Port Stephens is no stranger to tourism accolades but the latest one may come as a surprise to some, with Karuah in the running to be the state's top Tiny Town in the NSW Top Tourism Towns Awards for 2022.
With natural beauty and small town hospitality, Mayor Ryan Palmer says it comes as no surprise at all that Karuah is making a mark with visitors and locals alike.
"We're experiencing a resurgence in discovering our own backyards thanks to 2 years of travel restrictions and this trend shows no sign of slowing down," Mr Palmer said.
"Karuah is one of Australia's classic riverside towns with fresh air, wide open spaces and locals ready to showcase the best this village has to offer.
"We know this is a favourite spot for holiday makers, with many coming back year after year. With this hidden gem being uncovered thanks to the Award nomination, I expect that we'll attract plenty of first time and soon to be return visitors to this beautiful part of the world."
Local community, businesses and tourism providers have all come together with Port Stephens Council to help develop the first ever Karuah Place Plan and the reward of this coordinated effort is already evident.
"Place Plans are about working together on a set of actions to create great local places for people to live and visit and to make sure we're all on the same page for how we want the place to develop," Mr Palmer said.
"We have this for Karuah and now we can focus on working together to make things happen – taking out the Tiny Towns top spot would be a great start."
Eileen Gilliland, CEO of Destination Port Stephens agrees that the villages and towns throughout Port Stephens are exactly what travellers are looking for.
"We're very lucky to have a really incredible mix of experiences across Port Stephens and Karuah is no exception – whether it's heading to the river for a day of fishing, boating or canoeing, pulling on the boots for a hike through the Karuah National Park, discovering the rich Aboriginal history or sampling some of the finest oysters the country has to offer," Ms Gilliland said.
This nomination was a collaborative effort, thanks to Coles Brothers (oyster farmers), Karuah Big 4 Holiday Park, Port Stephens Council's Visitor Information Satellite Centre and the local hotels and motels in Karuah.
Love Karuah? Now is your chance to show it. Voting for the Tiny Top Town is open until 5pm, Wednesday 27 April 2022 and you're allowed 250 characters to rave about Karuah businessnsw.com/media-centre/top-tourism-town-awards-2022-nsw
About Karuah
Karuah, a riverside village in Port Stephens, is perfect for a day trip, weekend getaway with family and friends or a great place for a few nights if you're touring the Pacific Coast. Just a 50-minute scenic drive north of Nelson Bay or around 2.5 hrs drive from Sydney, Karuah is nestled on the banks of the Karuah River and is steeped in history.
Renowned for its fresh local oysters, friendly locals and a calm scenic setting on the Karuah River, ideal for boating, paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing and swimming.
A perfect escape if you have the kayaks and fishing rods on the roof or the bikes on the rack. And don't forget the picnic blanket.
