L'ÉTAPE AUSTRALIA STRENGTHENS FOR THIRD EDITIONL'Étape Australia 2018 will take place on Saturday 1 December, 2018, with a new route starting and finishing in Jindabyne and a new improved registration system announced this week. The event has also announced two new home-grown ambassadors, with 2012 and 2016 Australian National Champion Amanda Spratt and cobbled classics specialist Mathew Hayman to race alongside amateurs in the Snowy Mountains. Since its inception in 2016, L'Étape Australia by le Tour de France has provided a new level of riding experience in Australia, combining the
beauty of the Snowy Mountains, the incredible enthusiasm of the locals and an event run to Tour de France professional standards. NSW Deputy Premier and Member for Monaro John Barilaro said the event has been secured exclusively for the Snowy Mountains by the NSW Government. “L’Étape Australia is our own slice of the greatest event in international cycling, the Tour de France, and competitors travel from around Australia and the world to take part,” Mr Barilaro said. “With some of the most stunning mountain terrain in the country, the Snowy Mountains offers the perfect location to host this event and I look forward to welcoming competitors back in December,” he said. The new fast, simple and user-friendly registration system will open at 12 noon on Thursday 3 May via www.letapeaustralia.com. Image credit: L’Étape Australia
DESTINATION SYDNEY SURROUNDS SOUTH RELEASES DESTINATION MANAGEMENT PLANThe Sydney Surrounds South Destination Management Plan 2018 – 2022 was released this week, with a focus on domestic and international dispersal across the region. A range of projects have been identified to deliver significant future growth, with particular emphasis on enabling infrastructure and destination marketing, product and experience development to meet visitor expectations and demands now and into the future. To receive a copy of the
Destination Management Plan,
email info@dnsss.com.au
PORT TO PORT MTB IN
NEWCASTLEOne of Australia’s premier Mountain Bike stage races will return this year from 24 – 27 May, 2018. The race will include the best climbs, descents and single tracks in the Hunter Valley, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said last year Port to Port MTB delivered more than 900 overnight visitors who injected over $650,000 into the local economy. “Attracting visitors to regional NSW is one of the Government’s top priorities and we know that our support for events such as Port to Port MTB helps us towards our goal of doubling overnight visitor expenditure by 2020,” Ms Chipchase
said. Click here to find out more.
TASTE RIVERINA EXPANDS INTO YEAR-LONG CALENDAR OF EVENTSVisitors and locals can now enjoy the best of Riverina produce any time of year with Taste Riverina set to transform into a 12-month calendar of delicious food and wine events across the region. Over the past three years, the award-winning festival has brought 110,673 visitors and $4.57 million to the Riverina. Chair of the Taste Riverina Committee Craig Sinclair said, “Taste Riverina has been so successful that we’ve decided to extend it to a year-round celebration of the region’s remarkable produce. This
opens the door for seasonal events and experiences at any time of the year." The new format kicks off Sunday 8 April at the Piccolo Family Farm’s Autumn Festival. Click here for more information. Image credit: Taste Riverina/Riverina Regional Tourism
SYDNEY TO HOST 15,000 BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY LEADERSSydney is set to host 15,000 business technology leaders when CeBIT Australia returns in May, shining a spotlight on the city as a global technology hub. CeBIT Australia is supported by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, and will feature a plethora of free content and demonstrations covering technologies that will change the future of business – including the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, big data and fintech. The event will take
place at the ICC Sydney from 15 – 17 May, 2018. Register here for free exhibition passes.
NSW WINS AT MEA INDUSTRY AWARDS NSW took home three awards this week when the 2017 Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) Industry Awards were held at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum. Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific was crowned the State’s gold winner of ‘2017 Winner: NSW Meeting Venue under 500 Delegates’ while L’Étape Australia took home two awards - Regional Event of the Year and Public Event of the Year. For more on the 2017 MEA Awards, click here.
DESTINATION COUNTRY AND OUTBACK RELEASE DRAFT DMPDestination Country and Outback NSW has released its Destination Management Plan draft. Extensive consultations with the local community and businesses, key stakeholders and the Destination Network Country and Outback Board were conducted, with 11 workshops held. Three more workshops are scheduled and there's an online feedback form available here until 13 April. To review the draft Destination Management Plan, click here.
SCULPTURES IN THE GARDEN KICKS OFF
IN WOLLONGONG For art and nature lovers, a stroll through Wollongong Botanic Garden's Sculptures in the Garden is a must.The art competition theme is ‘Place’ and the 11 artworks displayed in the garden setting have been created by local and interstate artists. The winning sculpture will receive $30,000 and a permanent residency in the gardens. Come along from 7 – 20
April. Click here to find out more.
WIMBLE'S WAYZGOOSE AT NERAM The New England Regional Art Museum is holding the 2018 Wimble’s Wayzgoose event at the Museum of Printing. It’s a celebration of printing and printmaking with workshops, a free seminar and the return of the popular Printer’s Picnic Day. Art Museum Director Robert Heather said, “The event was developed to create community interest in the Museum of Printing and its unique collection of printing equipment.” Click here to find out more.
RAINFOREST RANGERS AT ILLAWARRA FLY These school holidays, celebrate Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures’ 10- year anniversary and embrace your inner explorer on an exciting adventure through the rainforest. Learn all about the region’s diverse flora and fauna, as well as cool facts about Illawarra Fly’s Treetop Walk structure. Daring explorers can also satisfy their need for speed by completing the attraction’s high flying Zipline Tour and enjoy 250m of flying fun! Click here to find out more.
THIRROUL SEASIDE AND ARTS FESTIVAL This weekend the Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival celebrates art and community in a stunning ocean-view setting. All funds raised are invested back into the community, with $750,000 donated from local individuals and organisations since the inaugural festival in 1993. The weekend presents many family-friendly activities including visual art, performance art and music – plus Moonlight Movies on Saturday 8 April at 8pm. Click here to find out more.
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