Smile Dunedin, you are on Australian television.
Dunedin will star in a new commercial aimed at enticing Australians across the Tasman as part of a spring What's On campaign, to be launched tomorrow by Tourism New Zealand.
The commercial promotes Dunedin's heritage and wildlife, and features images of the Octagon, Larnach Castle and yellow-eyed penguins.
Television personalities Petra Bagust and Robbie Magasiva will front the campaign, telling Australians that New Zealand is a "fresh" destination to visit this spring.
"This is a fantastic campaign for Dunedin," Tourism Dunedin acting chief executive Hamish Saxton said.
With the growth in long-haul markets beginning to plateau, short-haul markets such as Australia were important for Dunedin, he said.
"We are hopeful we will see an influx of Australians coming to Dunedin."
Tourism New Zealand has committed $2 million towards the What's On campaign, which will also promote Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Northland, Rotorua and Queenstown.
Two longer commercials will also promote New Zealand as ready for spring.
In the year to March, Australians spent $1.7 billion in New Zealand, up from 17% the previous year.
