Read all about it here

Hi Everyone,

This is a great opportunity to encourage our locals to get onto Destination NSW Facebook page and tell a group of travelling youth bloggers why they need to come to our region/ your towns. Could you forward

the information attached onto as many local groups, members etc you have to help spread the word.

How can you get involved?

Starting Monday Feb 20th, encourage your community to tell us on Facebook what is the one reason the bloggers cannot miss visiting your destination and who is the best local person to show them around.

URL: www.Facebook.com/VisitNSW

We’re looking for input on:

* Experiences/products that are unique and remarkable

* Incredibly passionate locals we could interview

* Local festivals, and events we can’t miss in March 2012

If it is remarkable, we want to hear about it. Ask your followers to share photos, tell stories and make lots of noise about your destination. The more people you can encourage to join the conversation, the better chance of your destination being featured.

Ben Janeczko

Program Manager – Youth

Destination NSW (Tourism)

E ben.janeczko@dnsw.com.au

T 02 9931 1176

M 0435 920 856

Tourism update …..

100 Mile Dinner

Congratulations to Fiasco Restaurant for winning the starter category of the 100 mile dinner, this event took place in Sydney last weekend with TAFE students service the regions three courses, all of which were superb. This highlights the array of locally grown produce.

Regional Tourism Grant

There were 62 submissions received for the stream one regional tourism grant which closed on the 21st October, the Mid North Coast RTO have been working through the applications to determine which submissions will be considered.

COLD CHISEL CONCERT COFFS HARBOUR – Fri Nov 4

BUS ARRANGEMENTS

Concert information: CONCERT LOCATION HOCKEY FIELDS, CNR STADIUM DRIVE & PHIL HAWTHORNE DRIVE, COFFS HARBOUR.

GATES OPEN 5PM

FIRST BAND 5.45PM

CONCERT FINISHES 10PM

Location of put down & pick up as per previous NRL football games, Stadium Drive within short walking distance of concert entrance.

PRHIBITED ITEMS : No alcohol, no bottles, no glass, no cans, no skateboards, no chairs, no milkcrates or boxes, no umbrellas, no studded belts or wristbands etc. No club patches or jackets, no fireworks, no weapons, no drugs , no videotaping , no professional still cameras with removable lens (small cameras are allowed), no laser lights , no water pistols (see below also).

PARKING

Parking is available on site. However we encourage people to park AWAY from the site at one of these locations.

1/In town COFFS CDB

2/Coffs Racecourse Howard St.

3/Centro Toormina

FREE buses will run from & back to these locations as below .

BUSWAYS – will run a bus from Racecourse & Park Ave Coffs Harbour

BEFORE CONCERT x 1 bus

Depart Racecourse Howard St , from 5pm

Depart Park Ave outside Crazy Clarks from 5.15pm

Proceed to Concert site

Return to Racecourse

Repeat at 5.30pm , 6pm , 6.30pm , 7pm & 7.30pm

AFTER CONCERT @ 10PM x 3 buses

Buses proceed to clear patrons going FIRST to Racecourse and then Park Ave as required.

SAWTELL COACHES will run a bus from Centro Toormina Road, Toormina.

BEFORE CONCERT x 1 bus

Centro Toormina from 5pm

Proceed to Concert site

Return to Centro

Repeat at 5.30pm , 6pm , 6.30pm ,7pm & 7.30pm

AFTER CONCERT @ 10PM x 2 buses

Buses proceed to clear patrons as required & return to Centro Toormina .

PROHIBITED ITEMS LIST COLD CHISEL CONCERT FRI NOV 4 COFFS HARBOUR

· Glass

· Chairs (folding, portable, camping)

· Alcohol

· Laser lights

· Cans

· Anything studded, i.e. belts, wristbands etc.

· Drugs

· Umbrellas

· Skateboards

· No club patches or jackets allowed

· Video and tape recording devices.

(Bring a plastic poncho or a raincoat instead.)

· Milk/bread crates

· Weapons of any kind

· Fireworks

· Professional still cameras w/ removable lens.

· Water pistols or; Any other items deemed to be potentially dangerous or disruptive by the promoters at their sole discretion.

- Small still cameras ARE allowed.

Enterprise Connect Assistance

Tourism firms can apply for Enterprise Connect assistance. Eligible tourism firms will be entitled to the full range of Enterprise Connect services and client documentation will be available on the Enterprise Connect website shortly.

Enterprise Connect Program (www.enterpriseconnect.gov.au) now available to tourism operators.

Eligibility

To be eligible for EC services, tourism firms must:

possess an Australian Company Number (ACN);

have a turnover of more than $1 million and under $100 million in the current financial year or three preceding financial years;

be solvent;

have operated in Australia and filed Business Activity Statements showing ongoing trading in at least three full consecutive years;

be a tourism business that derives a significant portion of its turnover from tourist accommodation, tourist attractions, experiential tourism, the operation of tours, or travel agency services. The business must derive a significant portion of its turnover from tourists (people who have travelled for a round trip distance of at least 50 kilometres from home), and would either cease to exist in its present form, or would be significantly affected, if tourism were to cease;

comply with its obligations under the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 (EOWA).

Businesses whose primary trade is retail, cafes, restaurants, or take away food suppliers are not eligible under the tourism category.

National Tourism Industry Network

To support the growth and competitiveness of the tourism sector, a National Tourism Industry Network (NTIN) will be established within Enterprise Connect. Modelled on the existing Food Network, NTIN, will be led by Tasmanian State Director Keith Calvert. Keith will soon be seeking nominations from Business Advisers for NTIN representation in each state. Similar to the Food Network, these Business Advisers will become a conduit within the network and become central contact point for the NTIN in each state.

Free business review and benchmarking and up to $20k ($ for $) Grant available to improve businesses for eligible activities.

For further information contacts: Keith Calvert: Tel: 03 6433 8001, M: 0420 961 125

Email: Keith.Calvert@innovation.gov.au

Celebrate International Year of Forests in local national parks

The International Year of Forests provides a great opportunity for people to connect with nature and explore the hidden delights of local national parks with a knowledgeable Discovery Ranger. Check out these upcoming activities:

Big Tree Explorer – Saturday 5th November 2011

MEET: Dorrigo Rainforest Centre, Dorrigo National Park

START: 9.00 am (ends 4 pm) DURATION: 7 Hours COST: $75 per vehicle, incl morning tea, map & brochure.

BRING: Lunch, plenty of drinking water, a broad-brimmed hat, sunscreen and walking shoes.

GRADE: Medium – Includes lunch stop & short walks.

DETAILS: Come on a journey back in time, a vehicle-based day of exploration to admire some of the most magnificent old trees left in the region. We visit Cascade and the Nymboi-Binderay national parks, having lunch on the banks of the wild and scenic Nymboida River.

Learn about the early timber getting history of this area; see ancient tallowwood and brushbox trees, as well as some of the largest remaining red cedar on the plateau. A number of short walks will take us back to days when all the hard work was done on the end of a cross-cut saw and timber was hauled by bullock or steam trams to local mills.

VEHICLE: Although, as with all our Explorer tours you will need your own 4WD vehicle, the route taken is 2WD-accessible on formed gravel roads. Please ensure your vehicle is fuelled up and has a working spare tyre kit. Morning tea is provided by NPWS.

MAXIMUM NUMBER = 8 vehicles max. DISCOVERY RANGERS: Anita Menhofer & Area Ranger Anton Ingarfield

Bookings essential on 02 66572309

Sherwood 4WD Explorer – Saturday 26 November 2011

MEET: Woolgoolga Creek picnic area, Sherwood Nature Reserve: west from the roundabout on the Pacific Hwy, Woolgoolga.

START: 9.00 am (ends 4 pm) DURATION: 7 Hours COST: $75 per vehicle, including morning tea.

BRING: 4WD vehicle with good clearance; lunch, plenty of drinking water, a hat and walking shoes.

GRADE: Medium – good clearance needed, but good condition gravel/sandy roads. Includes lunch stop & short walks.

DETAILS: A very special all-day 4WD vehicle-based tour with stunning views, into the spectacular and ancient sandstone landscapes and taking in enormous old growth forest trees of Sherwood Nature Reserve, northwest of Coffs Harbour. The tour celebrates the International Year of Forests by traversing a staggering range of forest communities, from the warm subtropical rainforests of Woolgoolga Creek to the dry sandstone heath of Sherwood plateau. You’ll look over the Orara valley (morning tea supplied by NPWS) towards the coast from Get Lost Trail, where we have lunch. We’ll explore the rich Aboriginal cultural heritage values of the area, expertly interpreted by Aboriginal Discovery Ranger, Mark Flanders.

MAXIMUM NUMBER = 8 vehicles max. DISCOVERY RANGERS: Mark Flanders & Area Ranger Gina Hart

Bookings essential on 02 6652 0900

Never Never Forest Revealed – Saturday 26 November 2011

MEET: Never Never Picnic Area, Dorrigo National Park

START: 9.00 am (ends 3 pm) DURATION: 6 Hours COST: Child $6, Adult $12, Family $36

BRING: Bring lunch and snacks, plenty of water, wide brimmed hat, sunscreen and shoes suitable for walking.

GRADE: Medium to hard – The walk will take 6 hours including lunch break. It is mostly level, but has some steep parts and one steep descent to, and return climb from Cedar Falls. The track is a single-file natural path and contains sections with steep drop-offs.

DETAILS: Join our Discovery ranger on a full-day walk into magnificent warm temperate rainforest in Dorrigo National Park. One of the most varied walking tracks in the area, this lovely, natural path winds its way through different forest types. The rarely walked Blackbutt Track features giant brush box, crab apple and beautiful examples of the restricted Dorrigo plum. We can pick one of a number of picturesque waterfalls for our lunch stop. The journey into this little visited gem of Dorrigo National Park is facilitated with a car shuffle at the start of the walk, and finishes at the Never Never picnic area.

MAXIMUM NUMBER = 20 PEOPLE DISCOVERY RANGER: Anita Menhofer

Bookings essential on 02 66572309

Web-link for Discovery activities is Upper North Coast

Or go to the Wild Wild World Website for these and all state-wide events and activities www.wildwildworld.com.au

Bookings are required for some activities and participant fees may apply.

For more information contact your local NPWS office:

Dorrigo 6657 2309

Coffs Coast 6652 0900

Mid North Coast Visitor Numbers increase by 7.1 per cent

Mid North Coast received over 3.1 million domestic overnight visitors – up by 7.1 per cent on the year ending March 2011 according to latest research from Destination NSW. Those visitors spent nearly 12.1 million nights in the region, up 8.7 pet cent on the same period last year. The number of domestic overnight trips to regional New South Wales increased by 3.1 per cent on last year. The majority of those visitors were from regional NSW contributing more than Sydney for both visitors and nights. The Mid North Coast received 83 per cent of visitors and 80 per cent of nights from the total intrastate market. Interstate visitors contributed 17 per cent of visits and 20 per cent of nights with Queensland the largest interstate market for both visitors and nights.

Holiday and leisure at 58.7. per cent was the largest purpose for visitors to the region followed by visiting friends and relatives at 31.9 per cent and 6.1 per cent for business. Holiday or leisure was the largest purpose in terms of nights in the region at 66.7 per cent. Belinda Novicky, Executive Officer for the Mid North Coast believes that these figures represent excellent growth for our region.

Our next tourism meeting will be held on Thu the 17th November at the NEW Plantation Hotel which opens under guidance of Harry Barry next Tues.

Please diarise 17:30 for an 18:00 start where the new branding for the region will be unveiled.

Regards

Tracey Adendorff

Executive Officer

Ph: 6651 7766

www.coffstourism.com

Tourism update…

NBN ROLLOUT

The national fibre rollout plan for the next 12 months has been expanded and the plan for Coffs Harbour has been extended to cover 27 800 premises in the next 12 months, now including Sawtell.

NBN 111018 rollout update

Maps are not yet available but we estimate this to cover about 92% of the Local Government Area.

Coffs Coast Brand

SASI Marketing have undertaken a brand review of the Coffs Coast brand with the key message focusing on the diversity of our region. The industry will be invited to view the repositioning of the brand in November.

todokids.com

todokids.com.au is a sophisticated yet simple site that will enable residents and tourists alike to find local ‘things to do’ with their kids, grandchildren and visiting friends and family. Last week the Coffs Board of Tourism received a briefing on the website, which is currently being developed, and we can see the potential benefits for all Coffs Coast children’s service and activity providers. For tourism providers, the site’s specific, logical and location based search capability will provide an opportunity to gain exposure both as individual attractions and as a regional destination. For accommodation providers, this service will enable you to provide useful and relevant information to your guests.

We will keep you updated with details of a partnership that will allow free access and listings for Coffs Coast activity providers in early 2012.

AUSTRALIAN CRICKET ASSOCIATION MASTERS TOUR

Former Australian greats will be among a host of cricket legends to be in Coffs Harbour as part of the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) Masters Tour from Thursday 20 to Saturday 22 October 2011.

The players will take on the Coffs Harbour XI in an action packed Twenty20 game at BCU International Stadium on Friday 21 October, as well as participating in a range of community activities. There will be lots of opportunities to meet the players at events around the City, with the excitement of the main game to be played under lights at BCU International Stadium on Friday 21 October.

Gates Open: 5.30pm

Main Game: 7.00pm

Purchasing Tickets

Tickets can only be purchased at BCU International Stadium Box Offices from 5.30pm on game day, Friday 21 October. The Box Office will be located at main western entrance and the south eastern entrance to the venue.

Ticket Pricing

Adults $7.50

Concession $5.00

Children under 16 Free

In2CRICKET clinics will be staged for primary school children on the morning of the match at Coffs Coast Sport and Leisure Park 1. At 5.45pm In2cricket clinics for 5-8 year olds will be held at the stadium as the pre-match entertainment.

9 Days of Golf kicks off this weekend across the region.

Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival

We welcome old and new Festival patrons to Dorrigo mountain for an intimate and friendly three-day weekend of accoustic music featuring some of Australia’s best Folk and Bluegrass, and Old-time country musicians.

It’s a time when our picturesque Dorrigo showground comes alive with concerts, workshops, dance, jamming, impromtu performances, poetry and children’s entertainment.

10th Anniversary Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival promises to be a particularly special celebration with some great surprises planned from 21st-23rd October. Contact 6657 1224 for further information.

Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery

Sunday

3pm at the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery

Cost: $25 Adult and $20 concession

The Friends of Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery (inc) are holding a fundraising concert starring Soprano Michelle Der Kinderin and Friends at Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery from 3pm on Sunday 23 October.

Michelle will perform with pianist Alice Jamison. This concert will also premiere a new work, The Lotus Flower, written especially for Michelle by young award-winning composer William Jeffery. The work was commissioned by the Friends for this occasion.

Tickets can be purchased from the gallery or call 02 6648 4863.

The Invisible Woman

CHATS Productions Inc. presents A Club Cabaret Production

19 – 29 October | Wed – Sun | Adults $24 Conc. $20 Grp (10+) $18

Devised and Directed by Shirley Barnett in association with The Coffs Harbour Writers’ Group

Come and celebrate our flirtatious fifties, sensational sixties, and sexy seventies as they show off their theatrical style.

Expect music, dance, comedy, drama – and some surprises….

Regards

Tracey Adendorff

Executive Officer

Ph: 6651 7766

www.coffstourism.com

Bonville Golf Resort Leading the Australian Golf Resort

Bonville Golf Resort achieved what every golf resort in Australia strives to be, the leader in their field. For the 2nd time the resort has been voted “Australia’s Leading Golf Resort” at the 2011 Asia & Australasia World Travel Awards Presentation Ceremony in late September. Often likened to Augusta National in the U.S.A, the Resort took the honours over some tough competition including former Winners – Hyatt Coolum Resort on QLD’s Sunshine Coast, Hyatt Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast & Joondalup Resort in Western Australia along with strong NSW competition from Magenta Shores on the Central Coast.

Bonville picked up this title in 2006 and is delighted to now be a 2 time winner and again recognised as the Leader in the Australian Golf Resort sector. Bonville’s General Manager, Brad Daymond commented that “This title as Australia’s Leader reflects the ongoing improvements to the overall ‘Bonville Experience’ members & guests receive. The past year has seen our Course Superintendent Chris Neal and his energetic team working tirelessly on increasing the level of daily presentation, overall consistency and general conditioning of the golf course, along with Food & Beverage, Housekeeping & Proshop areas improving this ‘Experience’ guests receive on their Bonville & Coffs Coast visit.

The World Travel Awards are the biggest night the Travel & Tourism industry has to offer and are referred to as the ‘Oscars’ of the Industry, which they certainly lived up to be by the glamour & hype at this year Awards Presentation in Thailand’s Capital, Bangkok. Voting for the Awards are cast by travel agents in over 200 countries around the world from which Regional and Geographical categories are broken down from the overall world category.

Bonville is gearing up for a wonderful summer season which will see the resort celebrate its 20th Birthday in January. The Celebrations will include special Play & Stay deals and great bonuses for players & visitors to “Australasia’s Leading Golf Resort”.

1 MINUTE NON PARTICIPATE SURVEY ON THE REGIONAL TOURISM AWARDS PROGRAM

if you have participated in the tourism awards in the past 5 years please go to the following link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TAwardsPastParticipant

If you haven’t been involved in Regional Tourism Awards since 2006, please continue.

With the number of successful tourism businesses/operators and quality tourism products and services the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers has to offer, the North Coast Tourism Awards Program is seeking feedback to try and have more of those successful operators be part of the North Coast Tourism Awards in 2012. The Committee is committed to growing the proceeding and increasing the number of participants but to help us do that, we need your feedback on why you don’t currently enter the Regional Awards Program. All survey responses are anonymous. If you could help us out with your responses please click the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TAwardsNonParticipant

This survey closes on the 21 October.

Regards

Tracey Adendorff

Executive Officer

Ph: 6651 7766

www.coffstourism.com

If you are a small business owner or manager, don’t miss this FREE workshop to get Rally Ready!

• Understand the World Rally visitor

• Effectively promote your business

• Get prepared

In a nutshell, Karina Morrison, National Manager Business Solutions, Enterprise & Training Company Limited, will be presenting where the crowds will be, who they are and their mobility patterns…. and how each business can tap into the economic benefits for the short and longer term.

Bellingen Memorial Hall July 28th & 4th Aug 10am-12noon.

Please refer to the attached flyer for more information!  World Rally flyers

Good Morning All,

Just a short note to advise that the 2011/12 Bellingen Business Directory will now be distributed late July/early August.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to your continuing support next year”

Many Thanks,

Erika Harrison

Sponsorship Co-ordinator

Bellingen Chamber of Commerce inc

Mob: 0403137841

Dear All,

Please be aware that our PO Box, email and web details have changed, as shown below.

Please update your records accordingly.

Kind regards,

Rowan Butler

VIC Coordinator

Waterfall Way Centre

29-31 Hyde Street

Bellingen NSW 2454

Waterfall Way Centre

Bellingen Shire Council

PO Box 117

Bellingen NSW 2454

P: 02 – 6655 1522

F: 02 – 6655 1322

E: tourism@bellingen.nsw.gov.au

W: www.coffscoast.com.au

Good Afternoon everyone

There is a great deal occurring at the moment so I just thought a quick email was needed.

Flood Funding:

- Belinda has coordinated a response and request for $400,000 to promote the Mid North Coast is open for business. We requested the promotions lead to www.pacificcoast.com.au. Belinda will keep you posted on the outcome

Visitor Information Services:

- Currently Northern Rivers are undertaking a study into Regional Visitor Services Strategy. It is a comprehensive study (grant from Dept I + I). Northern Rivers have agreed to show us a copy of the report due for completion at the end of this year. I know this is a hot topic at the moment in many LGA’s and will provide some important NSW regional data for discussion.

Legendary Pacific Coast:

- Cameron Arnold (Chair of Northern Rivers) and I met with the Minister for Tourism and the Minister for the North Coast to provide an update on the LPCTR and the importance of the program to our industry and wider regional economies. It was an excellent meeting. Belinda has a PCTR board meeting latest this month and will provide a further update after that meeting. It is now important for us to keep communicating with the Ministers on our progress and timeline with the RTA on the $5 million signage rollout.

Tourism Awards:

- I know times are a little tough for our industry but please encourage your members to submit and / or attend the awards night.

Product Development Funding:

- Later today or tomorrow Belinda will email the information and appropriate links for the $250,000 product development funding for the MNC. This money is a direct result of FORTO ie us as a regional tourism organisation working with the new government on delivering outcomes for regional NSW. This is a very exciting program for us to manage and I hope each of you communicate to all your operators this important initiative. The second round, $2 million for large scale projects, will be ready in a few weeks to access application forms and Belinda will let you know).

Regional Partnership Program – 2012 onwards

- The MNC Board had an excellent meeting last week discussing options and the way forward. There are still some discussions occurring at a state level of how all programs move forward. Under Destination NSW there will be a 4 member Visitor Strategy committee whose aim is to ensure double tourism expenditure by 2020. Over the next few weeks we should have a better idea of our funding and we will then call a regional reference group meeting so we can all decide our path forward.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call Belinda. I just wanted to give you a quick update as Chair. Belinda will be emailing information soon re product development

As always thank you for your ongoing support of the RTO. We are growing from strength to strength and we are the leading RTO due to our excellent relationships with local government and tourism operators.

Kind regards – and may school holidays be busy!

Kathy Balodis

Chair – MNCRTO

Kathy Balodis

Macquarie Waters Boutique Apartment Hotel

11 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444

Tel: 1800 70 25 35 or 02 6580 0291

Email: kathy@mwaters.com.au