NEW PRODUCTS IN REGIONAL NSW New tours, new accommodation and experiences that are unique to the State continue to attract more visitors than ever to NSW. Blue Mountains Gourmet Getaway Tours, Sydney to Blue Mountains Gourmet Getaway Tours provides guests with immersive food and wine experiences in the Hunter Valley and has introduced a new tour to the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains Gourmet Food and Sightseeing Tour is a small-group, full-day tour that departs Sydney four days per week and takes guests on a progressive lunch, sampling the best local produce while exploring the World Heritage-listed national park. The company was founded by a loud and proud foodie and qualified chef, who has designed these tours to showcase the region’s incredible produce, stories, local people, and Gourmet Getaway Tours spectacular scenery — all only 90 minutes from Sydney. gourmetgetawaytours.com.au Central Coast Pearls of Australia – Broken Bay Pearl Farm Tour Pearls of Australia represents Broken Bay Pearls, the only pearl farm in NSW. Broken Bay Pearls is located on the Central Coast just one hour’s drive north of Sydney, and now offers the Broken Bay Pearl Farm Tour. In this small group tour, guests board a 10-metre catamaran with an experienced skipper who tells the fascinating story of these locally grown pearls. While cruising around the Rock Oyster farms, guests meet the pearling team who reveal the intricate craft of pearl farming. It’s also an opportunity to experience the pristine marine ecosystem — home to these world-class pearls as well as abundant wildlife such as birds, turtles, stingrays and fish. Once back on land, guests are invited to a hands-on pearl harvest where they witness how pearls are graded and Pearls of Australia learn the seven virtues which underpin the value of Pearls of Australia, including provenance, purity and lustre. pearlsofaustralia.com.au Central NSW Mayfield Garden Mayfield is one of the largest privately owned cool climate gardens in the world, inspired by the best throughout Europe. Located on a working farm near Oberon, Mayfield is just 2.5 hours’ drive from Sydney. Mayfield celebrates fresh and local produce at its café, which has a garden and paddock-to-plate philosophy. Most of the produce is grown on-site from Mayfield’s vegetable gardens, orchards and farm, with the remainder being locally sourced. From guided group tours to exclusive private tours to overnight glamping in the garden, Mayfield has much to offer and is less than an hour’s drive from the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains. Mayfield Garden mayfieldgarden.com.au Hunter Valley and Newcastle Coast XP Coast XP is a premier adventure cruise offering coastal interactions and experiences on the Hunter Coast, based in Newcastle. There are four cruises to choose from that showcase Newcastle’s history and harbour with open- ocean cruising along the coastline. Each tour includes commentary on the history of the port and city of Newcastle, marine life and local geology. The Adventure Tour operates from November to May, taking guests along 30km of the stunning Hunter coastline, with stops to marvel at sea caves, Catherine Hill Coast XP Bay jetty and the resident marine life. The Cruise Tour is a combined port and offshore adventure cruise, designed for cruise passengers to Newcastle, while on the Sunset Tour (Friday and Saturday evenings) guests enjoy a relaxed cruise on Newcastle Harbour and the Hunter River. The Encounter Tour operates during whale-watching season from June to November and offers the chance to experience these majestic creatures as they migrate along the coastline. Bespoke tours are also available for groups. coastxp.com Holiday Inn Express Newcastle (opening early 2019) Located on Newcastle Harbour, The Holiday Inn Express Newcastle provides guests with the perfect base to explore Newcastle, just minutes to entertainment, shopping, dining precincts and beaches. Newcastle is located two hours’ drive north of Sydney. The hotel provides guests with smart, hassle- Holiday Inn Express Newcastle free travel extras such as fast check-in, free Express Start Breakfast, free high- speed Wi-Fi, comfortable beds and a choice of pillows in each guest room. ihg.com Spicers Guest House Spicers Retreat has opened its second Hunter Valley property after purchasing the historic former Peppers-branded guesthouse. Following a $20 million renovation, the luxury 49-room property has had a beautiful uplift in design to match the surrounding mountain ranges and vineyards. The new Spicers Guesthouse includes a charming four-bedroom stand-alone guest cottage, large state-of-the-art conference facilities, and Éremo Restaurant led by multi chef-hatted Executive Chef Cameron Matthews, serving modern Italian cuisine. Spicers Guest House spicersretreats.com/retreats/spicers-guesthouse/ Murray Circa 1936 CIRCA 1936 is a luxury boutique hotel inside the former Rural Bank of NSW in the quintessential Aussie town of Corowa, just minutes from the Rutherglen wine region and halfway between Melbourne and Canberra. Behind the Art Deco façade, the spacious suites are the perfect retreat to venture out from to discover the history of Corowa, enjoy the wines at some of Australia’s oldest wineries or simply picnic amongst the gum trees that line the iconic Murray River. Guest stays include day spa treatments CIRCA’s renowned spa which features Australian made Li’tya products. Additionally, all guests can enjoy a 10am check-in and 5pm checkout, the Club Lounge facilities and the Circa 1936 opportunity to access a range of “One-on-one with a local” – experiences exclusive to CIRCA. bycirca.com/circa-1936 Mantra Albury Located in the heart of Albury, in southern NSW, Mantra Albury Hotel is one of the region’s premier corporate, meetings and leisure hotel. With 146 spacious guest rooms over seven storeys, the hotel has a restaurant and bar, executive lounge, gym and large conference facilities. The Murray River, Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA), the region’s renowned contemporary art gallery, and the botanic gardens are a short walk away. mantra.com.au Mantra Albury New England Tenterfield Tours Tenterfield Tours offers a Heritage and Natural Wonders guided day tour that takes guests on a journey to hear, see and feel the local Aboriginal culture prior to the arrival of Europeans, hear stories of the characters that shaped our nation, and learn why Tenterfield is “The Birthplace of our Nation”. The tour also includes the stunning Bald Rock National Park, offering spectacular views, and the largest exposed granite rock in the Southern Hemisphere. This personalised boutique tour includes morning tea, a picnic lunch, and hotel pickup in Tenterfield. Tenterfield is located on the New England Highway, and is eight hours’ drive northwest of Sydney, and three hours 30 minutes’ drive southwest of Brisbane. Tenterfield Tours tenterfieldtours.com.au North Coast Bago Maze and Winery Bago Maze and Winery is a family-owned and -operated property nestled in a picturesque valley in Wauchope, 30 minutes’ drive from Port Macquarie on the NSW North Coast and four hours’ drive from Sydney. Perched on a hill, the Winery and Cellar Door overlooks the Bago Vineyards and two-metre high hedge maze with 2000 metres of pathways. In 2018, Bago launched two new experiences. On the Best of Bago Experience, guests can go behind-the-scenes with Bago’s owner and enjoy a tour of the winery, vineyards and chocolate shop before finishing with some Bago Maze and Winery decadent wine, cheese and chocolate tastings. The Bago Family Experience provides a wonderful time for both adults and children, and includes locally made ice-cream and entry into the maze. bago.com.au Billabong Zoo - Koala & Wildlife Park Billabong Zoo is a four-hectare wildlife park and koala breeding centre located in Port Macquarie, four hours’ drive north of Sydney on the NSW North Coast. It opened in 1989, and features a wide variety of Australian and exotic animals and is renowned worldwide as a breeding centre for koalas. With over 200 animals, visitors can view, pat, stroke and feed over 120 different species of mammals, reptiles and birds. Visitors can enjoy up to 15 keeper presentations across the day, included with general admission, and also arrange private up- close-and-personal encounters with koalas, snow leopards, cheetahs, red pandas, meerkats, penguins and snakes. Billabong Zoo billabongzoo.com.au ecOasis resort ecOasis resort is an exclusive eco-retreat, located in the lush Tweed hinterland, 45 minutes’ drive from Tweed Heads on the NSW North Coast. There are six secluded one- or two-bedroom premium chalets, set on 45 hectares with spectacular views of Wollumbin (Mount Warning). Spacious living areas feature innovative use of glass and eco-timber, and each chalet has a state of the art gourmet kitchen. Guests can explore the region, enjoy massages, yoga and meditation, or just relax and unwind from the pressure of daily life. ecOasis can arrange meals to be delivered to guests’ chalets and transfers from the airport. ecoasis.com.au ecOasis resort Mount Warning Tours Mount Warning Tours offers a range of river cruises, outdoor adventures and sightseeing, along with farm and food tours in the Tweed Valley on the NSW North Coast. Operating from Coolangatta and Kingscliff, and with an activities base in the Tweed Valley at Tumbulgum, tours include tailored and daily scheduled cruises, day tours and overnight experiences. Clients can choose from activities such as guided kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding; seafood degustation or rainforest cruises on the Tweed River; and sightseeing tours around the iconic Wollumbin (Mount Warning) and hinterland showcasing nature, food and the arts scene. Cruises can cater for up to 50 people, Mount Warning Tours sightseeing tours for up to 42 people, and Mount Warning Tours offer a diverse collection of tailored small group sightseeing from four to 10 people per tour.