G.A.P.D.L

G.A.P.D.L Welcome to the official corporate page for Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Limited (GAPDL)!

We’re here to proudly showcase the Gladstone Region - strategically promoting it as a leading destination to visit, invest in and call home GAPDL is a dynamic and enthusiastic not-for-profit, membership based organisation responsible for strategically marketing the Gladstone Region as a preferred tourism, investment and lifestyle destination.

Ahead of ATE26 in Adelaide / Tarntanya earlier this month, the Gladstone Region welcomed several international travel bu...
28/05/2026

Ahead of ATE26 in Adelaide / Tarntanya earlier this month, the Gladstone Region welcomed several international travel buyers as part of a pre-ATE famil across the Southern Great Barrier Reef 🌏✈️

With buyers from Southern World, ATS Pacific and Audley Travel (UK) visiting the region before Australia’s biggest annual tourism trade event, the famil provided an opportunity to showcase some of the experiences helping put the Gladstone Region on the map internationally.

From the reef and coral cay experiences of Heron Island and Wilson Island to the wider Southern Great Barrier Reef destination, the visit helped build valuable connections ahead of a busy week of trade appointments at ATE26 🤝

A big thank you to Capricorn Enterprise, participating operators and regional partners who helped bring the experience together and showcase the region to the international market.

📺 The Gladstone Region scored a fantastic national TV moment on Monday, featuring in a live cross on the TODAY Show as p...
27/05/2026

📺 The Gladstone Region scored a fantastic national TV moment on Monday, featuring in a live cross on the TODAY Show as part of Tourism and Events Queensland’s That Holiday Feeling Starts Here campaign.

With just 30 seconds to pitch the region to Australia, Neil Mergard showcased the Visit Gladstone Region, Queensland and Southern Great Barrier Reef through 1770 LARC! Tours, giving viewers a taste of the iconic pink amphibious craft generating plenty of buzz around the region right now.

It’s fantastic to see the Gladstone Region continuing to feature prominently in national campaigns and media coverage. ☀️

Check out the campaign here 👉 www.queensland.com/au/en/that-holiday-feeling-starts-here

Regional tourism operators, this one’s for you 👀Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) is launching a new Regional Experien...
26/05/2026

Regional tourism operators, this one’s for you 👀

Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) is launching a new Regional Experience Incentive Program aimed at encouraging more Australians to holiday in regional Queensland this winter 🌴

Eligible tourism experiences across the Southern Great Barrier Reef region, including Gladstone, Bundaberg and Capricorn, are invited to join a short webinar to learn how the program will work and how businesses can get involved.

📅 Thursday 28 May 2026
⏰ 2:30pm – 3:00pm AEST

Eligible categories include:
✔️ Tours
✔️ Attractions
✔️ Tourism-led food & beverage experiences
✔️ Cultural tourism experiences

Register here 👇
https://tinyurl.com/2nm6tbbk

25/05/2026

Meet some of the people helping make the Visit Gladstone Region, Queensland such a special place to visit 💙

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of local stories from Agnes Water & Town of 1770, highlighting the passionate operators and tourism businesses that help shape the visitor experience across our region.

First up is Mike from Traveller's Rest 1770 🌳🍃

Together with his wife Michi, Mike built Travellers Rest 1770 around a simple vision: 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦. Located on the doorstep of Eurimbula National Park, the Eco Certified Tourism operator invites visitors to slow down and immerse themselves in the surrounding bushland through experiences like the accessible BushTracks Eco Tour.

For Mike, it’s about more than just accommodation, it’s about sharing the passion he and his family have for the property, the surrounding environment and the slower rhythm of life that makes this special part of the Gladstone Region feel completely different.

What a week 💙We hope you’ve enjoyed following along this National Volunteer Week as we celebrated the incredible people ...
22/05/2026

What a week 💙

We hope you’ve enjoyed following along this National Volunteer Week as we celebrated the incredible people behind the Gladstone Region.

Whether they’re welcoming visitors, sharing local tips, helping at events or indulging our social media team, our Gladstone Region ambassadors really know how to roll up their sleeves and get things done 👏

To wrap up the week, our Gladstone volunteers enjoyed a lovely morning at Gladstone Tondoon Botanic Gardens, including a special tour through the Bonsai House with Beau 🍃

And thanks to Gladstone Regional Council’s Local Legends Volunteer Recognition Fund, the celebrations continued with morning tea at Junction CAFE at Tondoon ☕🍰

Meanwhile, our Agnes Water & Town of 1770 volunteers have been busy behind the scenes helping with the 1770 Arts Show launch festivities 🎨✨ Safe to say the celebrations will happen after everyone’s had a chance to recover 😅

Thank you to each and every one of our volunteers for the time, passion and local knowledge you share so generously with visitors and our community every single week 💙

Ross and Phil have hit the road 🚗⚓Together with Gladstone Ports Corporation Gladstone Marina Superintendent David Osmond...
22/05/2026

Ross and Phil have hit the road 🚗⚓

Together with Gladstone Ports Corporation Gladstone Marina Superintendent David Osmond, our volunteer ambassadors are at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, proudly representing and promoting the Gladstone Region at one of Australia’s biggest marine industry events 🛥️⛵️

If you’re heading to the show this weekend, make sure you stop by and say hi, just like Bob from McCosker Contracting 👋

Great to welcome Joan Pease MP, Shadow Minister for Small Business, Customer Service & Open Data, and Glenn Butcher MP t...
22/05/2026

Great to welcome Joan Pease MP, Shadow Minister for Small Business, Customer Service & Open Data, and Glenn Butcher MP to the GAPDL office at the Marina this week.

Our Interim CEO hosted the visit, with conversations centred around all things small business, tourism and the future of the Gladstone Region, while also advocating on behalf of our members.

Did you know there are 2,712 active small businesses across the Gladstone electorate? Small business plays a vital role in driving local jobs, investment, innovation and community connection throughout our region.

It was also a great opportunity to share the work currently underway across our Tourism Strategic Plan and upcoming Destination Management Plan, along with the many ways GAPDL is working to support local businesses, strengthen partnerships, grow visitation and help create a strong, sustainable future for our region.

There are also valuable small business resources and government grants available to local businesses. For more information, visit www.business.qld.gov.au

One week on from ATE25 in Adelaide / Tarntanya, the real work begins 🤝Over four days, more than 55,000 face-to-face appo...
21/05/2026

One week on from ATE25 in Adelaide / Tarntanya, the real work begins 🤝

Over four days, more than 55,000 face-to-face appointments helped strengthen international tourism relationships and create new opportunities for destinations across Australia.

Representing the Gladstone Region, GAPDL participated in more than 70 appointments with international buyers, media and industry partners, showcasing the experiences, operators and opportunities that make our region unique.

It was also fantastic to see Gladstone Region operators represented throughout the event, with Heron Island/Wilson Island, 1770 LARC! Tours, Gladstone Region Tours, Dive Spear and Sport at 1770 and Central Apartment Group attending with dedicated booths or joining us on day passes.

Now, the focus shifts to following up on the valuable conversations and connections made throughout the event, helping drive future visitation and business opportunities for our regional tourism operators.

We’re already looking ahead to ATE27, taking place in Sydney / Warrane from 16–20 May 2027 ✈️

Tonight’s the night 🎨The 1770 Arts Art Show Gala Opening kicks off this evening in Agnes Water & Town of 1770, launching...
20/05/2026

Tonight’s the night 🎨

The 1770 Arts Art Show Gala Opening kicks off this evening in Agnes Water & Town of 1770, launching 10 days of incredible art and creativity 🖌

Featuring works from local, regional and national artists across painting, photography, sculpture, quilting and more, the exhibition has become a much-loved event on the Gladstone Region calendar.

Whether you’re heading along for opening night or planning a visit across the exhibition period, it’s well worth adding to your weekend plans.

📍 Agnes Water Community Hall
⏰ Gala Opening Night: Tonight from 6:30pm

🖼️ Exhibition open daily from 22–31 May

Find out more 👉 www.1770arts.com.au

Address

72 Bryan Jordan Drive
Gladstone, QLD
4680

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday 8:30am - 12:30pm
Sunday 8:30am - 12:30pm

Telephone

07 4972 4000

Website

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