‘Great Beach Drive’ will bring flow-on for all

Australia’s Great Beach Drive has been launched to provide over 200 kilometres of spectacular beach driving, capturing the dramatic coastline, scenery and wildlife along Queensland’s Sunshine, Cooloola and Fraser coasts.

Australia’s Nature Coast covers two UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, a World Heritage-listed Marine Park and the largest sand island in the world.

Glenn Wiggins from Surf and Sand Safari is just back from the ANC launch roadshow in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

“It’s all early days as yet. I was dealing with international businesses. I’ve got a few contracts now – it usually take 12 to 18 months before you get your first customer – they are all booked overseas,” said Glenn.

Surf and Sand Safaris will pick up passengers from Sunshine Coast airport to Rainbow Beach –  conducting the normal tour to the historic 1884 lighthouse, the world’s longest right-hand surfing break and majestic Coloured Sands on the way.

“Australia Nature Coast spans Caloundra to Lady Elliot Island. There are not too many places so close to Brisbane you can have virtually kilometres of beaches and not one building in site.

“For a lot of our overseas visitors – it blows them away. they can’t believe how sparsely populated our areas of beaches are.”

He continued, “For a lot of Europeans from  landlocked countries – it is something they don’t get to see.”

Rainbow Beach is an ideal base for adventure lovers to paraglide, hang-glide, sky dive, surf, fish or take a horse-ride along the beach or dive at Wolf Rock.

Our domestic market is also learning about The Great Beach Drive. “It’s going to quite big for Sydney and Melbourne markets – I have just been contracted with the Flight Centre, which is a good one.

“We’ve bought another two vehicles and we are operating same tour ex-Sunshine Coast, including an 11-seater commuter bus. The forward-facing leather reclining seats will provide maximum comfort for our tourists.”

Visitors are dropped off at their accommodation houses to take in other activities the Cooloola Coast offers. Return trips to the Sunshine Coast take in Tin Can Bay, where the calm waters provide the perfect opportunity for sailing, swimming, fishing and a rare opportunity at Barnacles Dolphin Centre to interact with wild Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins.

Australia’s Nature Coast was launched almost a year ago and the initiative is a partnership between Sunshine Coast Destination, Fraser Coast Opportunities, Tourism Noosa, Gympie Cooloola Tourism, Destination Gympie Region, Great Sandy Biosphere and Noosa Biosphere to promote a world-class eco-destination.

Glenn concluded, “Time will tell, I feel it is positive. It is good that everyone is working together for same result… all businesses should benefit from this.

“The whole idea at the launch was to promote the area first – to get people to Rainbow. Once you get visitors in town, the rest just flows from there.”

The new product provides full details of self-drive 4WD options or guided tours across the region: www.australiasnaturecoast.com

Surf and Sand Safaris: 5486 3131