Aussie Snaps Win Prizes For Eight Kiwis

Thanks to their adventurous holidays across the Tasman, eight New Zealanders have just been selected as winners in Tourism Australia's nationwide photo challenge.

The winning entry in Tourism Australia's nationwide photo challenge, taken by Invercargill's Belinda Mulvany while travelling the Birdsville Track with her husband -- cycling from South Australia to Queensland.

Among the eight winners, selected from designated regions across New Zealand, Belinda Mulvany from Invercargill has also been awarded the national prize -- an Australian holiday for two to the value of NZ$8,000, including economy--class airfares on Qantas.

By sending in their favourite Australian holiday snapshots between May and the end of July this year, all Kiwis had the chance to win one of eight Canon digital video cameras and the dream holiday.

Mrs Mulvany's winning photo was captured when she and her husband travelled the Birdsville Track by bike, cycling over 514 kilometres from South Australia to Queensland via the Outback.

"We attempted the journey twice before finally passing through the rain squall and making it all the way to Mt Isa in Queensland," says Mrs Mulvany. "Having travelled around the east of the country, we'd love to experience Western Australia, so we're really excited that we can plan a new holiday."

Commending the quality of entries, competition judges -- travel show presenter Dean Cornish and travel photographer Kevin Emirali -- said selecting the overall winner was a tough task. However, Mrs Mulvany's snapshot earned the top prize because it stood out as depicting a uniquely Australian holiday experience that would entice other Kiwis to travel there.

Tourism Australia's Regional Manager, Karen Priest, says entries have illustrated just how much Kiwis enjoy holidaying in Australia, whilst travelling widely across the country to discover what makes it so special.

"Photo entries ranged from camel trekking and hot air ballooning, to rock climbing and outback camping, signifying how adventurous Kiwis are when travelling," says Ms Priest. "This competition has helped people think differently about holidays on offer in Australia, and encouraged them to return and explore the country further."

The eight regional winners, whose photos can be viewed at http://www.australia.com from 23 August 2004, are as follows: Northland/Auckland -- Trevor Knox from Red Beach; Waikato/Bay of Plenty -- Margaret Bryant from Hamilton; Gisborne/Hawke's Bay -- Paul van Leuven from Waipukurau; Taranaki/Manawatu/Wanganui -- Adam Cowan from Palmerston North; Wairarapa/Wellington -- Philip Rickerby from Upper Hutt; Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast -- Peter Wise from Nelson; Canterbury -- Wal Cattermole from Christchurch; Otago/Southland -- Belinda Mulvany from Invercargill.

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