From Howick to Sunshine

When the weather turns cold, wet and windy in May, Chellene Lineham of Howick and her mum will be heading off to the warmth of Noosa, on Australia's Sunshine Coast, to enjoy the wine, food and music of the Mayfiesta.

Lineham is the winner of the Herald Travel competition, run in conjunction with Tourism Noosa, for a holiday package for two.

We received thousands of entries but hers was the first drawn out of the pile. She correctly answered that Noosa is in the State of Queensland, so the trip was hers.

She was initially disbelieving when we rang her at work to tell her of her win. "Oh, you're having me on, aren't you?" she said. "This is a joke."

But then, as the news sank in, she was delighted. "That's fantastic. I never win anything. How wonderful."

Lineham has been to Queensland before but never to Noosa. "It sounds marvellous. I'm really looking forward to it."

So who might she take with her? "Probably my mum. I'll have to sort it out. But most likely she's the one I'll take."

The package she has won includes:

* Two return airfares to Brisbane flying Pacific Blue (www.flypacificblue.com or 0800 670 000) (see link below).

* Four nights' accommodation for two at Netanya Beachfront Resort, which has beach frontage resort grounds, breathtaking views over Laguna Bay and easy access to the famous Noosa beach break (www.netanyanoosa.com.au or 00 61 7 5447 4722) (see link below).

* Two pamper treatments at Noosa's newest five-star beauty house, the Groom Room, where men and women can experience a "glorious state of nothingness induced by beauty and massage therapies" (0061 7 5455 6777 or www.groomroom.com.au) (see link below).

* Dinner for two at Gustos, at 257 Gympie Tce, which offers fine views over the river and modern Noosa style cuisine (0061 7 5449 7144).

* Tickets to attend one of the big Mayfiesta events.

The Mayfiesta lasts throughout May and features 31 events including:

May 1 - Final day of the RocknTewantin concert series featuring Ross Wilson and the Deltones on April 30 and May 1.

May 3 - The famous Eumundi Markets selling all sorts of arts and crafts.

May 11-12 - Festival of the Bean celebrating coffee.

May 11-20 - Australia's National One Act Play festival.

May 12-14 - A celebration of Australian food and wine Noosa-style, with cooking demonstrations, food markets, a food and wine symposium and special meals from local restaurants.

May 12-13 - Cooroy Wood and Craft Show.

May 12-28 - The Power of Ceremony showcases the work of indigenous artists.

May 14 - Noosa Farmers' Market.

May 19 - Noosa Springs Gold Challenge.

May 20-21 - Riverfest with fishing competitions, boat shows, music and a ferry race on the Noosa Rover.

May 21 - Noosa Blue Water Swim which includes a 500m beach swim, a 1km ocean swim and the big event, a 2km blue-water swim back to town from Tea Tree Bay in Noosa National Park.

May 21 - Classic car display.

May 25 - Eumundi Long Table Dinner.

May 27 - Noosa Harbour Fiesta, a Latin American-style fiesta with jazz and a grape-stomping championship.

For details of Mayfiesta events or the special cheap accommodation deals which will be on offer during the festival contact Tourism Noosa on 0061 7 5430 5000, or visit the website www.tourismnoosa.com.au (see link below).