74 Islands. 1000's of Story Ideas.

74 Islands. 1000's of Story Ideas.

The Whitsundays is bursting full of great places to visit, things to do, people to meet and stories to tell!

The team at Tourism Whitsundays are always happy to help develop your ideas, or help with new ideas. We update our top ten list of story ideas bi-monthly - here are our latest ideas to get the creative juices flowing...

TOP TEN STORY IDEAS – July/August 10

 NEW PRODUCTS:

  1. Designed by renowned architect Walter Barda, with landscaping created by celebrity landscape designer Jamie Durie, Hamilton Island’s Yacht Club Villas have been completed and have opened a select few doors to holiday guests.  Ideal for groups of up to eight people, the four-bedroomed, four-bathroomed villas look out over Dent Passage, Hamilton Island Marina and the surrounding Whitsunday Islands.  The stand-alone villas reflect Barda’s vision to create an informal ambience that makes the most of the unique and beautiful island setting. The villas, designed with natural timbers and sweeping lines, include furnishings by leading design group, Coco Republic.  All include a spacious open plan living/dining room with complimentary movies on demand and state-of-the art gourmet kitchen with Miele appliances. Guests staying in the villas have access to an exclusive waterfront lagoon pool, exclusive use of a four-seater golf buggy and the individual attention of a member of the Island concierge team, who will contact them before their visit and personally look after them during their stay. 
  2. Hayman has commenced development on an exclusive collection of Beachfront Suites which will present new standards in international resort excellence. Eight absolute beachfront suites on the shores of Australia’s most celebrated private island destination will offer breathtaking uninterrupted views of the Coral Sea and beyond and unsurpassed interior and exterior appointments. Designed by internationally renowned architect, Kerry Hill, each suite will provide 120 square metres of sheer luxury, featuring superb appointments including a stunning private plunge pool.  Works are planned to minimise any inconvenience to valued guests.
  3. May 2010 saw the return of an old Whitsunday favourite, the Fantasea Yellow Sub.  This iconic Whitsunday cruise is operating to beautiful Bali Hai on the inner Great Barrier Reef as a half day sub and snorkel adventure.  The tour starts and finishes with an exciting 45 minute jet boat ride across the Whitsunday Passage on board Fantasea Cruisin, a luxury Naiad jet boat. The leather seats have a customised layout designed for panoramic views.  On arrival at Bali Hai, an amazing underwater experience awaits in the air conditioned comfort of the famous Yellow Sub.  Bali Hai is the ultimate snorkelling destination sheltered from most weather conditions making it ideal for all ages and abilities.  Snorkel in the shallow waters near the beach or for the more adventurous, explore deeper water at the edge of the fringing coral reef.  Fantasea operates the only half day tours in the region visiting this location, making it ideal for anyone who wants to explore the Whitsunday islands and snorkel in only half a day, with both morning and afternoon departures available from Airlie Beach.
  4. To experience the Whitsundays on a journey over land and sea, the Whitsundays Ngaro Sea Trail is the perfect option, officially launched at the beginning of June. The Sea Trail is the latest of Queensland’s ‘Great Walks’ and is the first to combine land and water elements. Named after the traditional owners of the Whitsundays, the Ngaro people, this latest walk will allow visitors to follow in the indigenous peoples’ footsteps and experience a remarkable journey on Hook, Whitsunday and South Molle Islands. Visitors can travel by commercial boat, sailing vessel or canoe and trails will range from short and easy to long and challenging.  This product is not brochured, which is naturally enticing for the business events market when looking for something different!
  5. Airlie Beach’s favourite fish café is spreading it’s wings, with the opening of a new Fish D’vine in Cairns and the cross-over of holiday makers has already begun. Customers arriving in Airlie Beach have already dined at Cairns and just love it.  Some have heard about the Whitsundays wonderful fresh local seafood and some just need another Rum cocktail.  And it’s vice versa with Cairns hosting satisfied customers on their way north from Airlie Beach.  The Cairns venue itself is truly stunning and along with their passion to showcase the amazing culinary delights from our ocean and waterways and to have the largest rum collection in the southern hemisphere makes for a pretty special dining experience.

    FOOD AND WINE:
  6. After the success of this year's first Great Barrier Feast event with Tetsuya Wakuda, Hamilton Island will continue the series with acclaimed chef Justin North, who will show case his talents over the weekend of 23 - 25 July.  Justin North’s restaurants, Bécasse and Etch, are considered two of Sydney’s premier restaurants and Justin is renowned for the uncompromising standard of his modern-French cuisine.  Hosted once more by 2009 Masterchef presenter, Sarah Wilson, the weekend will include a beachside welcome dinner at qualia, a master class and a champagne lunch. The weekend will conclude with a showpiece dinner in which Justin North will take us through the preparation of his culinary delights directly from the kitchen, visible to guests through a live camera link-up.
  7. Join the Airlie Beach Hotel for a ‘paddock to the plate’ tour and visit their exclusive ‘Localvore’ farms.  The tour has been designed to enable you to discover, touch and taste the Whitsundays local growing produce and includes farm tasting samples followed by a two course Localvore dinner and a glass of Queensland wine served at Capers Restaurant.  The last Saturday of every month.


    WRITING INSPIRATION
  8. Daydream Island Resort and Spa will be the setting for the first Whitsundays Writers Festival 23-25 July, 2010.  The Great Barrier Reef will be the backdrop for speakers including Susan Duncan, who worked as an international journalist and editor of Women’s Weekly before retiring to Pittwater where she wrote Salvation Creek and The House at Salvation Creek.  Anne Maria Nicholson is a senior arts journalist with the ABC. Her first book Weeping Waters may soon be the subject of a movie and her second book Pliny’s Warning could go the same way.  Frank Robson writes for the Sydney Morning Herald and his books Lucky for Me and Lucky at Sea will enthrall dog lovers.  Ian Townsend is an ABC journalist who has written Affection and The Devil’s Eye.  For writers who would like to get into the mind of a publisher, David Reiter, CEO of Interactive Publications will be giving some tips and will also be on hand for private consultation.  The festival will also feature writers of the Whitsundays including Gloria Burley, author of Blood and Guts, about life in the operating theatre. The programme includes conference from 9.00am - 5.00pm on Saturday followed by Gala dinner under the stars in the evening.

    AND THE WINNER IS…
  9. The Whitsundays has once again been recognized by leading travel website, Trip Advisor, as a favourite travel destination in the South Pacific.  The most recent Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice awards results for the Whitsundays were:
    Airlie Beach was in the Top 10 Nightlife Destinations in South Pacific.
    Whitsunday Islands were in the Top 10 Relaxation & Spa Destinations in South Pacific.
    Whitsunday Islands were in the Top 25 Destinations in the South Pacific.


    FEATURE OPPORTUNITY:
  10. Tourism Queensland's inaugural Queensland's Season of Sailing campaign has officially begun highlighting the state's fantastic winter sailing events which stretch from Brisbane to North Queensland.
    Packages showcasing Central Queensland, the Whitsundays and Townsville during the colour and spectacle of the sailing events along Queensland's coast from August 6 to September 7 would be on sale from June 1.
    "The $100,000 campaign is the latest in a series of aggressive and innovative tactical Tourism Queensland campaigns designed to encourage Australians to escape the winter cold," Tourism Minister Mr Peter Lawlor said.
    "Whether people are from a sailing background or looking for a fun holiday with a difference, enjoying Queensland's Season of Sailing is accessible for all.
    "We wanted to speak with the sailing fraternity to encourage their friends and family to come up and experience the festival atmosphere that surrounds these events so we are working closely with Yachting Australia to ensure we reach this community nationally at a grass roots level."
    Mr Lawlor said it was also important to remember how easy it was for those who wanted to stay and sail in those regions to get up there while all the sailing event excitement was in full swing.
    "Queensland is Australia's premier sailing destination and I think a lot of people don't realise they can get out and experience what the destinations have to offer, get a taste of what it's like to sail and in some cases even take part in the racing," Mr Lawlor said.
    "The beauty is that you don't have to be a professional sailor, there are opportunities to get out on the water for every level of skill and experience.
    "Whether it's attending the race events, learning to sail on a bareboat adventure, or a crewed charter, there is an experience that is sure to suit."
    Mr Lawlor said Tourism Queensland had worked with Capricorn Tourism, Gladstone Area Promotion and Development, Tourism Whitsundays and Townsville Enterprise to develop some incredible packages that covered a range of stay and sail experiences.
    "The Hamilton Island Race Week package for example allows people to book with Prosail on board one of their famous maxi yachts, live on board the yacht berthed in Hamilton Island, enjoy the festival atmosphere by night and join the race event by day.
    "The Friends and Family Tropic Sail and Stay Deal gives people five nights on a luxury Tropic Sail vessel, two nights in a luxury ocean view apartment at Mariners North Shore (Townsville) and frozen margaritas on the beach on Magnetic Island.
    "The Family Bonus Sailing package from $695 for two adults and two children including accommodation and a full day's sailing around Keppel Island (Central Queensland), is also a great opportunity to introduce a new generation of sailors to the sport."
    Individual race events for Queensland's Season of Sailing 2010 include:
    Brisbane to Keppel - August 6-10
    Airlie Race Week - August 12-19
    Hamilton Island Race Week - August 20-28
    Magnetic Island Race Week - September 3-7
    For more information on Queensland's Season of Sailing and to book packages visit     www.queenslandholidays.com.au/sailing.

Simply contact Danielle Seymour, Communications Support Manager, for further information on any of these story ideas. Ph. +61 7 4948 5904 or communications@tourismwhitsundays.com.au

Most tourism operators in the Whitsundays are eager to host media famils to the region to showcase their products. Please contact Danielle Seymour if you would like to visit the region on a famil.