Australia Travel News 01/17/2011

From prestigious events to world-class cultural encounters and fabulous natural attractions, here are 12 compelling reasons to include Hamilton Island in an Australian itinerary in 2011:

Over the last three weeks, a combined area the size of France, Spain and Britain combined (or Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma for US readers) has been flooded in Australia’s north-eastern state of Queensland.

Tour operators in the state are saying that Queensland tourism may not be able to resist floods any further. Everyday number of calls from concerned tourists are increasing and many of these tourists are cancelling their trips.

New Zealand's new "100 per cent Pure You" tourism campaign has met with a frosty response across the ditch.

Having overtaken Americans to become the country's fourth-largest group of inbound holidaymakers, Chinese tourists are being touted as the future for an industry hit by the global financial crisis and the strong Australian dollar.

ALTHOUGH Socceroo Mark Schwarzer has called England home for 15 years, there is one part of northern hemisphere living the Sydney-born goalkeeper will never get used to the cold weather.

Aussie sprint legend Robbie McEwen believes new teammate Lance Armstrong is unlikely to waste any winning opportunities on what will be his cycling swansong this week.

A crocodile farmer from Rockhampton in central Queensland says people should keep an eye out for saltwater crocs in floodwaters.

Lightning has struck an aircraft carrying Premier Anna Bligh and Major-General Mick Slater, the man tasked with Queensland's massive flood recovery.

A TOURISM boss is launching a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Tourism Australia with claims the organisation stole his idea to bring Oprah Winfrey Down Under.