Still no date for Southern Star wheel’s re-opening

Melbourne’s $100 million observation wheel remains shut almost three weeks after cracks developed in a bracing member during a heatwave.Engineers from Japan have been assessing the damage, noticed on January 30, and considering the best ways to repair the 120-metre-tall ferris wheel.”Following completion of this investigation, rectification works will be undertaken to repair affected areas,” [...]

Vietnam to drum up tourism in Australia

VietNamNet Bridge – Tourism authorities and travel agencies in HCMC and other provinces will head for the Australian city of Melbourne to promote the ongoing national tourism program as well as their own tourism products and services.La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, told the Daily that the [...]

Family fly in from Australia for memorial servcie

RELATIVES of a Northern Ireland woman who tragically died while visiting them in Australia are flying over for a memorial service in her local church in Portrush.Georgie Hart, who was 74, died suddenly in December while on her annual visit to Australia to see her daughter Daphne and her family who live in Sydney.A former [...]

Bondi shark attack will hit tourism: commerce chief

Business leaders fear a shark attack on a surfer at Sydney’s Bondi Beach will hurt the tourist trade.The surfer was savaged last night, a day after a navy clearance diver was mauled by a shark in Sydney Harbour.Bondi Chamber of Commerce vice-president Max Siano said news of the Bondi attack would reverberate around the world, [...]

Sydney to Host Dreamtime 2009 in October

Sydney has been selected as the host city for the incentive travel trade event, Dreamtime, which aims to generate future business for Australia’s high yielding business events sector.The seven day event, organised by Tourism Australia, is expected to attract around 100 business events decision makers (buyers) and 20 international media from Australia’s key markets of [...]

Flooded northern Australia braces for more rain

SYDNEY (AP): Sodden residents of northeastern Australia were trying to clean up from weeks of rain Thursday, while forecasters said two offshore storms could turn into cyclones by the weekend.River levels were beginning to fall in some parts of Queensland state while emergency workers continued to evacuate people left stranded.A 42-year-old man was rescued late [...]

Fascinating city on the planet is without a doubt Sydney in Australia

One of the most diverse and fascinating cities on the planet is without a doubt Sydney in Australia. It’s a must-see city for any traveling enthusiast. What I first noticed on my visit to Sydney was how clean and modern it is, especially downtown, where all road crossings and sidewalks are equipped with beepers and [...]

Americans get Sydney holidays for under $1000

Tourism NSW and Qantas are attempting to lure travellers from the United States to Sydney with cheap four-day holiday packages.A report by the Tourism Forecasting Committee released in December predicted the value of Australia’s inbound tourism for 2009 would drop by four per cent, or $500 million, to $24 billion.Thousands of jobs are likely to [...]

Giant luxury cruise ship turns heads in Sydney

The arrival of the Diamond Princess cruise ship on Sydney Harbour is expected to draw interest not seen since the Queen Mary and the QE2 sailed through the heads almost a year ago.Road closures and clearways will be in place in Sydney today to cope with large crowds for the one-day visit of the luxury [...]

Moth Caterpillars Attack Vineyards in Western Australia

Moth caterpillars are inflicting serious damage to grape crops in vineyards in Western Australia, leaving growers unsure of what to do. The pests are larvae of the apple looper moth, a native of Australia and New Zealand. They are not known ever to have attacked grapes before, puzzling viticulturists and entomologists alike.”It’s difficult to guess [...]