Tourism News

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BEACH HOLIDAYS

Summer is well and truly upon us, and with more than 4800 kilometres of coastline, South Australia has some fantastic beach holiday ideas right on our doorstep.

South Australia’s capital, Adelaide, undoubtedly has some of the nation’s best metropolitan beaches, with many offering plenty of activities during the summer months including beach volleyball, festivals and markets. There’s also great restaurants along the coastal suburbs from Henley Beach, to Grange, Glenelg, Semaphore and Seacliff in the south.

Best beaches: just about anywhere along the Adelaide coastline including Glenelg, Henley Beach, Grange, Brighton, and Seacliff.

Regional South Australia also boasts amazing coastline, with some of the best beach holidays in Australia.

More than 386,000 South Australians choose Yorke Peninsula as their holiday choice by the sea, spending 1.257 million nights across the region in 2006- and with 700 kilometres of coastline to enjoy, it’s easy to see why.

What’s more, many of its best beaches are just 90 minutes north of Adelaide. Offering a relaxed pace of life, the region also offers fantastic fishing spots, heritage sites, great restaurants, pubs and accommodation.

Best beaches: Port Hughes/Moonta Bay, Port Vincent, Black Point and Brown’s Beach in Innes National Park and Gleeson’s Landing for surfing.

Further west, the Eyre Peninsula and its rugged West Coast, including part of the Great Australian Bight, offers spectacular scenery, plenty of nature experiences, exceptional seafood and 2000 kilometres of beach holiday experiences.

Best beaches: Baird Bay, Sensation Beach (Coffin Bay National Park), Farm Beach, Seven Mile Beach, Lincoln National Park, Sheringa Beach, Locks Well Beach and Cactus Beach.

Located an hour south of Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula is a dramatic mix of cliffscapes, surf and pristine beaches. Its soils and climate produce great food and wines, while the southern coastal towns of Victor Harbor and Goolwa are some of the State’s most popular seaside holiday destinations.

Best beaches: Port Willunga, Goolwa, Encounter Bay, Horseshoe Bay, Normanville and Waitpinga beaches.

Kangaroo Island boasts outstanding natural beauty and its relative isolation since European settlement has ensured an abundance of wildlife in stunning and protected natural environments.

Best beaches: Vivonne Bay (voted best beach in Australia in 2003), Hanson Bay, Pennington Bay and Stokes Bay.

Famed for its red wines, red soils and red rock lobster, the Limestone Coast offers visitors myriad experiences. Enjoy the sunshine along the coast or head inland for amazing heritage, nature and wine experiences.

Best beaches: Long Beach at Robe, Beachport, Kingston, Cape Jaffa and Port MacDonnell beaches and Brown Bay.

For more information call Julia Angove on 08 8463 4610  

NEW REGIONAL VISITOR GUIDES TARGET MORE TOURISTS

Two South Australian regions are set to capitalise on increased numbers to South Australia with the launch of their new 2007 Visitor Guides.

The Yorke Peninsula and the Adelaide Hills both released their Visitor Guides last month, in line with the state’s new consumer brand, South Australia. A brilliant blend.

With domestic tourism showing signs of improvement and international visitor numbers continuing to rise across the State, both regions are gearing up for a busy summer period.

Yorke Peninsula Marketing Manager, Jo Featherstone said the launch of the 2007 Visitor Guide was timed to take advantage of the holiday period.

'Tourists from around Australia and from within the State flock to the Yorke Peninsula during summer and it is an ideal time to showcase what we have to offer,' she said.

'There is so much happening in the region at the moment including the launch of the new Sea SA ferry service, linking the Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas by boat, which commenced last month.

Ms Featherstone said the new Visitor Guide, launched by media personality Peter Goers, includes a range of updated information.

'We have incorporated a section about art and culture, with a listing of galleries and studios in the Yorke Peninsula, as well as an expanded list of accommodation and attractions,' she said.

Adelaide Hills Marketing Manager, Kelly Loechel says the new-look Visitor Guide for the Adelaide Hills, is aimed at meeting the needs of all visitors to the region, whether they are local, national or international.

The Visitor Guide, launched by South Australian Tourism Commission Chief Executive Bill Spurr at the National Motor Museum at Birdwood last month, features more than 50 pages of brilliant things to see and do in the Adelaide Hills.

'The region has always been popular for international visitors and we are also enticing more and more national visitors. Of course, South Australians also love visiting the Adelaide Hills,' Ms Loechel said

'It features a comprehensive food and wine section, complete with a new detailed map highlighting regional produce, as well as sections on the region’s heritage, attractions, accommodation, national parks and more.'

Both the 2007 Yorke Peninsula Visitor Guide and the 2007 Adelaide Hills Visitor Guide will be distributed through visitor information centres and interstate and international holiday expos.

For a free copy call 1800 654 991 or, the guide can be downloaded by visiting www.yorkepeninsula.com.au or www.visitadelaidehills.com.au



GAWLER RANGES NAMED ONE OF NATION'S TOP RESERVES

Gawler Ranges National Park on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula has been recognised by leading conservation group, WWF as one of the best reserves in the country.

Dr Martin Taylor from WWF says the Gawler Ranges has been selected as one of Australia's top 10 reserves for its protection of threatened species. He says there are other benefits from the park besides conservation.

'There's going to be tremendous benefits for tourism for the Eyre Peninsula, because the Gawler Ranges are right in the heart of the peninsula,' Dr Martin says.

'It's a significant tourist destination. It's going to become a significant tourist destination for east-west travellers.'

The Gawler Ranges National Park is a special part of the Eyre Peninsula. The area consists of volcanic hills that are more than 1500 million years old.

The park is also home to around 140 species of birds, including the Emu, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Major Mitchell Cockatoo, Flycatchers, White Winged Choughs, Fairy Wrens, Rainbow Bee Eater, Singing Honey Eater, Blue Bonnets, Scarlet Breasted and Ringneck parrots, Cockatiels and Budgerigars.

Also found in the ranges are the Red and Western Grey kangaroo, Euro, Southern Hairy-Nosed wombat, Pygmy possums, Hopping mice and Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby.

The plaque was presented to Gawler Ranges National park by South Australian Environment Minister Gail Gago, last month.

For more information contact the Gawler Ranges National Park on 08 8688 3111



SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FILM INDUSTRY MAKES A MARK AT AUSTRALIAN FILM AWARDS

Premier and Arts Minister Mike Rann says the runaway success of South Australian films at the recent AFI Awards – especially those funded by the SA Film Corporation and the Adelaide Film Festival – has put our State back on the movie-making map.

'The vibrant, successful, cutting-edge South Australian film industry is back!' Mr Rann said.

'For the second consecutive year, South Australia has scooped the Australian Film Institute awards, with several local filmmakers and productions acknowledged at the event.

'It demonstrates that an extraordinary talent base and creativity exists in this State – and I am very proud that this Government not only established the Adelaide Film Festival, but that it created a special seed fund that has given rise to this resurgence in outstanding excellence in film production.

'The Adelaide Film Festival and SA Film Corp together invested $440,000 in Ten Canoes. The AFF Investment fund of $1 million is allocated at each Festival.

'In addition, the SA Film Corp has an annual $2.4 million screen investment fund, half of which is for film production and half for professional development and training,' Mr Rann said.

Ten Canoes, which received funding from the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund and the South Australian Film Corporation, was awarded:

Best Film, Julie Ryan and Rolf De Heer,
Best Director, Rolf De Heer & Peter Djiggir,
Best Screenplay, Rolf De Heer,
Best Sound, James Currie,
Best Editing, Tania Nehme, and
Best Cinematography, Ian Jones.

The Best Short Animation Award was given to SA company Anifex’s Michael Cusack for his film, Gargoyle.

AFI Longford Life Achievement was given to Ian Jones

Rolf De Heer was the recipient of The Byron Kennedy Award, given in respect of a filmmaker’s relentless pursuit of excellence in filmmaking

In 2005 Look Both Ways, which was shot in South Australia and funded through the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund and The South Australian Film Corporation, walked away with AFI Awards for Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor.

Mr Rann said South Australia is about celebrating and fostering filmmakers who are taking creative risks.

'This is not about big budgets – it’s about big ideas.

'Twelve new Australian films including four new features and three documentary features and five short films will be premiering at the Adelaide Film Festival in 2007 which takes place from February 22 to March 4.

'Many of these films have received funding from both the South Australian Film Corporation and the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund including feature films Rolf de Heer’s Dr Plonk.

'I’m delighted to announce Dr Plonk will make its film premiere on the closing night of the 2007 Adelaide Film Festival on March 4.

'This too will be another edgy production by Rolf de Heer in that it is a silent movie, shot with a hand-wound movie camera.'

Chair of the South Australian Film Corporation and the Adelaide Film Festival Cheryl Bart says the Awards recognise the visionary leadership in this State in structuring our investment pool through both SAFC and AFF.


HILTON'S CHEF CHEONG LIEW TITLED 'ADELAIDE FOOD LEGEND'

The Grange at Hilton Adelaide tops another award-winning year with chef Cheong Liew winning the inaugural title of ‘Adelaide Food Legend’ at the 2006 Adelaide Food Awards, announced last month.

The award acknowledges Cheong as a mentor for young chefs through his kitchens and an enthusiastic ambassador for SA food and wine wherever he travels.

Cheong is currently celebrating 11 years at the helm of Hilton Adelaide’s Grange restaurant, inspiring the next generation of young Chefs.

He has brought to South Australia a respected place in the global culinary landscape and is regarded as one of the leading creators of the East-meets-West cooking style that is now one of the foundations of modern Australian cuisine.

Cheong’s Grange menu celebrates his Malay roots, challenging Chinese ingredients and textures, essential Mediterranean flavours, and fine local ingredients. His range of degustation menus in seafood, vegetarian and regional versions remains one of the state's most wonderful dining experiences.

2006 awards wrap up for the Grange Restaurant with Cheong Liew include:
• Adelaide Food Awards (2006) – Cheong Liew named “Food Legend”
• HM Magazine Awards for Excellence (2006) – Cheong Liew ‘Best Executive Chef’
• Australian Hotel Association (SA) 2006 ~ Best Prestigious Dining (International Hotels)
• Restaurant and Catering (SA) Awards for Excellence 2006 ~ Best Hotel Restaurant
• Grange Restaurant voted one of the Worlds Top Ten Restaurants ~ Travel & Leisure Magazine

For more information contact Rachael Oates, Marketing and Communications Manager, Hilton Adelaide on 61 8 8237 0729 or email rachael.oates@hilton.com

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