Site matches road trip playlist to itinerary, state government invests $2 million in inland tourism

With 15 iconic drives on offer, the $2 million initiative is designed to encourage international visitors to get out of the cities.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said it’s about maximising the natural beauty and tourism offerings of small communities.

“We’ve got two drives, there’s the Fossickers Way starting at Nundle, going through Manilla, Barraba, Bingara, Inverell, Glen Innes and back to Tamworth,” he said.

“And then there’s the Waterfall Way, a beautiful 184 kilometre drive from Coffs Harbour to Armidale.”

Road trippers can use the website to book accommodation, restaurants, tourism opportunities and sync their Spotify playlist to match their location. 

The goal is to make it easier for international tourists, who spend four nights longer than interstate tourists in regional NSW on average, to get out and see the “real Australia”, Mr Marshall said.

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“Tourism at the moment is a huge driver of the NSW economy, it’s worth collectively about $33 billion a year and directly employs close to 270,000 people – half of those in regional NSW,” he said.

“International tourists stay in our regions four times more nights than interstate tourists – they’re a lucrative market.”

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson used Friday’s launch as an opportunity to spruik his band, Splashpool, as a long drive favourite.

“We’ve got to keep showcasing what we do have – when you think about what we have in regional NSW it is staggering, it is breathtaking.

“The beauty of this is that it’s online, so you can be sitting at your breakfast table in Budapest and dial up Gunnedah, Nundle, Werris Creek or Manilla.” 

He welcomed the initiative, that puts regional NSW on the map. To plan a road trip itinerary visit visitnsw.com/roadtrips.