment process. This is a significant milestone for Australian aviation, marking the first new high-capacity entrant into the Australian market since the launch of Tiger Airways over 15 years ago.

Savour the flavours of the Moyne region and celebrate vineyards, breweries, shop fronts and farm gates on the Moyne Shire Taste Trail. The Taste Trail is a self-drive tour through the rolling greenery of the Moyne Shire, from Macarthur, Port Fairy, Koroit, Killarney, Mortlake, Mepunga and Allansford while sampling food and beverages from the region’s makers, growers and producers.

Rodney Stevens. The Yamba Ocean Swim kicked off 2023 with a splash as a record number of entrants hit the water across all age groups, cheered on by a crowd of hundreds on a stunning summer’s day ... “We had 397 entrants this year which is well up on our previous best of 354 in 2013,” said Yamba Surf Club Surf Sports Director and Race Organiser Jim Dougherty.

Rodney Stevens. The Clarence Valley’s reputation of being a premier holiday destination, but an even better place to live, has seen tourists and locals taking an active interest in the real estate market and holiday letting almost at capacity during the Christmas holidays. On the back of Yamba being named in real-estate.com.au Hottest 100 suburbs for 2023, agents are reporting steady sales and solid inquiries.

Excitement  is building as  Western Australia’s biggest, best and most prestigious junior  surfing tournament prepares for a start next week, with Taj's Small Fries set to  splash down in Yallingup  for the 18th consecutive year. First run in 2006, Taj's Small Fries has become a rite of passage for many of the Australia's best young surfers, launching the careers of numerous surfing stars since it's  inception.

The Kingston District Council has issued a warm welcome to flood impacted visitors and others looking for coastal accommodation during the upcoming school holidays through an extension of its low-cost RV Park. The Park, which will offer up to six (6) nights for just $60 until at least mid-February 2023, is set to use land adjacent the existing area and adjoining Maria Creek, to make way for anticipated visitors who may have otherwise holidayed along the flooding Murray River.

Proposed changes to poker machine gambling in NSW has caused angst amongst ClubsNSW members. The reforms have the support of the NSW Liberal party, the Greens and also independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton.

Anyone who wanders into Narrandera Showground on January 28 and 29 next year will be forgiven for thinking they have stumbled into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. A Weekend With Max Festival, based on the popular Mad Max genre movies will take place over two days.

Last Friday Member for Southern Downs James Lister MP and a group of concerned volunteers and media met at the Gladfield Driver Reviver site which was one of the sites due to be closed by the Department of Main Roads.

Congratulations to Robyn, Jan and the team who have made the Railway a popular meeting and eating place in Allora. A big cheer out to Rhonda and Red who have been with Robyn for the past 15 years. Great stuff!

Sarah Martin. A project telling the story of the first recorded act of reconciliation in Australia has resulted in the Cooktown Museum taking out a major gong at the Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards in Brisbane. The Cooktown Museum, owned and managed by the National Trust of Australia Queensland, was a joint winner for its Reimagining James Cook project, which tells the fascinating story of the Guugu Yimithirr people’s interactions with Cook from both a European and First Nations perspective.

The large number of Darling Downs locals who help make up the throng at Woodfordia for the annual Woodford Folk Festival will notice a touch of luxury has been added for a lucky few this year. Twenty luxury glamping tents with ensuite bathrooms and kitchens have been launched with the help of $1.2 million from the Queensland Government Growing Tourism Infrastructure fund.

Jason Dunemann. Tennant Creek Darts hosted its annual Darrell “Bear” Logue Memorial Golden Nugget Tournament last weekend. The 34th edition of this fabulous tournament brought players from all over the country – 53 men and 20 ladies, including 10 locals, 18 from other parts of the NT and 45 from interstate.

Since its inception, Toowoomba’s Christmas Wonderland has welcomed over one million visitors and has returned over $1.32 million back to the local community through its beneficiaries. This year is its 20th year of bringing the joy of Christmas to the young and young-at-heart across the Toowoomba region.

Eighty-three year-old Narrandera woman Marjory Longford has set the record straight on the origin of an unusual 19th century meat smoker that has been preserved at Griffith’s Pioneer Park Museum ... The smoker is made from a hollow log cemented to the ground and connected to an underground tunnel three metres long, which leads to a firebox smoker ... it came from her grandmother’s farm near Bringagee Station.

Two of the world’s leading palaeontologists along with scientific researchers and educators have gathered to discuss the importance of the Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail in Inverloch ... "It is a true legacy project for Council to be at the forefront of creating a world class tourism experience that celebrates the work of scientists, volunteers and the international significance of polar dinosaurs to the Australian Continent": Bass Coast Mayor Michael Whelan.

Emma Pritchard. Beneath clear skies and amidst perfect summer conditions at Whiting Beach, 440 competitors put their stamina, strength, and endurance to the test on December 3 and 4, when they participated in the 2022 Yamba Triathlon. A popular local multisport competition which consists of swimming, cycling, and running over various distances, the event attracted triathletes from across the country ...

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