Lord Howe Island Tops Australian Traveller List of Things to Do Before You Die

New South Wales has once again proven to be Australia's most popular tourist destination with Australian Traveller Magazine naming Lord Howe Island as the number one place to visit before you die, the tiny island off the coast of Port Macquarie topping a list of 100 'must see' Australian destinations. 

"This is fabulous news and a glowing recommendation from one of Australia's top travel magazines, proving NSW continues to impress even the most experienced travellers," said Tourism NSW Executive Director Lyndel Gray. 

Ms Gray said the list of 'Top 100 Things To Do In Australia Before You Die', was decided on by a panel of high profile judges including Getaway reporter Catriona Rowntree, Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler, Today presenter Lisa Wilkinson, legendary journalist George Negus, travel industry pioneer Bill Peach, Australian icon and entrepreneur Dick Smith, Budget Car Rental founder Bob Ansett,  TV chef Maggie Beer, the Blue Wiggle Anthony Field, and Australian Traveller's Editor, Elisabeth Knowles. 

"The list was chosen out of 800 nominations from readers, so for Lord Howe Island to have won top spot is an incredible accomplishment," said Ms Gray. 

"Tourism NSW actively works with Lord Howe Island Tourism Association to promote travel to the Island, providing funding and marketing support for promotional campaigns every year under the NSW Government's Regional Partnership Funding Program. 

"This weekend a new $250,000 joint tourism campaign between Tourism NSW, Lord Howe Island Tourism Association, Qantaslink and wholesalers will begin promoting holiday packages for the winter season, targeting mid-life singles and couples from Sydney, South East Queensland and Melbourne. 

"A range of experiences will be on offer such as nature activities like bushwalking, scuba diving, bird watching and a trek to the captivating Mount Gower. 

"Luxury and indulgence will also be an overlying theme with special packages offered by Lord Howe Island's two luxury resorts, Arajilla Retreat and Capella Lodge. 

"Both of these resorts are regularly featured in travel magazines and Capella Lodge was recently named on the international Gold List of luxury retreats by Conde Nast Traveller U.K," Ms Gray said. 

"I'm also excited to announce that both Capella and Arajilla will be showcasing their products, along with Lord Howe Island Tourism Association, at the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) which begins this weekend at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. 

"ATE is Australia's premier annual tourism event, organised to promote the best of Australian tourism to the international travel and tourism trade. 

"The event is the largest international travel trade show of its kind in the southern hemisphere and the Sydney event will be the biggest yet, putting a global spotlight on Sydney and NSW with 85 different companies displaying their tourism destinations and attractions to more than 800 international travel wholesalers from 40 different countries. 

"Lord Howe Island's presence at ATE, along with a Tourism NSW hosted familiarisation trip to the Island this weekend for 10 international travel wholesalers and three international travel writers, will go a long way towards promoting the Island's unique beauty and attractiveness as a holiday destination around the world." 

Ms Gray said Tourism NSW was committed to promoting Sydney and regional NSW destinations both domestically and internationally.