Welcome to Caloundra Tourism Inc E-news. We send this free newsletter to keep you informed of events and news that may be of interest.

Caloundra connects with radio     

Robin Bailey, part of the breakfast team at 97.3fm, will be doing live reads promoting Caloundra from May 11-15.

Caloundra Tourism takes over the airwaves at Brisbane radio station 97.3 FM from May 11-15 with an advertising blitz that includes live reads, commercials and the chance to win five fantastic holiday prizes. Breakfast crew member Robin Bailey used her visit to Caloundra over the Labor Day long weekend to prepare live reads about her family’s stay at Gemini Resort at Golden Beach and experiences that included a kayak tour of the Pumicestone Passage with Blue Water Kayak Tours, learning to surf with Q Surf School, dinner at the Caloundra RSL, go karting at the Big Kart Track and a stop and walk at the Glass House Mountains Lookout. Listeners will also have the chance each day to win one 4 night holiday package to Caloundra. The radio campaign was developed utilizing the new psychographic market segmentation work completed by Tourism Queensland over the past 18 months. That work has shown Caloundra to be a destination attracting “Connectors” which also happens to be the largest market segment at 32%. This market segment, as the name suggests, has a holiday need to spend quality time in the company of those they care about, particularly family and friends.

Glass House Mountains VIC opens for business   

The impressive new Visitor Information Centre in the Glass House Mountains is ready to open May 9.

Sunshine Coast Regional Councillor, and Caloundra Tourism Board member, Cr Anna Grosskreutz will officially open the new Glass House Mountains Visitor Information Centre (pictured above) on May 9. Everyone is welcome to attend the opening that starts at 10am and includes stalls, community involvement, a free barbecue and plenty more. The centre in Settlers Rotary Park will incorporate an interpretive centre for the Glass House Mountains in the near future. It was the long-term vision of Councillor Grosskreutz to have a facility that would properly showcase the unique qualities of the mountains and be the perfect spot to set off and explore the wider area. The project was instigated by the previous Caloundra City Council and has been completed by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council. The information centre will become fully accredited and provide a free booking service for accommodation, tours and activities. It will also showcase local products and produce. The eco friendly building has extensive landscaping with barbecue facilities and playground. For information about how the centre may be able to assist your business please contact the Centre on 5438 7220.

Forecast looks bright              

Channel Nine’s Today Show weather presenter, Steve Jacobs, and friends at Kings Beach. Picture: Sunshine Coast Daily.

Channel Nine’s Today Show weather presenter, Steve Jacobs, enjoyed his visit to Caloundra last month and in between live weather crosses from Kings Beach swimming pool met Khan from Australia Zoo and lots of other locals to learn more about the region’s diverse range of activities. Thank you to Australia Zoo, Yoga-NRG, Wildcat Dive, Kawana Muffin Break and swimmers from the Stunned Mullets who all supported the morning program. A big thank-you to Shearwater Resort for providing accommodation for Steve and the crew. Steve mentioned on air that the beds were so comfortable at Shearwater it was the first time he has ever slept in during his five years presenting the weather. Also very prominent were the I love Caloundra T-shirts from L J Hooker Caloundra. All profits from the sale of the T-shirts go to local families impacted by Cystic Fibrosis and are used to purchase nebulisers.

Bet on a great night    

You're invited to the next tourism networking night at the races on the 9th May.

You can bet on a great night on Saturday, May 9, at Corbould Park during Caloundra Tourism’s next networking event. See for yourself all the excitement of the Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s new twilight racing program with complimentary entry to Corbould Park. The Turf Club have kindly provided the Favourite’s Function Room for the networking night. It overlooks the track and the all important finishing post. The race program is sponsored by the 100 Club. The networking night starts at 5pm and finishes at 8.30pm. Nibbles are provided and a cash bar will operate. If you have not received your invitation and would like to attend please contact the office on 5491 2500.

Flyer promotes great deals     

A new winter specials flyer promoting Caloundra generated lots of interest at the OZTalk Travel Expo in Auckland from April 17-19. The flyer is also being distributed further afield in New Zealand and throughout Australia promoting specials for accommodation and activities. The flyer was distributed in conjunction with the Caloundra Holiday Guide to woo prospective visitors to the sun in winter. Caloundra Tourism’s strategic alliance with the Western Bulldogs Football Club is also being leveraged to extend the reach of this campaign to club supporters. Visit Great Deals at www.caloundratourism.com.au to see all of the terrific winter specials that will surely heat up the coming months.
A 16-page Sunshine Coast supplement produced by Tourism Queensland and Tourism Sunshine Coast was also perfectly timed to hit New Zealanders planning their winter escape. The supplement can be viewed at www.tsc.com.au under More Information/Trade & Industry/Industry e-news.

Regional Body guides tourism              

Sunshine Coast Regional Council and local tourism industry leaders, including Caloundra Tourism, have reached an in-principle agreement to unite within a new Regional Body to guide tourism in the region. The proposed structure focuses on a unified approach to marketing the Sunshine Coast whilst protecting existing brands and local diversity. A Tourism Transition Advisory Board will soon be established by Council to progress the plans for the new Regional Body that may start as early as 1 Jan 2010 but no later than 1 July 2010. Tourism Sunshine Coast will wind down its operations over the same time period. The Tourism Transition Advisory Board will be made up of an independent chair, Councillors Tim Dwyer and Russell Green (as ex-officio members) and four other members. The chair and four members will be appointed by council. Caloundra Tourism’s budget has been submitted to council for the 09/10 Financial Year.

Looking to clean up         

Here's hoping that Caloundra and Golden Beach go all the way to winning more national and state awards.

Let’s hope Caloundra continues to clean up with environmentally friendly awards this month. Caloundra is in with a chance of two major awards. The national Tidy Towns Award will be announced by the Governor General in Canberra on May 8. As the Queensland winner, Caloundra represents the state in the competition. On top of this, Golden Beach has also been nominated as the Queensland finalist in the Australian Clean Beaches Awards 2009 to be announced in Townsville on May 25. The awards are run by the Keep Australia Beautiful National Association and more details of each finalist is at www.kab.org.au/cleanbeach.

A Ton of Publicity              

There's been a massive amount of positive publicity about Caloundra and the surrounding areas in the media of late. This is the result of lots of hard work by Caloundra Tourism, Tourism Sunshine Coast and specific businesses here in Caloundra. Everyone involved should take a bow. Here's a list of recent publicity:

• Qweekend (Courier Mail) 18.4.09 - Ocean Views Resort
• Out & About with Kids Issue 20 Autumn 2009
• SC Daily 4.4.09 - TV weatherman finds it by the bucketful
• Sunday Mail 5.4.09 - King of the Beaches
• The Weekend Australian 28-29.03.09 - Sea and Do
• NZ Herald - Crowne Plaza stay and play deals in Caloundra
• Sunday Mail 22.03.09 - Mountains in the mist
• The Sunday Telegraph 22.03.09 - Life just doesn’t get much better
• Main Event March 2009 issue - Meet in Caloundra
• Main Event April 2009 issue - Small Town, Big Impact
• Road Ahead magazine (RACQ) Feb-Mar 09 issue - Tidy towns compete
• Courier Mail 18.02.09 - Caloundra’s Best
• TABS on Travel Today 17.04.09 - Wildlife Warriors & Ideal Caloundra Base (2 articles)

Caloundra fun run is what you make it              

Fun is what you make it in the Caloundra Foreshore Fun Run on Sunday morning, May 24. For serous runners in the 10klm event the last 500 metres can be anything but fun with a challenging climb on the way to the finishing line. But cash prizes await, first ($500), second ($200) and third ($100) for both male and female runners regardless of age category. Serious runners include two-time winner of the women’s 10klm, Roxy Schmidt, a teacher at Pacific Lutheran College, who has used the event as a springboard to the Gold Coast Marathon and the Tokyo Marathon. The three kilometre category of the event will be much more fun either by running or completed as a family walk.
Whatever you choose the course is one of the most picturesque that you could find. It hugs the tranquil Pumicestone Passage from Bell’s Creek at Golden Beach to Bulcock Beach and then takes in the spectacular scenery at Kings Beach and Shelly Beach before climbing up Moffat headland to the finish line. For further information and online registration visit www.caloundrafunrun.com.

• 2-3 May: Maleny Wood Expo at Maleny Showgrounds showcases the region’s finest wood artisans plus much more.
• 2-3 May: Sunshine Coast Antique & Collectables Fair at the Caloundra Indoor Stadium.
• 2-3 May: Relay for Life Kawana at Stockland Park supporting Cancer Council of Queensland. For further information visit www.relayforlife.org.au
• 8-10 May: Home Show, Caravan, Camping & Offroad Expo at Stockland Park. Open 9am-5pm Friday & Saturday. 9am-4pm Sunday. Admission: Adults $7, Seniors $5 (Pay once and return free all weekend).
• 24 May: Caloundra Foreshore Fun Run.
• 29 May: Ladies Oaks Day at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club includes live entertainment from The Choirboys and Myer Fashions on the Field. Gates open 10am. This is the Caloundra show public holiday.
• 29-30 May: Maleny Agricultural Show (formerly the Caloundra Show) at Maleny Showgrounds. Gates open 8am. Costs: Adults $10, Family (2 adults & 3 children under 15) $25, Pensioner $8, High School Student $8, Primary School Student $3. Free buses - picks up at the Shell service station next to Kawana Shoppingworld then travels through Caloundra and Landsborough.
• 6 & 7 June: Gardening on the Edge. Six spectacular gardens ranging in size from .0407ha to 2.02ha will be open and most feature parkland settings with mature trees and carefully planned landscaping. Tickets $10 per person (under 18 free) including map & brochure, can be purchased at the Maleny Indoor Activity Centre adjacent to Maleny High School in Bunya Street from 9am to 4pm each day. The Centre has free admission for the duration of the event. The Maleny Art Awards and Exhibition is also on display at St George’s Anglican Church..

A complete list of events is available at: www.caloundratourism.com.au

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