FOUR WEEKS TO GLOW UNTIL VIVID SYDNEYWith only four weeks to go until the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney 2018, takes over the city in its 10th anniversary year, the excitement is building. Now Australia’s biggest event, the 23-day festival will transform the city into a colourful canvas of dazzling light, masterful music and creative and confronting ideas, from Friday 25 May to Saturday 16 June. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said, “In four weeks from now, Sydney will be illuminated by our spectacular festival of
light, music and ideas, as locals and visitors from around the world join us to celebrate Vivid Sydney’s 10th anniversary. “Vivid Sydney is firmly established as a must-see global event, attracting 2.33 million attendees in 2017 and adding $143 million into our State’s economy. “Now is the perfect time for visitors to start planning their trip and I encourage everyone to take some time to explore several precincts over different nights to enjoy all that’s on offer across the festival’s program.” To learn more about Vivid Sydney 2018 and to plan your trip, visit www.vividsydney.com
JENOLAN CAVES TO RECEIVE $8.5 MILLION FACELIFTThe popular Jenolan Caves are set to receive an $8.5 million facelift thanks to funding from the NSW Government’s Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund. Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said the funding would give tourists an even more spectacular view of the caves and the incredible surrounding scenery. “Jenolan Caves is often the first stop for tourists travelling west over the Blue Mountains into regional NSW, and today’s announcement will guarantee we capture the attention of
visitors with a much needed facelift of this world class tourist destination,” Mr Barilaro said. The funding will go towards three key projects — upgrading the Blue Lake area, construction of the Binoomea Track and Inspiration Point lookout, and the Jenolan Caves Gateway Centre — and will create economic benefits by delivering additional jobs for the region. Construction is expected to begin by December 2018, with works completed by December 2021.
SYDNEY AWARDED BEST
LGBTQI DESTINATIONSydney has been crowned the
best LGBTQI Destination in the SmarterTravel.com Editors’ Choice
Awards announced this week. SmarterTravel.com is an online travel magazine owned by TripAdvisor with 4 million monthly visitors and 1.5 million email subscribers. Factors for inclusion on the best LGBTQI destination list included places that have an active gay community, destination marketing organisations that work to appeal to LGBTQI travellers and countries that have passed marriage equality laws. In announcing Sydney’s win, SmarterTravel.com said, “Sydney is home of one of the world’s best – if not the best - Pride events, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.” For the full list of winners, click here.
KIWI COMEDY TO OPEN
SYDNEY FILM FESTIVALBreaker Upperers, a heartwarming comedy from New Zealand directors Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami, will open this year’s Sydney Film Festival. In this critically-acclaimed tale, cynical best friends (van Beek and Sami) run a business helping unhappy couples break up. The 65th Sydney Film Festival is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, and Create NSW. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said, “Sydney Film Festival is a key cultural event on the NSW Events Calendar and takes place annually against the backdrop of Vivid Sydney, further amplifying the city’s profile as a
creative hub at a time when it shines under the global spotlight.” Buy Opening Night Gala tickets here.
BOWRAL CLASSIC RETURNS
TO HISTORIC TOWNThe award-winning Bowral Classic will return to the Southern Highlands historic township on Sunday 21 October. Ideally situated between Sydney, Canberra and Wollongong, Bowral is in one of the most picturesque regions in Australia. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the Bowral Classic is proudly supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. “We know that rural and regional events such as the Bowral Classic help to fuel the State’s overnight visitor economy, while placing our incredible destinations front and centre,” Mr Marshall said. “The 2018 Bowral Classic is expected to
attract more than 4,000 overnight visitors who will spend an estimated $1.5 million in the region. We look forward to welcoming new and retuning visitors to the Southern Highlands.” To register, click here.
BLACKMORES SYDNEY
RUNNING FESTIVAL REGISTRATIONS OPENRegistrations are now open for the 2018 Blackmores Sydney Running Festival, with more than 33,000 runners expected to hit Sydney’s streets in September. The festival consists of four events with distances for all ages and abilities.
The Blackmores Sydney Marathon, Half Marathon and Bridge Run finish at the iconic Sydney Opera House, while the Family Fun Run concludes at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. The flagship event of the festival, the Blackmores Sydney Marathon, is officially recognised as a world leader in marathons having being awarded a Gold Label by the International Association of Athletics Federations. The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Register to secure early bird prices here.
COOPER CRONK TEMPTS FANS TO SYDNEY FOR ORIGIN WEEKENDQueensland State of Origin legend Cooper Cronk is urging fans to travel to Sydney for a blockbuster weekend of Origin action. This year, Sydney will host both a historic standalone State of Origin encounter on Sunday 24 June, when the NSW Blues face rivals QLD Maroons at ANZ Stadium in Game Two of the 2018 Series, and the first ever Women’s State of Origin game played under the Origin brand on Friday 22 June. In partnership with Destination NSW and the NRL, Cronk features in a video showcasing some of his favourite activities, food destinations
and hangouts in Sydney and encouraging fans to plan a long weekend in the Harbour City for the women’s and men’s Origin clashes. Click on the image above to view the video and secure your tickets now at nrl.com/tickets.
REGISTER NOW FOR
WYSE EXCHANGEThe World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE) Exchange Australia Youth Tourism Conference will be held in Sydney from 8-10 May, 2018. Representing 20 percent of all travellers globally, youth travel is one of the fastest growing visitor segments and a significant visitor market for NSW. The WYSE Exchange will bring together more than 100 stakeholders, 30 international hosted buyers and expert industry speakers to discuss the upcoming trends and opportunities in the youth, student and education travel industry
in 2018. The event is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. For more information and to book
your spot at the 2018 WYSE Exchange,
click here.
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS TO FEATURE COFFS COAST The Coffs Coast will feature on Channel Seven’s popular lifestyle television show Better Homes and Gardens at 7.30pm tonight. The show’s cooking presenter ‘Fast’ Ed Halmagyi travelled to Coffs Harbour earlier this year to profile the region's beautiful coastline and booming fishing industry. The filming opportunity was secured by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
NEWCASTLE 500
COMMUNITY FUN DAY TOMORROWThe 2018 Newcastle 500 Community Fun Day will be held tomorrow at Civic Park. Hunter residents who attend will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase discounted trackside tickets prior to the public release. Tickets for the 2018 Newcastle 500, to be held from 23-25 November, will go on sale to the general public on 29 April. For more information, click here.
NEW VIBE HOTEL
FOR NORTH SYDNEY North Sydney’s bustling business district has a brand new hotel ideal for corporate travel. Part of the newly reimagined Northpoint Tower commercial precinct, Vibe North Sydney has 187 ultramodern rooms; free Wi-Fi, cutting-edge fitness facilities and four flexible conference spaces. Three new restaurants inside the Northpoint Atrium give ample dining options and a rooftop bar is set to open this November. For bookings, click here.
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