Sydney International Boat Show – 45-years young and in its prime

Darling Harbour is set to welcome Australia’s boating industry for five spectacular days, August 2 to 6, with the staging of the 45^th annual Sydney International Boat Show.

More than 300 exhibitors will present to what is sure to be an adoring public the best of the best available in recreational boating, covering the finest Australian made as well as product from legendary manufacturers worldwide.

Organised by the Boating Industry Association (BIA) of NSW, the Sydney International Boat Show has firmly established itself as one of the primary events on the harbour city’s annual events calendar.

To claim that an event of this magnitude has “something for everyone” is certainly a major statement, but the BIA believes it has achieved that thanks to taking careful heed of visitor feedback.

Domenic Genua, Marketing and Event manager for the BIA, said this visitor feedback had clearly shown that those attending the show expected to be entertained and educated.

“Consequently we have endeavoured to present an array of attractions and activities that will ruin throughout the event, with various ‘shows within the show’ that really will find appeal for all,” he explained.

Some of the attractions sure to find their share of admirers include the Fashion Extravaganza presented by Musto, the outstanding MyBoatingLife (spelt thus) Entertainment Precinct and the popular Walk of Fame displaying many historic vessels with a close bond to Sydney Harbour.

Of course, while these and many other attractions will find broad appeal to show visitors, it must be remembered that the real “stars” of the Sydney International Boat Show are the boats.

Needless to say, they come in all shapes and sizes, power and sail, monohull and multihull, canoes to megayachts.

One of the major advantages that sets the Sydney International Boat Show apart from many lesser exhibitions is the tremendous advantage offered by the Darling Harbour facility with the vast exhibition and convention centre situated adjacent to Cockle Bay. The six cavernous halls of the centre will be ‘jam-packed’ with every imaginable style of vessel, together with the finest in marine engines and electronics, fishing tackle and general boating accessories and equipment that will defy the imagination.

Famed British company, Walcon Marine, will transform Cockle Bay into a stunning marina, where the larger vessels on display will make their home for the show’s duration.

Adding to the appeal of Darling Harbour’s facility is the added attraction of being only a few minutes walk from the centre of the largest city in the South Pacific, Sydney.

“We do believe we have in Darling Harbour a complex that presents as ideal in every way for the staging of a major event such as the Sydney International Boat Show,” Mr Genua added.

In addition to its convenient location, Darling Harbour is also served by all manner of public transport making access a simply task for show visitors.

Bus services, ferries, Sydney’s vast suburban rail network all aid in offering easy travel to and from the complex.

For motorists, the entire Darling Harbour complex is surrounded by car parking facilities, the majority only a few minutes stroll from the main entrance.

Perhaps another factor related to the Darling Harbour complex is worthy of mention to those unfamiliar with it; it’s called Harbourside, and it is an upmarket retail shopping mall backed by numerous bars and restaurants.

“This has proven extremely popular with show visitors,” Mr Genua explained, “it allows a family to enjoy a full day out, visiting the boat show, perhaps enjoying lunch and talking in some retail therapy all at the one location.”

Visitors from interstate and overseas will be almost bewildered by the array of accommodation options available to them, ranging all the way up to five-star hotels all within easy walking distance.

The Sydney International Boat Show is particularly proud of having NSW Roads and Maritime as its principle safety partner and is heartened by valuable support from a number of other companies involved with the marine industry.

Trading hours for the 2012 Sydney International Boat Show remain unchanged; the halls of the Darling Harbour Convention and Exhibition Centre will be open daily from 10am to 8pm.

Being outdoors and subject to weather conditions, the spectacular marine on Cockle Bay, also opening at 10am, will cease operations and 6pm.

Tickets can be purchased in advance on-line and there’s a ‘hard-to-beat-deal’ on offer with a three-day ticket available.

The Sydney International Boat Show has a deserved reputation for staging an event “like no other” and the 2012 edition of the show is aiming to do just that.

Ask yourself, can you afford not to visit one of the truly great boat shows in the world?

For further information and to purchase ticketing, visit the show’s informative website, www.sydneyboatshow.com.au