|
 Welcome to our newsletter
Welcome to Autumn! We hope you’ve had a chance to settle into the new year after a busy summer period and are looking forward to what the cooler months will bring for our region.
Recent analysis of the Barrington Coast summer spend (01 Dec 2025– 31 Jan 2026) shows a strong season for our local economy, with overall spend up 5.65% compared with the same period last year. Visitors contributed $147.6 million, accounting for 36% of the total summer economy and representing a 4% year‑on‑year increase in visitor spend.
Across the Barrington Coast, visitor spending remained a vital economic driver, contributing 73% of total spend in Pacific Palms, 60% in Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest, and 38% in both Forster–Tuncurry and Harrington. Gloucester recorded a 9% growth in visitor spend for the period - some welcome relief after the impacts of the 2025 flooding events.
Looking ahead, this month, we are pleased to invite local operators and industry partners to a Tourism Industry Networking Event hosted in-region by Destination North Coast (DNC), the regional tourism agency providing crucial support to operators from the MidCoast up to Tweed. Please join us from 5–7pm on Wednesday, 25 March 2026 at The Avon Valley Inn, Gloucester for this valuable opportunity to meet the highly knowledgeable DNC Team and Board Members as well as connect with fellow Barrington Coast operators. RSVPs are essential—details are provided below.
We look forward to seeing many of you at the Tourism Industry Networking Event in Gloucester on 25 March.
Keep in touch,
Tanya Lipus
Manager, Economic & Destination Development
Madeline Hale
Tourism Industry Development Officer
|
|
 Tourism Industry Networking with Destination North Coast
We are pleased to welcome Destination North Coast (DNC) to our region this month for their bi-monthly Board meeting and Evening Tourism Industry Networking event in Gloucester. Following the board meeting, local tourism operators and industry partners are invited to join for a relaxed evening of networking — an opportunity to hear the latest industry insights, discuss ideas with leading industry professionals, and connect with others in the industry.
What: Evening Tourism Industry Networking
When: Wednesday 25 March 2026 Time: 5.00–7.00pm
Where: Avon Valley Inn, Gloucester
RSVPs are essential by Thursday 19 March 2026. For catering purposes, please include any dietary requirements when responding. Please RSVP via email to admin@dncnsw.com
To learn more about the Destination North Coast team and Board Members, head to the DNC Website More.
We look forward to welcoming you on the evening!
 Business spotlight
The Recky – Pacific Palms Recreation Club
Congratulations to The Recky who recently announced an inaugural music festival, set to take place on Easter Saturday 2026. Inspired by Booti Booti National Park — from the Worimi word Butibuti, meaning “plenty of honey” — the festival will showcase a vibrant lineup of surf rock and indie artists. Tickets are on sale now. More.
The Recky continues to cement its reputation as a home for live music and community events, attracting both visitors and locals alike. From hosting major touring acts such as Birds of Tokyo and 360 to celebrating grassroots celebrations, the venue most recently held a Welcome Home Party for Winter Olympic Silver Medallist Danielle Scott to showcase her medal and stories with hometown pride.
|
|
 Industry development
Upcoming webinars, business events and marketing essentials
Tourism Australia Webinar: Thriving in the New Search Landscape Despite record-high interest in Australian travel, website clicks are dropping as AI begins answering traveller questions directly on the search page. This session breaks down how to reclaim your visibility by mastering the new "citation game," some immediate technical wins, and creating the high-authority content that AI gatekeepers prioritise. Register.
Lifestyle Barrington Coast Magazine Register your interest to be part of the next edition of the Lifestyle Barrington Coast EAT, STAY, PLAY, CONNECT magazine. Register interest before 31 March 2026. More.
2026 North Coast Tourism Symposium & Regional Tourism Awards Gala Tickets are on sale for the 2026 North Coast Tourism Symposium & Regional Tourism Awards, themed “From Vision to Visitor Ready: Distinctive Places, Shared Future” in Coffs Harbour from 29 to 30 July. The industry event will bring together tourism leaders, innovators and operators for a Welcome Event, full day Symposium, and prestigious Regional Tourism Awards Gala. Award Nominations are open 4 March – 2 April across 19 Tourism Categories. More.
2026 Global Sustainable Tourism Summit Ecotourism Australia is hosting a Global Sustainable Tourism Summit 2026 on the Gold Coast from 2 – 5 June. The Summit will bring together sustainability changemakers, innovators and industry leaders for four days of ideas, collaboration and impact, exploring how the visitor economy can champion the four pillars of sustainability. Discounts are available for Ecotourism Australia certified operators. More.
Stroud & Coolongolook targeted for EV Charging Station Funding The NSW Government has identified Stroud and Coolongolook as regional EV charging blackspots. To address NSW blackspots and improve regional–metropolitan connectivity, Round 4 of the Drive Electric NSW EV Fast Charging Grants has been announced. MidCoast Council has nominated council-owned sites in both towns and is also encouraging local businesses in each town to consider applying for this funding to build, own and operate EV fast charging stations. Applications close on 24 April 2026. More.
Destination NSW Marketing Tools 101 Top tips to develop Unique Selling Points, Copy and written content, eye-catching imagery and consistent branding. More.
|
|
Viking Challenge
7-8 March
North Tuncurry Sports Complex
The Viking Challenge is an annual 6-a-side soccer event hosted by Great Lakes United Football Club in Tuncurry. It's one of the largest 6 aside Football tournaments.
|
|
Reflections Rod Run
6-8 March
Tea Gardens Waterfront
Hot Rod run on the Tea Gardens Waterfront, with over 110 cars on show, plus markets, live music and more.
|
|
Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Motorfest
Saturday 14 March
Celebrating its 21st year, Motorfest returns to Tea Gardens Hawks Nets with its ever-impressive range of classic cars, hot rods and motorcycles.
|
|
Easter Powerboat Classic
3-5 April
Returning to the Manning, the Easter Powerboat Classic is back for a full weekend of spectacular racing on the water.
|
|
Australian Tourism Data Warehouse
The Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) is Australia’s national platform for digital tourism information. Eligible tourism businesses can easily create a free listing for their accommodation, tour, food and drink establishment, events and more. These valuable listings appear on websites such as Australia.com and VisitNSW.com, and another 50 websites.
An ATDW listing will promote your business through multiple channels to a much larger audience network ensuring more consumers will see your product and potentially book it. It’s a great way for tourism operators with limited promotion budgets to publicise their product and services, supplementary to a listing on the Destination Barrington Coast website. To get started and leverage free tips and resources visit the ATDW Support Hub or book a free Optimisation Call with ATDW. More.
The Get Connected Program allows NSW tourism operators to showcase their products online free of charge via ATDW. More.
Meet In Regional NSW allows you to list your business event venue. More.
For more information please email our Tourism Industry Development Officer madeline.hale@midcoast.nsw.gov.au
  Subscribe to our business newsletter
|
|
|
|
|
