Convention dates: 

Friday, 30^th September – Thursday, 6^th October 2011

Venue: 
 

Alexandra Park Conference Centre
13 Mari Street, Alexandra Headland, Queensland
http://www.alexpark.com.au/index.html

Alexandra Headland, known to the locals as 'Alex', is a coastal community situated on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. The community is located on a beautiful spot on what is known as the Sunshine Strip - it sits between Mooloolaba and Maroochydore. The town with its laid back atmosphere and inviting beaches has become a popular spot for surfers. It is well known that off its rocky headland is some of the best surf on the Queensland coast. Swimmers can also enjoy the rolling beaches as there is a patrolled swimming area provided by the surf club.

The headland has spectacular views to Mount Coolum and north along the sweeping beach to the Maroochy River. Alex is just over 100km from Brisbane and has a population of 7000.

Accomodation and facilities:

Alexandra Park Conference Centre is located at Alexandra Headland, 13 Mari Street Alexandra Headland.  The centre is nestled amongst 10 hectares of secluded rainforest and just a short stroll to the popular Alexandra Headland patrolled surf beach.

The facilities include a variety of meeting areas including two large auditoriums, functions and meeting rooms. The large auditoriums with data projectors and screens can be opened into one area to seat 500. Alexandra Park is also equipped with a 25 metre shaded swimming pool, grass playing field, a recreational lake suitable for canoeing, a grass volleyball court and a recreational room.

Most areas of our site are accessible to people with disabilities. Five accommodation rooms have facilities for people with disabilities and toilets in main building have facilities for people with disabilities.

The centre is located within close proximity to the many Sunshine Coast attractions including Underwater World and Australia Zoo and to many of the local facilities. Including coffee shops, surf life saving clubs and ten pin bowling, which is located across the street from the entrance.

Should families wish to extend their stay, there are a large number of various accommodation in the surrounding area. 

There are a number of golf courses and family activities around the Sunshine Coast, see below for the Places of Interest and Things to do section. 

Transport/Getting there:

Alexandra Headland is just over 1 hour’s drive from Brisbane. The Bruce Highway is nearest highway to the coastal town.

We will be organising a bus from the Brisbane/Maroochydore airports 

Bus and Coach Services

All major coach lines service the Sunshine Coast. There are transit centres at Caloundra, Maroochydore, Nambour and Noosa. Regular daily services operate between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. 

Train

There is a regular rail service that provides access between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

Air

Fly into the Sunshine Coast Airport located at Maroochydore, which is the closest jet airport to Alexandra Headland or the Brisbane Airport where shuttle busses are available for transit to the Sunshine Coast.

2011 Travel Allowance allocation (for short-statured SSPA members):

Still to be determined.

Registration forms:

To register for the 2011 Convention, please print and fill out the attached 2011 Convention registration forms. Also included is a form for those not staying full-time during the Convention week, as well as a Temporary Guardian & Medical Release form.

Please read all instructions very carefully when filling these forms out.

2011 Convention programme:   

SSPA – Alexandra Headland 2011

Friday, 30^th September – Thursday, 6^th October

Convention Itinerary

Friday 30^th September 2011

·        Arrivals
   Dinner
   Meet & Greet

Saturday 1^st October 2011

·        Surf School / Eumundi Markets Bus Tour (A-$22/C-$10 at own cost)
   Beach Games
   Disco / Karaoke - Theme: Toga!

Sunday 2^nd October 2011

·        Australia Zoo (All Day)
   Talent Night / Fashion Parade

Monday 3^rd October 2011

·        Medical Presentations
   Medical Workshops
   Underwater World - Twilight Viewing

Tuesday 4^th October 2011

·        Life Be In It
   Free Time / Local Attractions
   Dinner Dance – Maroochydore RSL – Theme: ‘Glitz & Glamour’
   Activities for under 13s

Wednesday 5^th October 2011

·        AGM
   National Council Meeting
   Movies on site / Free Time
   Show & Share / Information Evening

Thursday 6^th October 2011

·        Very sad Farewells

Excursions, places of interest and things to do:   

EXCURSIONS:

AUSTRALIA ZOO

www.australiazoo.com.au
 

Australia Zoo is set on 76 acres of lush green surrounds, remarkable enclosures and artistic features. They take great pride in creating exhibits and enclosures that are not only educational, beautiful and exciting for their guests to experience, but also extremely luxurious, spacious, stimulating and fun for their animals to live and play in.

Australia Zoo offers 14 FREE wildlife shows everyday! Watch a croc strike from the waters edge, hand-feed an Asian Elephant, discover the beauty of our Bengal Tigers, and watch an Andean Condor fly in the Crocoseum.

TOP SHOTS FUN PARK

www.topshotsmaroochydore.com

A day at Top Shots Fun Park in Maroochydore goes a little like this; climb it, play it, splash & hit it! From rock-climbing to mini-golf, or for water sport lovers the blaster boats; you're sure to have a memorable day here.

Plenty of fun, rides, attractions & even relaxation await you at this Sunshine Coast Fun Park for all!

  Bump and Spray each other on the Blaster Boats

  Splash and Slide on the Inflatable Waterslide

 Play against your friends on their two 18-hole minigolf courses

UNDERWATER WORLD

www.underwaterworld.com.au

UnderWater World is a multi-award winning tourist attraction located beachside on the beautiful Sunshine Coast. They provide you with the unique opportunity to explore 8 unique zones including Touch and Tell, Weird and Wonderful, Seal Island, Otter Empire, Fresh and Freaky, Billabongs and Backyards, Sharks Alive and Crawly Creatures! 

Walk amongst thousands of marine and freshwater animals including giant sharks, stingrays, sawfish and tropical reef fish without getting your feet wet. 

You can view the shark feeding or watch a shark dive from the 80 metre transparent tunnel in the 2.5 million litre Oceanarium.

Their most popular attraction though is their highly entertaining seal and otter shows where you’ll soon discover the highly amusing personalities of their family of mammals.

Alex Forest Bushland Park – Walk
www.alexbeach.com.au
Adjacent to our bushland site from our gate, walk takes about 30 minutes

Eumundi Markets
http://www.noosahinterlandtours.com.au/noosa_hinterland_day_tours/eumundi_markets.htm
Optional half day tour on Saturday as an alternative to the beach games

SunCity Bowl (Ten Pin)
Mari Street, Alexandra Headland about 2 minutes walk 

Alexandra Headland Beach (Patrolled)
About 5 minutes walk 

Cotton Tree Eating/Maroochy River Precinct
King Street, Cotton Tree about 24 minute walk or 7 minute drive 

Mooloolaba Beach Shopping/Eating precinct
20 minute walk along the ocean path or 5 minute drive 

Suncoast Cable and Watersports
David Low Way, Bli Bli 16 minute drive 

Bli Bli Castle
David Low Way, Bli Bli 18 minute drive 

Aussie World
www.aussieworld.com.au
Bruce Highway, Palmview 20 minute drive 

Big Pineapple
Nambour Connection Road, Woombye 16 minute drive 

Big Kart Track
www.bigkart.com.au
Glass House Mts. Tourist Drive, Landsborough 30 minute drive 

Montville (Antiques, Arts, Crafts & shopping)
Main Street, Montville (via Palmwoods) about 37 minute drive, slightly mountainous 

The Spit Boardwalk and Beach
Access past Mooloolaba Beach with good swimming in all weather also a delightful walk in protected bush next to the beach. 

Sunshine Plaza Shopping Centre
Horton Parade, Maroochydore 32 mins walk or 5 minute drive 

The Wharf Complex
Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba 33 minute walk or 8 minute drive 

Ginger Factory
Pioneer Road, Yandina 30 minute drive 

Golf Courses
www.iseekgolf.com/courses/australia/14-sunshine-coast-queensland  

Noosa Everglades Discovery River Cruises
www.noosaevergladesdiscovery.com.au 

Frazer Island Getaway Tours
www.tourfrazer.com.au

Frazer Island Adventure Tours
www.frazerislandadventuretours.com.au 

Sunshine Coast Off Beat Rainforest Tours
www.offbeattours.com.au

Wild Dolphin Feeding and Beach Safari
www.noosa4wdecotours.com.au 

Lazerzone
www.lazerzone.com.au

Deep Sea Fishing and the list goes on…

A website to check out for more info re. the location is: www.sunshinecoast-australia.com/alexandra-headland.html

There you will find information about the area that you are travelling to if you plan on an extended stay for your Convention Holiday!

Further information:   

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Convention committee at: SSPAConny2011@hotmail.com