The Port's multi award-winning Aboriginal business Sand Dune Adventures has joined the new Experience Your Own Backyard tourism campaign which highlights and promotes Indigenous experiences and activities throughout NSW.
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The campaign showcases 14 NSW-based Aboriginal tourism operators such as Sand Dune Adventures, operated by the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council, who offer experiences such as quad biking, bush tucker and rock art tours and cultural immersions.
Running until the end of November, the campaign is an initiative of Welcome to Country, a marketplace for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism experiences, Destination NSW and Tourism Australia.
"The Welcome to Country campaign... is an excellent initiative that increases awareness of Aboriginal tourism products to a broader audience across NSW," Andrew Smith, chief executive officer of Sand Dune Adventures, said.
"NSW is flooded with incredible Aboriginal tourism experiences and Sand Dune Adventures is excited and honoured to be showcased along with 14 NSW Aboriginal tourism operators.
"We look forward to introducing clients to the excitement and adventure accessible in their own backyards with Sand Dune Adventures."
As part of the campaign, Sand Dune Adventures is offering a one hour quad biking tour through the Stockton Sand Dunes, located within the Worimi Conservation Lands, plus a quad biking and sand boarding tour with Aboriginal culture talks included.
The campaign was launched at the end of October in a bid to breathe life into the state's Aboriginal tourism which has felt the impact of the summer bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Experience Your Own Backyard campaign has been designed to encourage people to get out and experience their own state, support Aboriginal tourism and reinvigorate the local tourism economy.
The campaign compliments Destination NSW's Love NSW and Tourism Australia's Holiday Here This Year campaigns which encourages people to support tourism operators and communities around the country by booking and planning a domestic holiday.
"NSW is home to Australia's largest Aboriginal population represented by more than 80 groups each with a unique story to tell," Stuart Ayres, the NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment and Tourism, said.
"With such cultural diversity on offer, NSW can offer visitors some of the most accessible and authentic experiences in the nation. Our Aboriginal tourism operators offer a unique perspective on the land, the history and the culture of our regions, so it's fantastic to see these businesses feature as part of this new campaign with Welcome to Country."
Jason Eades, chief executive officer of Welcome to Country, said the organisation was "thrilled" to partner with Destination NSW and Tourism Australia to promote Aboriginal experiences in NSW.
"The campaign highlights the diversity and richness of Aboriginal experiences in NSW. It also presents the perfect opportunity for every Australian to explore and discover their own back yard. You are guaranteed to see it in a different way," he said.
Sand Dune Adventures has won gold tourism awards at the regional, state and national level. At the 2017 Australian Tourism Awards, the business won the gold award for best Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
