74 ISLAND WONDERS. 1000s OF STORY IDEAS.

THE TOP TEN STORIES FROM THE WHITSUNDAYS - JULY/AUGUST 2012

1. New Virgin Melbourne – HTI direct flights

Whitsundays Marketing and Development Limited (WMDL) has welcomed the announcement by Virgin Australia to increase airline access to the Whitsundays through the establishment of a direct Melbourne – Hamilton Island service.  The Whitsundays has seen significant growth in interstate visitor arrivals in recent months and this announcement will make it even easier for our visitors to get to the Whitsundays.  Enhancing Hamilton Island’s world-class offering as a regular host to high-profile celebrities, special events and as Australia’s best Business Tourism destination (Australian Tourism Awards 2012), the Melbourne to Hamilton Island service will include Business Class seats for the first time on the route since 2004.

From 15 August 2013 flights operate as follows:

*During the off peak months of February – June the Sunday service will not operate.

2. Re-opening of Palm Bay Hideaway 
Previously an award winning 5 star resort, this hidden gem was once frequented by celebrities and international guests.  Palm Bay Hideaway on Long island is now under owner-management, offering the same unique private waterfront bungalows, bure's and cabins, but with a twist to delight the budget conscious traveller.  Travellers BYO all their own food and beverages and prepare their meals in the in-room kitchenettes or in the shared cooking facilities in the central part of the resort.  The accommodation is luxurious and self-contained and the resort facilities include a swimming pool, tennis court, kayaks, fishing gear, media room and library.  Long Island is a national park and home to a number of bush walking tracks, and there is fringing coral reef right off the beach in front of the resort.  Transfers are via water taxi, helicopter, seaplane or ferry.  Those on their own boats, or renting a skipper yourself bare boat, can also book a mooring in the bay at the front of the resort and use the resort's facilities.
Cabin accommodation (the smallest rooms) is $170 per night while the most luxurious 1 bedroom Bungalow accommodation is $230 per night.
www.palmbayhideaway.com.au 

3. Whales arrive in the Whitsundays
Tours in the Whitsundays are already enjoying the added bonus of whale watching as they go about their daily trips to the Great Barrier Reef, Whitehaven Beach and around the Whitsunday Islands.  The protected waters of the Whitsundays are a favourite for mummy humpbacks to shelter in and give birth to their young ones.  Visitors on charter boats, private boats, scenic flights, and guests on the islands and mainland have been treated to plenty of spectacular shows of breaching, and keeping a close and hopeful eye open for the return of the infamous 'Migaloo' rare albino whale and 'Chalkie' the white whale who was born in the Whitsundays two years ago.  There's plenty of whale action ahead throughout July - September, and while there's no formal whale watching tours in the Whitsundays, it's a just a free bonus on any of the tours around the region for the next 3 months.  

4. Reef Brief
In a first for the Great Barrier Reef, a 'Reef Brief' program has been launched in Airlie Beach.  The program is an initiative of the Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association (WCBIA), Royal Life Saving Society of Queensland (RLSS) and Whitsunday Diving Adventures and the one-and-a-half-hour sessions takes place every day from 10am at the Airlie Beach lagoon.  The Reef Brief is free of charge and teaches basic techniques such as clearing a mask, making hand signals and the overall importance of water safety.
"We get a lot of people here who have never been on a boat before and if they have a bit of knowledge before they get out there they have a better trip," says Mr Stuart Casey of RLSS. At present the program is open to customers of WCBIA members, which equates to about 75 per cent of the region's commercial fleet.

5. Airlie Beach Main Street - update
The $20 million upgrade of the Airlie Beach town centre is continuing to take shape and visitors to the region can start to see what the finished product will look like.  Underground works are almost complete and the above ground beautification works are moving along very quickly.  One half of the street is finished now and works are continuing quickly on the on the other side.  Visitors to Airlie Beach in the past have known the town as a backpacker haven, however in recent years four and five star apartment developments and a rising number of quality restaurants have seen the town grow up significantly.  The major Port of Airlie development at the eastern end of town offers brand new apartments and a restaurant and shopping precinct.  The upgrade to the town centre will reinvigorate the town which is the major hub of the Whitsundays region.  The completion date is set for 3 September.
**WMDL will be hosting an intensive familiarisation program to Airlie Beach from September 2013 for writers to experience the re-launch of the town.  To register your interest in visiting Airlie Beach to see the upgrade, please contact Danielle Krista.**

JULY/AUGUST - SOOOOOOO MANY EXCUSES TO VISIT THE WHITSUNDAYS
6. Whitsundays Sailing Season peaks through August
Queensland's Season of Sailing 2013 is officially underway and now is the time to book your trip to come to the Whitsundays for two of Queensland's signature sailing events!  Visitors can enjoy and be part of a world famous race week, learn to sail, DIY sailing, or a range of crewed charters. Choose from a wide range of boating experiences - from catamarans to racing yachts - and explore the Whitsundays spectacular scenery. 
Whitsundays key Season of Sailing events:
Airlie Beach Race Week - 9-16 August 
Whitsunday Reef Festival - 15-18 August
Hamilton Island Race Week - 16-24 August
Whitsunday Fun Race - 17 August

Get in the thick of the action and join a racing crew:
You might have seen maxi racing yachts on TV during the Sydney to Hobart, but rarely do you get a chance to join the crew and race the boat yourself.  This August Explore Whitsundays is offering travellers that chance - with Maxi Yachts entered in both the Airlie Beach Race Week and Hamilton Island Race Week.  Guests from novices to experienced sailors are welcome to join the crews and enjoy the racing, partying and the warmth of a Whitsunday Winter.  Spots on Maxi Yacht Hammer are still available for Airlie Beach Race Week and Condor for Hamilton Island Race Week.  The ticket price includes all entry fees, accommodation on the yacht, racing by day, moored by night in the marina, breakfast and lunch, and evening festivities at Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island respectively as they come alive with the Season of Sailing.

Airlie Beach Race Week
7 days and 6 nights 
$1,400 per person  

Hamilton Island Race Week 
10 days and 9 nights
$2,100 per person

For further information contact Explore Whitsundays 
http://www.explorewhitsundays.com/news/whitsundays-latest-news-on-season-of-sailing 

7. Whitsunday Writer's Festival 12-14 July
Open to anyone to attend, the Whitsunday Writers Festival aims to help improve writing knowledge and have the opportunity to talk to those who are already in the business with their vast understanding of valuable information and experience. It costs only $95 for the entire workshop or $595 for two nights at the luxury Coral Sea Resort; invitation to the cocktail party and morning and afternoon tea and lunches, and the workshops.  The workshop is run by L.A. Larkin, who studied in the University of London. She has invited other guest speakers such as Dr. Tony Ayling who has written many books about marine biology; Dr. Anita Heiss - a member of the Wiradjuri nation and is one of the most famous Aboriginal authors; Joyce Morgan who has worked as a journalist all around the world, in places such as London, Sydney and Hong Kong; and Conrad Walters who worked in media in the United States for over thirty years and now works at the Sydney Morning Herald.
http://wowfestival.blogspot.com.au/ 
**If you are a travel writer who would like to attend the festival as well as a broader famil of the region, please contact Danielle Krista urgently.**

8. Airlie Beach Running Festival Sunday 21 July
Offering three distances (5km, 10km, and a half marathon) this event is perfect for anybody over eight-years-old.
The course includes many of Airlie Beach's beautiful surroundings, such as our scenic coastline and the famous Airlie Beach lagoon. A pre-event dinner is also included at the Whitsunday Sailing Club on Saturday 20th July where Pat Carroll one of Australia's top runners in the 80's and 90's, will be presenting.  His record of 61.11 Half Marathon still remains the fastest on record in Australia.Registrations are now open, costs ranging from $35 to $100, with the option to do groups races or individual races available. 
http://www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au/destinations/airlie-beach/events/airlie-beach-running-festival/ 

9. Great Barrier Feast Series 12-14 July
Now in its fourth year, Hamilton Island's highly successful Great Barrier Feast includes a series of separate haute cuisine weekends, offering guests the exclusive opportunity to immerse themselves in a 'behind the scenes' experience and learn directly from world-class chefs in a world-class settingJoin us for the ultimate culinary experience this July, as three of Australia's celebrated chefs join forces to present the 'Best of Australia' at qualia.Join Peter Gilmore of Sydney's Quay, along with award-winning chef Dan Hunter of the Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld, Victoria and qualia's Executive Chef Alastair Waddell, for an intimate weekend of Australia's finest food and wine.
http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au/Events/Great-Barrier-Feast/best-of-australia/Pages/default.aspx 

10. Upcoming events - register and buy tickets now
Run the Whitsunday Great Walk - register now for 22 September
Entries have opened for the longest trail run through the rainforests of tropical north Queensland, the 28 km "Run the Whitsunday Great Walk" through the rugged Conway National Park.  Mackay Road Runners will enlist the support of local organisations to host the event, now in its seventh year, on Sunday 22 September, 2013.The rugged terrain and remoteness of the trail through the majestic rainforest clad hills of Conway National Park makes the run unique in Australia. The trail winds its way alongside tropical streams, over the Mt Hayward plateau, where it affords magnificent views of the Whitsunday Islands, then descends steeply into Airlie Beach.
www.whitsundayrun.com 

Airlie Beach Music Festival - tickets on sale now for 8-10 November
With 74 bands rocking 17 different venues throughout Airlie Beach, this new festival is set to become one of Australia's biggest.  Hoodoo Gurus, Mental as Anything, Dragon, Diesel, Kasey Chambers, James Reyne and Brian Cadd, among others, headline the event over three days, with music played at 16 different venues throughout the days and the bigger acts on stage in central Airlie Beach each night.Tickets are on sale now; 3 day passes are $245 per person.
www.airliebeachmusicfestival.com.au 

WANT TO VISIT THE WHITSUNDAYS ON A FAMIL?
WMDL is looking for a journalist with Asia-Pacific reach to attend Airlie Beach Race Week between 9-16 August to cover the event.  Please register interest asap with Danielle Krista.
WMDL will be hosting a series of famils for the 'relaunch' of Airlie Beach from September-December.  Please register your interest with Danielle Krista now to participate on one of these trips.


MEDIA CONTACT:
Danielle Krista
Marketing Services Manager
Whitsundays Marketing and Development Limited
Ph: 0417 765 736 or (07) 4948 5904
marketing@wmdl.com.au