Northern Territory Muster 2008 Celebrates 10th Anniversary

It was standing room only as more than 300 agents from Greater Sydney gathered at the Museum of Contemporary Art last week for the NT Muster 2008 Roadshow.

The annual event which was held this year in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane attracted more than 700 travel industry personnel.

Around 40 operators from or representatives of Northern Territory tourism enterprises participated in the roadshow to provide details of new products and services, infrastructure upgrades and expansions and new tourism brochures and literature.

[Pictured left: Northern Territory ‘shared its success story’ with enthused agents at the NT Muster 2008 in Sydney last week.]

In May, the Territory Wildlife Park, 45 minutes from Darwin’s CBD, will begin a 3 hour Twilight Tour, said Tegan Christophersen, Marketing and Commercial Services Officer, Dept of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, Northern Territory Government.

Aimed at small groups, the tour starts with an Aussie BBQ and concludes in the Nocturnal House.

Unique in the Top End, the 1000 acre wildlife park only features endemic species in monsoon, forest and wetlands settings, she said.

Around 80 per cent of our business comes from the domestic market. Australians on self drive holidays predominate as they find the park complements Kakadu and Litchfield, she added.

A number of hotels are new or set to open soon in the territory including the Quest Hotel in Alice Springs and the 4 ½ star Saville Park Suites in Darwin.

There’s also much anticipation leading to the opening of the Darwin Convention Centre (DCC) in July.  A Vive Hotel and a Medina Hotel are planned to open next year near the DCC.

In 2008, Aussie Adventure has introduced a new two day safari to Litchfield.  Inclusions are a billabong cruise, a visit to a working cattle station and an Aboriginal guide for a portion of the tour.

Back in Alice Springs, a new tour with indigenous content is proving to be very popular, said Letelia Polychronopoulos, Marketing Manager, Tourism Central Australia.

The daily tour features an indigenous elder who takes small group tours to sacred sites, she said.

[Pictured right: The Darwin Convention Centre will seat 1500 in the Plenary Hall and 4000 in the Exhibition Hall.]

The Alice Springs Masters Games featuring thousands of mature age people taking part in more than 30 sports is set to be held in the city from October 11 – 18.  See www.alicespringsmasters.nt.gov.au

Crocosaurus Cove, Darwin’s’ newest tourist attraction opens in June.  Dedicated to everything that is crocodile related, “seven enormous adult crocodiles will be on display in specially designed tanks”.  Visitors will be able to see nests, hatchlings and yearlings.

As well there will be an exhibit of more than 65 reptiles from Northern Australia and a culture and history display of the traditional landowners of Darwin, the Larrakia Nation.

One of the largest promotions of Darwin and Northern Australia in general will come as a result of a mega movie currently in production.

“Australia” is set to generate significant domestic and worldwide interest in the territory after the epic is premiered in November.

Exclusive Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMole’s Travel and Lifestyle Editor