Sydney's Royal Easter Show Launches iPhone App

IT CAN be a tough choice: do you go for the Bertie Beetle Bonanza, the Wizz Fizz Super Fizz or even the Hannah Montana Bling Bag?

It is with that dilemma partly in mind that organisers of this year's Sydney Royal Easter Show have launched a new iPhone app.

The tool has been developed to help showgoers navigate the sprawling Sydney Showground, with interactive maps and a geo-location positioning tool.

It also contains details of all the showbags and features itinerary planners and transport information.

It follows the Sydney Royal Easter Show's forays into social media, with a dedicated Facebook page and Twitter feed.

"There's a full listing of what's on and iPhone users can create a list of their favourite events, acts, showbags and carnival rides," Royal Agricultural Society of NSW's Karen Bolinger said.

"The app is fully integrated with our social media channels so app users can share their thoughts with their friends and social media networks."

The tool can be downloaded from the iTunes app store and costs $2.49.

The Sydney Royal Easter Show opens to the public on Thursday and runs until April 27.

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Oprah tickets available now - Sydney Show

THE producers of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Harpo Productions have announced that tickets to the Sydney taping of the program will be available from today.

Harpo Productions has also confirmed that two shows will be taped in Sydney on 14 December at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt.

There will be a morning and an afternoon taping.

Ticket requests can be submitted on www.Oprah.com.

The online reservation window for release of tickets to the two tapings will be open from 10 am, Friday, 5 November to 3 pm, Sunday, 7 November (Eastern Standard Time).

For more information about the tickets go to www.Oprah.com/AustraliaTickets.

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Sydney hosts Golden Oldies stars

Tourism NSW’s Manager of International Operations, Ian Cameron, is on an all-star team, the Gentleman of Sydney, this week at the 18th Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival 2010 with matches being played at Centennial Park. Former Wallaby Mark Ella AM is Festival Ambassador and captain of the team that includes former Wallaby greats David Campese, Simon Poidevin, Gary Ella and Glen Ella. Other former international players such as Robbie Deans and John Freeman are also participating.

Mark Ella said Sydney was an ideal host city for the event. “All the players have enjoyed the festival so far. The excellent facilities meant the parade and functions were fantastic,” he said. Former British Lion and Scottish legend Scott Hastings said it had been great to meet friends from around the world. “The camaraderie and friendship is amazing especially playing alongside guys we used to play against,” he said. Around 4,000 people including players are partners are attending the festival in Sydney this week. Ian is a member of the Sydney Organising Committee.

(Source: INSIGHTS 29th September 2010)

Sydney in London With Fashion, Food And Surf

The NSW Government is launching a new Sydney tourism campaign in London this week,
focused on attracting more UK visitors to Australia’s global city.

Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay said the London promotion follows news that Sydney is set for a global tourism boost when it hosts the Oprah Winfrey Show in December.

“This is a huge week for Sydney in two of our key international tourism markets - the United States and the United Kingdom,” Ms McKay said.

“We’re welcoming the world’s most famous talk show host to the world’s best known Australian icon, which millions around the world will come to know as the ‘Sydney Oprah House’.

“The spotlight is also on Sydney in London this week with some famous Sydney faces over there to showcase our fashion, food and lifestyle.

“Fashion designers Sass and Bide aka Sarah Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton are showing off Sydney’s unique style to Londoners.

“Surfing legend Layne Beachley is promoting our fantastic beaches and surf lifestyle, while top Sydney chef Mark Best is cooking up a treat for some of the UK and Europe’s top food writers.

“Mark Best and Quay Restaurant’s Peter Gilmore will co-host a six course dining showcase at London’s famous Ledbury Restaurant in Notting Hill later today with some of the best wines and produce that NSW has to offer.”

Ms McKay said the UK promotion is the latest stage in the global roll out of the NSW
Government’s new $10 million tourism campaign for Sydney, following launches in New Zealand and in China at the Shanghai Expo.

“The London launch will be followed by a six week media campaign to encourage more UK
visitors to Sydney and to NSW.

“We’re also running a campaign with Emirates, Flight Centre and Tourism Queensland in a
promotion to attract more first time visitors from the UK.

“The campaign will include an exclusive two week sale driven through more than 100 Flight
Centre stores across the UK, with some great Sydney and regional NSW packages on offer.

“We want to attract more people to Sydney and NSW to experience our great events, our
fantastic food and wine, arts and culture, world famous fashion and outdoor lifestyle.

“Sydney is the gateway to NSW and we want to give UK visitors plenty of reasons to come to Sydney and to explore some of our most beautiful regional destinations, from coastal towns to the NSW outback and wine growing regions.”

More than 366,000 tourists from the UK came to NSW last financial year, injecting more than $592 million into the State’s economy. More than a third of all visitors to Australia visit Sydney and NSW and UK visitors make up more than a 13 per cent of all visitors to NSW.

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Golden Oldies visit Sydney - Sydney Tourism News

Sydney is to welcome up to 4,000 people from next Sunday for the 18th Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival 2010. There are 16 nations competing in 178 teams in matches to be held at Centennial Parklands. Players are 35 years and over, with the oldest player aged 84. The event runs from 26 September to 3 October.

The Golden Oldies festival includes an Opening Ceremony on the steps of Town Hall on Sunday, 26 September, a street parade, welcome cocktail party, Hunter Valley barbecue and grand final gala dinner. Game days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday of next week. Air New Zealand is the global owner of the Golden Oldies Movement which includes five sports.

The former NSW Major Events Board (now Events NSW) successfully bid for the event in partnership with Business Events Sydney and the Australian Rugby Golden Oldies. Tourism NSW’s Manager of International Operations Ian Cameron has been working on the event in his capacity as member of the Sydney Organising Committee. The last Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival was held in Edinburgh in 2008

For accommodation during the Golden Oldies Festival log on to www.metrohotels.com.au

Qantas Socceroos vs Paraguay - Sydney tourism news

Socceroos in their first home match since the 2010 World Cup campaign. The Qantas Socceroos play Paraguay, whose impressive showing at the World Cup ensures that the game is not to be missed.

Date: Sat 9 Oct

Price: $35.00 to $85.00

Opening Times: 8pm.

At: Sydney Football Stadium

Address: Driver Ave, Moore Park, 2021

Telephone: 02 9360 6601


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Sydney Rallies Against Barangaroo - Sydney Tourism News

Sydney saw a weekend of protests over the city’s vast Barangaroo development. Environmental activist Jack Mundey led a charge with the theme ''take your hotel out of our harbour'' aimed directly at developers.

The hotel, which is being eyed by Las Vegas operator MGM Resorts, would be built out into Sydney harbour.

The rally against the controversial $6 billion plans to develop the harbourside site of Barangaroo saw dozens of posters, variously urging the state government to ''scale back the towers'', developers to ''take your hotel out of our harbour'' and the people of Sydney to ''halt the high-rise bribery''.

Many of the protesters believe the view they have enjoyed will disappear entirely if a proposed complex of residential and commercial towers - the tallest standing 209m goes ahead. Jamie Parker, the mayor of Leichhardt, claimed the development was ''the wrong size, in the wrong place, with the wrong approach''.

Scott Woodcock, of the National Trust, which supports ''appropriate'' development of Barangaroo, said the site had become ''the dumping ground for poor government policy''. Or, as one poster put it, ''Baranga-rooted''.

The long-time environmental activist Jack Mundey accused the government of rushing to hand over the site to the developers Lend Lease before next year's election.

John Tabart, the head of the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, said recently excavation work could start as early as next month.

David Hutton, of Lend Lease, said, ''The development will transform the western edge of the city, produce 6000 new jobs, and return over 2km of foreshore to the public.''

Taronga Zoo Welcomes Pygmy Hippo Calf - Sydney Tourism News

Taronga Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a precious Pygmy Hippo calf, the first to be reared by its mother at the Zoo in over 20 years.
The female infant named, ‘Kambiri’ meaning “allow me to join this family“ was born to mother ‘Petre’ and father ‘Timmy’ and discovered in the early morning of Saturday 26 June by the Zoo’s dedicated keeping staff who had been monitoring the pregnancy.

The infant is the second female calf born to Petre and Timmy, following ‘Monifa’ which was born in 2008. Unfortunately despite Petre initially showing very strong mothering skills, Monifa had to be hand-reared by zoo keepers after a difficult birth which compromised the newborn’s ability to thrive.

Kambiri is only the fifth Pygmy Hippo to be born in Australia in two decades. Along with Taronga’s recent breeding successes, the regional population is gradually increasing with zoo colleag ues in Cairns having welcomed a male calf last year.

Taronga Zoo is also pleased to have retained the position as Sydney's most popular experience for the fourth year in a row. During the year ending June 2010, the Zoo received strong support from the community with nearly 1.5 million people visiting Taronga.

Visit www.taronga.org.au

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Q Station Offers Free Activities for the Whole Family - Sydney Tourism News

Manly’s historic Q Station is holding a free Community Day on Saturday September 11, offering a chance to explore the site of Australia’s first quarantine station as well as take advantage of a host of activities all within the Sydney Harbour National Park at North Head. Held from 10am – 4pm, the day will include exhibitions, theatre, history tours and live music.

A highlight of the program will be three performances of Defiance – Act 1, a play that explores the 1881 Royal Commission into the Quarantine Station showing at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Visitors can also enjoy presentations by author Felicity Pulman, historian Perry McIntyre and Dave Thomas from Ecodivers who will discuss the marine life of the property.

Other activities will also be running from 10am-4pm:

• Wharf Wander Tour for a brief overview of the history of Q Station
• Kids Activity Space for face painting and craft activities
&bull ; Wildflower Walks led by National Parks and Wildlife
• Wildlife encounters to meet native animals including possums and snakes
• Quarantine Station Story Tour to learn about the experiences of early day quarantine guests.

Entry and experiences are free except for the Quarantine Station Tour, with proceeds of the tour going to the local charity, Bear Cottage, the first children’s hospice in NSW.

Bookings are essential for presentations and performances of Defiance.

For full details contact Q Station on 02 9466 1551 or visit www.qstation.com.au

The Future is Wild at Sydney Aquarium - Sydney CBD Hotels

From September 25, 2010 Sydney Aquarium will present the global phenomenon The Future is Wild, a multimedia project of immense scale from award winning filmmakers and leading scientists. The Future is Wild and Sydney Aquarium will take you 5 million, 100 million and 200 million years into the future - so get ready for the voyage of a million lifetimes.

The Future is Wild uses real science to explore the Earth's future and is already a multiple award-winning TV and book series, a theme park in France, and approved school curriculum content in the United Kingdom.
Sydney Aquarium will be the home of The Future is Wild in Australia.

The Future is Wild exhibition will combine the stunning marine life of Sydney Aquarium with virtual animals that may one day fill our seas, streams, rivers, and walk on land alongside augmented reality and the latest sound and visual technology. Get ready to experience 200 million years of evolution at Sydney Aquarium .

WHAT: The Future is Wild at Sydney Aquarium
WHERE: Sydney Aquarium, Aquarium Pier, Darling Harbour
WHEN: In venue from September 25, 2010
HOW MUCH: Single Child $17.99 / Adult $34.99. Or with the Unlimited Adventure Pass you can visit Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World, Sydney Tower and Oceanworld Manly as many times as you like until June 30, 2011. The sooner you buy, the better the value. Child $39.99 / Adult $59.99

www.sydneyaquarium.myfun.com.au

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Special ‘Rock Me’ Package at Metro Hotel Sydney Central

Sydney is set to rock from spring right through into summer this year as a record number of international acts head down under to catch the southern summer – and Metro Hotel Sydney Central is keen to help music lovers enjoy every minute of it.

Metro Hotel Sydney Central, perfectly located opposite the Capitol Theatre in the heart of Sydney’s entertainment district, is offering a very special ‘Rock Me’ package for $169*. The package comprises:

- One night’s accommodation in a superior room
- Buffet breakfast for 2 people in Indigo on Capitol
- $30 drinks voucher at Paddy Maguires pub (located diagonally opposite the Metro Hotel); ideal location for pre or post concert drinks
- Extended check-out to 12 noon
- Valid from September 1st – December 30th
- Ten international acts are set to tour Sydney from September to December, with big name acts Metallica and Bon Jovi expected to draw the biggest crowds. Rock legends from the 70s and 80s are also sure to be huge hits, with The Eagles, Credence Clearwater Revival, Blondie and The Pretenders, Peter Frampton, America and Chicago, Pat Benatar and The Bangles, Robin Gibb and Bonnie Tyler all having heavily pre-sold shows for the Sydney spring-summer period.

Add to this list Leonard Cohen, Tim McGraw and Engelbert Humperdink, all of whom have enormous followings, then squeeze in local legend Powderfinger’s last big Sydney gig at the Entertainment Centre and James Morrison and his Big Band at the State Theatre, and it becomes clear Sydneysiders will be spoilt for choice on the music scene in late 2010.

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Could the rain play right into the hands of NSW?

The Maroons have painted themselves as underdogs and former State of Origin greats believe that may just be the case for tonight’s series opener as driving rain lashes Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.

With New South Wales having already promised to rock their opponents into submission, the miserable weather looks set to play right into their hands, with South Sydney coach and former Queensland hooker John Lang worried it will nullify the Maroons’ brilliant backline.

“It will be marginally better for NSW,” Lang said. “NSW have plenty of good attacking backs too but Queensland probably has a bit more brilliance.

“Across the backline they’ve got a bit more to offer and like to use the ball a bit more too.

“That’s why I say it will marginally suit NSW.”

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