NSW is the nation’s road-tripping capital according to the latest data from Tourism Research Australia.

NSW was the number one destination in Australia for road-tripping visitors, nights and expenditure in the year ending December 2023. There were 3.4 million domestic overnight road trip visitors to NSW during the period, up 2.8 per cent year on year. These visitors stayed 18 million nights and spent $4.9 billion during their trips.

Sustainable road-tripping was the focus of a Destination NSW visit last week to the Central Coast and the Hunter Region.

Members of the Destination NSW leadership team travelled in an electric vehicle to engage with local visitor economy stakeholders and learn more about sustainable regional visitor experiences.

Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox said: “I travel to regional NSW as often as I can to engage with visitor economy stakeholders. It provides an invaluable opportunity to hear directly from operators and better understand their challenges and opportunities.

“We travelled in an electric vehicle for this trip – we’re seeing more visitors choose EVs to ensure they explore NSW as sustainably as possible.”

Research by BDA Marketing Planning commissioned by Destination NSW shows road trips are one of the top ‘pull’ experience factors for almost a third of interstate visitors (30 per cent) when planning a holiday in NSW.

“Travellers want to immerse themselves in authentic experiential offerings when visiting new locations,” Mr Cox said.

“They seek encompassing cultural immersion, adventure and nature exploration, history and heritage, wellness and mindfulness, personalisation through technology, sustainability and eco-friendly practices.”

Under the NSW Government’s EV strategy, electric vehicles are expected to account for 52 per cent of new car sales by 2030-31, with the aim for most new car sales to be EVs by 2035.

“Visitor economy businesses that have EV chargers available have the opportunity to attract EV drivers who want to travel more sustainably,” said Mr Cox.

“Destination NSW has produced a Quick Tips for Creating EV Friendly Experiences to help visitor economy businesses maximise the opportunity to attract EV drivers.

“We continue to seek opportunities to highlight the value that sustainable practices bring to the NSW visitor economy, through initiatives such as our Strive4 Sustainability scorecard in partnership with Ecotourism Australia.”

Among the sustainable experiences during the road trip was an immersive visit to Broken Bay Pearl Farm.

Pearls of Australia & Broken Bay Pearl Farm Business Development Manager Julia Volz said: “Broken Bay Pearl Farm offers a truly unique, sustainable tourism experience on the picturesque Hawkesbury River. Visitors have the opportunity to uncover the fascinating and untold story of the Australian pearl, all while immersed in the stunning natural beauty of our national parks. There’s nothing else quite like it in NSW.

“Collaborating closely with Destination NSW is crucial to our growth. Increased awareness will enable us to attract more domestic and international visitors, driving tourism and giving us the chance to educate people on the vital role that oysters and pearls play in maintaining healthy waterways and supporting sustainable ecosystems. This partnership not only helps us showcase our region but also highlights the importance of sustainable practices in the tourism and aquaculture industries.”

Learn more about enhancing EV experiences here.

Learn more about the Strive4 Sustainability Scorecard here.