KRISTINA TRAJKOVSKI
Australia’s newest outdoor lifestyle event, OutdoorX, took over Sanctuary Cove this weekend, showcasing all the latest outdoor products for fun and adventure.
The event, which ran from September 13 to 15, allowed visitors to see the latest in caravans, motorhomes, 4x4s, campers, trailer boats, and water sports, as well as providing a range of interactive experiences and entertainment.
Those wanting to get hands on at the event took part in the fishing competition, improved their trailer and caravan driving skills at the hands on trailer skills course, went on a 4WD demonstration on the purpose-built course, or visited the sea trial zone to test out the latest boats and water sport vehicles.
The event also boasted a special kids’ zone, with face painting, a jumping castle, ninja climbing wall and a craft station.
There were also camp oven cooking demonstrations, a gravity-defying BMW Motorrad stunt rider, a live Step Outside show with Paul Burt, and Spida and Sheree from The Great Australian Doorstep shared the trials and tribulations of life on the road in a motorhome.
Mulpha content and communications executive Sally Stessl said the outdoor lifestyle had been growing in popularity and the exhibits at OutdoorX allowed visitors to view or even test out the latest equipment and technology, as well as get tips and take part in demonstrations.
“OutdoorX… [was] a perfect blend of entertainment and education, all happening on the spectacular waterfront precinct of Sanctuary Cove,” Ms Stessl said.
“Sanctuary Cove provides all the elements for a great experience, with music bars, restaurants and cafes already on site at The Marine Village,” she said.
Ms Stessl said the event was also family friendly and fun for young children, due to the special areas where children could play, work off energy and relax.
She said the event offered “plenty to see and do for the little ones” thanks to a dedicated kids’ zone with face painting, a ninja climbing wall and a craft station where “little creative minds” could “get to work”.
Sirocco Marine North hosted sea trials at the three-day event, featuring the latest BRIG boats on the waters at Sanctuary Cove.
Sirocco Marine North managing director Dylan Lopez said the event was a great environment for visitors to test vessels in a safe, efficient and entertaining manner.
“OutdoorX is a one-stop-shop tradeshow allowing visitors ease of access and more opportunities compared to individually visiting dealers, as everything… [could] be tested and compared safely and professionally in one place,” Mr Lopez said.
“I have been managing smaller Centrico shows for 14 years and this… [was] the first time we… [had] an allocated sea trial berth where we… [could] link people from our stands to an on-water experience aboard a high-performance BRIG,” he said.
“Visitors just don’t get these opportunities elsewhere and the timing of the event [was] also perfect for potential buyers keen to combine OutdoorX with a holiday.”
The event was organised by Mulpha, whose events general manager, Johan Hasser, said the company was thrilled with the line-up of exhibitors signed up to the event, because it created a truly professional and mesmerising show.
“We [wanted] visitors to not only be able to talk with our exhibitors but [to] see, touch and feel their products so they [could] truly appreciate the exciting opportunities they [opened] up,” Mr Hasser said.
He said he had “no doubt” visitors would have been blown away by the diversity of the exhibitors at the event as well as the lengths they went “to wow them”.
