Selling Travel July/August 19

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how to sell
New South Wales
It has Australia’s urban crown as its main draw, but visitors who arrive in Australia via Sydney
might not know that New South Wales has enough to fill an entire holiday, says Laura Gelder
Why sell it
New South Wales (NSW) has a long coastline
dotted with numerous beaches and laidback
surf towns, plus sub-tropical rainforest,
a wine region, a red outback and even snowy
mountains – in short, plenty for agents in
the know to recommend to clients looking to
experience the state beyond the city.
Most people heading to Australia for the
first time are interested in Sydney and may
have heard of the Blue Mountains and
Hunter Valley, but despite it being home to
Australia’s most iconic city much of NSW is
usually unexplored.
This presents an opportunity for agents – a
destination with a famous, desirable and
easily accessible gateway combined with a
surrounding region which still manages to
offer off-the-beaten-track experiences.
Who to sell to
In short, everyone who wants to go to
Australia. But each region has a different
appeal and it will depend on where else in
Australia the client wishes to go, how much
time they have and if they've been before.
The Blue Mountains and outback region
of NSW offer old-fashioned charm and
historic interest, while the Hunter Valley
and Lord Howe Island are great for those
seeking indulgence and relaxation. Families
will appreciate beautiful beaches north and
south of the city, as well as in Sydney itself,
but the south is wilder and will appeal to
those looking to get away from the crowds.
JERVIS BAY
LORD HOWE ISLAND
Selling the city
Sydney could occupy travellers for several
weeks alone, offering cosmopolitan draws
like shopping, art galleries and fine dining,
as well its many bays and beaches.
Icons like the Opera House and Sydney
Harbour Bridge sell themselves, and
beaches like Bondi and Manly are always
a hit, but agents who get to know the
city’s less obvious areas will attract repeat
visitors and travellers looking to break away
from the obvious. Up-and-coming areas
include artsy Chippendale, hip and historic
Paddington and foodie Surrey Hills.
CULTURAL TOUR IN DUBBO
Agents can impress clients and up their
commission by adding value to classic
attractions. A behind-the-scenes tour of
the Sydney Opera House with lunch, or
breakfast in the koala enclosure at Wild Life
Sydney Zoo, are two examples.
A more unusual way to see the city is an
aboriginal tour with Dreamtime Southern X,
where visitors learn the city’s sacred spots
and take part in an ancient ceremony.
Selling the coast
NSW’ Central Coast, between Sydney and
the state’s second-biggest city, Newcastle,
further north. Visitors can expect great
watersports opportunities, wildlife
spotting and plenty of charming towns for
swimming, fishing and surfing.
Wildlife lovers can head to the Australian
Walkabout Wildlife Park and stay overnight
in a cabin among the native animals.
Close by, the Australian Reptile Park has
demonstrations of snake handling and how
to milk venom from funnel-web spiders.
North of Newcastle coastal stops include
Port Stephens, where visitors can tour the
towering sand on quad bikes or 4WD; Coffs
Harbour which is a jumping-off point for
the Solitary Islands Marine Park and scuba
diving trips with turtles or dolphin watching;
sellingtravel.co.uk