Destinations: Innsbruck, Whitehaven Beach, Singapore and Tenerife

Pristine Whitehaven Beach in Queensland's Whitsundays region.

• Geoff Harrison chats with Innsbruck, Austria tourism officer Nicholas Brukkdrucker.
• Host Ren Zwiers visits pristine Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays region of Queensland, Australia with 'World's Greatest Job' winner and adventurer Ben Southall.
• Host of California-based Around the World, Arthur von Wiesenberger sends an audio postcard from Singapore, visiting many of the city's attractions, including the historic Raffles Hotel.
• Geoff Harrison concludes this week's program by interviewing Rafael Delado and Pia Loau, who promote tourism to Tenerife.

Amsterdam, Tasmania, Austria, New Orleans and Bermuda Triangle

• Geoff Harrison has a fun night at Peter Beense Music Cafe in Amsterdam.
• The island state of Tasmania gets very active in the Australian summer months. Host Ren Zwiers has details of what's lined up for visitors and locals alike.
• Frances Beasley has details of Austria's top cities.
• David Gordon from Travelbites Radio visits the Praline Connection in New Orleans.
• Around the World TV/Radio hosts Arthur von Wiesenberger and Martha Bull chat with US author Thom Fillinger about his book on the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle.

Travel Bag, Wolfgangsee and Werribee Zoo

Host Ren Zwiers with reporters John Crook and Frances Beasley present 'Travel Bag' (an update of current and forthcoming events); a visit to Wolfgangsee, Austria and an interview with Tom Grech at Werribee Zoo (Victoria, Australia).
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Whitsundays, Innsbruck and Philip Island

The latest edition of our travel podcast features a variety in destinations. Firstly, I present the latest updates on what's happening in the Whitsundays region of Queensland. Our European reporter Frances Beasley then visits Innsbruck (Austria). Thirdly, our intrepid Australian contributor, John Crook travels to Philip Island (Victoria) where he chats with tourism officer Kim Storey and calls in at a chocolate factory run by a colourful character.

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Vale: Warren Atkinson

We sadly announce the sudden passing last weekend of our travel radio show's voice-over announcer, Warren Atkinson. The breakfast show host at 99.7FM, Redcliffe was a much loved local radio personality with a golden voice and a great sense of wry humour. We will keep using his voice-over intros etc on the show for the time being, thus keeping the memory of our dear friend alive. 'Wazza' - may you rest in peace!

On this week's travel radio show and podcast Frances Beasley highlights the country of Austria. Ren Zwiers has the lowdown on average hotel rates in European ‘hot spots’. Arthur von Wiesenberger chats with Max Hartshorne of gonomad.com about his trip to The Azores. John Crook goes on an historic discovery tour of Hobart (Tasmania) with Elizabeth Fleetwood. Listen to the podcast by clicking this link

Classical music drawcards to Austria for 2009

In 2009, Austria will be a drawcard for classical music lovers with Haydn Year 2009 and fans of modern art with the city of Linz announced European Capital of Culture 2009.

Haydn Year 2009
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Joseph Haydn’s death an important commemoration year will be celebrated and a rich program of concerts, opera performances and exhibitions will be staged at places where Haydn used to live and work.

Joseph Haydn was a choir boy at Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral, worked as Kapellmeister and court musician for the Hungarian Princes of Esterházy at Esterházy Palace for more than 30 years, was a regular guest of the House of Esterházy in Sopron, was awarded an honorary doctor’s degree in Oxford and spent the last nineteen years of his life in Vienna, where he died on May 31, 1809.

The Father of classical symphonies and string quartets produced more than 1,200 works, among them 107 symphonies, 14 masses, oratorios, solo concerts, chamber music, piano music and vocal works. He was a fatherly friend to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and counted Ludwig van Beethoven amongst his students.

Vienna is planning no less than 1,500 events during Haydn Year 2009. A must-see is Haydn House, the composer’s residence for 12 years. It will reopen on January 29, 2009 with an exhibition about its famous landlord. Haydn House will be the stage for a three-day celebration around the bicentenary of his death on 31st May, where the garden will be open to the public and the composer’s works will be performed at a number of concerts.

Other highlights include Haydn masses with the Vienna Boys’ Choir on nine Sundays between January 4 and 21st June 21, 2009 at the Hofburg and special concerts with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Further afield, the picturesque baroque town of Eisenstadt, just 50 km south of Vienna, will also join the celebrations with concerts throughout the year and a special exhibition in four different Haydn locations including Esterhazy Palace from 31st March to 11th November 2009. This will make a great day trip from Vienna, not just for Haydn lovers.

The works of Joseph Haydn will likewise be the focus in the province of Lower Austria. 'The 6th Haydn Days' will take place at Rohrau, where Haydn was born and numerous exhibits documenting the composer’s life will be displayed at Haydn’s birthplace, a straw-covered farm house. Joseph Haydn will also be the focus of the International Baroque Days at Melk Abbey. On May 31, the Melk parish church will honour the master with a chamber concert featuring the ensemble “Ricreation d’Arcadia”.

Linz, European Capital of Culture 2009
The city of Linz, probably best known as a hub for Danube cruises and for its Linzer Torte, will transform into the European Capital of Culture in 2009. In recent times, Linz has undergone a transformation into a pulsating city where futuristic architecture complements historic landmarks, where modern art meets the classics. The concept of the European Capital of Culture is to showcase European diversity through a wide array of events, creative input and involvement of its visitors. This makes Linz the perfect host city!

Linz 2009 kicks off with a three-day opening festival and continues with events covering all aspects of music, art and culture. A virtual telematic project and shadow theatre are as much part of Linz 2009 as are literary events, exhibitions and a traditional New Year’s Eve concert. Visitors can experience accommodation with a twist in the Pixelhotel.

Astrid Mulholland-Licht, Director of the Austrian National Tourist Office for Australia/New Zealand suggests that “visitors to Austria should plan an extra couple of days to take in the Haydn celebrations in and around Vienna or to discover the vibrant and culturally stimulating city of Linz. Haydn and Linz 2009 offer so many different cultural aspects that would appeal to both first-time and repeat visitors to Austria. Take time out to join the party and celebrate with us!” she said.

-Austrian Tourism Office

Chance to win a dream holiday in Austria

With a life-size replica of Schönbrunn Palace (pictured), the Johann Strauss Orchestra, the Imperial Ballet, Viennese Debutants, two ice rinks and fountains - Andre Rieu captivates hundreds of thousands Australian fans during his current world tour through Australia.

The audience is swinging and waltzing to 'Voices of Spring' and 'Blue Danube' and is just fascinated by the impulsive world record breaking performance on stage.

The Austrian National Tourist Office is offering two ways for fans to see the original Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna - where Andre Rieu got inspired for his grandiose world tour 'A Romantic Vienna Night'.

Here's what you can win: experience the romance of Vienna, in a trip for two flying business class with multi award winning Emirates. Further enjoy a limousine service to the Vienna Marriott Hotel, where the heart beats in Vienna and stay seven romantic nights in a luxurious Park Suite - with red roses, sparkling wine and strawberries, a candlelight dinner and champagne breakfast. Visit the website of the Austrian National Tourist office www.austria.info/au to enter the draw for that incredible prize.

For people who do not want to leave their Viennese experience to chance…Tempo Holidays and the Austrian National Tourist Office are offering free tickets to a 'Strauss & Mozart Concert' at Schönbrunn Palace for every Austrian package booked with Tempo Holidays.

Experience Andre Rieu’s most loved city and stay three nights or more and receive free concert tickets at the captivating Schönbrunn Palace. Contact your travel agent for further details.

-Austrian National Tourist Office

Taler takes the largest silver coin title

There is great excitement in Hall in Tirol (Austria) as the public awaits the launch of the largest silver coin in the world.

The hitherto unseen rear of the Europe Taler has been revealed on the occasion of the 2008 European Championship of Football in Austria and Switzerland. The verso of the coin, which weighs exactly 20.08kg, with a diameter of 36cm, portrays important personalities from the last 500 years in European history.

Famous people from history adorn the individual hexagons which resemble the pattern of a football.

The historical theme begins with Martin Luther, whose posting of 95 theses and his translation of the bible in the 16th century symbolised the transformation from the Middle Ages to modern times.

The works of Antonio Vivaldi, one of the greatest composers of the 17th century, stand for the significance of European cultural life.

Representing the inventors is James Watt, creator of the first steam engine in the 18th century.

The greatest upheavals in Europe have included continuous attempts to civilise countless wars on the continent and to replace them with pacifist politics.

Although this objective was a long way from being achieved at the time, the Nobel Peace prize winner, Bertha von Suttner, was one of the first exponents of this development in the 19th century. Sustained peace and economic progress only arrived in Europe in the second half of the 20th century after the catastrophe of two world wars.

The process of European unification emerged as the most sustainable means of ensuring long-term peace. These scenes are linked with the help of the Hall Mint Tower, which provides both a starting point and an insight into the future.

The Mint produces stars as symbols of European unity which lead on into the European future of the 21st century.

The front side of the coin pays homage to the last five centuries. 500 years ago in Trient, Kaiser Maximilian I. crowned himself Emperor and by way of proclamation a propaganda coin was issued by the Mint in Hall.

The silver coin heralded the ruler as the "King of all the lands in Europe”. The inscription also included the word “Europe” for the first time.

"The front side shows the same coin with Kaiser Maximilian I. on horseback”, explained Bettina Haas, Managing Director of the Hall-Wattens Tourist Board, which initiated the project in conjunction with the Mint in Hall and the Austrian Mint.

Whilst the world’s largest silver coin will soon be on display to visitors from all over the world in the Hall Mint Museum, collectors can also look forward to “small", exact replicas of the Europe Taler 2008, 120 grams of fine silver with a diameter of 6cm which have been minted especially for sale in 2008.

More information can be found at www.europataler.at.