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Welcome to our newsletter
As we enter a traditionally quieter chapter of the year, the Barrington Coast remains ever‑ready to welcome visitors across the region. Despite recent global events, research by Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) Australia in their Autumn Travel Survey 2026 shows that Holidays and Travel remain the top non-essential expense that domestic travellers will still prioritise, however we are witnessing mixed reports across the region with some travellers changing behaviours: reducing length of stay, seeking deals and discounts, and showing more consideration on their entertainment spend.
Autumn and winter are ideal seasons for visitors, friends, and relatives to explore our charming historic and country towns, or to enjoy a slice of coastal paradise while there are fewer footprints in the sand. As many travellers rethink interstate or international travel, now is an ideal opportunity for you to appeal to those on shorter stays and staycations closer to home. Our vibrant hinterland town Gloucester is again nominated for Top Small Tourism Town 2026, vote now (before 3 May) to support Gloucester to win.
In every season, the sustainable enjoyment of our natural and protected areas remains a top priority. As the Barrington Coast | ECO Certified Destination, we continue to share the best available information to support informed visitor choices—and it’s heartening to see this shared commitment reflected by operators across the region. Forster Dive Centre (ECO Certified since March 2026), recently played a key role in the rescue a stranded juvenile whale in Wallis Lake while also promoting respectful ways locals and visitors can observe and protect aquatic life. With whale migration season fast approaching, our coastline will soon welcome many more of these incredible marine visitors—see the Barrington Coast featured in the Where to See Whales on the NSW Coast guide.
We’re pleased to share that the Barrington Coast website has recently undergone a refresh. The updated site introduces improved functionality across the Directory and Explore pages, making it easier than ever for operators who directly service the visitor economy or play a role in the visitor consideration phase to showcase their businesses. If you are not already listed and operate a business or event that directly services the visitor economy, you can request to List Your Business or List Your Event at any time. The refreshed website also offers a sneak peek at a new campaign coming to market soon, which tourism operators will be encouraged to leverage in due course.
Thankyou for all that you do to add value to the Barrington Coast Visitor Economy.
Keep in touch,
Madeline Hale
Tourism Industry Development Officer
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2026 North Coast Tourism Symposium & Regional Tourism Awards
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. More.
A number of Barrington Coast operators have nominated their businesses for an award, and we wish you every success as you prepare your submissions ahead of the 8 May deadline. For key dates and helpful resources, visit the North Coast Regional Tourism Awards webpage. More.
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Business Spotlight
Gap Hill Wines
Congratulations to new owners Matt and Fiona Donovan, who are re-opening Gap Hill Wines’ cellar door after moving to the region in January 2026 and jumping straight into their first harvest. Located in Stroud Road, their cellar door will be open most weekends and during the week on request – all visitors are encouraged to call ahead to confirm opening and availability. Set among the vines with views across the dam, guests can enjoy the sounds of local birdlife, enjoy a sip by the fire pit, and bring along furry-friends (dog-friendly). Keep an eye out for the Gap Hill Wines latest Vintage, to be released soon.
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Industry development
Upcoming webinars, business events and marketing essentials
Get Noticed Online Toolkit: We recognise that being visible online is important, so we’ve created a practical guide with tips and tools to help businesses improve their online presence and get noticed by the right audiences. More.
2026 Coastline Bank MidCoast Business Awards: Entries are now open - this is your opportunity to showcase your achievements, celebrate your success, and be recognised among the MidCoast region’s leading businesses. Applications close 1 June 2026. More.
Neurodiversity Inclusion Masterclass – 19 May Taree: This ticketed event gives leaders, managers, and teams the practical tools to create workplaces where neurodivergent employees can thrive. Participants explore the workplace impact of neurodiversity, the risks of exclusion, and how inclusive leadership strengthens innovation, retention, and overall performance. More.
Booking.com Travel and Sustainability Research: While generations take different approaches to more sustainable travel, adaptation to extreme weather and off-peak travel are becoming the new norms for all ages. More.
Quick tips for managing unexpected change: Destination NSW's capability-building NSW First Program has released a guide to assist tourism businesses during evolving external conditions. It provides practical tips for assessing impacts, adapting products and processes, managing staff and communicating effectively. More.
Destination NSW Marketing Tools 101: Top tips to develop unique selling points, copy and written content, eye-catching imagery and consistent branding. More.
Upcoming events:
To aid your planning and to support local events, please note these upcoming events in the Barrington Coast. Invite your family and friends from out of town and help support local. See What’s On for more.
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Tastefest on the Manning
2 May
Queen Elizabeth Park
A foodies delight in Taree, bringing producers together from across the Barrington Coast.
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Wingham Busker Muster
9 May
Downtown Wingham
Soak up the atmosphere as talented local buskers bring Isabella Street and Wingham Plaza to life with live music and entertainment.
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Rattletrap
16 May
Crowdy Head Beach, Crowdy Head
A unique display of vintage hot rods and motorcycles on Crowdy Head Beach.
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Mid Coast Motorfest
7 & 8 June
John Wright Park, Tuncurry
Veteran, vintage and classic cars, motorcycles, muscle cars, hot rods, stationary engines, street machines and more!
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Business Support
Need support or have a question?
Barrington Coast Website: If you are not already listed and operate a business or event that directly services the visitor economy, you can request to List Your Business or List Your Event at any time. Keep up to date with What’s On. Find practical tips and tools to improve online presence and Get Noticed Online.
ATDW | Australian Tourism Data Warehouse: 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 VisitNSW.com and another 50+ websites. An ATDW listing is particularly beneficial for tourism operators with limited marketing budgets. To get started, head online to join for free, access the ATDW Support Hub, and even book a free Optimisation Call with an ATDW team member if you wish. More.
Destination North Coast: Destination North Coast (DNC) works with industry, councils and partners to grow the visitor economy, supporting tourism businesses and driving sustainable outcomes for North Coast communities. Find valuable tourism and business event resources and subscribe to their newsletter updates. More.
Business Events NSW: Destination NSW provides a dedicated business events online portal for industry stakeholders to showcase NSW venues and supplier services available to event planners. Listing on the Business Events NSW website is free for NSW conference venues and suppliers. The Business Events NSW listing process is separate to an Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) listing. More.
Grants & Funding: Search for publicly available grants and access helpful application support via the MidCoast Grants Hub | Grant Guru. More.
Statistics: Search for publicly available economic statistics on the MidCoast LGA, including value of tourism and tourism visitor summary. More.
For more information please connect with Madeline Hale, Tourism Industry Development Officer: madeline.hale@midcoast.nsw.gov.au
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