Ekka Citing Accommodation Package at Metro Hotel Tower Mill

Metro Hotel Tower Mill is offering this Ekka Citing Package for $180.00 including:

• Accommodation for two in an Executive Twin or Double Room
• Full Buffett Breakfast for two
• FREE WIFI Internet Access
• Late Check-out 12 pm

View Metro Hotel Tower Mill
 
View this Ekka Citing Package from Metro Hotel Tower Mill

Terms and Conditions:

• Subject to availability
• Valid 10/08 - 19/08/2012
• Terms and Conditions apply

Maroons Coach Mal Meninga Expects Better Of His Team; Unfazed By NSW Selection Issues

QUEENSLAND coach Mal Meninga has turned up the heat on his side ahead of the Origin decider by admitting he has not been completely satisfied with the Maroons' performances in the first two games. 
 
The Maroons have struggled with their execution this series without the cool-headed organisation of former skipper Darren Lockyer, putting pressure on his five-eighth replacement Johnathan Thurston to fire in the Suncorp decider next Wednesday night.

Emboldened by their 16-12 win in Origin II, the Blues are growing in confidence and believe they have finally struck the right formula in team balance and attitude to end Queensland's six-year interstate dominance.

While praising his side's commitment and desire, Meninga said the major lesson he has learned from the opening two matches is Queensland's need to be more clinical across the board.

Meninga's warning came as the Maroons prepared to launch their preparations for Origin III with the first training session at a rain-soaked Stockland Park on the Sunshine Coast today.


"We have always talked about preparation and the effort has been there but we have let ourselves down a bit in execution," Meninga said.

"We have to come up with the right formula, the right plan and the right team to get on with the business of winning the decider.

"It is getting more difficult each year. Ricky (Stuart, NSW coach) has a very good side, they believe they are more desperate than us and they understand the cauldron of Suncorp Stadium.

"It's a challenge each game we play. It's different to club footy, you have to focus intensely on each game and you only have three games so every time you put the Maroon jersey on you have to be at your best.

"It's about how we handle it all. The side has to realise NSW are coming to our home and we have to start well."

While the Maroons are sweating on the fitness of injured fullback Billy Slater, Queensland hierarchy do not expect Blues hitman Glenn Stewart to take a knee injury into the decider.

Asked about how the Blues were shaping up after naming another extended squad, Meninga said: "I don't really care to be honest with you, it will sort itself out.

"We have had to endure this before in regards to their make up. We will plan around what to expect, we don't expect Stewart to play but we have to make sure we are settled to prepare as best we can."

Maroons prop Petero Civoniceva said he was not concerned that Queensland's 20-man squad could derail their preparations.

"It's not disruptive at all," he said.

"It's something we have to deal with week in, week out with our own (club) teams.

"You get guys who are carrying injuries into games every week and it's a process.

"The core of our team is our strength and we've got some great combinations that has brought us a lot of success over the years.

"I'm sure that familiarity will help us in our preparation."

City Council Launches Free CBD Ferry Service On Brisbane River From Sunday

BRISBANE residents and tourists will have access to a free ferry service on the Brisbane River from Sunday. 
 
The City Hopper ferry loop was a $6 million election commitment made by Lord Mayor Cr Graham Quirk in April in a bid to provide a free service and keep the historic monohull ferries in use.

Three historic CityFerries rebranded as the red and white CityHopper.

Cr Quirk said he hoped the service would provide a boost for the local tourism industry.

"By providing a free ferry service in Brisbane's inner city, we hope to encourage more residents and visitors to enjoy the river and local destinations like South Bank, Kangaroo Point, the CBD and New Farm," Cr Quirk said in a statement.

The service will run every half hour, seven days a week from 6am to midnight.

It will follow the current Inner City Ferry route stopping at New Farm (Sydney Street), South Bank (Terminal 3), North Quay, South Brisbane (Maritime Museum), Kangaroo Point (Dockside, Holman Street and Thornton Street) and the Brisbane CBD, with the total journey from Sydney Street to North Quay taking about 45 minutes.

"Rather than compete with CityCats, which are our fast and frequent public transport service around the river, CityHoppers will allow people to take in the city by day or the city's lights by night at a slower pace," Cr Quirk said.

"I want to bring them back to the fore and using them to spearhead a free ferry tourism loop will go a long way to achieving that."

He said about 50 per cent of passengers using the city's ferries were already doing so for tourism or leisure.

George Michael Symphonica Tour - Australia 2012

AFTER HIS 2010 SOLD OUT TOUR, GEORGE MICHAEL RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA AS YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE!

George Michael triumphantly returns to Australia in November and December 2012, with his Symphonica Tour

The multi-million selling artist is back in good health and fighting fit after a battle with pneumonia at the end of last year, which unfortunately led to his ‘Symphonica’ tour being postponed. George Michael is now preparing to return to the big stage later this year with rescheduled and newly added tour dates in Europe, the UK and Australia.

Before its unexpected hiatus, Symphonica, played to packed houses in Europe and fulfilled George's long-cherished artistic ambition of performing alongside a full orchestra. On the tour George will perform a carefully chosen selection of his own material spanning his remarkable career; and he will also cover some of his favourite songs from other artists.

On Symphonica, the music has been re-worked and re-arranged for a large scale orchestra, which will accompany George and his band throughout the tour. This brand new symphonic production has given each song added layers and fresh nuance. It's unmistakeably George Michael, but not as we've ever known him.

With an unparalleled voice, a large-scale orchestra and a tantalising promise to include songs never previously performed live, Symphonica is a magical experience awaiting singer and audience alike...

TOUR DATES*:

Tue 27 Nov - Brisbane Entertainment Centre

*Ticketek is selling for the above venues only.

The Beach Boys 50 - 2012 Tour Australia

Paul Dainty, Chairman of Dainty Group has announced that one of the worlds' most legendary and influential bands of all time The Beach Boys, will tour Australia this year as part of their 50th Anniversary Tour with dates confirmed in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

The 50th Anniversary Tour marks the first time in more than two decades that original members Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks will tour together.

The 50th Anniversary Tour, which commenced in North America in April, is receiving critical acclaim and proving to be a historical concert event not to be missed.

For five decades, America's first pop band to reach the 50 year milestone has recorded and performed the music that has become the world's favorite soundtrack to summer. Founded in Hawthorne, California in 1961, The Beach Boys were originally comprised of the three teenaged Wilson brothers: Brian, Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love, and school friend Al Jardine. In 1962, neighbour David Marks joined the group for their first wave of hits with Capitol Records, leaving in late 1963, and in 1965, Bruce Johnston joined the band when Brian Wilson retired from touring to focus on writing and producing for the group.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and recipients of The Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award, The Beach Boys are an American institution that is iconic around the world.

TOUR DATES*:

Tuesday 28 August - Brisbane Entertainment Centre

*Ticketek is selling for the above venues only.

Brisbane City Landmarks Turning Maroon In Lead-Up to 2012 State of Origin Decider

Last night, Brisbane took on a new shade of parochial pride with the Story Bridge, Kuripla Bridge, Wheel of Brisbane and City Hall among the city landmarks to turn maroon in the lead-up to this year's Origin series decider tomorrow week.

The new colour scheme is part of the "Show Your Colours" campaign, which was launched in the Queen Street Mall yesterday.

The campaign is designed to get the state behind the Maroons as they go for a record seventh consecutive series wins over New South Wales, and to promote Brisbane as a major events destination.


The city's residents are being asked to play their part and decorate their houses, cars, workplaces and everything else in maroon to celebrate being a Queenslander and display their pride in their state.

FANS: Darren lockyer with Breeanna Dwyer, 7, Hudson Spencer, 9, Chloe, 9, and Kane Martin, 6.

Former Queensland captain Darren Lockyer said the campaign would lift the Queensland players for their must-win game.

"As a rugby league player, it doesn't get any more exciting than Origin at Suncorp (Stadium)," Lockyer said.

"It's about supporting your team, the more maroon we see the better we'll play."

Pictures: Annette Dew

Source: The Courier-Mail

Queensland Tourism News: Newman Doubles Tourism Funding To Regions

State funding for tourism organisations in regional Queensland will be doubled to help prop up the ailing industry.

Premier Campbell Newman told the DestinationQ conference in Cairns today the funding would increase from $3.11 million to $7 million through a redirection of resources as the industry struggles to attract tourists.

But he says the government can't afford to just "throw buckets of money" at the industry to help it compete with the high Australian dollar and neighbouring countries.

"Simply preserving what we have will not meet the challenges of the future," he told the 300-plus crowd.

"We can't afford to sit with the status quo and it won't get us to where we want to go."
Mr Newman had campaigned about tourism being one of the major pillars of Queensland's economy during the lead up to the state election.

He told tourism operators the conference was about coming up with a new way forward for the state's tourism as he promised to do in his first 100 days in government.

Some of the conference's major focuses will include reducing red tape, attracting and retaining skilled workers in the industry, marketing strategies and how national parks were operated.
The forum, which several ministers including deputy premier Jeff Seeney are attending, was welcomed by tourism bodies.

Accommodation Association of Australia CEO Richard Munro said it was important for frontline operators to be able to air their grievances directly to government.

"It's important for governments at all levels to put in place policies which promote investment in both existing and new tourism accommodation products which do not adversely impact on operators", Mr Munro said in a statement.

Simple Minds And Devo Take To Australia

Two rather different but very popular ‘80s pop acts are coming together for a big tour of Australia this December, as Simple Minds and Devo play a series of theatre and winery shows with support from Australian art-rock superstars the church and, for some shows, the Sean Kelly led Models.

Australia was the first territory to embrace the music of Simple Minds, their Love Song in 1981 was a massive hit here, as was the New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) album which followed in 1982. Of course, after that, they became one of the world’s biggest bands with hits like Don’t You (Forget About Me) and Alive and Kicking which continue to be cherished the world over.

One of the most exciting, subversive and infectious acts of the post-punk era, Devo not only have a swag of hits, but a huge number of critically adored records which are seen to be some of the most influential among many modern bands. Likewise, their stage show has always been one that confounds and intrigues and their recent visits as headliners of the Splendour In The Grass and Livid festivals have shown that they have not lost any of what made them so exciting.

Alongside the long-standing Australian legends of alternative pop and rock music the church and groundbreaking Aussies Models (who play the A Day On The Green winery dates in the Yarra Valley, Perth, Hunter Valley and Brisbane's Mt Cotton), these shows are set to showcase some of the finest music that came out of the 1980s but is still completely relevant and exciting today.
Tickets are on sale Monday 2 July. Dates are below.

Brisbane Reveals $353 Million IT Overhaul

Australia’s largest council administration, Brisbane City Council, has revealed an ambitious plan to spend $353 million on a comprehensive new SAP-based business administration platform which will see some 62 legacy systems shut down and replaced with the aid of IT services firm Accenture.

In a statement released this week, Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the “major overhaul” would be undertaken over the next decade, and was expected to generate about $450 million in efficiencies over that period – meaning the benefits of the new system would outweigh its cost by “about $100 million” over that period, if everything goes according to plan.

“Council’s current systems are outdated and need to be brought into the 21st century if we want to cement Brisbane’s reputation as an economic powerhouse in the Asia-Pacific Region,” Quirk said. “To do nothing is not an option. As Lord Mayor my job is to deliver Brisbane ratepayers the best value for money and Council needs to change the way it does business to achieve that. This new system will allow us to create one Council that is seamless to deal with for residents and businesses. Less money tied up in red tape means more money spent on frontline services in our suburbs such as tree trimming, road resurfacing and footpath repair.”

The bulk of the money will be spent in the first three years of the systems’ implementation, with the rest being spread over the rest of the decade. $104 million will be allocated to the project in the 2012/2013 financial year, with the total installation cost expected to be about $194 million. There will also be an operating cost of about $111 million over the total ten-year period.
“It is predicted that it will cost ratepayers about $212 million to run Council’s current outdated systems over the next ten years if nothing is changed,” the council’s statement said.

SAP hasn’t exactly had the best run recently within Queensland’s public sector, with the German software giant’s technology also being used in the disastrous Queensland Health payroll systems implementation. A KMPG audit recently found the project has already cost $417 million and will need some $837 million more to fix over the next five years, in a finding which the state’s new LNP Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said in Parliament several weeks ago illustrated that the project was an “abomination”.

However, it was IBM, Queensland Health itself and government shared services provider Corptech which implemented the project, and very little blame for the disaster has been attached to SAP, with much of the problems with the project relating to governance and business processes, not the specific technology being used. In his statement, Quirk attempted to head off criticism of the SAP platform for the BaSE project before it began.

“Quirk acknowledged SAP was the same brand of software used in the recent Qld Health payroll upgrade,” the council’s statement read. “However he pointed to the former State Labor Government’s own independent report, which found the problem with that rollout lay with Qld Health’s implementation, not SAP’s software. Quirk said Council was also undertaking a different implementation strategy that would see Council change the way it does business to suit the new system, not force the software provider to alter its tried-and-tested product to suit the organisation as Labor did with Qld Health.”

Quirk said Brisbane City Council was being “flexible” in its rollout to ensure that it gets the project right the first time before switching on the new platform, to avoid the same problems Queensland Health suffered. “That said we’ve put in place strict contractual arrangements regarding any potential late delivery or cost increases to ensure we get the best service and value for ratepayers, something Labor and Qld Health also failed to do,” the LNP Lord Mayor said.

Opinion/Analysis

In my opinion, this implementation which Brisbane City Council has announced is a recipe for disaster. Any time you try to shut down dozens of legacy systems and migrate the whole shebang onto one huge centralised platform, you’re going to suffer a huge number of roadblocks.

While no doubt Accenture, SAP and the council itself are being very careful here, especially because of the disastrous implementation at Queensland Health, I think anyone who expects this implementation to proceed smoothly has not been following recent IT projects within Australia’s public sector.

It is a universal truth now that Australia’s sub-Federal public sector is broadly incapable of successfully delivering on major IT projects; we’ve seen this trend right around Australia recently, from Queensland to NSW, to Victoria and Western Australia, and I do not expect this rollout to be any different. If this deployment is successful, it will be very much an outlier.

Hawaiian Airlines: New Brisbane-USA Connections Via Honolulu

Hawaiian Airlines will begin flights between Brisbane and Honolulu this November -- and while Australians tend to think of Hawaiian as a holiday airline, the connecting flights via Honolulu to just under a dozen continental US cities will be a useful option fo Queensland's business travellers.

Being able to skip a connection across Sydney Airport and missing out on a further multi-terminal change at Los Angeles LAX? We count that as a win.

So are the direct flights from Honolulu to San Jose (Silicon Valley's local airport) and ten other US cities that would otherwise require a connection.

There's also something to be said for mixing a bit of work and play with a bonus stopover in Hawaii on the way back. After all, you deserve a little downtime!

You'll also earn Virgin Australia Velocity points on Hawaiian's flights.

Of course, there are tradeoffs. (Aren't there always?) Hawaiian's business class seat is an older-style recliner, and the flights only run three times weekly.

The new flight details in full

The thrice-weekly Brisbane-Honolulu flights will take around nine hours, using a Boeing 767-300 plane with 18 business class and 244 economy class seats.

Business class on Hawaiian is an older recliner-style seat, similar to what Qantas uses on its domestic 767 Cityflyer planes. 

In terms of timing, US-bound Flight HA444 will depart Brisbane at 1835 every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, cross the international dateline and arrive in Honolulu at 0805 the same day.

Return HA443 will leave Honolulu at 1020 every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, cross the international dateline and land in Brisbane at 1600 the next day.

Hawaiian's thrice-weekly schedule -- and the seats that don't match up to anyone else's business class across the Pacific -- may give some business travellers pause. That's especially true for business travellers more sensitive to schedule or a fully flat bed.

But if you have the flexibility, an aversion to extra connections, a dislike of LAX and an interest in stopping over in Hawaii, it's definitely something I'd consider.

There’s No Place Like Home For Aussies

More Australians are planning a winter holiday at home this year, according to new survey results that show Aussies are choosing Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast over other popular destinations including Thailand, Fiji and NZ.

lastminute.com.au data revealed that local ski regions are receiving a significant share of bookings this winter with Jindabyne receiving 68 percent of domestic bookings followed by Falls Creek and Threbo with 53 percent and 45 percent.

Warmer spots across the country are also being utilised as winter getaways this year, according to the results, that found Palm Cove managed to receive 39 percent of bookings for winter this year followed  by 35 percent to Cairns and 34 percent to Mission Beach.

"Australia really does offer a taste of whatever holiday you're after during the cooler months,” lastminute.com.au spokesperson said.

“If you're a ski bunny, there are plenty of snow regions with great accommodation and nightlife options to choose from. If you're a sunshine seeker, it's the perfect time of year to tick Darwin or Tropical North Queensland off your must-visit list.”

Meanwhile in the international sector, London topped the list for Australian travellers during June, July and August this year, followed by Bali, Auckland and Bangkok.

"Sun-loving Aussies were no doubt pretty disappointed with our last summer,” the spokesperson added.

“These savvy travellers are seeking out a dose of summer by booking destinations with warm climates all year round.”

ICC U19 CRICKET WORLD CUP

The world's best young cricketers will gather in Queensland from 11-26 August to test their skills during the 2012 ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup.

Free to attend and held over three locations - Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Townsville - the tournament will see sixteen teams from around the world compete including Australia; Afghanistan; Bangladesh; England; India; Ireland; Namibia;  Nepal; New Zealand; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Scotland; South Africa; Sri Lanka; West Indies; and Zimbabwe.

For a full tournament schedule visit 

www.icc-cricket.yahoo.net
ICC U19 CRICKET WORLD CUP

Green Tape Chokes Our Tourism

A luxury hotel! Right inside a Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

Of course, you might say. Who wants to stand in a hot forest the whole day, looking at trees?

Who wouldn't want to zip back after a couple of hours to grab that cocktail, jump in that pool, lounge on that sun deck or take that massage next to that passing wombat?

But note this. This ad campaign is the first in which Tourism Australia has featured not just our best bits of nature, but the luxury resorts right next to them, including spectacular ones at Kangaroo Island and Tasmania's Great Oyster Bay.

Not only that, the Blue Mountains resort is the one at Wolgan Valley that green groups fought and green tape almost strangled. A hotel in a national park? Sacrilege!

Which makes Tourism Australia's latest ad campaign, launched in Shanghai, not just a celebration of Australia, but one more sign of the decline of the anti-human green movement.

The Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa, which Test captain Michael Clarke booked out last month for his wedding, is the perfect example.

Emirates announced in 2005 it wanted to build this $125 million extravaganza, yet had to work for two more years just to get its plans through all the green tape, including approvals from the then Howard government, the local shire, the NSW Land and Environment Court and the NSW Labor government.

It's a familiar story for any big developer. For years now, it's seemed a sin to green preachers to have man's footprint anywhere near nature.

This absurd fear of human contamination has closed a uranium mine in Kakadu, banned oil exploration around the Barrier Reef, halted coal mines in Queensland, delayed housing developments in even the most barren scrub and now threatens a planned $30 billion gas hub project on James Price Point an empty scrap of the vast Kimberley.

Even a humble $50 million expansion of the Yaringa Boat Harbour on the Mornington Peninsula was held up for a year by green bureaucrats fretting over an orange-bellied parrot no one had actually seen there for a quarter of a century.

This anti-human paranoia has also led to attacks on tourism itself. Tourists are told not to climb Ayers Rock; recreational fishing has been severely restricted; horse riding in many national parks is limited or even banned; and where is the five-star resort on the Barrier Reef itself that tourists would cross the world to see?

It's like banning laughter in church. Victoria's magnificent Wilsons Prom is under such prudish management that you can't stay anywhere inside bar a camping site or some spartan eco-cabin.
The Wolgan Valley resort could have gone the same puritanical way. What an effort and expense Emirates had to go to just to get an official "yes" to a project that Tourism Australia now touts as one of our biggest tourism magnets.

It had to swap 114 hectares of bushland it had bought next to the park for 39ha of the park itself, with green groups screaming every inch of the way. It had to plant thousands of trees, modify its designs and agree to all kinds of restrictions. Even now, just four helicopter trips a week are allowed to ferry in guests.

Now come the Tourism Australia ads to explode the fallacy and extremism that tends to drive such anti-development campaigns.

No, man is not necessarily a pollution on the landscape. No, there's not much point in having great scenery if you make it too tough for people to see or enjoy.

These ads no longer trade on our beauty spots being remote and unsullied by human hands. After all, there's not a single national park that isn't improved by a good road to go see it.
So we see the beauty of the Great Oyster Bay through the windows of the Saffire Freycinet luxury lodge.
We look out over Kangaroo Island's beach from the great windows of the Southern Ocean Lodge. Uluru is seen from well laid dining tables at dusk, and a chopper is parked on top of a waterfall in the El Questro Wilderness Park, because who wants to hike in the heat?

In fact, the sole Victorian entry in the 12 destinations showcased is nothing designed by nature not the Great Ocean Road or the penguins of Phillip Island but Crown casino.

And Sydney closes the ads with our greatest calling card the man-made Sydney Opera House, on the edge of the God-made harbour.

It's the perfect balance.
Green Tape Chokes Our Tourism

Here's Cheers to the First Queensland Beer Week

If the flashing red neon XXXX sign atop Castlemaine Brewery isn’t proof enough that Queenslanders love their beer, the state is now bracing for its own beer bash with the inaugural Queensland Beer Week from July 16- 22.

The collective ‘clink’ of beer bottles will be heard across Queensland as breweries, bottle shops and iconic pubs team up to showcase the very best of beer culture, while beer-lovers also attempt a world record for the most people brewing at one time.

And the timing couldn’t be more perfect with Queensland’s favourite brew, XXXX Gold recently taking the crown for the nation's most popular beer and flattening the bubbles out of long-time title holder, Victoria Bitter.

Raise your glass and celebrate with the 10 best beer experiences in Queensland. 

1. Take a tour with a tipple

Get inside the head, the heart and the history of Queensland’s amber elixir with a tour through the XXXX Ale House in Brisbane’s inner-west. Tours of the 130-year-old icon run daily and visitors can see how the beer is made and taste the final product. www.xxxxbrewerytour.com.au

2. Bavarian beer in the bush

If the clink of a beer stein and the image of an honest Aussie farmer in a good pair of lederhosen appeals, then head west for the world’s most remoteOutback Oktoberfest in Jundah. You won’t go hungry or thirsty with Beer Wenches catering to your every whim, whether it be a big juicy bratwurst or stein of authentic Erdinger beer specially imported from Germany. www.outbackoktoberfest.com.au

3. Get crafty on the coast

You can’t rush a good thing, according to the Gold Coast’s only craft brewery, Burleigh Brewing Company. It takes around a month to perfect a Burleigh brew; the onsite team does absolutely everything by hand, from carefully selecting the malted barley, yeast and hops to bottling the finished product, boxing it up and lovingly placing it in the cold room. Clearly they’re doing something right - their HEF beer was recently judged the Best German Wheat Beer at the World Beer Cup 2012. Wunderbar! www.burleighbrewing.com.au

4. A match made in heaven

It’s an unlikely pairing, but beer and cheese go together like Queen Elizabeth and her corgies. Explore the hinterland town of Mount Tamborine and match the cheese at Witches Chase Cheese with award-winning beer samples from Mount Tamborine Brewery next door. www.mtbeer.com

5. Beers and bull riding

Crack a coldie at the iconic Great Western Hotel in Rockhampton, the home of great steak, beer and rodeos. This 116-year-old pub plays host to major national rodeos and features a huge undercover rodeo arena for 1,000 people that attracts champion riders from near and far.www.greatwesternhotel.com.au

6. BYO (Brew Your Own) beer
Be your own brew master for a day at Brew 4 U in Brisbane - Queensland’s first brew-on-premises microbrewery. Visit the brewery and choose a beer from their list of over 200 different styles. Measure out the ingredients, mix them together and transfer it to the fermenter where your brew will bubble for 2-4 weeks. At the end of the process, take home 50 litres of your very own freshly brewed and bottled beer. www.bru4u.com

7. Archive of ales

Beer-aficionados won’t go thirsty at Archive Beer Boutique in Brisbane’s West End, with more than 400 different bottled beers and 14 draught beers to choose from. Currently on tap is Burleigh HEF, White Rabbit White Ale and Two Birds Sunset Red Ale. But if the reserve selection is more to your taste, for $175 you can try a bottle of Brewdog’s Tactical Nuclear Penguin. With 32 per cent alcohol it’s the world’s strongest beer and should be enjoyed like a fine whisky. www.archivebeerboutique.com.au

8. Sky’s the limit

The tropical climate of North Queensland has always been associated with cold, thirst-quenching beer. Enter Blue Sky Brewery. Situated in the heart of Cairns, the brewery produces 10 preservative-free, full-flavoured beers including lagers, ales and ciders. Enjoy guided tours from Monday to Thursday where you can sample their stable of beers including FNQ Lager, FNQ Gold, Cairns Gold and Blue Sky Pilsner. Blue Sky is also serious about being green with 95 per cent of its spent grain and yeast used for cattle feed.  www.blueskybrewery.com.au

9. Something’s a-brewing

One of Australia’s premier boutique breweries, the Townsville Brewing Company has been brewing six regular beers plus various seasonal releases since opening in 2001. Steeped in history, the brewery is housed within the town’s original post office building, flanked by an impressive clock tower. Brewery tours aren’t available but they do offer tutored tastings.  www.townsvillebrewery.com.au

10. No bitter aftertaste

Cleverly named beer bistro Bitter Suite is one of New Farm’s trendy new kids on the block and becoming a fast favourite for weekend afternoon drinks. The friendly owners living out their dream offer patrons hearty fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But it’s their grazing menu begging to be washed down with a choice of seven local craft beers on tap, plus 55 (mostly) Australian bottles that’s winning over locals. www.bittersuite.com.au

(Source: travmedia.com)

Brisbane to Host Spanish Exclusive

In yet another Australian coup, Brisbane prepares to host ‘Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces from the Prado’, an exhibition of more than 100 masterpieces from Madrid’s Museo Nacional del Prado, to be shown exclusively at the Queensland Art Gallery from July 21 to November 4.

The Museo Nacional del Prado, Spain’s national art museum, holds one of the most significant collections of European painting in the world. ‘Portrait of Spain’ is the first exhibition from the Prado ever to be shown in Australia, and represents the largest group of works the museum has ever lent to a foreign museum.

Curated by Javier Portús Pérez, Head of the Department of Spanish Painting (to 1700), Museo Nacional del Prado, this extensive exhibition will explore the history of painting in Spain over three and a half centuries, highlighting the internal and external factors that influenced the evolution of Spanish painting between 1550 and 1900.

Presented as various chapters of Spain’s history, the exhibition will include magnificent Royal portraits, large scale history paintings, religious pictures, mythological scenes and intimate still lifes.

‘Portrait of Spain’ will bring to Australia work by artists who played central roles in the history of European painting, including Spanish, Italian, Flemish and French artists who worked for the Spanish Royal Court.

The exhibition will explore the political and cultural forces that have influenced the development of modern Spain, and reveal how modern Spanish identity was formulated over 350 years.

Artists represented include EL GRECO, Vecellio di Gregorio TIZIANO (TITIAN), Peter Paul RUBENS, Michel-Ange HOUASSE, Anton Rafael MENGS, Francisco de ZURBARÁN, Diego Rodríguez de Silva y VELÁZQUEZ, Bartolomé Esteban MURILLO, Juan CARREÑO DE MIRANDA, Luis MELÉNDEZ, Francisco de GOYA Y LUCIENTES, Federico de MADRAZO Y KUNTZ, Mariano FORTUNY MARSAL and Joaquín SOROLLA Y BASTIDA.

The exhibition is presented by the Queensland Art Gallery and Art Exhibitions Australia, in partnership with the Museo Nacional Del Prado. 

(Source: Brisbanemarketing.com.au)

Brisbane Hosts Global Sensation Jersey Boys

Brisbane will join New York’s Broadway, London, Las Vegas, and the U.S. National tours as the world-wide smash hit production of Jersey Boys opens at QPAC this July.

Jersey Boys – The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons is the story of how four blue collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop sensations of all time.

Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi joined forces and became The Four Seasons, writing their own hits to sell over 175 million records before they were 30!

Over 1 million people have seen the show in Melbourne and Sydney and over 14 million around the world.

Broadway Producer, Michael David, from Dodger Theatricals is thrilled to bring Jersey Boys to Brisbane.

“The show is chock full of classic Four Seasons show stopping songs and a story that is all the more riveting because it’s true,” he said.

“With an extraordinary cast, we believe Jersey Boys will engage theatregoers and send them dancing out of the Lyric Theatre!”

Jersey Boys features 20 Four Seasons hit songs including Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Rag Doll, Oh What a Night and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.

Jersey Boys – The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons has proven to be a world-wide sensation, winning four 2006 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2009.

In Australia Jersey Boys won two Helpmann Awards being Best Musical and Best Music Direction of a Musical and seven Victorian Green Room Awards.

The Jersey Boys Original Cast Recording also received a 2006 Grammy Award® for Best Musical Show Album.

This is a theatrical event not to be missed.

(Source: brisbanemarketing.com.au)

Brisbane Kicks Off Winter Festival Season

The City is set to play host to Australia’s largest winter entertainment event, The Winter Festival, from 8 June – 1 July.

Featuring an expanded programme of food, music, nightlife and family fun, and supported by key sponsor Lipton Chai Latte, the festival is set to be even more popular in 2012.

The major celebrations in in King George Square add to The Cities biggest winter calendar of events. Over the winter months, people can warm up with Fete de la Musique, the delectable Brisbane Food Festival, a visit from the Qantas Wallabies and the London Olympic celebrations.

The Winter Festival will make its Australian debut in Brisbane before moving on the other states. And due to the huge success of last year’s event and by popular demand, the program will be extended an additional week – with the third week taking place in the school holidays.

One of the highlights of the festival will be Australia’s largest open air ice skating rink.

The Winter Festival is part of a wider program of events being held to encourage Brisbanites to Warm up in The City. Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said The City will be alive with activity this winter.

“While other states may shun the winter months, Queenslanders will celebrate the outdoors during the months of June and July,” Cr Quirk said.

“The City will mark the season with special food and retail offers. Plus an entertainment program which includes ice skating with Brisbane City Hall as a backdrop, it’s certainly a unique experience,” he said.

As the temperatures drop, The Winter Festivals nationally are estimated to entice 500,000 people outdoors both day and night to enjoy a unique winter experience throughout the June/July school holidays.

Director of The Winter Festival, Justin Ricketts said the program will be launched on Thursday June 7.

“Last year the Winter Festival was truly embraced by the Brisbane community, and the atmosphere and vibe during the festival was amazing. This year we wanted to thank all of those who attended, and extend an extra week for those that missed out. We look forward again to a great festival in 2012, and getting our skates on with the Brisbane community,” Mr Ricketts said.

There will be an enhanced range of activities for children throughout the day including special family discounts, school holiday programs, special guest visits from their favourite kids characters and facilities for children’s birthday parties.

There’s plenty for the adults too with a ski-themed lodge aimed at young revellers complete with roaring fireplaces, specialty European alpine cuisine & dining, licensed bars, live music and entertainment.

Those keen for a winter's night out will be rewarded with high-quality hearty comfort food and Glühwein - a type of mulled wine, rarely seen on Australian shores.

The Lipton Chai Latte lodge will return for the 2012 Winter Festivals, offering a warm space to relax after a skate, and a free delicious Lipton Chai Latte.

Marketing Manager of Lipton Chai Latte Natalie Cassar said they’re excited to be continuing their relationship with the Winter Festivals in 2012.

“We look forward to welcoming Brisbane visitors to take a break in the Lipton Chai Latte Lounge and enjoy a free exotic and indulgent cup of Lipton Chai Latte,” Ms Cassar said.

With Nova 106.9 as launch media partners, the Lipton Chai Latte Winter Festivals is again set to gain both domestic and international media coverage.

Entry to the Lipton Chai Latte Winter Festivals is free and is open from 12 noon – 10pm during weekdays and 10am – 10pm on weekends.  Skate hire and rink access tickets start from $12 for kids and $17 for adults with group and family discounts available.

Brisbane, King George Square  (8th June – 1st July)

(Source: Brisbanemarketing.com.au)