Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
With a passion for people, storytelling, and showcasing hidden gems, Cherene Poidevin from Driftwood Tours offers an adventure in the Whitsundays like no other. Recently nominated for a Best of Queensland Experience, Cherene says Driftwood Tours benefits from her 30 plus years of experience and an official accreditation as a Savannah Guide and Eco Nature Guide. Driftwood Tours offers small group tours with a personal touch, built on a genuine connection and a deep love of the region’s history,
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Tourism Whitsundays new brand campaign, Naturally Iconic, is now in full swing. Built around the pillars of our unique natural icons and regional diversity, the campaign positions The Whitsundays as a destination that offers much more than beautiful backdrops. Created in collaboration with Simple (Adelaide) and dentsu Queensland, the campaign captures everything that makes The Whitsundays unforgettable - from reef to rainforest, island escapes to mainland adventures. It’s fresh, vibrant, and al
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Tucked away in a quiet corner, the well-loved Shingley Beach Resort has earned its reputation not just through its picturesque ocean views but by building decades of trust, family memories, and with continuous improvements. The resort, established in 2000, has been a favourite among returning guests, with many having first visited for weddings or honeymoons and now return for anniversaries. Generations of families have created traditions around staying here, turning it into a cherished home-awa
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Coral Sea Resort and Pavilion is thrilled to be nominated for the Best of Queensland Experience Awards as it's a true testament to the passion, dedication, and attention to detail the staff pour into every guest's stay, every dish served, and every special moment they help create. Ideally located on the waterfront in the heart of Airlie Beach, the Coral Sea Pavilion is a favourite for both locals and visitors alike. The restaurant prides itself on showcasing the best of the Whitsundays, with a
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For the first time in front of a public audience, the Grease vs Rocky Horror Ultimate Musical Mashup will be performing at the Airlie Beach Hotel. Expect well-known hits, audience participation at every turn, and a whole heap of fun! The show's co-creator Anita Spring has been a regular performer at the Airlie Beach Hotel for the last six years, but this time she is thrilled to perform a brand-new show. The Grease vs Rocky Horror has only had one private function performance before and this sh
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Following last years success Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) are excited to announce the guest speakers for their Legends Night. WSPN President Matt Stokes said the speakers this year will be inspirational and attendees will come away with pearls of wisdom and knowledge that may help themselves or someone they know is struggling. Legends: Nick Farr-Jones – Former Wallabies captain and rugby legend, Nick has gone on to become a highly successful businessman, serving on various boar
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The Summergarden Cinemas in Bowen was the venue for the monthly Tourism Whitsundays networking event in May. This is the oldest movie theatre in Queensland and has been operated by Ben DeLuca for more than 60 years. Ben said he was very happy to co-host the event, along with Bowen Tourism and Business. He said he was especially pleased to welcome some people for the first time. “Some people had never been to the Bowen theatre before, so it was great to see them here and to show them around,”
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As we wrap up our 2025 end-of-season presentation series, we highlight the swimmers whose dedication, consistency, and sportsmanship stood out over the entire year – along with the parents and volunteers whose efforts help keep the Cannonvale Cannons running strong. One of the most respected honours each year are the Trainers Awards, selected by our coaching team to recognise consistent effort and a positive attitude at training throughout the full 12 months of the season. Trainers Awards Jun
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We’re stoked to report that it’s been a great week in fishing, and that the weather conditions for the week ahead are looking stellar. Dam With the mornings and evenings being colder, barra fishing at the dam has continued to get slower. We have had reports of some being caught in the middle of the day when it’s warmest, with barra sunning themselves in the weed beds. Sight casting and top water lures are most effective here. Estuary Good numbers of mud crabs have been reported across the Leth
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As the final week of autumn wrapped up, club members had plenty to celebrate both on and off the green. The biggest news? The long-awaited cover installation is expected to take place after next weekend’s 16 Teams competition, organised by Margo Stanley. Tuesday saw a thrilling 22-all draw between Skippers Joan McGrath (with Greg Fennell at lead) and Tony Whitehorn (with Mel Fennell at lead). The overall winners were Regina Aquilina’s team, who clinched a 23–21 win with Mark Mawson and promisin
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There was no Vets competition last Tuesday, as 25 members headed off on a four-day golfing adventure to Yeppoon and Emu Park. The trip offered not only spectacular weather but also a welcome return of some much-needed run on the fairways. The hilly terrain proved a challenge compared to the flat Proserpine course, but spirits remained high. Standout performers of the week were Kath Borer and Larry Muller, both delivering consistent results across unfamiliar territory. Back home this week, a fie
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This week’s social bowls were played under perfect weather, with the cooler, drier conditions showcasing the excellent state of our grass greens thanks to consistent care. On Wednesday, Henny Tattam and Barry Zillmann defeated Alen Sanderson and Philip Brown 26–14, while John Anderson, Bruce Uhe and Mike Harrison edged out Trevor Parsons, Arthur Griffith and Heather Brown in a close 21–20 game. Sunday afternoon’s social bowls began later than usual due to Pennants, and we appreciated the patie
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Meet Zephyr! A sweet 3-year-old male Kelpie X who is small-to-medium in size, with a big heart and a gentle soul. He was saved from death row in Kowanyama and made an epic 1,279km journey to freedom! Zephyr loves nothing more than lounging on the couch, soaking up cuddles, and simply being near his people. Submissive by nature, he gets along beautifully with other dogs and thrives with company. He's fully toilet trained and doesn’t mark indoors – a true little gentleman. If you're looking for
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Last Friday at the Airlie Beach Foreshore, the 2025 Tour de Cure Australia Signature Tour launched with over 100 passionate riders clicking in their cleats to set off on their journey north. The event, broadcast nationally on Sunrise, not only shone a spotlight on an extraordinary cycling challenge but also on the Whitsundays as a vibrant community rallying behind a critical cause, the fight against cancer. Central to the occasion was a $10,000 donation to the Trudy Crowley Foundation. The fund
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Football - Whitsunday United FC Friday 6 June 6:00pm - Div 2 Men vs Country United FC at Whitsunday Sports Park 8:00pm - Div 1 Men vs Country United FC at Whitsunday Sports Park Saturday 7 June 9:30am - U13 FQPL vs Mackay Wanderers U13 FQPL Rubies at Mackay Football Park 9:30am - U14 vs Mackay Rangers FC U14 Gold at Whitsunday Sports Park 11:00am - U13 Div 1 vs Magpies FC at Mackay Football Park 11:15am - U15/16 vs Dolphins FC at Whitsunday Sports Park 5:00pm - U23 Men vs Magpies FC at Whitsund
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June 5 World Environment Day, Shute Harbour Marine Terminal, 3pm 5 Morning Melodies - From Stage to Screen, Proserpine Entertainment Centre, 11:00am 6 Queensland Day: Our Whitsunday Way, Proserpine Entertainment Centre (P.E.C), 4pm - 7.30pm 8 Bowen Community Markets, Hansen Park, from 8:00am 10 Sailability, Downstairs at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, Volunteers 8:00am-2:00pm & Sailors/Carers 9:00am-1:00pm, Bookings Required 10 Tech Help, Cannonvale Library, 2:00pm-3:45pm 11 Bowen Community
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Friday 6th June Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: Sam McCann (from 8pm) Saturday 7th June Airlie Beach Hotel: Meatloaf Tribute (2pm – 5.30pm) Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: DJ Night (from 8pm) Coral Sea Pavillion: (Live Music & DJ Session 1pm – 6pm) Sunday 8th June Airlie Beach Hotel: Meatloaf Tribute (2pm – 5.30pm) Airlie Beach Hotel: Matt Angell (6.30 – 9.30pm) Grand View Hotel: Sam McCann (4pm - 8pm) Coral Sea Pavillion: Chill A
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Whitsunday United junior and senior teams were in action over the weekend, delivering a mix of gritty performances, high-scoring wins, and signs of strong development across the board. U13 Division 1 Facing the undefeated Country United, the Under 13 Division 1 side showed significant improvement from their last encounter. A tightly contested first half saw both teams locked in a defensive stalemate until the dying seconds, when Country broke through with a long-range strike to lead 1-0 at the
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Cannonvalley Pony Club hosted a fantastic weekend of equestrian competition on 31 May and 1 June, featuring a full day of dressage followed by a day of combined training – a discipline comprising a dressage test and a jumping round. The event was fortunate to have beautiful weather, making for a safe and enjoyable competition. The hosting club was well represented, alongside riders travelling from across the Whitsundays, Mackay, and as far as Dysart, all vying for qualifiers or exposure ahead o
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Since 1995, IDEAL Placements has been a cornerstone of the Mackay and Whitsundays region, providing life-changing support to individuals on their journey to meaningful employment. What started as a small, grassroots initiative from a local family has grown into a trusted not-for-profit organisation that continues to make a real impact across regional Queensland. For three decades, IDEAL Placements has worked alongside participants, employers, and community partners to deliver personalised, prac
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What if sharing a slice of pizza could help save a life? That’s the idea behind Pizza for a Purpose, Grapevine Group’s much-loved annual fundraiser, which returns this June for its fourth year. Teaming up once again with Laffos Bar & Pizzeria, the campaign invites the Mackay community to enjoy a pizza or host a pizza party—all while raising awareness and funds for suicide prevention in the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions. The campaign kicks off with a family- friendly launch event at Laffos
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After years of early mornings, clinking buckets and the unmistakable sound of contented cows in the shed, Dale and Paula Fortescue of Eungelladale Dairy have made the bittersweet decision to bid farewell to milk production. The much-loved Eungella dairy, nestled in the picturesque Pioneer Valley, will soon transition into beef cattle production – a change driven by the mounting pressures facing dairy farmers across Queensland and the nation. “This decision hasn’t come lightly,” Dale shar
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The 2025 Charity Horse Ride and Bush Muster, hosted by Breakaway Horse Riders Mackay, was a powerful show of community spirit, purple pride and heartfelt purpose — with thousands of dollars raised in support of vital health causes including cancer research, heart disease research, and the Mackay Base Hospital Oncology Unit. More than 170 riders saddled up for the annual event, which this year shone a spotlight on pancreatic cancer awareness, honouring survivors like lunchtime speaker Greg
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With more than 10,300 registered small businesses in the Mackay region, the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce knows just how vital local operators are to the health of our economy. That’s why the Chamber continues to advocate strongly on behalf of small businesses – giving them a collective voice and greater visibility across the region and beyond. One of the simplest – and most enjoyable – ways to connect with other local businesses is through the Chamber’s popular B2B Brews, held fortni
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