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Destination
Bunbury
The cosmopolitan city of Bunbury, just two hours drive south of Perth, is located on a spectacular peninsular surrounded by blue waters of the Indian Ocean, Koombana Bay and the Leschenault Inlet. A vibrant port city with a strong maritime history, Bunbury is now renowned for its quality lifestyle and unique blend of nature surrounds and top quality facilities.
Bunbury is home to over 100 bottlenose dolphins that reside in the calm waters of Koombanna Bay. Established as a place for people to interact with dolphins in their natural habitat, the Dolphin Discovery Centre offers distinctive shore and boat based experiences. Bunbury's other features also include Western Australia's southern-most mangroves, rare basaltic rock and nearby Tuart Forest. A colourful "cappuccino strip" of sidewalk cafes and a variety of waterside dining options offer numerous opportunities to taste the wonders of the local produce. These cafes and the award-winning restaurants and historic pubs ensure the atmosphere hums from dawn to dusk. Award winning wineries, fields of orchard trees in blossom, wildflowers, forests, national parks, beautiful waterways, historic towns, a wealth of art and craft, are just part of the experience. For golfers Bunbury offers three international courses and family activities include wildlife parks and a miniature train tour.
The entertainment and cultural capital of the south west, the Bunbury Entertainment Centre dazzles audiences with opera, drama and comedy from around the nation while Bunbury Regional Art Galleries hosts exhibitions of state and national significance. Contemporary public artworks scattered around the city together with nautically themed street scaping add to the cultural experience. Bunbury has accommodation ranging from four star resorts, award winning specialty accommodation, luxuriously appointed beachfront and city motels, enchanting bed and breakfasts, self-contained chalets and apartments in waterside and beach locations through to caravan, camping and backpacker facilities.
| The weather at this time of year is mild with day temperatures
ranging from 20-25 oC dropping to 7-14 oC at
night, with occasional showers (click
here
for the latest information).
The Bunbury Tourist Office can assist you with accommodation and tours, as well as showing the range of attractions.
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New! Bunbury Kidsfest - Saturday September 29, Sunday September 30 and Monday October 1, 2012, 9am-4pm daily!
Western Australia
Western Australia is one of the world’s major mining areas and 90% of it's economy is derived from the industry. This includes the mining of diamonds in the Kimberley’s, to iron ore throughout the Pilbara, to gold in the goldfields around Kalgoorlie, coal in Collie, bauxite in the Darling Scarp, and heavy minerals around Bunbury. There are also plenty of other mining operations mining a variety of other minerals, with uranium exploration a major new player.
Choosing Bunbury places the conference in close
proximity to Collie, the Darling Scarp and
the states main location for heavy mineral operations.
A range of mid conference tours and
post conference tours will provide delegates with opportunities
to see the range of water issues, opportunities and solutions
that the West Australian mining industry has developed.
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Australia
When he first came to Australia from a gloomy English winter, writer and comedian Stephen Fry commented: “It was like someone just turned on the colour” He was right of course; Australia is one of the most colourful countries in the world in so many ways. From the sub-tropical north, to the temperate south, the entire country is bathed in a warm sunshine that brings out its natural blues, reds and greens. It’s like holidaying in the brushstrokes of an impressionist’s painting.
Australia is a big country, similar in size to mainland USA and much bigger than all the countries of Western Europe. And it’s big on attractions too. A trip to Australia isn’t complete without experiencing its iconic and beautiful sites. There’s good reason why Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef is considered one of the natural wonders of the modern world – it’s just so beautiful. The northern tropical warmth brings out the surfer, diver, swimmer and yachtie to the blue, blue water – every day of the year. In Sydney, the impossibly stunning harbour has visitors constantly mesmerised. The city on its shores pulsates, as every international city should, but the atmosphere is relaxed and the sights are breathtaking. If you can’t find fun in Sydney, you won’t find it anywhere. The largest blanket of bright red dust imaginable, which covers most of the continent’s centre is weighed down and held in place by the magnificent Ayers Rock – an ancient and sacred aboriginal site smack in the centre of the country known as Uluru. The centrepiece of Australia’s Outback, the Rock, steeped in a unique spirit of the nation’s aboriginal cultural heritage is a must-see inclusion on anyone’s bucket list. A little further south, in the hills of South Australia’s temperate climes, wine is the only word. The famed and incredibly beautiful Barossa and Clare Valleys, Coonawarra, and McLaren Vale wine districts are a magnet to the sophisticated palate of any wine-lover. And Adelaide, with its more provincial architecture and style cuts a nice cloth on the nation’s food and wine table too.
The contrast between Western Australia’s capital – Perth, with its modern architecture and love affair with beaches and outdoors lifestyle, and the charm of our Apple Isle – Tasmania, is as strong as you could imagine. Tasmania is a microcosmic version of the rest of the country and a postcard sized snapshot of the prettiest parts of Europe. Mountains, lakes, valleys, more wine districts and beautiful cities fill the island and welcome tourists with open arms. And then there’s Melbourne of course. Classy, sophisticated, Australia’s second largest city is the country’s centre for sports, culture, theatre, food and wine, and fashion. Melbourne is the nation’s capital of so many different pursuits, knowing where to start exploring is your greatest challenge. Let yourself be surprised by Australia – it’s a land of contrasts and paradoxes. It’s beautiful yet rugged, sophisticated yet relaxed, stylish yet unpretentious, diverse yet united. And Australians? – They’re the most welcoming people in the world. They love their life, they love their country, and they love sharing it.
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