After discussions Cairns, Queensland has been chosen for Oz Fest 20. Oz Fest 06 (2009) was held in Cairns, after the first 2 Oz Fest’s were held in Sydney followed by Brisbane, Melbourne and then Hobart. We repeat the sequence. For Oz Fest 06 CNS (2009) 59 attended. Given the good weather location we expect a similar tally.

There have been 19 successful Oz Fests so far - in Sydney (3 times), Brisbane (2 times), Melbourne (2007 & 2022), Hobart (2008 & 2023), Cairns, Adelaide, Darwin, Canberra, Perth, Alice Springs-Ayers Rock/Uluru , New Zealand, Gold Coast, Newcastle & Noosa QLD.

Australia fully opened to the world following the pandemic in February 2022. With travel restrictions fully eased and more airlines operating 35 attended Oz Fest 19 (2023) in Hobart. For Oz Fest 19, 26 had attended a previous Oz Fest and 9 attended for the first time 11 of the 35 had attended Oz Fest 05 (2008) in Hobart. Some had problems with flights to/from HBA, but that can happen. Just part of travel.

The May USA Memorial Day weekend seems very popular with USA based Flyer-talkers, and that is the weekend that was most favoured by far. Again chosen that weekend - as we have for all other 18 Oz Fests. Around half the attendees are USA based at each Oz Fest (other than 2021).

That public holiday in the USA is Monday May 27, 2024 Remember if you leave Australia on afternoon of Monday May 27, you arrive back in the USA also early morning on Monday May 30. A lot of time, no matter where you live in the USA, to get back home, unpack, have an early night, and get organised for a day at work next day etc.

The weather for the past 19 Oz Fests has been in general, superb and sunny. Despite June 1st, being our official Winter start date. Even in Hobart Tasmania our most southern city, we were truly blessed with unusually nice weather in 2008, but was brisk and refreshing for 2023. Some saw snow at Mt Wellington, near Hobart in 2023, but will be no chance of cool weather in Cairns 2024. May-June is the best time to visit far North Queensland.

A common FT access account for the ad-hoc organising committee titled “Oz Fest (Oz Fest Organisers)” was approved by the Flyertalk Community Director, and the early informational posts here in this thread will show as that account, so they can be edited at will by those involved.

Our ad-hoc Committee will be tracking attendees, and hotels, and flights, and activity sign ups etc in these early posts. These are incredibly time consuming to keep updated, and all attendees owe them a huge vote of thanks.
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