The new holiday hotspot in NSW that you cant miss amid COVID-19 restrictions

It’s a glorious coastal destination a mere hour-and-a-half’s drive from Sydney that’s so under-the-radar, even most Sydneysiders have never heard of it.

But they’re certainly discovering it now – suddenly this suburb is where everywhere wants to go.

Daleys Point on the NSW Central Coast is one of the lesser-known destinations that have sprung to attention as border restrictions force holiday-makers to discover new places to visit in their own states.

So much so, Airbnb searches for Daleys Point have skyrocketed 730 per cent this summer compared to last year, the ABC reported.

Close to the slightly more recognisable Ettalong, Daleys Point is a quiet, idyllic community with breathtaking views of Brisbane Water and near to the scenic hiking tracks of the Bouddi National Park.

Airbnb country manager Susan Wheeldon told the ABC Daleys Point was a “beautiful part of the Central Coast”.

“So many of our listings in the area are surrounded by treetops with views of the water and given it’s only an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Sydney, we’re not surprised it’s a popular location,” she said.

In fact general interest in the Bouddi Peninsula is on the rise as Sydneysiders look to escape the city in the warmer months, along with some other just-out-of-town destinations, Ms Wheeldon said.

“We’re particularly seeing interest surge in regional areas within driving distance of Sydney and that includes places like the Central Coast, Mid-North Coast, Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands,” she said.

BOOST FOR DOMESTIC TOURISM

The rise of previously unheard-of spots like Daleys Point is likely to continue as Australia’s closed international borders during the coronavirus pandemic force holiday-makers to rediscover their own country.

To help things along, the Federal Government has announced a $150 million boost for domestic tourism to support regional areas that rely on tourists and enhance facilities and attractions.

Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said funding would “support internationally dependent tourism regions to adapt their offerings, experiences and marketing to appeal to domestic visitors in the short-term and be in the strongest possible position to welcome back international tourists down the track”.

Tropical North Queensland, the Gold Coast, the NSW North Coast, Victoria’s Phillip Island region, Kangaroo Island in South Australia and Lasseter and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory are some of the tourism regions that will get a share in $50 million of dedicated regional funding.

The other $100 million in federal funding will go towards regional infrastructure development to support tourism.

“This is really supporting regional tourism that in Australia supports around 300,000 jobs across our regions that usually rely on about $5 billion worth of international visitor spending,” Mr Birmingham told ABC’s Weekend Breakfast on Sunday.

“What we want to do is lift that domestic spend where we possibly can and encourage Australians to get out, explore some regions that are still doing it really tough like Tropical Queensland or Central Australia.

“These are places that are feeling it tough because they usually have these large international visitor numbers and right now none of them are there and we need to make sure that they’re assisted to save the jobs and businesses in those communities.”

Mr Birmingham said international tourists in Australia spent $45 billion here last year, while Australians spent $65 billion on overseas trips.

“So we do actually know that in terms of Australian spend, we can divert some of that, that Australians used to spend overseas to spend in Australia,” he said.

“But to do that, we need to make sure that Australians are able to undertake those holidays so that requires states, where they can safely do so, to open up their borders and it requires then Australians undertaking a holiday to do it like you would a proper holiday. Not just a quick weekend trip.”