In April, 19 regional cities across NSW were named finalists for this year’s NSW Top Tourism City Awards. The prestigious tourism awards recognise the regional cities that contribute most to the NSW tourism industry through natural beauty, activities, community and more. The winners were announced today, and the top three cities are all located on the NSW South Coast. Planning a trip to the south? Great find.
“These towns epitomise what visitors are looking for – immersive, reinvigorating experiences that showcase the best of what NSW has to offer and leave a lasting memory,” said Paula Martin, from the Tourism Industry Council of NSW.
This year’s big winner is Kiama, a dreamy seaside town in the Illawarra region, just under two hours from Sydney. With an abundance of natural wonders (including the Kiama Blowhole) and a stunning coastline, Kiama took the top spot beating Newcastle (last year’s winner), Orange, Murwillumbah, Bathurst, Ballina, Grafton, Shellharbour and Ulladulla, and was joined on this year’s podium by two other charming south coast towns.
Photo: Courtesy of Destination NSW
This year’s winner of the ‘Small Destination Town’ award is tranquil haven Huskisson, a seaside mecca just south of the Shoalhaven region. A small but vibrant town surrounded by marine park on the shores of famous Jervis Bay, Huskisson is the hub of the Shoalhaven region, filled with shops, cafes, craft breweries and spacious waterfront pubs. It’s also a 13-minute drive from Hyams Beach, widely recognised as the whitest sand beach in the world.
If you’re planning a visit in the near future, we recommend timing your visit with the Jervis Bay Beachside Beer & BBQ Festival, which takes place at the Huskisson Hotel on Saturday 22 June. The Small Tourism Town award is given to an outstanding town with a population of under 1500. This coastal gem beat out Broke (a small historic town/village in the Hunter Valley), Wollombi and Eugowra, all of which are recognised as places where tourists can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Despite its many advantages, Huskisson was named the state’s number one small town this year for the second year in a row.
Photo: Courtesy
The final winner for 2024 was the neighbouring town of Berry, which was named “Small Destination Town” at this year’s awards. The award is given to towns with between 1,500 and 5,000 residents, and the historic market town took the top spot ahead of Oberon, Bulahdelah, Gloucester, Merimbula and Ulmarra. Berry was praised for its “award-winning restaurants, fantastic vineyards, an abundance of fantastic shopping opportunities and a welcoming community.” Having been crowned top small town three years running, Berry has been inducted into the Hall of Fame in recognition of its continuing charm. If you do visit, we recommend booking a table at Queen Street Eatery – you won’t regret it.
You can see the full list of winners here (and plan your next South Coast trip accordingly).
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