Milestones

Press, 13 January 1987, Page 12

Milestones

Compiled by

Les Bloxham

The Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney, has long been a favourite with New Zealanders ■ keen to get away from it all and relax on a self-skippered clipper. These popular boats will be joined on the far-reaching waterway next month by a luxurious riverboat capable of exploring inland to riverside towns, historic places, and little-known valleys. The Lady Hawkesbury, built in Newcastle, will provide accommodation for 150 passengers in 12 staterooms, as well as double and twin-berth cabins. The vessel will be operated by Captain Cook Cruises, of Sydney.

More light mhy be shed on Port Arthur, the preserved remains of Tasmania’s grim penal colony past, to make it an even bigger tourist draw. A sound and light show to bring the Port Arthur prison ruins and history being considered;

A feasibility study has been commissioned by the Four Seasons accommodation chain and if the show goes ahead, the hotel chain will expand its Port Arthur motel facilities. » » » • Australian Customs has launched a campaign Resigned to assist visitors to Australia by speeding up passenger processing at international airports around the country. Details of the move, which will include a thorough examination and overhaul of current procedures, were announced in Canberra last month by the Comptroller General of Customs, Mr Tom Hayes. • • • • S.A.S. (Scandinavian Airlines System) has returned a massive profit of SNZ42OM for the year ending September 30. The airline carried U.7M passengers during the year, an increase of 9 percent.

S.A.S. gained 9 per cent of the total sales of European airlines and pro-, duced 40 per cent of their combined profits. The president of S.A.S., Mr Jan Carlzon, is optimistic about the future. “We are going to be strong enough in a deregulated market,” he said. “We saw free competition as a threat just three years ago. Now; step by step, we are turning it into an opportunity.” ♦ » * * Fine wining and dining is expected to be the most popular event in the annual 10-day Canberra Festival in March. The gourmet food and wine day, when the culinary delights of Canberra’s leading restaurants are offered in Commonwealth Park, usually attracts more than 100,090. The festival from March 7-16, will also include concerts, a Mardi Gras parade, an air show, and a line-up of free entertainment