Giant LEGO Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony - Sydney

Let it LEGO, let it LEGO, let it LEGO

For this year's festive season a magical LEGO Christmas Tree – built entirely out of LEGO bricks – will come to life outside Westfield Sydney in Pitt Street Mall from 27 November – 27 December 2014.

December is fast approaching and the upcoming LEGO Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is set to get you into the holiday spirit and bring out your inner child. Standing taller than a two-storey house and wider than a family car, the tree at Westfield Sydney is created especially by Australia's only LEGO Certified Professional, Ryan McNaught. The gigantic plastic evergreen will contain half a million LEGO bricks and set the record for the largest tree the Southern Hemisphere has ever seen.



The LEGO Christmas Tree also features a Santa and sleigh built out of LEGO bricks, along with a special reindeer designed by competition winner and LEGO Club Member, 10-year old Luke Francis. Together, these colourful models will make up a stunning LEGO Christmas themed set, bound to delight pedestrian shoppers and LEGO fans of all ages.

To add a touch of sparkle, the LEGO Christmas Tree will be lit every night with a light show set to Christmas carols from approximately 8pm.



The LEGO Christmas Tree is officially launched at 7.45 pm on Thursday, 27 November, with 400 singers from the Sydney Philharmonic Choir performing carols around the LEGO Christmas tree as part of the citywide celebrations. So come along and be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime Christmas experience and be inspired to build your own LEGO Christmas!

When: Official launch, 7.45pm on 27 November - after date tree will still be on display
Where: Westfield Sydney, Pitt Street Mall, Sydney NSW 2000
Cost: Free!

Source: http://www.weekendnotes.com/lego-christmas-tree-lighting-ceremony/?sb=1&i=1&j=1&k=3&wemid=45724&wuid=557219&ap=AJU2GQkXOY

Need accommodation in Sydney this Christmas?

Metro Hotels have four conveniently located hotels and serviced apartments throughout Sydney CBD, here are our latest accommodation deals:

• Aspire Hotel Sydney (Ultimo): 

Deluxe Package

• Metro Hotel Sydney Central:

Wicked Family Package

• Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour

Free Upgrade Package

• Metro Hotel on Pitt

2 Night Stay Deal

Octonauts Live! Operation Reef Sheild

Developed from a special new episode of the worldwide hit children’s animation series The OCTONAUTS (ABC For Kids), OCTONAUTS LIVE! OPERATION REEF SHIELD is a live adventure musical touring Australia’s premier theatres.

The OCTONAUTS are an eight person team of quirky and courageous undersea adventurers who are always ready to dive into action! It is their mission to explore new underwater worlds, rescue amazing sea creatures and protect the ocean. 

They are led by valiant polar bear Captain Barnacles, Lieutenant Kwazii the daring cat, and Medic Peso the big-hearted penguin. The beloved animated characters have been reimagined for the live stage and transformed into impressive lifelike walkaround costumes of the pedigree that has made Life Like Touring Australia’s leading producer of family theatre.

Entirely created and produced in Australia, OCTONAUTS LIVE! OPERATION REEF SHIELD! is written and directed by Life Like Touring’s Theresa Borg, who wrote and directed acclaimed internationally touring productions Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries, which toured to Australia, North America, Middle East and Europe, and Sesame Street Presents Elmo’s World Tour which toured Australia and Asia.

In OCTONAUTS LIVE! OPERATION REEF SHIELD, Captain Barnacles and his trusty crew join forces with a host of colourful Australian reef dwellers on a mission to save the Great Barrier Reef! When the Octonauts deploy a new undersea medical station designed to keep the reef clean and healthy, they discover a problem that threatens the reef dwellers and their home. 

An outbreak of spiky and very hungry Crown of Thorns Starfish are on their way to eat the reef! It will take all the Octonauts, their Gups, and a rag-tag crew of sea creatures to ward off the advancing starfish and save the Great Barrier Reef! Don’t miss this all new musical adventure live on stage for the first time in 2015.

Running Time: Approximately 75 minutes total (including 15 minute interval)
Performance Dates: Friday 6th & Saturday 7th March

Event Location: Capitol Theatre Sydney

Get tickets NOW

Nearby accommodation at Metro Hotel Sydney Central

One Direction On the Road Again Australian tour 2015

Much to the excitement of teenage girls, the world's biggest boy band One Direction have announced they are heading back to Australia next year as part of their On the Road Again tour.

It's just seven months since Liam, Niall, Harry, Zayn and Louis toured Australia, but they are now lining up to play shows in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth next year. The band sold all 190,000 tickets for 18 shows across Australia and New Zealand for the Take Me Home at the end of last year.

"Our Australian fans have been there for us since day one, and we always have such a great time there," Liam Payne said.

"We'll see you all in February next year!"

The band are currently travelling with their mammoth Where We Are Tour which has just visited South America and will hit Europe and the US this year. Sydney boy band 5 Seconds of Summer are supporting.

Since the band were put together by Simon Cowell in 2010, they have been an unstoppable force around the globe, amassing a $US100 million fortune along the way, according to estimates.

Get your tickets from the official Ticket master website: http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/One-Direction-tickets/artist/1645840

On the Road Again 2015 Australian tour dates:
February 7:   Sydney, Allianz Stadium
February 11: Brisbane, Suncorp Stadium
February 14: Melbourne, Etihad Stadium
February 17: Adelaide, AAMI Stadium
February 20: Perth, Patersons Stadium

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/one-direction-heading-back-to-australia-for-2015-tour-20140519-zrgor.html



Need accommodation close to One Direction tour stadiums? 
Metro Hotels have hotels and serviced apartments in most major cities throughout Australia:


Sydney Hotels & Apartments (NSW):

• Metro Hotel Sydney Central
• Metro Hotel on Pitt
• Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour
• Aspire Hotel Sydney

Brisbane Hotels (QLD):

• Metro Hotel Tower Mill

Melbourne Apartments (VIC):

• Metro Apartments on Bank Place

Western Australia:

• Metro Hotel Perth

DUGONG ISLAND - Now open at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Come & play in the new Dugong Island at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium these school holidays! Great school holiday fun for the whole family.

What is Dugong Island?

Kids and parents young at heart will use their senses to explore the mysterious underwater world of Dugongs in the new Dugong Island. The all-new interactive experience allows guests to walk amongst an underwater shipwreck while admiring the only pair of Dugongs on display in the world! 

Visitors can "Do like a Dugong" plus:

• Hear like a Dugong
• See like a Dugong
• Speak like a Dugong
• Smell a Dugong
• Learn more about these amazing mammals

Who are the only pair of Dugongs on display?

Meet Pig: Affectionately named after his eating habits, Pig was rescued from North Queensland when he became separated from his mother at a very early age. After rehabilitation, Marine Biologists released him into the wild to find him yet again washed ashore so he now calls Dugong Island home.

 

Meet Wuru: Wuru, was also orphaned early. And although she's much younger than Pig, at over 400kg she's actually twice his size - as is the norm for female dugongs.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY DEAL #1

Make the most of our great school holiday activities with a Merlin Annual Pass, on sale now at 30% off!

With a Merlin Annual Pass you enjoy 12 months' unlimited entry to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium plus 10 other top attractions in Australia and New Zealand! Get sorted for summer and grab a Merlin Annual Pass from just $56 per person!

Book this deal now at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium website: http://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/news/dugong-island-now-open/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Facebook+banner&utm_content=Dugongs&utm_campaign=Sept+School+Holidays

SCHOOL HOLIDAY DEAL #2

Get Sydney's best combo pass deal in time for the school holidays with 5 great attractions for just $63 for adults, $36 for kids and families for $180 - saving up to $382!

You get entry to ALL 5:

• SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
• Madame Tussauds Sydney
• WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
• Sydney Tower Eye
• Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary

For a limited time, you can get a 4 or 5 attraction pass for the same price as a 3! Plus you get 30 days to visit them all - perfect for school holiday activities.

Book this deal now at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium website: http://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/news/dugong-island-now-open/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Facebook+banner&utm_content=Dugongs&utm_campaign=Sept+School+Holidays

Wonderful World of Model Railways on Show at Ipswich this Weekend at the Queensland Model Railway Show

The captivating world of model railways will come alive at Ipswich this weekend at the Queensland Model Railway Show.

The Workshops Rail Museum, North Ipswich will host the event on October 18-19 with railway modellers, demonstrators, and traders set to showcase their passion to thousands of visitors.

Museum director Andrew Moritz said the event would offer a fun filled family day out.

“We love putting on this show and seeing the appreciation in the eyes of adults and children, even if you’re ‘not into trains’, it’s hard not to stop and stare at the layouts,” Mr Moritz said.

“You can see that many hours have been spent putting together layouts and models, and modellers are happy to discuss their exhibit and much loved passion.”

Visitors will have the opportunity to admire miniature trains from different Australian states, America and the United Kingdom.

There will also be plenty of offer for kids with a construction station, kids craft and indoor Nippers Railway playground.

Mr Moritz said visitors can also enjoy a mini steam train ride thanks to Grandchester Live Model Steam.

Additional charges apply and visitors must wear closed in shoes.

Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and allow at least three hours for all activities.

Museum entry price includes all exhibits- family ticket $59, adult $20, concession $17, child $11.50 and children under three years free.

The Workshops Rail Museum is at North St, North Ipswich.

For information call 3432 5100 or visit theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au

Tourism Set to Cash In On Big Summer For International Sport

An unprecedented summer of international sport is set to boost Canberra's tourist numbers after a major decline in business stays and spending in the past year.

With seven Asian Cup football games including a quarter final, three cricket World Cup games and an extra one day International in November, Canberra's tourism boss expected locals to be joined by a mass of regional and international visitors for the sporting feast.

VisitCanberra director Ian Hill said it would be the strongest summer of sport the city had enjoyed. 

"Two absolutely world class events, and I certainly know tickets for those cricket World Cup games have been selling really well."

The National Visitor Survey released last month showed visitor nights were down 790,000 in the domestic business sector for the year to June, a drop of 37.5 per cent. Overall domestic nights were down 16.4 per cent and expenditure down 11.4 per cent, or $14 million. 

International visitor nights also fell 12 per cent, or 570,000 nights, in the same period, with expenditure down 6 per cent.

Mr Hill said the tourism authority was working closely with hoteliers and organisations elsewhere to help them package and promote events.  

"One of those [Asian Cup] games is a China [vs] Korea game; China don't play in Sydney and there's a big group of Chinese background people who live in Sydney, so we're working with some of the multicultural media in Sydney," he said. 

The tourism chief said the key to maximising the windfall for Canberra was ensuring visitors saw other attractions  during their stay, and a rejuvenated cultural and hotel scene would help.

"Places like Braddon are important, Lonsdale Street Roasters is an important place, New Acton, and with new hotels like Hotel Hotel, Peppers has just rebranded, we've seen QT do a fit out at Rydges, the Kurrajong is about to reopen after being refitted – a great location for visitors in the Parliamentary Triangle. I think visitors are seeing a new side of Canberra," Mr Hill said. 

Mr Hill said stories on last week's OECD finding that Canberra was the world's best city to live in,  trumpeted in the New York Times and elsewhere, helped spread the word. 

The Australian Hotels Association ACT recently told ABC TV that occupancy rates were at about 65 per cent, down from the same time last year, but investment was strong, with another 500-600 hotel rooms available by mid-next year. 

Session to help Gladstone city get ready for cruises

GET the party started when Carnival Australia comes to town with an information session on the future of cruise liners in Gladstone.

Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd and Carnival Australia will present on the P&O Cruise Liners as part of a business leaders' luncheon.

P&O Cruises announced in August that Gladstone would be a port of call for up to 10,000 passengers a year from 2016, with ships to dock at Auckland Point.

The luncheon is presented by GAPDL in partnership with Gladstone Regional Council and Gladstone Ports Corporation.

GAPDL chief executive Glenn Churchill will give an insight on destination tourism development and regional development priority projects, while product manager Sarah Budd and director Michael Mihajlov will talk for Carnival Australia.

The luncheon will be followed by an information session with a question and answer session, giving people an opportunity to expand further on individual and business opportunities/ learnings, and any other creative discussion points to ensure we are "Region Ready".

The luncheon will be held at the Oaks Grand Gladstone on Tuesday, October 21, from 11.30am-2pm.

Source: http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/liners-on-the-horizon/2413873/