Queensland New Tourism – May 2005

• Virgin and Jetstar to commence Hervey Bay flights in July
• Australian Outback Spectacular Theme Park to open in December
• Explore savanna wilderness close up at Jabiru Camp
• Mackay Arts Festivities in July
• Roma Classic celebrates auto club centenary
• Sunday Funday Anyday! in Greater Brisbane
• Pack Your Port for Brass Monkey SeasonTM
• Tasty temptations from Murdering Point
• New Savannah Way website drives road adventure
• Drink, Dine and Play at the Noosa Longweekend
• Brisbane-Hamilton Island air services increase

Virgin and Jetstar to commence Hervey Bay flights in July
The new Virgin and Jetstar direct services between Sydney and Hervey Bay - the gateway to the world heritage listed Fraser Island – will commence on Friday 29 July to coincide with the opening of the upgraded Hervey Bay Airport. The timing is also ideal for visitor’s to experience one of the region’s most popular drawcards, the humpback whale breeding season. Virgin will initially offer four Sydney-Hervey Bay services a week and will consider the possibility of a daily service by the end of the year. Jetstar will fly three times weekly direct services. For more information and bookings visit www.virginblue.com.au and www.jetstar.com.au.

Australian Outback Spectacular Theme Park to open in December
Warner Village Theme Parks’ new $23 million attraction The Australian Outback Spectacular will open in December at a purpose-built, 1000 seat arena, at Oxenford between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The two-hour show will highlight Australian tradition, culture and music and feature lighting, sound and special effects in an extravaganza that includes up to 40 horses and stunt men. Tickets will be priced at approximately $60 per person with concessions for children and pensioners. www.theme-parks.com.au.

Explore the savanna wilderness close up at Jabiru Camp

A glorious wilderness experience will open its tent flaps in the Mareeba Tropical Savanna Reserve this month. Jabiru Camp promises to be a haven of tranquillity in the Australian Outback and its unique safari-style tents have been designed to blend into the open woodland. Guest numbers are limited and visitors will be able to appreciate the tropical savanna and wetland wildlife in its natural habitat. Each tent has private en-suite facilities, queen or twin beds, insect screens, timber floors and a private verandah with comfortable chairs and a table, perfect for birdwatching, reading or enjoying a glass of champagne as the sun sets over Clancy’s Lagoon. Contact: 07 4093 2514; www.mareebawetlands.com.

Mackay Arts Festivities in July
The 18th annual Mackay Festival of Arts will be held over the 11 days from July 14 to 24. The largest regional arts festival in Queensland, the event features local, interstate and international acts on stage as well as traditional popular events including a wine and food day, jazz festival, and for the first time, Opera in the Canefields. For more information on the festival visit www.mackayentertainment.com.au/mackay_festival_of_arts  

Roma Classic celebrates auto club centenary
Motoring enthusiasts should plan to head west to Roma in July to join in the celebrations for the RACQ’s centenary. The Roma Classic touring assembly starts with a tour from Toowoomba to Roma on Saturday July 2 and a motorkhana in Roma on July 3. The Roma Classic is one of several events celebrating 100 years of Queensland motoring, including the RACQ’s Bulldust, Bitumen and Beyond tourism exhibition featuring three historic cars exclusive to Roma, 100 Years of Motoring Commemorative Dinner, and the Roma Vintage and Veteran Commemorative Car Rally. For more information and event programs contact: (07) 4622 9211.

Sunday Funday Anyday! in Greater Brisbane
Day tripping in Greater Brisbane has never been easier thanks to the publication of the compact and colourful Greater Brisbane Drives brochure. This joint marketing initiative of the shires and cities in the region is designed to highlight the fun of touring this region. It provides a wealth of information, including a map of all major roads and commercial centres in the area and numbered pointers of the highlights of each shire and city within the region which include Kilcoy, Caboolture, Redcliffe, Pine Rivers, Esk, Gatton, Laidley, Ipswich, Brisbane’s Bayside, Redlands, Beaudesert, Boonah and Logan. Contact addresses, phone numbers, web sites and email addresses for the 26 visitor information centres located in the region are also listed as are travel tips, major regional events and markets. The Greater Brisbane Drives brochure is available from visitors information centres in any of the areas listed above or by calling the Brisbane Visitors Information Centre on (07) 3006 6290.

Pack Your Port for Brass Monkey SeasonTM
Queensland’s perfect winter getaway, the Southern Downs and Granite Belt, is preparing itself for another busy Brass Monkey SeasonTM as wine and food enthusiasts pack their ports for their annual pilgrimage to the region. This is peak season for the region with its 45 boutique wineries and cellar doors, accommodation choices ranging from B & B cottages and stylish country retreats through to simple motel style, great restaurants and coffee shops, startling scenery and crisp winter weather. The natural beauty of the Southern Downs and Granite Belt inspires the thriving local arts community, and Brass Monkey SeasonTM represents the peak of the region's cultural calendar with events like Warwick's Jumpers and Jazz in July festival, a unique display of local wit, charm and colour with custom knitted jumpers for the deciduous trees of the main street, and the Historic Leyburn Sprints in August. For other events and accommodation enquiries visit www.brassmonkeyseason.com.au.

Tasty temptations from Murdering Point
The name sounds quite sinister, but the folk at Murdering Point Winery at Silkwood near Mission Beach in North Queensland have only the best intentions at heart. Combining old world methods with modern technology, the winemakers at Murdering Point have created a unique range of premium quality tropical fruit wines. Blending a variety of tropical and exotic fruit from the region they now offer a selection of white and red tropical fruit wine with charming names such as Pinnacle, Romance, Misty Gem, Panama Gold and Red Emperor. For more information contact 07 4065 2327 or visit www.murderingpointwinery.com.au.

New Savannah Way website drives road adventure
A new website has just been launched to help travellers plan the ultimate Australian driving adventure along the Savannah Way. Log onto www.savannahway.com.au, a one-stop-shop on the Savannah Way, a 3700km odyssey from Cairns to Broome or vice versa. The website includes an interactive map and handy features to plan
your trip from climate, distance charts, road safety, travellers' diaries and
road condition information – whether you are doing the whole trip or a shorter segment. The route is easy-to-follow and can be completed in a family sedan as most roads are sealed offering clear signage, interpretative displays, maps and
brochures, as well as a comprehensive visitor information centre network.

Drink, Dine and Play at the Noosa Longweekend
Pop culture, classical music, exquisite food and a David Williamson play are all part of the Noosa Longweekend’s program from 17-26 June. Authors, journalists, poets, artists, comedians, movie stars and critics will join the line-up of famous Australians attending the popular Sunshine Coast event. Tel: 07 5442 4546; www.noosalongweekend.com. Netanya Noosa is offering two packages for the Longweekend – three nights in a penthouse spa suite, champagne on arrival and two tickets to an intimate dinner concert by Marina Prior for only $420 a night per couple, and two nights accommodation in a beachfront penthouse, two tickets to a David Williamson tribute performance, a Bryce Courtney literary luncheon or a chamber music concert dinner, also $420 a night per couple. Tel: 1800 072 072.

Brisbane-Hamilton Island air services increase
Virgin Blue and Qantas will begin flying from Brisbane to Hamilton Island in June and July respectively. Virgin Blue will commence their direct services from Brisbane to Hamilton Island on June 15. The Qantas group, which currently flies into Hamilton Island from Brisbane with daily Jetstar flights, will add three weekly Qantas-branded flights from July 1. www.qantas.com.au; www.virginblue.com.au. Throughout May, June and July guests can stay a night for free on Hamilton Island.  Book a five-night holiday and only pay for four nights. Prices start from $512. For bookings: 13 7333 (13REEF) or www.hamiltonisland.com.au.