A new tourism campaign will leave Hunter and Port Stephens residents with a definite sense of déjà vu.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Even pride.
The Destination NSW promotion is compiled from video footage taken from some of the region’s most well known attractions.
Port Stephens plays a staring role; camel rides on Stockton sand dunes and yachts inside Tomaree headland feature prominently.
“I never get sick of it,” camel trek opperator and Oakfield Ranch owner Rod Sansom said of the publicity.
“You’ve got to push things to succeed and it all helps.”
The videos each run for just 15 seconds but paint a enticing picture.
“To help visitors plan their next NSW getaway, Destination NSW has launched five short videos showcasing more than 20 holiday destinations including Port Stephens as part of our new ‘What I Love About Holidays in NSW’ campaign,” Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said.
“The videos feature nature escapes, foodie getaways, exciting events, historic journeys and beach breaks including products and experiences from right across Regional NSW”.
The government tourism agency described regional NSW as one of the most diverse places in the world “offering a multitude of options for a memorable holiday” including “awe-inspiring national parks, pristine beaches, enlightening Indigenous experiences, immersive art trails, delicious food and wine, and quirky events”.
Mr Sansom said the campaigns certainly helped.
“We get phone calls all the time – up to 20 a week – saying ‘we’ve seen the camel rides, where can we do it, where can we stay and what else can we do there’?” he said.
“I’m a bit biased but camels are just great. Seeing camels on sand just works, it stops you in your tracks.”
Nature escapes: Get back to nature and explore NSW’s four World Heritage-listed wilderness sites and 850 national parks and reserves. More than 23.8 million* visitors to NSW enjoy nature-based experiences such as camping with kangaroos, cruising alongside whales, diving with seals, fly fishing, snowboarding and horse riding. Beautiful NSW destinations featured include the Snowy Mountains, the Blue Mountains, Port Stephens, Tamworth and the Central Coast
Foodie getaways: More than 1.5 million* people visited one or more of NSW’s 14 distinct wine regions in 2016, including the Hunter Valley, Australia’s oldest wine region and New England, the country’s youngest. An astonishing 47 million* food-inspired travellers also chose to dine in NSW’s multitude of award-winning regional restaurants including Australian Gourmet Traveller Magazine’s 2016 Regional Restaurant of the Year, Three Blue Ducks Byron Bay. Meeting passionate producers and visiting farm gates to purchase farm-fresh local produce was also high agenda. Food and wine destinations include the Hunter Valley, Orange, the South Coast, the Blue Mountains, Tamworth and the Riverina
Exciting events: Regional NSW’s annual calendar of events features quirky food festivals, major international sporting events, live music, outdoor operas, film festivals and colourful local celebrations - attracting almost 4 million visitors each year. Some of the eventful destinationsinclude Bathurst, Newcastle, Parkes, Wollongong, Shellharbour, Port Stephens, Orange, Canowindra and Tamworth
Historic journeys: Learn about NSW’s fascinating history and heritage including some of the world’s oldest burial sites to fossils dating back 360 million years, enduring Aboriginal song lines and Dreaming, convict farms and goldmining towns. Nearly 10 million* visitors to NSW engage in a heritage or cultural activity during their trip. Heritage locations include The Murray, Outback NSW and Broken Hill, the Snowy Mountains, Country NSW and Tamworth
Beach breaks: Home to more than 2000 km of coastline and nine of Australia’s National Surfing Reserves, NSW boasts some of the best and most accessible beaches in Australia. Fourteen million* visitors to NSW enjoyed surfing weekends, surfing road trips and fun-packed holidays with the kids. Coastal locations include the central Coast, Port Stephens, Newcastle, Jervis Bay, Byron Bay and Lord Howe Island.
The ‘What I Love About Holidays in NSW’ campaign will roll out across the state in coming weeks.
*Source: National Visitor Survey (NVS) YE September 2016.