The AFL postponed its season-opening game and one other, a cruise ship was diverted from Brisbane, and Qantas and Virgin offered passengers free flight changes as south-east Queensland and northern NSW battened down against a powerful cyclone tracking further south than is normal.
Residents in some low-lying suburbs of the Queensland capital were sandbagging properties against the threat of flooding on Tuesday, while warnings of wild seas, driving rain and destructive winds extended from Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast to Gympie, north of Brisbane, and points in between.
Ayesha de Kretser is a senior reporter with The Australian Financial Review covering the aviation and tourism sectors. She has previously reported on banking, mining and commodity markets. Connect with Ayesha on Twitter. Email Ayesha at ayesha.dekretser@afr.com.au
