Tourism

A massive, stunningly beautiful former grazing property will soon belong to Queenslanders as the state’s newest national park. “The Lakes”, north of Hughenden, will increase Queensland’s protected area estate by 35,300 hectares, with the Palaszczuk Government now finalising the multi-million-dollar purchase.

The NSW Government has partnered with Ironman Australia to bring the prestigious Ultra Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB) World Series to Mt Kosciuszko in December this year.

Maldon will once again host an event where classic steel bicycles are displayed and ridden. Whether it is an early piece of cycling history from the 1800s, or a more recent steel frame from those artisans still producing steel bikes, it is hoped there will be a solid representation across the eras.

Chinchilla will be home to the region’s first micro-brewery tourist experience following Western Downs Regional Council’s approval of an expansion of a popular tourist park in the area, Clover Hill Accommodation and Camping.

Jeff Hanson. A sense of deja vu must have swept over the Narrandera Rodeo Club committee on Friday night, with organisers reluctantly deciding to cancel their 2022 rodeo ... the hard-working committee was expecting a bumper crowd for a big night of thrills and spills but for the second year in a row, the Covid-19 pandemic has reared its ugly head.

The popular Eat the Street Festival will return to Lismore’s CBD on Sunday, 29 May after it was cancelled last year due to COVID-19 ... Since its inception in 2016, Eat the Street has quickly become an iconic Northern Rivers festival, showcasing the regions’ finest food vendors and entertaining tens of thousands of people.

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.