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Editoros note

t is true: "Nothing beats Queensland". Even afterfloods and cyclones Queensland is still managing toshine brightly. And if you need proof just look at what'son offer in this winter edition of shlne magazine. Our

team of writers has visited most of Queensland to prove thatthe State is back in action and ready to give holidaymakers thetime of their lives.

The natural disasters that hit the state in January and

February did wreak havoc, but the tourism industry has quicklyregrouped in time to welcome visitors this winter.

In this edition Roderick Eime discovers the north is gearing

up for some wild times on the race track, David May grabs his

swag and heads to the Outback, while Natascha Mirosch eatsher way through the Gold Coast.

We also have "Best Job in the World's" Ben Southall tellino

us about his new epic Queensland adventure.

Enjoy, and book a Queensland holiday, we know you want to.

IIRIAN CRISPEscape editor

rul lEEtrHop on a boat In Hervey Bay and getclose to the gentlo giants of the deep.

GEIE!Surrealist works from Paris makE

their only Australian appearanco.

@IEIEA sailing holiday will float your boat.

@EII!IEE!trITBen Southall follows Captain Cook.

@E@iEA trail from the Outback to the seadigs up dinosaurs and sapphires.

NEEEUMark Queensland's not-to-be-missedmajor events in your diary.

resrn@The Sunshine Coast is even morefun In the company of friends.

rE!Eiq!@Rev up for a feast of sport, cultureand festivals in the tropics.

reIEEtrIFrom fish and chips to slinky barsthe Gold Coast has it all.

ffCombined relaxation with adventure at Kingfisher Bay Resort onWorld Heritage-listed Fraser lsland.

Hotel accommodation is just !?"58 per night for two; including passenger

ferry transfers and daily buffet breal<fast.

And if you bool< and stay a third night, we'll give you two bonus full day

Beauty Spots tours of stunning Fraser lsland, valued at ;35S, FfiR f:fiEH.

Bool< online, call 1800 FRASER ( 18CI0 372 737) or email reservations@kingfisherbay.com. www.kinsfisherbay.com

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SPORTING EVENTS, CULTURAL HAPPENINGSAND FESTIVALS BECKON IN THE TROPICS,

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f you're looking for an excuse to reacquaint yourself wlthtropical Queensland there's a vibrant array of festivals,

events and happenings that offer plenty of reasons topack your bag. Perhaps you could holler for your Holden

or Ford team above the roar of engines at the Sucrogen Townsville

400 V8 Supercar event (townsville.vSsupercars.com.au) on

the streets of downtown Townsville from July 8-10 (pictured).That's right, it's a true street race on blocked-off public roads.

This year's event promises to break all records with a huge

entertainment line-up over two nights. Children under 12 are free

with a paying adult.

Keep a spare pair of earplugs, because you can comeback to Townsville on Seotember 10 for the Metal Mania NorthQueensland Car and Bike Show, which sets up in th6 VB Supercarpit lane at Reid Park. Some of the region's coolest show cars will

be there along with trade displays, rides and dancing.lf you thought VBs sounded sweet, wait until you hear a27litre

V12 Rolls-Royce Merlin revving up for take-off. The Ingham Wings

and Wheels Airshow (inghamwingsandwheels.com.au)on September 3-4 will feature numerous air and land displays.

Speed and endurance take on a new meaning for the Cairns

Airport Adventure Festival (challenge-cairns.com.au), which>

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begins today. The main event is the Cairns Airport Challenge Cairns

iron distance triathlon, which is on June 5. Can you picture yourself

in the 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42,2km run? The festival's

events, including junior and family runs, take place over 10 days.

Peddlers can roll on to the Cairns to Karumba Coast to Coast

Bike Ride (ridefnq.com) from June 26 to July 2. For seven days,'180 cyclists will pump west across Cape York, completing

the 780km ride to Karumba Point on the Gulf of Carpentaria

to raise money for outback schools. Why stop there? Keep the

momentum rolling with the McDonald's Townsville Running Festival

(townsvilleroadrunners.com.au) on August 7 and the Gold Fever

Lifestyle and Tour de Towers cycle race in Charters Towers the

following weekend. Then buy yourself a beer, you've earned it.

lf you were beginning to think the tropics were all about sweat

and exertion, well here's some high-brow relief. The Australian

Festival of Chamber Music (afcm.com,au) is an international

chamber music festival held from July 29-August 6 in Townsville.

Between 25 and 30 musicians perform in 25 concerts in various

venues over the course of the festival.

June is RV caravan and motorhome month with the

Cairns Home Show & Caravan, Camping & Boating Expo

(australianevents.com.au) from June 3-5 followed by the 11th

Annual Dam Fine Rally (damfinerally.com) from June 30-July 4

at Dam Park, Townsville. Grey nomads unite with your northern

colleagues, the Tropical Coast Wanderers and Townsville City

Council in this mobile motorkhana.

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Vssror Beach rs a stLrl rg locatol, ocated at tie closestpo nt to the Creat Banrer Reel and lhe best gateway lo vtftual y

u-spo, t cora reets a.d Worlc he'rtage lrsted rarT'orest

Jusr two hours south of Caifns is th s tropical parad se where the

rar^Fo'esr rreets lL?n oF golcer oeac'tes. -hese pa n-fr rgedDeacl'es cornect tre 'ou'v I ages tl'at nahe up V ssron Beach.

Mrss on Beach s the oerfect centfal locatlon fot lhe adventurer

wrth a huge varrety ol activities to surt every visitor ftom

shydrvrng to scuba d v ng, let shr ng, whtte water raftrng,

hayah ng, sai ing, bush walhrng and Rshing or simply felax ng

uncer 3 coconul paim on a go oen oeacn.

-T e 'are a'rd sl^y cassowary ca^ occasroral y be grrTosed as

t searches [or fruil n rts rainforest habtat. B rd watchers ate

o scover'tg lV ss or Beacr rs lone to 28r brtd spectes, rrote

than anywhere e se in Australra.

Accommodat on at lVissron Beach var es lrom luxuty

beac"r''olt nores to con'o'laole se '-corta'led un ts, elegart

'oursta' 'eso'rs, 'onartrc B 6 B's, rrotets. caravar pa'ts aldbachpacher odges.

W th restaurants ghowcasrng ocai produce, beauttctans, boutlques

and ga ler es rt's no wonder our slogan ts lmagine Morel

Vrsrt www.imaginemolemission.com.au

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(ASIAWAYS RES|IRT & SPA

Mission Beach

Pay for iour nighrs and stay the Fitth night free in anAbsolute Beachiront Resort Room, Enjoy a complimentarytropical breahfast buffet each morning plus a GourmetBeach Picnic Hamoer for two includino a bottle oF bubbles,

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bdsed on a 5 nqht m n mum slay

IHE EI.AIIDRA 1'IISSIOII BEA(H RES(IRIMrssion BeachThe Elandra is the perfect spot to relax, hrch bach andrecharge whilst dining on the freshest produce the worldhas to offer all while overloohing rhe beautiiul Coral 5ea.

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Out on the water, spinnakers are unfurling and topsailsbracing for the Sunferries Magnetic lsland Race Week(magneticislandraceweek.com.au) from September 1-6, an

event that brings sailors and socialites together as a perfect

complement to the established Airlie Beach and Hamilton lsland

race weeks in August. While the big guns shoot it out for glory,

there's plenty of room for weekend sailors and their families to get

involved and enjoy some of the best sailing grounds in the world.

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (ciaf.com.au) has becomesomething of an instant success. lt was held for the second time

last year and sold more than $700,000 worth of artwork and craftitems. Exhibitors include Lockhart River artist Samantha Hobson(pictured) and this year it's on from August 19-21. Hang around,

because there's plenty more to do and see with several Aboriginal

experiences on offer ranging across tours, performances and

cultural encounters. Springboard from the art fair into the wider201 1 Cairns Festival (cairnsfest.com.au), which is in its 50th year

and runs from August 19-September 4. The season encompasses

about 100 events, including the Tropical Pride Festival, UMI Arts

Big Talk One Fire and the Cairns Amateurs. The festival uses a

range of venues such as the Centre of Contemporary Arts, Tanks

Arts Centre, Cairns Civic Theatre and the Cairns Esplanade.

Pack your bag, hat and sunscreen and head north for a tropical

revival that might just do you the world of good.

For more information on planning your next Queensland holiday,

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For more information callone of our accredited Visitor InFormation Centres on 1300130 001or visit www.machayfegion.com

Secluded, fully self containedholiday homes on beautiFul l(eswichlsland, including use oI golf buggyand island tour.

5arina Sugar Shed, is a miniatureworhing sugar mill and distilleryconductrng tours on the QueenslancSugar Industry.

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