Greater Port Macquarie celebrates heritage with sizzling sale

Timbertown is the region’s premier heritage attraction where visitors can experience life as it was in an Australian saw miller’s village in the 1880’s. It will host the official opening celebrations on Saturday 5 April with story telling, steam train rides, bullock demonstrations and whip cracking lessons.

The annual Heritage Festival celebrates the region’s past as one of Australia’s oldest penal settlements. It will feature over 40 events in Greater Port Macquarie and neighbouring Kempsey and is expected to attract 7,000 people.

“This year’s 11th Heritage Festival has grown to be the largest celebration of any Local Government Area in New South Wales. We are launching our Sizzling Short Break Sale in time for the Festival so visitors can take advantage of great value accommodation whilst delving into our history,” said Linda Hall, Acting Tourism Manager at Greater Port Macquarie Tourism.

The theme for this year’s Festival ‘Our Place’ is designed to encourage locals and visitors to see, feel and touch the region’s treasures first-hand. Fun, interactive and educational events will bring to life the area’s history.

Major events include ‘Heritage in the Vines’, a country style fair at Douglas Vale Homestead (Saturday 12 April) and the 50th Anniversary of the Hastings District Flying Club (Sunday 13 April). Walking tours include the ‘Camden Haven Pilot Station’; the maritime history’s ‘Waterfront’; the Akubra Factory’s ‘Making of an icon’ at Kempsey; ‘Bago Bluff’ National Parks Tour and ‘Stories Behind the Graves’. There will also be regular Cruises along the Hastings River aboard ‘MV Wentworth’, an enchanting old maritime vessel.

Greater Port Macquarie, on the Mid North Coast of NSW, was established in 1821. Early settlers to the area earned their livelihoods from a number of industries including timber getting and milling, dairying and farming.

The Sizzling Short Break Sale will continue until September 2008 with a number of special offers from accommodation, attractions, flights and rail partners.

For more information or to download the Festival program go to www.gpmevents.com.au. To book your Short Break, call the Greater Port Macquarie Visitors Information Centre on 1300 303 155 or go online at www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au