Published Monday, 30 June, 2008 at 05:40 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Bus brings whole new meaning to “big as a whale” term
The term “as big as a whale” will take on a whole new meaning for one Brisbane City Council bus next week when it becomes the life-size representation of a humpback whale.
As part of a Tourism Queensland promotion to announce the 2008 Hervey Bay whale watching season, a Brisbane CBD bus will become a moving promotion as it is fully wrapped in the image of a humpback whale.
Premier Anna Bligh said the “whale bus” would spend 12 weeks travelling the Brisbane CBD city loop as part of a $300,000 cooperative campaign between Tourism Queensland, Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism, Fraser Coast Regional Council and industry to promote the Hervey Bay whale watching season.
“Around 8000 whales travel along the east coast of Australia each year and an estimated third of these enter Hervey Bay,” Ms Bligh said.
“The whales love the bay’s sheltered waters, particularly when they have calves travelling with them. Hervey Bay is the birthplace of Queensland’s professional whale watching industry and has a range of quality operators that offer fantastic trips in what are some of the best whale-watching conditions in the world.”
“The whale bus will be constantly on the road during the day in Brisbane’s highest visibility area.
“As the bus travels the city circle route it will be on show to thousands of pedestrians, CBD workers, shoppers and drivers for 12 weeks,” Ms Boyle said.
“The 11.5 metre long bus is around the same size as an adult humpback and until you actually see one of these magnificent creatures up close, you don’t realise just how big they are.”
“Coming face-to-face with a living creature that size is an awe-inspiring experience guaranteed to stay with you forever and there are many whale-watchers who go back time and again.”
Ms Bligh said in addition to the ‘whale bus’ the whale-watching campaign includes billboards in high-traffic positions around Brisbane, 200,000 Hervey Bay whale season brochures inserted in Brisbane and Sunshine Coast press, radio and television advertising and a dedicated website www.whalesherveybay.com.au.
“For the first time this year, from mid-July the whale watching website will include updated reports on whale watching conditions, sightings and photos from local operators during the season, which runs from July until early November,” Ms Boyle said.
“Humpback whales are some of the world’s most magnificent creatures and we are fortunate that they choose Hervey Bay as one of their favourite spots to stop off as they travel the long journey north each year.
Media contact: premier’s Office 3224 4500
As part of a Tourism Queensland promotion to announce the 2008 Hervey Bay whale watching season, a Brisbane CBD bus will become a moving promotion as it is fully wrapped in the image of a humpback whale.
Premier Anna Bligh said the “whale bus” would spend 12 weeks travelling the Brisbane CBD city loop as part of a $300,000 cooperative campaign between Tourism Queensland, Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism, Fraser Coast Regional Council and industry to promote the Hervey Bay whale watching season.
“Around 8000 whales travel along the east coast of Australia each year and an estimated third of these enter Hervey Bay,” Ms Bligh said.
“The whales love the bay’s sheltered waters, particularly when they have calves travelling with them. Hervey Bay is the birthplace of Queensland’s professional whale watching industry and has a range of quality operators that offer fantastic trips in what are some of the best whale-watching conditions in the world.”
“The whale bus will be constantly on the road during the day in Brisbane’s highest visibility area.
“As the bus travels the city circle route it will be on show to thousands of pedestrians, CBD workers, shoppers and drivers for 12 weeks,” Ms Boyle said.
“The 11.5 metre long bus is around the same size as an adult humpback and until you actually see one of these magnificent creatures up close, you don’t realise just how big they are.”
“Coming face-to-face with a living creature that size is an awe-inspiring experience guaranteed to stay with you forever and there are many whale-watchers who go back time and again.”
Ms Bligh said in addition to the ‘whale bus’ the whale-watching campaign includes billboards in high-traffic positions around Brisbane, 200,000 Hervey Bay whale season brochures inserted in Brisbane and Sunshine Coast press, radio and television advertising and a dedicated website www.whalesherveybay.com.au.
“For the first time this year, from mid-July the whale watching website will include updated reports on whale watching conditions, sightings and photos from local operators during the season, which runs from July until early November,” Ms Boyle said.
“Humpback whales are some of the world’s most magnificent creatures and we are fortunate that they choose Hervey Bay as one of their favourite spots to stop off as they travel the long journey north each year.
Media contact: premier’s Office 3224 4500