17 August, 2011
Media Personality Clarke Gayford Dives into Queensland ‘My Kind of Place’: Saturday 20 August, TV1, 7.30pm
Radio broadcaster Clarke Gayford this week dives into all that is sun and fun in the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday
Islands in Northern Queensland. As temperatures plummet in New Zealand, viewers can bask in half an hour of sunshine as
Clarke takes his audience to the Sunshine State.
Starting with fun and games, which includes a daring but decent attempt at the trapeze at Club Med Lindeman Island,
Clarke then sets his course for the Great Barrier Reef. A self confessed ‘water baby’ with a love of the ocean,
‘Gisbornite’ Clarke dives head first into what he describes as some of the best snorkelling in the world, amid the warm
tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
Marine fans will not be left wanting for some great, and wonderfully accessible underwater action, fish life and
interview with a resident marine biologist. Clarke tops off his Great Barrier Reef experience with an overnight stay on
a pontoon known as ‘Reefworld’ which bobs out in the ocean 70kms from shore. Clarke describes “watching the sun set
into, and then out of the ocean while floating 70kms out to sea on a pontoon an experience that will stay with him for a
very long time.”
Back on land, albeit an island, Clarke explores Hamilton Island and gets up close and personal with ‘Baby Oprah’ the
koala who he describes as a “bundle of cute.” The return to Hamilton Island was something of a cathartic exercise for
Clarke, who was runner up to the global ‘Best Job in the World’ competition, but he concludes that being a visitor to
the region is pretty good too.
Imagination Television’s Creative Director, Darryl McEwen says the beauty of My Kind of Place is that each episode has a
life of its own, which means there is something for everyone, be it food and wine, nature, coastal experiences and
journeys.”
Tourism Australia New Zealand General Manager, Jenny Aitken says “With just over a million Kiwis visiting Australia each
year and 92 percent returning for more of their favourite holiday destination, My Kind of Place goes a long way to sating the huge appetite Kiwis have for exciting and new Aussie holiday experiences that are unique,
authentic and accessible. My Kind of Place aims to deliver this in a way that entertains, informs and inspires.”
Other major partners include Air New Zealand and Air New Zealand Holidays who each week offer packages for Kiwis to “see
for themselves why this place is their kind of place.”
In the coming weeks, New Zealand viewers can also enjoy the company of some of their favourite television personalities,
with MasterChef New Zealand judge Josh Emett riding high in North East Victoria, Antonia Prebble glamping out west, Lisa
Chappell returning to South Australia for a memorable sojourn down the Murray River and Teresa Healey striding out on
Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.
New Zealand is Australia’s largest inbound market for visitor arrivals. 1,161,800 Kiwis visited Australia during 2010
(up 5% on 2009), spending more than $2 billion. Tourism Australia believes that the New Zealand market has the potential
to grow to between $3.4 billion and $4.2 billion in total expenditure by 2020.
ENDS