Paronella Park News

Paronella Park WINS the Tourism Category at the 2005 Cairns Region Export Awards.

Queensland's Deputy Premier and Trade Minister Anna Bligh said at the Awards Ceremony " Yet again winners of the Cairns Region Export Awards 2005 have shown it's all about location, location, location," said Ms Bligh.

Ms Bligh tonight applauded the exporting prowess of those people who run the local enterprises when the winners of the 2005 Cairns Region Export Awards were announced.

"From a three-time computer games winner to niche tourism and event management operators to farm machinery manufacturers and education providers, Cairns businesses have sold the region's unique geographical attributes to an eager global market."

" These businesses that are helping to drive the Smart State's export economy. They have used the region's resources as a base but their extraordinary success would not be possible without the intelligent foresight of their people," Ms Bligh said.

" I congratulate tonight's regional export winners for their outstanding export performances and for their contribution to the creation of jobs and the overall health of the Queensland economy," she said.

The Tourism Category Award winner is Paronella Park - the popular Innisfail tourist destination offering Indigenous cultural tours, botanical walks and bush tucker tours to an increasing number of international tourists each year.

Winner of Tourism Queensland Awards for 2004Paronella Park WINS the two awards for Significant Tourist Attraction as well as the award for Heritage and Cultural Tourism.

At a gala presentation at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in front of 700 guests, owners Mark and Judy Evans were presented with the two major awards.

In reporting the Award wins, the editorial for the Cairns Post on Saturday 27th November commented:

"Paronella Park near Innisfail is fast becoming a tourist icon in its own right. In the Tourism Queensland Awards it garnered gold in two categories, winning the Significant Tourist Attraction Award and the Heritage and Cultural Tourism Award. Paronella Park has set new standards in many areas and the recognition it has received is due recognition for the effort".

At the Award presentation ceremonies Queensland Tourism Minister, Margaret Keech, said:

"Paronella Park was a well deserved winner of the Significant Tourist Attraction Award and the Heritage and Cultural Tourism Award".

The finalists in the Significant Tourist Attraction category were: Hartley's Crocodile Adventures - Tropical North Queensland, Reefworld - Whitsundays, The Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary - Tropical North Queensland, The Reef Hotel Casino - Tropical North Queensland.

The finalists in the Heritage & Cultural Tourism category were: Flames of the Forest - Tropical North Queensland, Museum of Tropical Queensland - Townsville, O'Reilly's Rainforest Guesthouse - Gold Coast, The Workshops Rail Museum - Brisbane.

These latest Awards clearly establish Paronella Park as the 'most Awarded Cultural & Heritage Tourist Attraction in North Queensland'

PARONELLA PARK WINS AWARD FOR HERITAGE & CULTURAL TOURISM AT THE 2004 TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND TOURISM AWARDS

At the Gala Awards night held in the Cairns Convention Centre, Paronella Park was again recognised as the premium Heritage & Cultural Tourist Attraction in Tropical North Queensland with the winning of yet another Award.

SELF-GUIDED BOTANICAL WALKS
A new experience at the Park.

A 16 page Listing Booklet containing details of 88 of the Park's flora is now included in the admission price.

The Booklet refers to the trees which are identified throughout the Park with unique stainless steel sculptured signs.

These Tours take the visitors back into the Dreamtime and present the foods and medicines of the rainforest Aborigine.

The walk/talk is presented 5 times daily and run for approximately 45 minutes.

Paronella Park receives 2 awards in the 2004 Queensland Government Reconciliation Awards for Business

On October 27th this year Paronella Park was the recipient of two awards for reconciliation.

The first, in the Emerging Business Category was shared with the Walker Family Tours.

The Park’s award recognises the partnership with the Baddagun Aboriginal Corporation who conduct Indigenous Cultural Performances at the Park four times daily. Baddagun is a separate business entity who are contracted to provide the performances. Paronella Park provides mentoring, the performance space, marketing and administration infrastructure.

The second, The Premier’s Award for Reconciliation recognises an outstanding contribution to reconciliation in Queensland. From the pool of nominations received in the three categories, the judging panel recommend an overall award recipient.

More information on the Awards can be found on the website www.reconciliation.qld.gov.au.

Congratulations to our own Lorry Pearce for maintaining our high standards in customer service.

Mark & Judy Evans at the 2003 Queensland Tourism AwardsParonella Park awarded the 2003 Queensland Tourism Award for Heritage and Cultural Tourism.

The gala event held at the Brisbane Convention Centre, attended by more than 1000 guests, is jointly staged by Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.

The awards aim to highlight to the public, and to the industry itself, the high quality of tourist operators and attractions within Queensland.

Paronella Park won the category from entries across Queensland including The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, O'Reilly's Rainforest Guesthouse, QPAC Museum and the Queensland Air Museum.

The Park had previously won the Queensland Award in 2001 and this latest accolade, along with being inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 2002 Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards, means that the Park has won some 20 awards for excellence in the past 5 years making it the most awarded Heritage and Cultural tourism attraction in North Queensland.

Queensland Industry Tourism Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said the awards presentation was one of the most important events on the Queensland tourism industry calendar. "The aim is to recognise and reward excellence in tourism and this year's field of entries certainly showed that the quality of tourism operations in Queensland is extremely high." Mr Gschwind said.

"I would like to congratulate all the winners and finalists named tonight. Their achievements are outstanding and they epitomise what makes Queensland tourism great."

Mark and Judy Evans believe that their continued success is due in no small part to their dedicated team of passionate staff and to the many thousands of visitors who have supported the Park in ensuring that .... "the Dream Continues".

Other local Great Green Way finalists at the Awards were The Horizon at Mission Beach (Deluxe Accommodation) and El Rancho del Rey (Unique Accommodation).

All state award winners are automatically entered in the National Tourism Awards to be held in Perth on 13 February 2004.

Operetta in the Park 03Paronella Park hosts the most memorable entertainment event.
A romantic Operetta was held at Paronella Park on Saturday 11th October.

The Operetta was organised by Innisfail Rotary Club, in aid of the Polio Eradication Fund Raising Campaign, and was acclaimed as the social/entertainment event of the year.

Seated casually around candle lit picnic tables or relaxing on rugs on the lawn, the 200 plus audience were treated to delicious hampers of food and wine with superb entertainment in a simply stunning surrounding with the full moon adding to the unique ambience of the night.

The entertainment from Peter Axford (Baritone), Alyssa Oliveri (Mezzo Soprano), Robert Agis (Pianist), Heather Wilson (Flautist) and Joanne Pagano (Accompanist) was a great mix of classic opera and light hearted cabaret.

The Hon. Merri Rose, MLA will be visiting Paronella Park on Tuesday 20 May from 10am to 10.45am, to perform the official opening of the new Café and Deck at the Park.

In order to accommodate the continuing growth of visitors to the Park, we have recently constructed a new Café and Deck dining area that seats over 100 people. Our visitors can now enjoy a delicious snack or linger over an excellent coffee in shady comfort, surrounded by the natural environment of the Park.

The café, timber deck and sails represent an additional $250,000 investment in Park infrastructure.

Paronella Park continues to provide a positive impact on regional tourism.

Contact person for additional information

Mark or Judy Evans
Phone: 4065 3225
Mobile: 0412 277 266
e-mail: info@paronellapark.com.au

As a child, Chiquetta Paronella dreamt of being married in her great grandfather's castle at Paronella Park.

At 11.00 am on Easter Saturday, 19 April, Chiquetta's dream was realised when she married her fiancé Dean Bolton in a fairy tale wedding on the stage of the Paronella Park ballroom.

CLICK for more inormation & photos.

February 1933 saw the planting of almost 7,500 rainforest trees. These trees are now entering their 70th year and are a splendid example of the Vision and Dream of José Paronella.

Paronella Park named as Finalists in 2 Categories at the Queensland Tourism Industry Awards

Paronella Park has been recognised as one of only four finalists in the two categories of Heritage & Culture Tourism and Tourism Product Marketing at the prestigious Queensland Tourism Industry Awards held in Brisbane.

Although not winning, the recognition of being named as finalist in both categories has been a huge achievement for Paronella Park considering the size and high profile of the competition and eventual winners Currumbin Sanctuary and Dreamworld respectively.

Paronella Park had previously won the Heritage and Culture Tourism Award last year and knew it was a tall order to succeed at the State level for two years in a row. In fact from all reports the results were extremely close and only small details denied them of another award. However, Mark and Judy Evans continue to maintain that the real advantage of entering the awards is the business planning that results from having to analyse and record their strategies throughout the year.

"Preparing the awards submissions makes one look at so many facets of the operation, it becomes an indispensable tool to growing and analysing the faults, success and future direction of Paronella Park. We continue to grow as a tourist attraction, but we must never take our success for granted" said Mark from Brisbane.

Paronella Park is the 'most Awarded Cultural & Heritage Tourist Attraction in North Queensland'

Paronella Park is inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 2002 Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards!

Paronella Park has been inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame for both Heritage & Cultural Tourism and Marketing & Promotions after previously winning both these categories for three consecutive years. The new Awards were presented at the 2002 Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards at a gala ceremony at the Cairns Convention Centre!

These awards, combined with similar Hall of Fame awards won at the North Queensland Tourism Awards and the Heritage & Cutlture award at the Queensland State Awards in 2001, make Paronella Park the 'most Awarded Cultural & Heritage Tourist Attraction in North Queensland'

A romantic Operetta with noted barotone Peter Axford was held at Paronella Park on Saturday 12th October. Organised by Innisfail Rotary Club, in aid of the Polio Eradication Fund Raising Campaign, the Operetta was acclaimed as the social/entertainment event of the year.

The 170 people who attended were treated to delicious hampers of food and wine with superb entertainment in a simply stunning surrounding with the moon perfectly positioned over the stage. The entertainment from Peter Axford and Alyssa Oliveri was a great mix of classic opera and light hearted cabaret.

The night successfully raised $4,000 for the Polio Eradication Fund Raising Campaign and plans are already underway for a bigger and brighter night next year.

Paronella Park AWARDED THE BOB HALE AWARD for Best Advertising Campaign Across All Media!!

At the gala 2001 Tropical North Queensland Media Awards Night, held in Cairns amongst some 200 media industry representatives, Paronella Park won the Major Award of the Bob Hale Award for Best Advertising Campaign Across All Media.

Paronella Park's entry covered the various media of television commercials, radio commercials, internet website, brochures, outdoor billboards, newspaper and magazines advertisements. The judges made special note of Paronella Park's thoroughness and the fact that all advertisements were done with "style".

The Most Awarded Cultural & Heritage Tourist Attraction in North Queensland.

At the gala Tourism Queensland Awards Night, held at Hamilton Island, Paronella Park won the Heritage and Cultural Tourism Award and the Award for Best Submission! The only multiple award winner for the year 2001.

These latest presentations come on top of the 15 awards that have been bestowed on Paronella Park in the past 4 years, confirming the Park's reputation as one of the most popular and unique tourist attractions in all of Queensland.

"The annual awards - presented by Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Corporation - acknowledge the contribution of the tourism industry to the state's economy each year," said Ms Merri Rose, Minister for Tourism, Racing & Fair Trading.

"Tourism is Queensland's second largest industry and generates more than $14 billion for our economy each year," Ms Rose said. "It employs thousands of people in the Tropical North and almost 150,000 people in Queensland and is the state's second largest export earner."

"These awards are a way of highlighting to the public, and to the industry itself, the high quality operators we have within Queensland."

The Most Awarded Cultural & Heritage Tourist Attraction in North Queensland

At the gala Tourism Tropical North Queensland Awards Night, held at the Cairns Convention Centre, Paronella Park was awarded with two awards (Tourism Marketing and Promotions Campaign plus the award for Heritage and Cultural Tourism) for the fourth year running!

These latest presentations take the total number of awards that have been bestowed on Paronella Park to over 15 in the past 4 years, confirming the Park's reputation as one of the most popular and unique tourist attractions in Far North Queensland.

The Most Awarded Cultural & Heritage Tourist Attraction in North Queensland

The millenium edition of Queensland Achievers in Business for the year 2000 has just been released.

Paronella Park was honoured by inclusion in this prestigious publication.
After a chequered history, the park was purchased by the current owners is 1993.
With no previous experience in tourism or small business, they set about developing the park from an operation which had 8,000 visitors in 1994 to, just 5 years later, 80,000 visitors during 1999 - a great achievement.

The spacious interior of the original workshed provides much needed space to display an extended range of local hand crafted gift items and souvenirs.
The collection of historic photographs has been enhanced and redisplayed.

Far North Queensland Media Awards at a gala presentation at Paradise Palms in Cairns, Graphically Speaking/Oz-e Commerce Solutions was announced as one of only 3 finalists in 2 different media categories.

The full page advertisement, produced for Paronella Park, published in a high quality hard cover tourist guide was exceptionally noteworthy as this category is extremely highly contested by the many graphic design firms and advertising agencies in the Far North. This latest recognition of Graphically Speaking's website design abilities follows the Internet Guide Award previously bestowed on the local business by Britannica.com in February this year.

The internet website, for Paronella Park (www.paronellapark.com.au), was the result of Mark and Judy Evans desire to completely update their original website to reflect a more modern style and to be even more comprehensive in it's description of their unique and much celebrated tourist attraction.

The Far North Queensland Media Awards celebrates the achievements of all forms of media providers throughout Far North Queensland. This includes electronic media in the form of radio, television and the internet, as well as the traditional print media which includes newspaper, brochures and other publications. This year the awards received over 200 entries for the different categories.
The judges, sourced from around Australia and renowned in their fields, analysed all the entries to arrive at a short list of the top 3 finalists for each category.

Paronella Park is selected as one of only 3 finalists at the 2000 Queensland Tourism Awards!

At a gala presentation at the Brisbane Convention and Entertainment Centre, Paronella Park Heritage Gardens was announced as one of only three finalists in the category of Cultural & Heritage Tourism at the 2000 Queensland Tourism Awards.

This was the third year in a row that Paronella Park, at Mena Creek, has made the short finalists list at the prestigious State Awards and caps off a year that has seen the Park bring its total to 13 tourism awards in the past 3 years including being inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 2000 North Queensland Tourism Awards.

The Most Awarded Cultural & Heritage Tourist Attraction in North Queensland

Paronella Park is inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Year 2000 North Queensland Tourism Awards!

Paronella Park has been inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame for Heritage & Cultural Tourism after winning both the Tourism Marketing and Promotions plus Heritage and Cultural Tourism awards for the third year running. The new Awards were presented at the 2000 North Queensland Tourism Awards at a gala ceremony at the Townsville Convention Centre!

These awards, combined with the two awards won at the Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards in Cairns in April, mean that Paronella Park has to date gained recognition of a total of 5 awards for the year 2000. This makes a total of 13 awards bestowed on Paronella Park in the Past 3 years.

The Most Awarded Cultural & Heritage Tourist Attraction in North Queensland

Paronella Park wins two awards (Tourism Marketing and Promotions plus Heritage and Cultural Tourism) for the third year running, at the 2000 Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards!