Displaying items by tag:Sunshine Coast

Queensland destinations are anticipating a stellar year out of the New Zealand market, building on strong performances in 2025 and capitalising on new inventory and major events.

New ways to experience Noosa, Sunshine Coast are being highlighted at the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE2025) in Brisbane this week.

Gympie’s Mary Valley Rattler believes that with direct air services from Auckland to Sunshine Coast Airport that it can tap into Kiwis’ passion for rail, especially heritage rail services.

Visit Sunshine Coast (VSC) has been in New Zealand visiting House of Travel agents ahead of the peak booking period for Kiwis locking in flights for the upcoming winter season.

With less than a month until Jetstar’s year-round AKL-OOL service starting, Visit Sunshine Coast is ramping up its presence in the Kiwi market.

Visit Sunshine Coast has launched a new promotional campaign inviting Kiwis to fly direct and experience Sunshine Moments across the Tasman.

Travel agents are a key part of Visit Sunshine Coast’s strategy in getting New Zealanders  to look beyond the beach when they visit the destination, says the organisation’s trade manager, Emily Zinowki.

The work done last year to increase Queensland connectivity for the domestic market will have a positive spin-off for New Zealand trade and clients now that the state is open to Kiwis, says Gareth Williamson, general manager aviation business development with Sunshine Coast Airport.

Air New Zealand starts its three times weekly Auckland to Sunshine Coast seasonal service 28 June, running through to the end of October. Williamson says the destination is working on having the season extended.

Visit Sushine Coast (VSC) has developed strategies and activities for its market re-entry to New Zealand which commenced this week in anticipation of the first services to Australia.

VSC CEO Matt Stoeckel says the activity includes a “For real” multi-channel campaign which follows the successful first phase of the campaign that was rolled out earlier in the year in anticipation of the borders opening during 2021.

Saltwater Eco Tours, operating from Mooloolaba, is using a century-old timber sailing vessel, Spray of the Coral Coast, to showcase the Sunshine Coast’s Indigenous heritage and marine beauty.

Each tour has an Indigenous story-teller on board to share the stories, traditions and culture of the Sunshine Coast’s original inhabitants and first eco custodians, the Kabi Kabi people (originally known as the ‘Saltwater People’).