Hosted by Positively Wellington Tourism (PWT), in partnership with Air New Zealand, over 45 Australian travel agents got a real taste of Wellington and its surrounds last month.

Travelling to the Marlborough region, Wairarapa and Wellington city, five groups of travel agents experienced what’s on offer in this award winning food and wine region. Highlights included Mussel cruises in the Marlborough Sounds, wine tours in Martinborough and time spent at Te Papa Museum (Australasia’s most visited museum) in Wellington City.

Domenic Brasacchio from Modica Travel Service said "Wellington is definitely the coolest little capital. The people, the shops, the attractions are all awesome and just when we thought things couldn’t get better we go down to Marlborough what a gem of a place the scenery, the wineries, the landscape and people were magnificent"

Wellington’s culinary product, showcased on the July 1st MasterChef Masterclass episode which drew in excess of 900,000 viewers Australia wide, and Air New Zealand’s increased capacity out of Sydney and Melbourne are expected to drive more Australians to visit Wellington and the surrounding wine regions for a break in the second half of 2011.

Brad Monaghan, Australia Marketing Manager from PWT said: “We want Australian travel trade to experience more of what is on offer here first hand, so they can confidently sell our region. After the MasterChef episode we have had strong enquiries coming through. Over the last twelve months Wellington has experienced nearly double digit growth in Australian arrivals and we expect to see that continue, growth through trade channels is integral to achieve this”.