TravelEssence feels the ‘essence’ of the Capricorn Coast, Southern Great Barrier Reef
Posted on November 26th, 2024
Launched in the Netherlands in 2006 by New Zealander Andrew Morten, TravelEssence is an independent, owner-managed Australia and New Zealand travel specialist in the Netherlands, across Europe, Germany and the UK. Capricorn Enterprise and our incredible operators were thrilled to recently host Andrew and his videographer Frits Marchand to the Capricorn Coast, Southern Great Barrier Reef as part of their Queensland visit to film destinations and accommodation hosts as part of their specialist marketing to their guests. Local filming included High Valley Dawn Permaculture Farm, Castle Rock Farm Byfield, Great Keppel Island/Freedom Fast Cats and Hedlow Retreat.
Andrew said of his visit “It showed me that there are three flavours of Australia within 30 minutes drive from each other”, referencing the diversity of farmstays, rainforest, permaculture unique/boutique accommodation with islands/reef experiences within a very short distance here in the Capricorn Coast region with an easily accessible airport in Rockhampton to offer Southern Great Barrier Reef and south to Brisbane itineraries as an all year round option.
The following week, one of the company’s most experienced travel experts, Gerrie Willemsen visited the Southern Great Barrier Reef destination after New Zealand and Fiji in a six week work and holiday educational, following our invitation at last year’s Marketplace Europe/UK. It was a first time visit to the Southern Great Barrier Reef by Gerrie and her travel partner Gerard Schuurman (famil co-ordinated by Capricorn Enterprise), flying into Bundaberg from Brisbane (visiting Lady Elliot Island, Splitters Farm, Macadamias Australia, Mon Repos Turtle Encounters), then driving to the Town of 1770/Agnes Water (1770 LARC! Tours, Boardwalk Tour 1770 Travellers Rest, 1770 Beach Shacks), then onto the Capricorn Coast for five nights and flying out of Rockhampton back to Brisbane and home to Europe. Sincere thanks to our incredible unique and boutique operators on the Capricorn Coast including Hedlow Retreat, High Valley Dawn Permaculture Farm, Great Keppel Island Hideaway, Castle Rock Farm as well as Oshen Yeppoon for hosting two nights; incredible experiences at the Capricorn Caves, Koorana Crocodile Farm, Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary, Yeppoon Lagoon; tasty meals at Beaches Restaurant, the Waterline Restaurant, Ofishal, Byfield Café; and to our wonderful hosts and story tellers with whom they absolutely loved meeting. Gerrie was absolutely wowed by her visit, even the Alliance Fokker aircraft (see picture) and the impressive Rockhampton Regional Airport upon her departure!
