Summary: Regional New South Wales is the focus of a new 2026 push to attract domestic and international visitors beyond Sydney. Destination NSW and industry partners are promoting slow-travel packages, heritage rail tours and nature-first luxury across the Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, Byron Bay, Port Stephens and the Central Coast.

Regional New South Wales is being actively promoted in 2026 as a way for travellers to trade the city's rush for quieter, landscape-driven experiences. As Vivid Sydney gears up to light the harbour, the state is encouraging visits to its nearby mountain villages, coastal havens and wine regions for a more restorative pace.

A Strategic Push to Spread Visitor Demand

As of February 16, 2026, New South Wales has launched a coordinated effort to draw both international and domestic tourists into its regional hubs. Destination NSW is leveraging major city events—such as the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of The Phantom of the Opera (running March 27–May 3) and Vivid Sydney (May 22–June 13)—to encourage visitors to extend their stays and explore beyond Sydney.

Tourism operators have responded with product designed for slower itineraries. YOU Travel & Cruise, for example, is offering premium slow-travel packages that combine three nights of luxury accommodation with four-day car hire, aiming to bridge urban experiences and regional discoveries.

Highlights by Region

  • Blue Mountains (90 minutes from Sydney CBD): World Heritage-listed landscapes, art-deco interest and iconic sites such as the Three Sisters; the Hydro Majestic remains a regional landmark.
  • Central Coast: Private luxury at venues like Pretty Beach House, an all-inclusive lodge featuring four private pavilions for secluded stays.
  • Hunter Valley (two hours north): Evolving cellar doors, a robust farm-to-table scene in Pokolbin and Lovedale, plus hot air ballooning at sunrise.
  • Port Stephens: Marketed as the “Dolphin Capital” with frequent dolphin-spotting cruises and adventure activity on the Stockton Sand Dunes—the largest of their kind in the Southern Hemisphere—run by Indigenous operators.
  • Byron Bay: Continued emphasis on wellness and nature-first luxury, with retreats such as Crystalbrook Byron offering rainforest programs, morning yoga and kayaking with local dolphins.

The regional push balances high-end seclusion—private pavilions and immersive lodges—with active and cultural experiences, from Indigenous-led quad-biking on sand dunes to artisanal food encounters in wine-country towns.

Travelers overlooking a eucalyptus valley in the Blue Mountains, Regional New South Wales
Visitors can trade city lights for eucalyptus-scented valleys and coastal scenery across Regional New South Wales

The Return of Vintage Rail and Slow Travel

Vintage Rail Tours have made a comeback in 2026 with the restored Southern Aurora passenger train, once operational between Sydney and Melbourne from 1962 to 1986. Departing from Sydney’s Central Station, these multi-day rail journeys offer unhurried sightseeing through routes such as the North Coast Rail Tour via Byron Bay and the Riverina Rail Tour across agricultural hinterlands.

Policy and Industry Goals

The regional activity aligns with the NSW Government’s 2030 Visitor Economy Strategy, which aims to significantly increase regional overnight expenditure over the coming decade. Industry stakeholders are positioning nature-first luxury, cultural authenticity and slower transport options as core components of that growth.

What This Means for Travelers

For visitors, the renewed focus on Regional New South Wales offers more options for slower itineraries, deeper cultural engagement and a wider range of accommodation tiers—from intimate bush lodges to heritage hotels and curated rail experiences. Travelers can expect expanded package choices timed around major city events to encourage extended stays.

So what? The initiative signals that NSW is making it easier to combine city events with regional escapes, which may affect travel planning: consider adding nights outside Sydney, booking curated slow-travel packages early, and exploring rail or car options to experience the state at a gentler pace.