It’s official: NSW is the best state in Australia.

Well, when it comes to regional travel, that is.

According to new tourism data from Tourism Research Australia (TRA), more Aussies take holidays to spots in New South Wales than any other regional destinations.

In the 12 months leading up to March 2024, regional NSW attracted 66 million domestic visitors.

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From towns like Byron Bay and Shellharbour to inland havens like the Kangaroo Valley and the Blue Mountains, NSW has it all.

Of course, there are also the hundreds of towns and villages all the way up the coastline which make for a perfect retreat in both summer and winter.

One spot proved particularly popular: overnight domestic visitors to the New England North West area increased by a massive 16.5 per cent, including towns like Armidale and Tamworth.

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The NSW Central Coast has seen an 11 per cent increase in overnight tourism from the year before, thanks to its close proximity to Sydney and its blossoming food and culture scene.

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When it comes to day trips, the Hunter region came out on top as the most popular spot, with 7.27 million daytime visitors.

While it’s popular thanks to its wineries, it’s also a huge hit with families that have young kids.

Destination NSW Acting CEO Ian Maltman says that it’s the diversity of NSW that keeps bringing people to holiday within the state. 

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“Visitors can drive from the Snowys to the Sapphire Coast in a few hours, experience the vastly different climates of Byron Bay and Broken Hill, the sandstone cliffs of the Blue Mountains to the volcanic rock of The Warrumbungles.”

It’s not just the regional parts of NSW that shine, though.

Recently, the city of Newcastle was named one of the top 10 most underrated destinations in the world by Time Out.

“In Newcastle you get the best of a relaxed beach escape and buzzing city break in one,” the publication wrote.