Destination Country & Outback NSW

50 Years of Deadly.

This Sunday marks the start of NAIDOC Week (5–12 July), and this year is a big one: It's the 50th anniversary of the week-long celebration, with the national theme "50 Years of Deadly."

Fifty years of celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, honouring resistance, calling for truth, and a chance to look ahead to the next fifty.

Across the country, communities will be marking the week with events, exhibitions and gatherings. This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved!

🖤💛❤️ Find an event near you: https://www.naidoc.org.au/

Register now for the New England North West Future Tourism Forum

Join some of the region's most influential voices in tourism, business and government for a landmark forum focused on unlocking the full potential of the region's visitor economy.

With keynote presentations from:
🎤 Karen Jones — CEO, Destination NSW
🎤 Lucy White — our fearless GM — Destination Country & Outback NSW
🎤 The Hon Kevin Anderson MP
🎤 Min Seto — Executive Officer, Alliance Social Enterprises

Plus, hear from regional tourism leaders from Angry Bull Trails, Austin Tourist Park, Gunnedah Shire Council and Tenterfield Chamber of Tourism, Industry and Business who will share their experiences, challenges and hard-won perspectives.

The forum intends to tackle the big issues: infrastructure, investment, workforce challenges, accommodation, destination marketing and community prosperity, while exploring how we can create a stronger, more sustainable future for the region.

🎟️ Registrations are essential → https://www.123tix.com.au/events/52848/new-england-north-west-future-tourism-forum-2026-business-nsw?step=1-select

You can take the girl out of the Outback...

Our Chair, Andrea Plawutsky, recently visited Paris and made sure the Silver City came along for the ride. Spotted: one very well-travelled Broken Hill tote, top of the Eiffel Tower. 🧡

One town, two states, and a well-earned Bronze!!

We are so pleased to share that Mungindi has taken out Bronze in the Tiny Tourism Town category at the 2026 NSW Top Tourism Town Awards, and if any place deserves recognition for being one of a kind, it's this one.

Straddling the NSW/Queensland border on the Carnarvon Highway, Mungindi is the only town in the Southern Hemisphere to share the same name across two states, where visitors can stand at the famous One Ton Post and be in two places at once. Not a bad party trick for a classic outback town that's also a natural stop on one of Australia's great road trips, a gateway to artesian waters and a place where cotton plains, river landscapes and country hospitality come together.

Congratulations Mungindi!

Nestled in the heart of the Central West, Callubri Station has caught the attention of the world!

This luxury outback lodge and working station stay has been featured on the UK series World's Most Secret Hotels, shining a global spotlight on the unique experiences waiting to be discovered in Country & Outback NSW.

From paddock-to-plate dining that changes with the seasons to the warmth of genuine station hospitality, Callibri Station offers the kind of escape that reminds you how special this part of the world is.

📺 Catch their feature here (their segment begins at 0:40): https://videos.argonon.com/videos/Windfall/master_WorldsMostSecretHotels_Series2_Episode2_1080i_50_MOV_15000_CLEAN.mov/

As the fuel situation continues to evolve, Australian Regional Tourism (ART) is collecting insights from across the sector to understand the impacts on the regional visitor economy.

ART is asking operators, RTOs, VICs and LGAs to share what they are seeing on the ground, across bookings, visitation and operations.

Your input will directly inform national advocacy and ensure Australia’s regions are clearly represented. Please complete the short survey and support your regional colleagues during this challenging period.

Complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KZP5DJ7

The NSW Top Tourism Town Awards are back for 2026 and our region has two brilliant nominees!

Moree (Top Tourism Towns) and Mungindi (Tiny Tourism Towns) are both in the running, representing everything that makes the region worth exploring: wide open landscapes, warm welcomes, and experiences you can't get anywhere else.

Vote for both and explore all categories while you're there: https://nswtourismassoc.kartra.com/survey/anmWRKOLCr9c

Voting closes 3rd May.

Tourism Moree Inc

Free digital coaching now available for NSW tourism businesses

Through the Digital Skills Future Ready program, NSW visitor economy businesses can now access eight on-demand webinars and apply for one-on-one coaching with Tourism Tribe (at no cost!)

Topics cover everything from AI-powered marketing and social media to email strategy, video, and search visibility.

To apply:

✅ Watch one of the eight webinars
✅ Submit your application before 24 April
✅ Be an NSW-based tourism supplier

Places are limited and allocated based on location, experience type, and business readiness.

👉 Watch the webinars: https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/destination-nsw-business-support/digital-skills-future-ready-webinar-series

👉 Apply for coaching: https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/destination-nsw-business-support/digital-skills-future-ready-webinar-series

Coaching must be completed by 30 June 2026.

Digital Skills Future Ready is part of the NSW First Program, delivered by Destination NSW.

Photo credit: Destination NSW

You asked for it, and we heard you loud and clear!

Following the energy at our Visitor Experiences Summit in Narrabri last month, we're launching two new initiatives to keep the conversation and the collaboration going.

📣 Friends of DNCO Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofdnco/?rdid=hwlFryHgDbEXGOtL&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2Fg%2F1CBacLayN9%2F #

This is a closed community for anyone in the region to share, ask, and stay connected.

☕ Virtual Coffee Catch-Up: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/dnco-virtual-coffee-catch-up-tickets-1987029978154?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

When: Thursday 14 May, 11am AEST

Networking, online, and no travel required. BYO coffee (or tea, we don't judge!)