Over the next few weeks car number plates from the southern states will become more noticeable here in Hervey Bay as the low temperatures in the southern states encourage people to come north for the winter.

Despite the influx of people from the south the State Government wants even more. Now Queensland’s legendary winter warmth will be the focus of a new events campaign designed to lure tourists from colder climes.

Premier Peter Beattie said the $500,000 campaign would tempt freezing southerners and New Zealanders to head to Queensland for a warm winter welcome.

Margaret Keech the Tourism Minister annouced today that the campaign will comprise inserts in major daily newspapers in Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand. It will also leverage off Brisbane Marketing activity in the southern capitals around the same time.

“The campaign will commence in late May which signifies the beginning of our beautiful winter months and many key events such as the Brisbane Festival, The Dreaming Indigenous Festival and the Noosa Long Weekend are programmed during that time,” she said.

The weeks between the end of the school holidays and Easter are usually a time when tourist numbers decline and everyone can take a breather. However, this year seems to be a little different.

Several weeks ago a major tourism campaign for the Fraser Coast was launched in the southern states and it seems to be paying off. Several times over the last week or so there have been motels along the Esplanade displaying no vacancy signs and occupancy rates at the resorts around Boat Harbour seem to be up as well.

A little bird tells me that Cafe Balena – down at the Boat Harbour – has been swamped day after day with patrons for breakfast.

Several cruise boats have been seen leaving Boat Harbour too and rumour has it that Kingfisher Bay Resort is running the cruises out into the bay.

The whale season might have finished but the tourists are still coming to Hervey Bay.

A drive along the Esplanade early yesterday evening showed most motels and resorts displaying ‘No Vacancy’ signs and all the restaurants, cafes and food outlets were packed.

Even our favourite fish shop down at Shelley Beach was packed … but we had our favourite dining spot at Shelley Beach to ourselves.