HUNTER VALLEY NOMINATED IN TOP AUSTRALIAN DESTINATIONS TO EXPERIENCE IN 2015 POLL

The Hunter Valley has been put up for nomination as one of “Australia's Top 10 Destinations to Experience for 2015” in an annual travel poll by leading tour and attractions provider Experience Oz.

The Hunter Valley features on a list of 50 shortlisted locations of some of Australia's most iconic regions, cites, towns and other landmarks with the aim of showcasing these top spots to a broad international audience.

The poll, now in its third year, has seen large domestic and international participation which resulted in past winners Rotnest Island, WA (2014) and The Whitsundays, QLD (2013) taking out the #1 spots. The online poll, which is conducted over the course of a month and typically receives thousands of responses, expanded this year from 30 nominees to a larger list of 50 potential winners, allowing regional destinations to receive much-deserved exposure.

The Hunter Valley was shortlisted due to its propensity for “myriad vineyards and lush fields of the region give it a tranquil quality that serves to satisfy visitor’s love of food, wine and scenery - simultaneously making it not just a destination for wine connoisseurs, but also a pleasant escape for those simply looking for a change of pace from the city hustle and bustle”.

Voting for the poll is set to open on Thursday, 27th of August and run through until the end of September, and typically sees a large number of regional tourism organisations getting their local communities involved to vote.

During the poll, participants are asked to consider among other factors: the overall ‘Aussie nature’ of the destination, the variety of experiences on offer, the destination’s unique geographical features, attractions and activities, special culinary offerings, and culture or history in or around the destination.

Experience Oz Digital Manager Mat Hobbs said ‘Australia’s Top Ten Destinations to Experience’ national consumer poll is a great opportunity to identify the best destinations in Australia for the local, regional and domestic tourism market to experience, no mater their size, and he hopes it will inspire people to do just that.

“Due to popular demand, we've expanded this year's list from 30 to 50 destinations to reflect the overwhelming amount of quality travel options within Australia,” he said. “Locations vary from coast to inland, gourmet to adrenaline-filled, which seems an appropriate reflection of our country's diversity.

“Australia is the land of the green behind the gold and we want to show people – particularly those from abroad - everything our country has to offer. At Experience Oz, we have more than three thousand experiences available for people to browse through from all walks of life, and we want to encourage people to step outside their region and explore these beautiful destinations in 2015.”

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