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ENJOY AN EGG-CELLENT EASTER IN NSW
Locals and visitors alike are being encouraged to explore NSW this Easter break, and enjoy the State’s impressive list of events and experiences.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said many people are planning to maximise the Easter long-weekend that coincides with Anzac Day and the school holidays, which presents the perfect opportunity to relish in the State’s vast array of cultural, outdoor and rural adventures.
“Tourism is big business – it accounts for 1 in 22 jobs in NSW. It’s why the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, is committed to securing the biggest and best events for our State,” Mr Ayres said.
“Aside from being excellent news for the NSW economy, it also means we have a world-class list of events and experiences for locals and visitors to choose from.
“This Easter long-weekend is a wonderful chance to enjoy the rides and attractions at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, see one of Sydney’s magnificent musicals, head outside for a coastal walk or ferry ride, or enjoy a retreat in regional NSW.”
Easter long-weekend highlights in NSW include:
Gain a taste for rural life: Now in its 197th year, the Sydney Royal Easter Show is Australia’s largest annual ticketed event. From rides to showbags, fresh farm produce to jaw-dropping entertainment, the Show at Sydney Olympic Park has something for everyone.
See a stage production: It is the final weekend to see Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour’s West Side Story; a lively musical set against the spectacular backdrop of Sydney Harbour at Mrs Macquaries Point. Saturday Night Fever will have you dancing in your seats with all your favourite Bee Gees’ disco hits, while Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a winner with the kids, including those young at heart.
Enjoy the great outdoors: The cooler crisp Autumn weather presents the perfect opportunity to enjoy NSW’s breadth of outdoor experiences. Take a stroll on the iconic Bondi to Bronte coastal walk, catch a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly for a long lunch, head north to the Blue Mountains for Sculpture at Scenic World, camp in the Mungo National Park in the State’s south-west or go kayaking with dolphins in Byron Bay.
Escape to the country: Whether it is wine tasting in the Hunter Valley, relaxing on the pristine beaches on the South Coast, having an adrenalin-packed adventure weekend in the Snowy Mountains or indulging in fresh produce in the Central West, regional NSW offers an endless list of possibilities for the ideal weekend getaway.
To learn more about what NSW has to offer and to plan your Easter break, head to visitnsw.com
Photo credit: Sharyn Cairns
TOP THINGS TO TASTE AT THE ROYAL EASTER SHOW
The Sydney Royal Easter Show is in full swing, with thousands of visitors flocking to the nation’s largest event. The NSW Government, through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, is proud to support the show, year in year out. It’s a place where the city meets the country, showcasing our spectacular agricultural achievements in a celebration of food, farming and fun.
Beyond the excitement of the rides and jaw-dropping entertainment, the show offers foodies a plethora of taste sensations – from daring experimental dishes (many of which, are served on a stick) through to medal winning fare, tastebuds will be tantalised as show goers explore the delicious options on offer.
Here’s our top four must-try picks you should add to your list for this weekend.
1. Unicorn Hot Cross Buns
Nothing says Easter like hot cross buns (and the Show of course), so what better place to try the most unique take on this holiday classic, thanks to Therese Ngo at Mum’s Buns.
Delivering delight in every bite, this hand-crafted, technicolour concoction skips on the sultanas, with decadent white chocolate taking its place. As with all things Easter Show, we’d recommend having yours served with a scoop of ice-cream and plenty of 100’s and 1000’s!
2. The Showstopper Pale Ale
The Easter Show is home to many exclusive food experiences and the ‘Showstopper’ Pale Ale delivers on its name. Bright and hoppy, much like the Easter bunny himself, this is the definition of a unique beer, brewed just for the Sydney Royal Easter Show after the brewer, Modus Operandi, took out the award for Best NSW Beer in 2017.
What makes this beer so special is the fact that it’s actually made from 100% NSW derived produce. Many of us often forget that our humble brew is a product of two agricultural products, hops and barley, so it goes without saying that this is a truly local affair.
3. The Big Mick
If there’s a place where the humble Aussie pie can be taken to the next level, it’s the Royal Easter Show. Introducing ‘The Big Mick’ – baked fresh daily by Mick’s Bakery, it’s an experience not to be missed by all pie and burger aficionados. Comprising of two beef patties, a ‘special sauce’, cheese, pickles, in a golden pastry – it’s a taste sensation which is set to have you coming back for seconds.
4. The Country Women’s Association Scones
A Royal Easter Show staple which is not to be missed – each year, the Country Women’s Association serve up their signature scones which have revellers queuing around the block. In 2017, the ladies of the CWA sold a record 53,872 scones, so it goes without saying these doughy delights are a must-eat for this weekend! All proceeds from their store are set to be used for disaster relief, supporting those in need across NSW – so they’re well worth lining up for!
Visit eastershow.com.au to plan your trip.
SAIL PORT STEPHENS 2019 COMES TO A CLOSE
The 12th annual Sail Port Stephens has wrapped up for another year, with a record fleet of 249 boats entered in 2019.
The event began in 2008 with just 25 boats registered in the regatta, but has grown to quickly become an internationally recognised yachting event – supported by the NSW Government via Destination NSW.
Despite some trying weather conditions, including heavy rain (strong winds and even hail at times) the competition delivered some spectacular performances.
Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Major Events Geoff Provest said he was delighted to be able to witness the talent on display.
“The NSW Government is proud to support this event that has grown from a small, local event 12 years ago, to one that is now recognised on the world-stage,” Mr Provest said.
“I would like to congratulate Sail Port Stephens’ dedicated organisers for creating such a renowned regatta, which continues to attract new visitors to the pristine waters of the North Coast every year.”
Dates for Sail Port Stephens 2020 will be announced in the coming weeks.
Pictured: Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Major Events Geoff Provest with Jen Hughes and Rob Brown
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS EXPLORES NSW
Last week, Channel Seven’s popular lifestyle show Better Homes and Garden’s set out across the Central West and into the Riverina, showcasing the area’s excellent culinary and agricultural offerings.
The show’s cooking presenter ‘Fast’ Ed Halmagyi travelled to Oberon, Carcoar, Junee and Griffith to film a number of segments to profile the regional NSW’s outstanding natural beauty, farms and bountiful fresh produce.
Minster for Tourism Stuart Ayres said the filming opportunity was secured by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW and is part of its strategy to triple overnight visitor expenditure in NSW by 2030.
“The NSW Government is determined to continue turbocharging rural and regional tourism and share the best of the bush and our wonderful local produce with the world,” Mr Ayres said.
“Securing media coverage, including segments on popular TV shows like Better Homes and Gardens, helps to promote our State and its culinary experiences to a wide audience, and inspires people to look to regional NSW when planning their next holiday.”
The episodes are set to air across May and June. Tune into Better Homes and Gardens Fridays at 7pm on the Seven Network.
IRONMAN AUSTRALIA SET FOR RECORD BREAKING YEAR
IRONMAN Australia, on the beautiful mid north coast of NSW is set for a bonanza year, with record breaking registrations for the full distance race and IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie on 5 May.
The nation’s longest running IRONMAN event has more than 3000 athletes registered this year, with the full distance IRONMAN Australia nearing sell out and IRONMAN 70.3 Port Macquarie already sold out three weeks from race day.
With a record number of attendees set to head to Port Macquarie, all visitors are being encouraged to explore the picturesque region and make the most of their weekend spectating the race.
See here for more information about the event.
U15's AUSTRALIAN HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS
The nation’s best up-and-coming hockey players exhibited their talent during the U15s Australian Championships grand finals, held at Narellan in Sydney’s south-west on Sunday 14 April.
WA Gold edged past hosts NSW 2-1 to claim gold in the boys’, while Victoria beat WA Gold to win the girls’ title.
Member for Camden Peter Sidgreaves assisted with the final presentations for the event, which is supported by the NSW Government via Destination NSW as part of a five-year partnership with Hockey Australia.
For more information, visit hockey.org.au
Pictured: Member for Camden Peter Sidgreaves with the U15s Girls Australian Hockey Champions (credit: Click in Focus)
2019 WINE MEDIA CONFERENCE IN HUNTER VALLEY
Registrations are now open for the Wine Media Conference, to be held in the Hunter Valley from 10-12 October. It is the first time that the esteemed industry event has been staged outside of North America, and gives NSW the opportunity to showcase the best wines, wineries and food and drink experiences the region has to offer.
The conference is anticipated to attract 250 to 350 wine bloggers, writers and influencers from around the world to participate in local excursions, sessions about online media versus print media and the future of wine and other networking and development opportunities.
To register visit winemediaconference.org
L'ETAPE TAKES OUT TOP SCORE AT NATIONAL AWARDS
At this month’s Meeting & Events Australia (MEA) Awards Dinner in Brisbane, L'Étape Australia by Tour de France, the annual mass participation cycle race event held in the NSW Snowy Mountains, was awarded Best National Public Event of the Year and Best National Regional Event of the Year for 2018. The annual national awards ceremony recognises success and major achievement in the events industry across Australia.
Since its inception in 2016, L'Étape Australia by Tour de France has provided a new level of riding experience in Australia, combining the beauty of the Snowy Mountains, the incredible enthusiasm of the locals and an event run to Tour de France professional standards.
Find out more about the 2019 event here.
MOREE SET TO SWOON VISITORS WITH BAMM ART FAIR
Moree is renowned for its vibrant and diverse art scene, and this talent will soon swell as creatives from across Australia exhibit at the inaugural BAMM Art Fair.
The new annual event is calling on artists from within the district and beyond to submit their work to one of three categories that will make up the exhibition.
The full exhibition runs from June 28 to July 27, and all works on display will be for sale, with commissions contributing directly to BAMM’s program of art classes and workshops. For artists living outside the Moree region, or not quite ready for their own solo exhibition, BAMM Art Fair also features an open group exhibition.
For more information go to bamm.org.au
AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PARK ZOOPERHEROES SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
This long weekend, why not head out to the Australian Reptile Park, who are celebrating their "Zooperheroes" School Holidays event until 28 April, with a daily Superhero Stunt Show at 1.30pm and a jumping castle.
The Central Coast wildlife sanctuary is an immersive and interactive experience located the natural bush setting of the Central Coast of NSW, only 60 minutes from Sydney or Newcastle. Enjoy live entertaining shows, themed exhibits and interaction with many of the wildlife sanctuaries residents. The Park is open daily from 9am-5pm, with complimentary parking and BBQ facilities. More information at www.reptilepark.com.au
HUNTER VALLEY FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL
There’s always so much to love about Hunter Valley Wine & Food Festival season and this year, it’s even bigger and better than before as this special little corner of the world celebrates the good life with a program of food and wine experiences sure to tempt the tastebuds of every visitor.
Just a two-hour drive north of Sydney, the Hunter Valley is home to more than 150 wineries and is bursting with all the delights of its highly acclaimed food and wine culture. With accommodation and experience packages for every budget, the Hunter Valley Wine and Food Festival is the perfect opportunity for a sumptuous winter getaway. More information at winecountry.com.au
BROKEN HILL OUTBACK RESORT SHOWCASES NEW CABIN
The new $5 million Broken Hill Outback Resort has marked the unveiling of its new deluxe spa cabins, nestled in the Barrier Ranges, with an opening package offering a free dinner with wine.
Outback NSW tourism company, Out of the Ordinary Outback, soft launched the resort, 13km east of Broken Hill, in September, 2018, with 40 camping and van sites but the completion of the 12 new spa cabins this month marks an official ‘coming of age’ for the ambitious project. Another 12 cabins will be completed by mid-2019.
For more information about the deals, visit Broken Hill Outback Resort.
