Drum roll please … When it comes to holidaying at home, regional New South Wales leads the pack as our favourite place to holiday in Australia. And with the area’s magnificent coastline, mountains, wine, and snow, it’s little wonder!
The latest data from Tourism Research Australia (TRA) shows regional New South Wales attracted 66 million domestic visitors in the year ending March 2024, edging out other popular destinations including regional Victoria and Queensland.
The top three regions were the Hunter, followed by the South Coast, and New England North West.
Here’s a few ideas for your Hunter Valley weekend
Taking out silver in the Australian regional holiday stakes was regional Victoria with 7.9 million trips followed by regional Queensland with 5.7 million trips.
Destination NSW Acting CEO Ian Maltman notes: “NSW is home to Australia’s most diverse landscapes — visitors can drive from the Snowys to the Sapphire Coast in a few hours, experience the vastly different climates of Byron Bay and Broken Hill, the sandstone cliffs of the Blue Mountains to the volcanic rock of The Warrumbungles.
“In addition to its spectacular geography, regional NSW is also home to some of Australia’s most iconic events, ranging from the Tamworth Country Music Festival to the Narooma Oyster Festival and the world’s biggest ute muster in Deniliquin. This collision of diverse natural wonders and vibrant culture energises visitors and ensures they return over and over again.”
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Regional NSW was also the domestic daytrip capital of Australia in the year ending March 2024, with the Hunter region topping the list again.
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Need a hand planning your holiday in the Hunter Valley? Check out some of our favourite articles – including H4C editor Tanya Joslin’s recent wine country weekend at new Hunter Valley accommodation, The Lane Retreat.
