Wish you were here

Corroboree West 2017 (Gold Coast and New South Wales)

Trip hosts:
Tourism Australia and Destination Gold Coast

Purpose of trip?
Educational

How many agents?

300 agents from the UK, Europe and the Americas

How long?
Five nights on the Gold Coast, plus five fights' fam trip

Agent:
Trisha Holden

Works for:
The Co-operative Personal Travel Advisors

Job title:
Personal travel advisor

Years in travel:
Over 30

What do you sell?

Tailor-made itineraries, long-haul weddings and honeymoons

The lowdown

Getting there

I have never flown with Singapore Airlines before, but I was impressed with the high standard of customer service provided by the staff at all times. They were polite, patient and understanding of travellers’ needs, and the food was excellent.

What did you think of the destination?

The Gold Coast was an excellent destination for CW17. It was cosmopolitan with something to offer every type of visitor, the beach was stunning and we even saw whales.

Trip itinerary

I arrived at The Star Gold Coast hotel at 5.30pm, which allowed me to take a walk to the beach and shopping area. The following morning we visited Sea Life and Gold Coast Watersports, where I went parasailing – it was amazing and the views were spectacular. In the afternoon, my group went to the SkyPoint Observation Deck to see the 360-degree panoramic view, which was very special. We also had afternoon tea, did a dot-painting class and got up close and personal with a koala.

What was the funniest moment of the trip?

We were at the Gold Coast Watersports park, sunbathing on the loungers and waiting for our turn to go parasailing, when I jumped out of my skin! Suddenly, the SpongeBob SquarePants song came blasting out of the loudspeakers and into the park came a six-foot SpongeBob. We burst into laughter.

Most enjoyable evening?

I really enjoyed the evening at the Burleigh Brewing Company brewery. The live band was superb and it was fun eating dishes from the food trucks – excellent vibes.

Biggest surprise?

The biggest surprise was the diversity of the country. Each Australian state has a different culture and experience, ranging from city breaks in Sydney or Melbourne to wine-tasting weekends in the Hunter Valley or Barossa Valley. Then there are wildlife excursions and Outback adventures in the Red Centre or The Kimberley region, plus wonderful beaches in a tropical climate and rich nature in Margaret River.

Do you feel more confident selling Australia?

I feel very privileged to have met 200 suppliers and more confident in preparing detailed itineraries that include areas of Australia that I hadn’t considered before. Corroboree has given me insight into the opportunities available to all types of client with different budgets.

Highlights reel

See the whole gallery of Corroboree West 2017 images here

See the whole gallery of Corroboree West 2017 images here