Destination Sydney Surrounds South

06/07/2026

NAIDOC Week 2026 🖤💛❤️

Yesterday, NAIDOC Week began across the country...and this year is a big one. Fifty years of the week as we know it.

Half a century of communities gathering, Elders leading, artists creating, and stories being told on their own terms.

This year's theme, 50 Years of Deadly, is a celebration of everything that's carried this movement forward and everything still to come. From language coming back, to young mob growing up proud, to First Nations people leading the way across every industry you can think of.

We're seeing that leadership firsthand through the Aboriginal-owned tourism operators in our region, who continue to go from strength to strength, and we love being able to work alongside them to grow and develop their businesses.

We're proud to celebrate NAIDOC Week across our region and encourage everyone to get along to a local event, learn something new, and show up for community.

👉 Learn more: https://www.naidoc.org.au/

03/07/2026

Huge congratulations to Rebecca Dunning, named a finalist in the 2026 NSW Top Tour Guide Awards!

Bec, who runs Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour, is a familiar face at our networking events and workshops, and we couldn't be prouder to see her recognised among the best guides in the state.

The awards, delivered by NSW Tourism Association, celebrate the passion and expertise of tour guides across NSW and the critical role they play in shaping memorable visitor experiences.

Congratulations to Bec and all of this year's finalists. Winners will be announced at the NSW Top Tour Guide Awards and Networking Event at Taronga Zoo on Wednesday 12 August. We'll be cheering you on! 👏

Read the full announcement: https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/newsroom/nsw-top-tour-guide-2026-finalists-announced



Photo credit: Destination NSW

03/07/2026

Funding opportunity for event organisers: Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants are now open.

Multicultural NSW is offering grants of $5,000 to $20,000 to support festivals and events that celebrate cultural diversity and strengthen community connection.

👉 Key details:
🔹 Funding applies to events held between 1 October 2026 and 30 September 2027.
🔹 This is the only grant round opening in 2026-27.
🔹 Co-contributions from other funding sources are strongly encouraged, and local councils are eligible only in partnership with a community organisation. 🔹 Applications are submitted via SmartyGrants.

If you're planning a multicultural festival or community event in the Sydney Surrounds South region, this is well worth a look, but move quickly!

Applications close 4pm Monday 13 July 2026.

Guidelines and application: https://multicultural.nsw.gov.au/stronger-together-events-festivals/

Photo credit: multicultural.nsw.gov.au

25/06/2026

Attention outdoor adventure businesses!

The Outdoor Industry MasterClass is coming to Jervis Bay on 15–16 July 2026, and it's one not to miss.

Delivered by Outdoors NSW & ACT, this two-day program is designed for owners, senior managers and decision-makers from small to medium outdoor industry organisations who are ready to step back from day-to-day operations, and work on the business.

Across the two days, attendees will explore the key topics shaping the next two years:

✅ Compliance & sustainability
✅ Workforce challenges
✅ Business resilience
✅ Growth & future market opportunities

🎟 Bookings are open now → https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/2026MasterClass

📚 Outdoor Learning Conference → https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/OLMC2026

🏆 Outdoor Industry Awards → https://outdoors.kartra.com/page/2026AwardsInformation

📸 : Blenheim Beach, Vincentia | Credit: Destination NSW

19/06/2026

10/06/2026

🌿 This Saturday, 13 June, is Global Wellness Day!

NSW is home to some fantastic wellness experiences, and many right here in our region are part of the Well Traveller partnership – a curated collection of retreats and experiences designed to help visitors slow down and restore.

👉 Explore wellness experiences in our region through Well Traveller: https://www.welltraveller.com.au/destinations/australia/new-south-wales/

👉 Find out how to get involved in Global Wellness Day 2026: https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/newsroom/get-involved-in-global-wellness-day-2026

If you're a local operator with a wellness offering not yet listed, now's the perfect time to get on the map. Just submit your experience via Destination NSW's Experience Update form: https://destinationnsw.tfaforms.net/f/experience-update

And join us on Thursday, 18 June at Crooked River Estate, Gerringong for an in-person wellness workshop! This interactive 3-hour workshop, delivered in partnership with Droga & Co. is designed to help businesses translate wellness trends into tangible, market-ready experiences.
👉 https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wellness-experience-development-workshop-tickets-1986281544569?aff=oddtdtcreator



📸 : Destination NSW

03/06/2026

What a day! 🥳

Our 2026 Visitor Economy Symposium, held last week at The Pavilion Kiama, was our biggest turnout yet, and we are so grateful to every single person who joined us.

From the incredible conversations to the inspiring sessions, days like this remind us why we love working in this beautiful region. Check out the wrap up video below to relive the highlights!

You'll find all the event presentations, resources and photos on our website: https://dnsss.com.au/industry-news/visitor-economy-symposium-2026-resources/

Thank you to our speakers, partners, and every attendee who made the day so special.

And mark your calendars for June next year! Next year's Symposium will be taking place at the brand new Crowne Plaza Shell Cove on 2 June 2027. We can't wait to see you there!

28/05/2026

The best kind of mid-Symposium news drop. 🏆

We were barely halfway through yesterday's Visitor Economy Symposium when word came through that not one, but TWO of our own had taken out 2026 NSW Top Tourism Town awards.

Kiama took home Gold in the over-5,000 population category for the third consecutive year, earning Hall of Fame status and joining Huskisson, which made history in 2025 with the same achievement. And Wollongong nabbed Bronze in the same category!🥉

Congratulations to everyone who played a part. We're incredibly proud of you!

20/05/2026

Symposium Speaker Spotlight - one week to go!

We're thrilled to welcome Karen Jones, CEO of Destination NSW, to the stage next Wednesday at our 2026 Visitor Economy Symposium.

Karen has more than 28 years of leadership experience in state and local government. Destination NSW is the lead agency, champion and voice for the NSW visitor economy. She is passionate about developing and marketing the state's world-class visitor experiences to ensure NSW remains Australia's top destination and events capital.

At the Symposium, you'll hear Karen speak to the progress and priorities of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, followed by a Fireside Chat facilitated by Lyndel Gray, Chair of DSSS. This is a great opportunity to hear directly from the person helping to drive the state's vision for a stronger, more competitive visitor economy.

📅 Wednesday 27 May 2026 · The Pavilion, Kiama

🎟️ Secure your spot (there's only 20 tickets left, so don't miss out!): https://dsss-visitor-economy-symposium-2026.eventbrite.com.au/

$30 per person — or just $20 each when you bring a colleague (use code BRINGAFRIEND at checkout)

19/05/2026

Just over a week to go until our 2026 Visitor Economy Symposium, and we can't wait!

On Wednesday 27 May, we're bringing the region's visitor economy together for a day of practical insights, collaboration, and the kind of conversations that move the needle.

We're especially excited to have Peter Firth (Director, Fiftyfive5, part of Accenture Song) joining us for his session Data and Your Decision-Making — exploring how to harness the power of data to uncover your best prospects, craft experiences that keep them coming back, and make the most of the DNSW resources available to you.

We'll also hear from Karen Jones (CEO, Destination NSW), Coralie McCarthy (Director, Business Illawarra), Despina Karatzias (Institute of Excellence), and more.

👇 Check out the video below to hear from Peter...he's looking forward to seeing you in Kiama!

📋 View the full program:https://dnsss.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/DSSS_Visitor-Economy-Symposium-2026_Program_FINAL-1.pdf

🎟️ Secure your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/dsss-visitor-economy-symposium-2026-tickets-1985112811858?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tickets are $30 per person, or just $20 each when you bring a colleague (use code BRINGAFRIEND at checkout).