Eat, drink and be merry at Noosa

When the Sunshine Coast tourism capital of Noosa organises a long weekend it doesn't just mean three days of relaxing at the beach.

This year's Noosa Long Weekend will actually last 10 days - from June 17 to 26 - and has a hectic programme embracing more than 60 official activities plus a host of fringe events.

The festival was launched four years ago to celebrate the things for which Noosa is best known: the environment, the arts, and food and wine.

The result is a unique combination.

"This event is distinguished from Australia's metropolitan festival by its reliance only on Australians, by its magnificent location and by the wonderful restaurants in Noosa," says festival president, author Kristin Williamson.

"It provides the Noosa community and visitors with the opportunity of being somewhere beautiful to experience something interesting; celebrating the nation's artistic achievements; bringing perspective and understanding to our attitudes, prejudices and behaviour; and having a good time."

Many of the activities combine more than one of the festival themes.

For instance, the Noosa Longweekend gala dinner features a Beethoven performance by pianist Gerard Willems followed by a six-course degustation dinner, each course prepared by a different chef, accompanied by matching wines.

There will also be a chamber music dinner, a slow-food barbecue at the Noosa Regional Art Gallery, a supper showing of the 12 best short films entered in the festival film competition, a dinner tribute to local playwright David Williamson with excerpts from his works, a supper meeting with Bryce Courtenay, author The Power of One, and a progressive dinner along Sunshine Beach with entertainment from several bands.

Food is also involved in the environmental programme through a breakfast meeting with environmentalist Tim Flannery, author of the best-selling Future Eaters.

The arts and the environment will mix it up in an outdoor sculptural event.

Twenty artists will build sculptures in Noosa Woods, using only materials found on the site - sticks, stones, grass, sand - which will then be left on display until they fade.

Other events include:

Environment and town heritage walks.
A performance of David Williamson's new play, Operator, which The Australian described as "a finely crafted plot from a master".
A teddy bears' picnic in the woods with lots of storytellers.
A farmers' market showcasing local foods.
A festival of Italian foods prepared by three award-winning chefs.
A performance of Dvorak's concert opera The Phantom Bride. 

Further information:

Full details of the festival are at www.noosalongweekend.com or phone 0064 7 5442 4546.
Further information about Noosa is at www.tourismnoosa.com.au, phone 0064 7 5474 3700 or PO Box 581, Noosa heads, Queensland 4567, Australia.

Win a weekend in Noosa

Fancy a holiday for two at the Noosa Long Weekend?
Tourism Noosa is providing the chance for two readers of Herald Travel to attend the event.

Their prize package includes:

* Return airfares for two from Auckland plus transfers to Noosa.
* Three nights accommodation at Las Rias Apartments, a luxury resort on the water's edge at Noosa Sound, central to the village's cafes and boutiques. For more information on Las Rias Apartments visit www.lasrias.com.au or call 0061 7 5447 2799.
* Two tickets to the official opening of Noosa Long Weekend on the evening of Friday, June 17. This will include a fireworks display, a performance by Australia's leading lady of theatre music, Marina Prior, dance and film.
* Two tickets to Operator, a new play by festival patron David Williamson, arguably Australia's most popular playwright.
* Two tickets to one of the long weekend's breakfast discussions featuring environmentalist Tim Flannery, author of the bestselling book Future Eaters.
* Two tickets to a David Williamson tribute dinner, a four-course meal at Berardo's restaurant, during which excerpts from several of his plays will be performed.
The package covers June 17-20 but the winner may extend at their own expense.
To be in to win simply write on the back of an envelope the name of the sunny strip of Queensland Coast of which Noosa is part.

Post it to:

Noosa Long Weekend,
NZ Herald,
PO Box 3290, Auckland.

The competition closes at noon on Wednesday, June 1 and the result will be published in Travel on June 7.