Winners will be invited to visit Armidale in small groups to get a taste of country living.

As part of the expo, locals are being urged to act as “community evangelists” and convert city slickers to the virtues of going bush.

The annual recruitment drive is aimed at luring Sydneysiders to resettle in regional areas.

One family who have already taken the plunge are former Upper North Shore residents Tim and Justina Catterall.

Buckling under the pressure of a massive mortgage the family made a tree change after attending the expo in 2010.

Since moving with their three primary school aged kids, the Catteralls haven't looked back, making a host of new friends and soaking up the more relaxed lifestyle.

“Nothing is more refreshing than living out of the town yet still in close proximity and watching the kids have freedom running around the farm,” Mrs Catterall said.

“The biggest thing I've found since moving here is I'm saving an hour-and-a-half to two hours a day.

“I was forever in the car driving all over Sydney.” Mrs Catterall, who had never spent time in the country before the move, said she was “blown away” by the friendliness of the community.

She has even commenced a farm course with a view to managing a larger acreage in future.

Mr Catterall is the business development director for outsourcing company Serco and one of the requirements for any place they moved too was there had to be easy access to Sydney through the airport. 

With its stunning geography and sophisticated urban centre, Armidale is the perfect place for Sydneysiders seeking a cosmopolitan lifestyle beyond the urban rat race. 

In 2014, Armidale is also emerging as a brilliant business location and is offering real incentives to Sydney businesses to relocate to the region.