Which NSW Drivers Will Benefit from the Demerit Point Scrub?

One million drivers who remained offence-free on the road over the past 12 months will get a demerit point scrubbed from their licence by the NSW Government.

Western Sydney and regional New South Wales drivers are set to be the biggest beneficiaries. Topping the list of suburbs was Blacktown, where more than 6,000 drivers are getting a point wiped. Castle Hill, Merrylands, Auburn and Maroubra round out the top five suburbs – each with 4,500 or more drivers to benefit.

Regional drivers were also doing the right thing in great numbers with motorists in Orange, Dubbo, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour notching up more than 16,000 demerit points removed.

Motorists will begin to see their licence demerit tally updated from the second quarter of 2025. The demerit point reward scheme is open to eligible unrestricted and professional licence holders with active demerit points. 

Visit nsw.gov.au for more information.

Survey Shows Confusion Over Car Horn Use in Victoria

An RACV online poll has revealed the majority of Victorians are confused about the legal use of car horns. 

Responding to the question: “When is it legal to use your car horn?”, 89 per cent of more than 1,200 respondents answered incorrectly.

Victorian road rules state that motorists can only use a horn to ‘warn other road users or animals of the approach of their vehicle’. The only other legal use of a horn is if it is part of an anti-theft device, or alcohol interlock, fitted to the vehicle.

The current fine for breaching Victorian car horn rules is $184.92. RACV Head of Policy, James Williams, says using your horn doesn’t strike many Victorians as a potentially illegal activity while driving; and it could be costing them.

“Using the horn to speed up other drivers, express frustration or even say goodbye can confuse and disorientate other road users who use the horn as an important warning.

“It’s also important to note that excessive horn use can be characterised as road rage and in some cases can warrant a much steeper fine.”

Williams said that brushing up on road rules and being patient on the road was the best option for Victorians.

“It can be tempting to use the horn for convenience in some of those settings that may seem innocent and harmless, but we’re encouraging motorists to follow the laws and practice patience and empathy for each other.” 

Visit racv.com.au for more information. 

Wilsons Promontory Wildlife Walk Gets a Multi-Million Dollar Upgrade

An upgrade to the Wildlife Walk at Wilsons Promontory National Park in Victoria has made it more accessible to those with limited mobility.

This work was part of the Victorian Government's $23 million Wilsons Prom Revitalisation project, and included the resurfacing of the 2.3-kilometre trail.

Twenty minutes from the main visitor hub of Tidal River, the walk is one of the park’s most popular spots and a prime location for viewing emus, kangaroos, wallabies and wombats. Interpretive signage was installed at seated rest points along the path and the project also improved visitor car parking with ‘universal-access’ parking bays. 

Visit South Gippsland Shire Council for more information. 

Uluṟu’s Field of Light Installation Extended Until 2027

Uluru Field of Light, the internationally acclaimed art installation by British-Australian artist Bruce Munro, has had a major refurbishment and been extended until April 2027.

All of the luminous and fibre optics have been replaced, and the 4.5-hour outdoor dining experience has been upgraded to include telescopes and a refreshed menu featuring dishes like smoked kangaroo with native pepperberry yoghurt.

The revamp ensures the award-winning artwork – which has been visited by more than 730,000 people since its 2016 launch – remains a huge drawcard for regional tourism.

Munro says, “Creating the Field of Light at Uluru was a dream come true and it’s a personal joy to see that it still shines bright in the landscape that inspired it.” Named Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakunytjaku or ‘looking at lots of beautiful lights’ in the local Pitjantjatjara language, the installation was designed to symbolise the desert blooming after rain.

It features 50,000 solar-powered spindles of light covering more than seven football fields, which breathe and sway as they change colour through a spectrum of ochre, deep violet, blue and white.

Visit ayersrockresort.com.au for more information. 

Parrtjima Festival Returns to Alice Springs

Parrtjima – A Festival in Light is returning to Alice Springs/Mparntwe in April, and will for the first time hold a performance by the Darwin Symphony Orchestra with more than 50 musicians.

Parrtjima showcases the world’s oldest continuous cultures through light installations and performances, set against the 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges.

The free 10-night festival features the MacDonnell Ranges light show and grounded installations, alongside new works inspired by the 2025 theme ‘Timelessness’. Performances include Desert Divas, Catherine Satour, Casii Williams and Bronwyn Stuart, along with Australian county music icon Troy Cassar-Daley.

Visit parrtjimaaustralia.com.au for more information. 

Bumper Turtle Hatching Season in Queensland

The turtle season at Queensland’s Mon Repos Beach has seen a bumper nesting season, with more than 300 turtles making their way ashore to lay their eggs.

Guests at NRMA’s Turtle Sands Nature Resort have been able to watch the turtles lay their eggs amongst the sand dunes on Mon Repos beach, with as many as 66 turtles spotted on one night as part of the QPWS Ranger-led Turtle Encounter tours run next door to the resort.

Guests staying during turtle season (until April 2025) commit to the Turtle Protection Promise, which sees light and noise reduced from the accommodation by 7.30pm, and access to the beach limited to between 6am and 6pm. 

Visit turtlesands.com.au for more information. 

New Boat Service Offers Half-Day Great Barrier Reef Tours

A purpose-built $1.5 million vessel has launched in Cairns, giving visitors with limited time the opportunity to see the Great Barrier Reef.

Pure Snorkelling is a joint venture between two Cairns family-owned reef operators, Passions of Paradise and Ocean Free and Ocean Freedom, and will offer a half- day snorkelling tour to a site that has not been visited for almost five years.

Passions of Paradise Managing Director, Alan Wallish, says many visitors do not allow enough time to see everything they want and are looking for half-day options.

“Pure Snorkelling has four 350 horsepower engines enabling it to reach the outer Great Barrier Reef in less than an hour, providing more than two hours of snorkelling time on the five-hour afternoon trip.

“Our primary destination will be spectacular Briggs Reef, 24 nautical miles south-east of Cairns, where Pure Snorkelling has an exclusive permit allowing guests to experience the site’s extraordinary coral cover.”

There are 14 other reef sites to choose from including Sudbury Cay, Thetford, Moore, Upolo, Oyster, Breaking and Pretty Patches. 

Visit puresnorkelling.au for more information. 

Category: Features
Written: Sat 01 Mar 2025
Printed: March, 2025
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