Oz Fest

Of the 40 who attended 20 were from Australia, 15 from USA, 2 from Canada & 3 from NZ. The Oz Fest location needs to be where it’s not too hard or too long to get to. As about 50% come from out of Australia, international flights/connections need to be considered. Many of those from USA are Star Alliance frequent flyers who come due to the USA Memorial day holiday. With no Au domestic Star Alliance airlines it makes it harder for them. (JQ is not for every one!)

Regional centres like Broome, Kalgoorlie & Hamilton Island can very expensive to get to, even for Australians and/or have limited-expensive accommodation.

But every Oz Fest needs a CEO (Chief Entertainment officer). In the last few years this has fallen upon very few people. Usually when no one else has stepped up. The CEO often makes a trip to the location or has a good local knowledge of the Oz Fest location. And involves personal time & cost in searching for activities and in finding restaurants. Restaurants for 30-40-50 people can be hard to get.

A return to a state capital city would work. If for no other reason that a new CEO could step forward to share the work load out. A reasonable number of people who have attended in the last ~5 years have not attended an Oz Fest in a major city.

ac777

Back in BNE. I thought Sunshine cost a bit if a misnomer... perhaps rainfall coast would be more appropriate at least for this past weekend.In spite of thunder, lightning and rain, it seems a good time was had by all. Thanks again to the organizers.

CDKing

Maybe better chance penegal would be be able to make it if Melbourne. I wouldn't mind doing the great ocean road again. That and it's not too inconvenient for Adelaide side trip for me to go shark cage diving.

SYD would be good with Vivid going on, however it seems most OZFest people go there before or after the Do so it's a huge repeater

Bundy Bear

Now at Vapiano down stairs but might move upstairs as it’s quieter.

JohnSydney2000

Thanks to everyone for another great Ozfest.
Thank you to Itsalongwaydown and Ozfest and others for all the planning to make it happen.
Great to see old friends and meet new ones too.

tom911

A few stragglers at Vapiano's in Brisbane.

ac777

Thanks to Bundy Bear in organzing Vapiano. Had great company, great food and a new way of ordering and paying for the food.

tom911

Sydney drinks and dinner - Wednesday at 6pm

Join krazykanuck and me at Cheers Sports Pub, 561 George, at basement level. They offer pub food and have a full bar.
Nearest train station is Town Hall. We've done two prior FT dinners here before/after OzFest.
Cheers Bar | Contact - Cheers Bar

ozstamps

Tom and Kanuck ..... have fun.

Sadly we cannot schlep downtown on Wednesday .. was going to suggest a visit the colourful VIVID Festival at one of the inner suburbs Chatswood that also holds it along with the CBD-

Link here - Chatswood - Vivid Sydney at Chatswood 2018

100s of eating/drinking places there. @:-)

Glen

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tom911

Enjoying Vivid Sydney. If we have OzFest in Sydney next year, which would be the 11th year of Vivid Sydney, there is one cruise line here with 2 hour harbour cruises around Vivid Sydney on Friday and Saturday nights, departing at 5:30 and 8pm (lights come on at 6pm). It's advertised as a "cocktail style standing buffet" (chicken, pasta, veggies on the menu) with one free drink, at $A55/$US41. No doubt there's other providers out there, but certainly something I'd be interested in with a group. Could even add on a ferry trip over to Manly Beach and lunch there as an afternoon activity.

dedehans

Wowser. This sounds like a great idea.

Itsalongwaydown

You'll be pleased to know that the showers eased on Monday and Tuesday and today have been warm and dry. We are still at Mooloolaba and head south in the morning.

In the background of Oz Fest there has (as always) been one person beavering away and giving us all the stats and spreadsheets that make it all work. A very big and special thank you to Mwenenzi. Without the input from Mwenenzi I can assure you that Oz Fest would not have occurred or at the very least been a lot less successful than it was.

Re 2019. There will be an endeavor to decide and publish next years venue ASAP.

tom911

Thank You, itsalongwaydown and Mwenenzi, for your efforts on another successful OzFest. Homeward bound in the morning.

krazykanuck

Do I win the prize for final overseas FTer to leave the country? I'm currently sitting in the SQ F lounge waiting for my TG F flight to BKK. Quite excited to fly off into the sunset in 1A from another Oz Fest. Great to see many of you again!

PS: put me down as somebody who would be keen to explore that country across the Tasman Sea

angra

I'm still puttering around in Perth . I will leave Australia on Tuesday.

Many thanks to @fifa , Mr. Fifa, and @JessicaTam for making several excellent suggestions of things to do on the West Coast.