Tourism News

PODMO - A WORLD FIRST FOR ADELAIDE

The world’s first free community network platform for mobile phones – Podmo – has been launched in Adelaide.

The Podmo technology allows users to check event programs, search for nearby restaurants, access discounts on attractions, listen to South Australian bands, and watch films – all on their mobile phones, without paying a cent.

Developed by leading young Adelaide mobile content company Kukan Studio, with support from the State Government, Podmo is another example of South Australia, the “smart state”, leading the way with innovation and technology.

Podmo enables people to keep in touch, access local services and information, and download entertaining South Australian content such as video, music, ringtones and games.

The technology can be easily downloaded to users’ mobile phones at more than 30 ‘hotspots’ around town, including Cibo cafes and major event venues.

The State Government has been heavily involved with the development of Podmo content, and Podmo users will be able to search for South Australian accommodation, attractions and tours on their mobile phones.

They can access the offers available as part of the State Government’s current major marketing campaign – Brilliant Bargains.

These offers include more than 100 South Australian holiday packages covering all the State’s regions outside Adelaide, encouraging visitors to explore our regions and extend their stay in SA.

The Brilliant Bargains content on Podmo also includes 18 deals on great Adelaide attractions.

Users can redeem these deals simply by displaying them on the screen of their mobile phone to staff when they visit the attraction.

The Adelaide Film Festival, the Adelaide Fringe, WOMADelaide, and the World Police and Fire Games have all been involved in the creation of content for Podmo, and that means their event programs, site maps and news are all available through this new technology.

In the case of the Adelaide Film Festival, it also means that Podmo users are able to access short films, animation and more on their mobiles – adding another level to their film festival experience.

“Brilliant Music, Video & More”, developed by the State Government, is a package of South Australian creative content available through Podmo for free until 20 April.

The package includes 120 independent films, animations, MP3s, ringtones, screensavers and wallpapers – all created by leading South Australian artists.

For more information call Julia Angove on 08 8463 4610 or 0402 380 167 

SA BOASTS AUSTRALIA'S BEST CARAVAN PARK

South Australia’s Adelaide Shores Caravan Resort was named Australia’s best caravan park at the 2006 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Sydney last night.

The local West Beach operation triumphed over top name tourist and caravan parks from around the country, including Melbourne’s Big 4 Holiday Park, Big 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort in Queensland and the MacDonnell Range Caravan Park in the NT.

South Australia also received two commendations from the national judging panel: Seppeltsfield Vineyard Cottage from the Barossa for its entry in the Hosted Accommodation category and Victor Harbor Horse Drawn Tram for its entry in the Heritage & Cultural Tourism category.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the Australian Tourism Awards play a vital role in recognising and promoting excellence in the tourism industry.

“To be eligible for a national award, entrants must first win a State tourism award in the same category, so our entrants were up against some tough competition from around Australia,” she says.

“Adelaide Shores Caravan Resort should be very proud of this win. It will not only raise its profile in the Australian tourism industry but it also rewards its reputation for providing a quality tourism experience.”

Michael Coory was also acknowledged among his peers for his outstanding contribution to tourism in South Australia.

The awards were announced at a gala presentation and dinner in Sydney last night, attended by Australia’s key tourism operators and industry leaders.

The 16-hectare Adelaide Shores Caravan Resort is South Australia’s largest provider of tourist park accommodation with a wide range of accommodation including camping and caravan sites, a bunkhouse, cabins and on-site vans.

Located behind sand dunes at West Beach, the resort provides a broad range of guest facilities and recreational activities and is widely renowned for its quality product and customer service that combine to make it one of the nation’s favourite coastal destinations.

For more information on Adelaide Shores please call Ron Shattock on 0418 855 438 or visit www.adelaideshores.com.au

For more information on the Victor Harbor Horse Drawn Tram please call Peter Bond on 0411 406 799 or visit www.tourismvictorharbor.com.au

For more information on Seppeltsfield Vineyard Cottage please call Sharyn Rogers or Peter Milhinch on 0412 455 553 or visit www.seppeltsfieldvineyardcottage.com.au




WORLD GAMES ON TRACK FOR SPORTING ENTRY RECORD

South Australia is on track to set a record in the number of sporting entries for a World Police & Fire Games, Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith has revealed.

As registrations surpass 7,500 for the 16-25 March event, the Minister says nearly 19,000 sporting entries have been received, just short of the 19,694 entries received in Quebec in 2005.

“We’re on track to achieve the highest number of sporting entries in the history of the Games, with new registrations coming in each day,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.

“The World Police & Fire Games is one of the world’s largest mass- participation events, eclipsing the Commonwealth Games in terms of competitor and sport numbers.

“While the Games are about participation, the calibre of entrants is astounding, including Olympic and Commonwealth medallists and world champions from a range of sporting arenas.

“People from all over the world are coming to Adelaide to participate.

“Fifty-two countries will be represented, including North America, Spain, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Russia, South Africa and Finland and even countries such as Kazakhstan, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago and Iceland.”

Demand for some sports – including the cycling hill climb, time trial and track events, archery and a number of shooting competitions – has been so strong that capacity has already been reached.

Other popular sports likely to reach capacity include track and field, soccer, swimming, triathlon, golf and road cycling.

Held every two years, the Games offer firefighters, law enforcement, correctional services and custom officers the chance to compete in 79 events.

“These range from Olympic disciplines such as swimming, track and field and basketball, through to agency-specific sports such as pistol-police combat and the ultimate firefighter.

“There are also fun activities such as wrist wrestling, dragon boat racing and tug-of-war.

The event kicks off with a spectacular Opening Ceremony at Adelaide Oval on 16 March and all sporting events will be free to the public.

For more information call Jodie van Deventer on 0427 408 588.




TOUR DOWN UNDER TO EXPAND IN 2008

Cycling fans will have more chances to cheer on the world’s best cyclists at next year’s Tour Down Under as the event is expanded to include two weekends of elite cycling action.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the 2008 Tour will include an extra day of racing action, taking it to an eight-day event, as part of the Rann Government’s commitment to grow the event.

“The Tour Down Under will celebrate its 10th birthday next year and what better way to mark the occasion than with an expanded program of racing and festivities,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.

“We committed up to $2 million in extra funds over the next four years to expand the number of teams and increase the race’s profile internationally.

“Next year’s Tour will include an extra road stage, expanding it to a full six-day Tour with two additional days of team presentations and elite cycling displays in the Down Under Classic.

“We are also positioning the Tour Down Under to become one of the first ProTour races outside of Europe and our expanded program for 2008 is another step in that direction.

“The Tour Down Under is already the highest technically ranked cycling road race in the southern hemisphere and we want to take it to even greater heights in the future.

“We are continuing to lobby and work towards ProTour contention with Mr Pat McQuaid, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale.

“The expansion of the ProTour series to continents outside of Europe for the first time is currently a topic of debate within the international cycling community.”

“The Tour Down Under is one of our State’s biggest events, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators, including many people from interstate and overseas.”

Race route details and team presentation plans will be announced in the coming months.

For more information please call Michele D’Aloia on 08 8463 4695.




LEGENDARY SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TO BLAZE A NEW TRAIL

A major tourist route into South Australia’s world renowned Flinders Ranges has been renamed in honour of celebrated outback identity and businessman RM Williams.

The direct route from Stanley Flat via Spalding, Jamestown and Orroroo, previously known as the B80, was last month renamed RM Williams Way.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the renaming recognises Jamestown as Williams’ birthplace while commemorating his contribution to Mid North and Outback South Australia.

“RM Williams Way will not only take in RM Williams’ birthplace of Jamestown but also services much of the country where he began his legendry career in leather work,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.

“RM Williams has a significant place in the Outback heritage of South Australia and Australia, so it’s fitting that this route now bears the name of this unique Australian identity.”

The renaming of the route is supported by the Williams family, the four regional councils through which the route passes and the National Trust.

Reginald Murray Williams was born on a property near Jamestown in 1908.

His family moved to a farm at Belalie North and he attended a one-teacher school at Louden Brae, approximately 6km from Jamestown, until he was 12 years of age.

He commenced working with leather as a teenager and made his first pair of boots whilst living with the Aboriginal community of Neppabunna near Copley.

In 1932, Mr Williams set up his first boot-making factory in a shed behind his father’s Prospect home and it was here the RM Williams brand was born.

Over the following decades the business diversified into bush saddlery and the now trademark shirts and moleskins.

Today the RM Williams empire is famous worldwide with stores in New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom recording retail sales in excess of $50 million.

RM Williams died in 2003 at the age of 95.

For more information please call Julia Angove on 08 8463 4610.

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