Australia Uncovered pop-up exhibit opens in Toronto

Call it a coincidence from Down Under.

On the heels of yesterday's announcement that Air Canada will be introducing a new non-stop flight from Vancouver to Melbourne, media and travel trade, that same day, were treated to an after-work sneak peek of Australia Uncovered, a pop-up photography and video exhibit about Aussieland currently on display at Toronto’s Artscape Sandbox.

“Australia is a pretty incredible place. You really get a sense of that when it hits all of your senses,” Robert Keddy, head of commercial partnerships, the Americas at Tourism Australia, told PAX at last night’s preview, which was hosted by Tourism Australia and Air Canada.

Canadian-produced photographs of Australia on display at Australia Uncovered

The exhibit, which officially opens today (May 4th) for one day only, takes visitors on an interactive journey through the Land Down Under, showcasing Australia’s rich nature, coastal, food and wine assets through authentic photos taken by Canadian travellers.

The exhibit includes a virtual reality station whereby guests don futuristic headsets and are transported to an Australian destination of their choice, be it the Gold Coast or Kangaroo Island (there’s close to two dozen options). Sitting on a swivel chair, participants can turn up, down, left or right to experience an astonishingly life-like 360-degree view of their chosen location.

Guests get lost in an Australian virtual reality at Australia Uncovered

“We want people to have a better understanding of the kind of experience Australia has to offer and learn about things they may not have known [such as diving with whale sharks in Ningaloo Reef],” Keddy told PAX at the event, which was attended by travel media, tour operators and travel agents.

The night featured a green screen photo booth where participants could post an Aussie-themed picture of themselves on social media for a chance to win a trip, Australian-rooted music, such as Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn,” and a hearty selection of Australian wines and nationally-inspired bites, such as marinated Australian lamb chops.

With the number of Canadians visiting Australia on the rise, tourism officials have a lot to celebrate.

“We’re on fire here in Canada,” Keddy told PAX, noting that Canadian arrivals to Australia over the last 12 months is up 7.2 per cent and that Australia now exceeds 154,000 Canadian arrivals on an annual basis.

Last February, in particular, was “a great month,” Keddy said, noting that arrivals were up 12 per cent for that period, an increase Keddy credits to healthy flight capacities and the Canadian dollar, which is strong in Australia compared to other destinations.

Spotted at the exhibit was Tony Celio, manager, specialty sales at Air Canada, who said it was “perfect timing” that the exhibit preview happened to land on the same day Air Canada unveiled its new Vancouver to Melbourne service.

“We’re now the only carrier from Canada that’s operating non-stop to three destinations in Australia,” Celio told PAX about the new route, which compliments Air Canada’s existing services to Sydney and Brisbane.

Tony Celio, manager, specialty sales at Air Canada, spotted at last night's preview

The new Vancouver-Melbourne service will begin Dec. 1, 2017, and will run until Feb. 4, 2018, operating four times weekly on board Air Canada’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

“[The new service] gives travellers another option, especially for business traffic going into Melbourne, the second largest city in Australia,” Celio told PAX.

Travel agents keen on sharpening their knowledge of Australia are encouraged to enroll in Tourism Australia’s Aussie Specialist Program, a series of training modules that, upon completion, enable agents to wear the badge of an “Aussie specialist.” Currently, there are more than 1,200 registered specialists in Canada, Keddy said.

“There are so many varied experiences in Australia,” Keddy told PAX. “It’s an incredible place.”

For more information visit tourism.australia.com. Australia Uncovered is open to the public at Toronto’s Artscape Sandbox (301 Adelaide St. W.) today only (May 4th) from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.