Newport Apartments, Mooloolaba waterfront views and hospitality

by Jeni Bone on 10 Aug 2010 Founding sponsor for the past 14 years of the Etchells Australasian Winter Championships at Mooloolaba, and excellent vantage point to enjoy uninterrupted views of the venue, Newport Apartments Mooloolaba looks forward to the 'annual northern migration' of the sailing fraternity.

'We are long time supporters of the Mid-Winter series, then as tehe winter continues. we are overrun, in a good way, this time of year,' says manager, Bernie Sullivan, who has welcomed sailors, media and their families from the south on their annual trek to Hamilton Island. 'They're as regular as the whales!'

Joking aside, the Etchells crowd is an important renue stream for the establishment and for the town.

'It has become a must-attend event,' says Bernie, referring to the June long weekend meet. 'We see between 300 and 400 people at the Wharf Tavern each night during the competition for the presentations.'

An ideally situated port, one of the safest on the east coast, Mooloolaba has natural and man-made attractions that appeal to sailors and tourists of every variety.

'This time of year, mid-winter, is usually perfect - sunshine every day, mild weather and good winds,' says Bernie. 'Mooloolaba is ideal to host a sailing event as there are many, varied places you can lay a course, depending on the conditions, and lots of sheltered bays. The only thing we can't help with is when the wind doesn't blow at all.'

In which case, Bernie assures us, there are 47 licensed premises close to town that offer cameraderie and an assortment of refreshments on lay days.

For Newport Apartments, events such as Etchells each year are an excellent means of luring visitors back with the promises of holiday attractions like whales, diving, pristine beaches, Fraser Island nearby, Australia Zoo, the Big Pineapple, Underwater World, a host of hinterland towns to explore, National Parks and amazing cruising grounds all within half an hour.

From its position right on The Spit, the 15-storey building offers great views over the water, as well as all the delights of The Esplanade below with its host of shopping, alfresco dining and walking options.

'Our apartments are perfectly located for the sailing crowd, as they only have to walk 200m from where they're staying and their on their boats.'

Continues Bernie: 'The Etchells community are a lovely bunch. They are nice people and the boating fraternity turns out in force to support them and dedicate time to the event. The weekend really puts Mooloolaba on the map.'

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Also shining the international spotlight on this relaxed Sunshine Coast holiday destination, was Jessica Watson's return to her home port.

'There was a huge number of people lining the shores to cheer her on and welcome her home, all dressed in pink,' Bernie recounts. 'We must have had 40,000 people gathered to see Jessica come in. It was amazing and has had a great spin off in the form of younger age groups flocking to the learn to sail groups locally. They're really getting in to it.'

Mooloolaba is an all-weather port, famous for the Mooloolaba Prawn and boasting incredible seafood. Mooloolaba harbour is home to the largest trawling and fishing fleet on the east coast of Australia. Mooloolaba is the finishing point for blue-water sailing races from both Sydney and Auckland. Mooloolaba Harbour offers a safe anchorage with international standard marinas and is a favourite anchorage for ocean cruisers, sailing yachts and game fishing fleets.

Newport Mooloolaba apartments offer affordable, stylish holiday accommodation, including studio suites, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom fully self-contained apartments with AC and fans, and all offer north-facing, sun-drenched balconies, as well as network and Cable TV and high-speed broadband internet access.

There's a heated pool, spa and sauna, BBQ facilities and views, views, views - just one hour north of Brisbane Airport and 10 minutes south of the Sunshine Coast Domestic Airport.

In 2011, the Etchells Australasian Mid-Winter Championships will be held 9-12 June.

More at http://www.newportmooloolaba.com.au/