A town on the South Coast has been listed in the WotIf Top 10 Aussie Town of The Year Awards.
The Town of The Year Awards highlight hidden gems across the country that get great online reviews and recommendations and are determined by Wotif data which looks into accommodation, affordability, quality, and traveller satisfaction and pulls out Australia’s top 10 towns.
Only three towns from New South Wales made the top ten with Albury coming in at number one, Organge in the ninth position and our very own Merimbula landing at number six.
Managing Director at WotIf, Daniel Finch told East Coast Radio it shows that travellers who come to the area, have a great time.
“It really highlights the strength of this destination, the accessibility, and the satisfaction,” Finch said.
“When travellers come and then they depart, they are super satisfied.”
Finch said there are so many great places along the far south coast but Merimbula stood out in terms of the data they use for the awards, saying traveller reviews had been extremely high for the region.
“With the data we use, we use everything from affordability, travel satisfaction of guests, activities in the destination and when we highlight these, it means that Merimbula starts to come up on other travellers future check-lists to come and visit,” Finch said.
The WotIf write up on the Sapphire Coast town states:
“Merimbula, NSW – With a burgeoning food scene and great foodie experiences such as oyster shucking, Merimbula boasts beautiful natural attractions including national parks, beaches and waterways. Traveller reviews were sky high for this humble region, with many calling out the town’s friendly staff and relaxing accommodation. Wotif accommodation tip: Coast Resort Merimbula.”
According to WotIf data, almost half of Aussies(49%) plan to take short trips of up to 3 nights, with many wanting to explore their own state. 44% of Aussies simply prefer short weekend trips, while another 44% are making this decision for financial reasons, as the rising cost of living impedes household budgets.
“By all accounts, Aussies remain committed to travelling locally in 2023,” Finch said.
“While cost considerations are top of mind for everyone this year, it’s clear travellers are not deterred and instead are prioritising accessible, experience-rich getaways. We know 29% of Aussies are open to travelling to new destinations this year to keep costs down*, and we hope by spotlighting these deserving destinations, all of which are extremely accessible, the awards inspire Aussies to explore and connect with regional destinations beyond the typical tried and tested.”
2023 Wotif Aussie Town of the Year Award winners:
- Albury, NSW
- Bundaberg, QLD
- New Norfolk, TAS
- Port Lincoln, SA
- Ballarat, VIC
- Merimbula, NSW
- Toowoomba, QLD
- Dunsborough, WA
- Orange, NSW
- Echuca, VIC
Images: Sapphire Coast NSW
