Australia's Nature Coast is a joint marketing campaign between Tourism and ... Australia Zoo's new meerkat section offic
Sunshine Coast
NEWS AND UPDATES
New! International Travel Planner 18-19 | Visit Sunshine Coast
The International Travel Planner (ITP) 2018-2019, Visit Sunshine Coast’s major trade marketing collateral, will be officially launched at Australian Tourism Exchange 2018. The 52-page, A5 booklet will be available in digital download and flipbook versions via the VSC travel trade toolkit. The ITP showcases the region’s unique features including world-class nature, contemporary beach culture, innovative food, exhilarating events and immersive encounters. The ITP also provides detailed listing of international ready products and experience available on the Sunshine Coast for key distribution partners to consider in marketing campaigns and promotions. www.visitsunshinecoast.com/international-travel-planner
New! Nature and Wildlife Journeys | Australia’s Nature Coast Australia’s Nature Coast is a joint marketing campaign between Tourism and Events Queensland, Visit Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast Tourism and Events and Local Tourism Organisation partners Tourism Noosa & Destination Gympie Region to promote the combined regions as one world class eco-tourism destination in the shared primary target markets of UK and Europe. In preparation for ATE, the partners have worked together to develop some exciting new ‘nature and wildlife’ themed journeys which will be featured on a dedicated trade microsite to educate trade, to inspire itinerary development and drive further demand to region. www.australiasnaturecoast.com
New! Habitat Noosa | Everglades Eco-camp Everglades eco-camp, Habitat Noosa, has been revamped by The Discovery Group and is now in soft opening phase. Due to be fully completed by June 2018, the 65-acre site boasts 500 metres beachfront on the shores of Lake Cootharaba and offers onsite camping, motorhome, RV sites and glamping accommodation. The eco-camp is also a dedicated facility for educational groups and conferencing for up to 100 delegates. www.habitatnoosa.com.au
New! Mary Valley Rattler | Gympie Region The Mary Valley region of the Sunshine Coast, which is rich in produce, historic villages and adventure tourism will be opened up to an even bigger audience in 2018 when the 100-year-old Mary Valley ‘Rattler’ gets back on the rails and commences regular journeys between Old Gympie Station and Amamoor in the second half of 2018. The Old Gympie Station has also been fully restored, housing a museum that shares stories of the Mary Valley Railway Line and its people, along with a retail shop and café that will showcase the bountiful local produce of the Mary Valley. www.maryvalleyrattler.com.au
New! Noosa Brewery Trail | Sunshine Coast Craft Tours - Creative Tours To accompany their already established tours in the Mooloolaba and Hinterland regions, Sunshine Coast Craft Beer Tours has recently launched their new tour of the Noosa Brewery Trail. The tour visits 3 unique local breweries and takes guests on a guided tour behind the scenes to see how beer is made. Taste freshly made local beer, meet the brewers and sit back and enjoy the experience with your experienced tour guide. www.sunshinecoastcraftbeertours.com.au
New! Cooloola Great Walk | Tropical Treks Tropical Treks will launch a five day guided trekking adventure in April that traverses the stunning Cooloola Great Walk. This 88 kilometre, 5-day, 4-night, fully-guided, self-sufficient hike, links the Noosa Northshore to Rainbow Beach via the 500,000-yearold Cooloola Sandmass. Overnights will be in walkers’ camps offering tranquil settings with toilets and fresh-water available. Meals are provided and can be enjoyed while watching the sunset over western volcanic peaks, while the Milky Way and Southern Cross constellations provide nightly spectacles and campers will wake up to the birdsong chorus as the sun rises from the Pacific Ocean. www.tropicaltreks.com.au
New! Downunder Drive | Aussie World Aussie World is the theme park attached to Downunder Drive, one of Australia’s fastest growing tourism and entertainment precincts. In 2017, the theme park launched five (5) new exciting theme park rides and attractions which appeal to all ages. In 2018 Aussie World will launch the Southern Cross 360 ( “SX-360” ) which will be Australia’s largest and fastest 360-degree swing ride. The precinct’s Tourist Pub, which is one of Australia’s most iconic pubs, will complete a massive redevelopment in 2018 to become more modern and Australian, whilst doubling in size. www.aussieworld.com.au
Sunshine Coast NEWS AND UPDATES New! Taste of Sunshine Tour | The Ginger Factory The Ginger Factory has improved its offer to better cater for International visitors, specifically Chinese visitors. A new 60 minute fully guided Taste of Sunshine Coast tour enables visitors to enjoy the best of ginger and honey on one tour. Starting in a working ginger factory to learn about ginger, visitors then move directly into the Live Bee Show, followed by tastings of ginger and honey products. New services for Chinese guests include Mandarin speaking hosts (on request), translated signage and park maps, and easy shopping with Alipay and UnionPay. Groups can enjoy a value-priced lunch of Australian fish & chips or Classic steak & chips with salad, or order directly from the Café. www.gingerfactory.com.au
New! Meerkat Encounter and Water Park Feature | Australia Zoo
Australia Zoo’s new meerkat section officially opened with the mob perched and ready to meet guests! 10 cheeky female meerkats and their carefully designed new home are long-awaited additions to Australia Zoo’s African section, situated at the eastern end of the savannah where the giraffe herd, zebras and rhinos roam together. Additionally, Australia Zoo is proud to announce its first ever water park feature. The above-ground water adventure will be open to all guests and will include spectacular native wildlife sculptures. It’s eco-friendly with specially designed recycled water components. These fountains of fun will be free with paid admission to Australia Zoo. www.australiazoo.com.au
New! Glamping Tents | Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort have added two ‘Glamping Tents’ to what is now a 43-room Eco Resort. Situated just steps from Sunrise Beach, the glamping tents are set amongst the natural flora of the island and boast spectacular views of the lagoon. Each glamping tent accommodates up to two people, are exclusive and spacious, and are equipped with a private bathroom and secluded balcony. Built by Eco Structures Australia, the glamping tents are designed to work in harmony with the surrounding environment. They are architecturally designed and environmentally sustainable. www.ladyelliotisland.com.au
New! Goomboorian Campdraft Ride | Rainbow Beach Horse Rides
Rainbow Beach Horse Rides have launched a new horse riding experience, ‘The Goomboorian Campdraft Ride’. During the 5-day ride, guests learn the competitive sport of campdrafting and how to work cattle. Campdrafting is iconic all-Australian horse sport that sees you cutting out a beast from the camp and free-wheeling it around pegs in an arena, where it comes down to precision, speed, agility and great partnering between you and your horse. Goomoorian Campdraft Ride guests enjoy spectacular Sunshine Coast scenery, amazing horses, beautifully prepared food, large and comfortable tents, hot showers, a glowing campfire and the making of life time memories. www.rbhr.com.au
New! Matt Golinski joins View Restaurant | Peppers Noosa Resort and Villas Celebrity Chef Matt Golinski has joined the team at Peppers Noosa Resort and Villas to head up the kitchen at View Restaurant as the hotel’s new Food Ambassador and Advisory Executive Chef. Adding a fresh approach to View Restaurant, Matt aspires to use more seasonal locally-sourced produce in his flavoursome new dishes planned for breakfast, lunch and dinner. www.peppers.com.au/noosa
New! Mantra Mooloolaba Beach upgrades | Mantra Group
To ensure the Mantra Mooloolaba Beach property continues to meet the expectation of guests and remains competitive in the Sunshine Coast market, Mantra Group Refurbishments is planning for renovations to the existing kitchenette into a modern and practical kitchen space. The addition of a cooktop, range hood and dishwasher will provide guests with greater functionality. The contemporary, neutral design was developed by QLD architecture firm Arkhefield to provide longevity in the competitive leisure and corporate market. The refurbishment is intended to be installed throughout 2018 and will be carefully planned around any forecasted busy periods. www.mantramooloolababeach.com.au
New! Private & Self-Drive Tours | Great Beach Drive 4WD Tours
Great Beach Drive 4WD Tours have introduced the option to book private tours, giving clients the freedom to design their own Great Beach Drive adventure. With private tours, guests can experience the exhilaration of driving on the beach with an instructed/guided self-drive option. Great Beach Drive 4WD tours capture the dramatic coastline, scenery and wildlife of the Great Beach Drive, a stretch of golden sandy coastline between Noosa and Rainbow Beach only accessible by 4WD. www.mantramooloolababeach.com.au
New! Adventure hire equipment | Sunreef Mooloolaba
Sunreef Mooloolaba has added adventure hire to its scuba diving and Swim with Humpback Whales experiences. Sunreef Hire offers a range of aquatic and land adventure hire equipment including jet skis, stand up paddle boards, bicycles, kayaks, surf and body boards and fishing equipment. Whether it’s the thrill and adrenaline rush of riding a jet ski or the fun of kayaking or stand up paddle boarding, Sunreef Hire has it all. www.sunreef.com
New! Transfers from Sunshine Coast to Moreton Island | Sunset Safaris Sunset Safaris are now doing passenger pick-ups from the Sunshine Coast to Moreton Island for their tours on the island. Pick up locations include Maroochydore, Mooloolaba and Caloundra with 1 & 2 Moreton Island Day Tour options available. www.sunsetsafaris.com.au
