Exploring your own backyard is an idea that has been especially bandied about during the pandemic, but how much do we really know about where we live?
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Bringing to life hidden gems around Australia and New Zealand, a new collection of 100 Untold Stories on the website 'needabreak.com' features towns and places some would not think of right away as being the ideal holidaying spots.
Armidale features prominently alongside other getaway places right around the country.
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Armidale's untold story comes from a passion for creativity and a desire to work for a sustainable future.
Comfort Inn City Centre was one of the first Australian accommodation providers to be certified carbon neutral under the National Carbon Offset Standards.
Kate Mitchell from the family-owned business, says the secret is all about heart.
"Being featured, it's kind of validating to our business strategy, which is not to worry about economical development but rather to think and do things from the heart," she explained.
"We trust that the money will come based on the fact we are empowering other people to be these amazing creators."
From hiring an artist and giving her free rein to design wall murals and paintings encompassing Armidale's spirit, to treasuring two Ezidi refugee chefs' vision in the kitchen, no act is too small.
Her love of the area is unmistakable, as she describes the stunning landscapes surrounding the 'cathedral city'.
"The sunrise at Point Lookout. I've travelled all over the world, and it's one of my favourites," she enthused.
"You are 1500 metres about sea level, and can see right over the range where the sun just explodes in the sky."
She also believes faeries live in Gara Gorge, a traditional Aboriginal women's meeting place.
"You can feel this energy, its there to heal you. All of this natural stuff we have, it's ours. It's for everyone, and we need to treasure it."
Choice Hotels, a partner in the initiative, calls the collection a "bucket list of the top 100 unique travel destinations".
"100 Untold Stories shines a light on hidden gems, intriguing stories, fascinating people and must-visit experiences that are the beating heart of regional areas and includes adventures across themes of food and wine, nature, sport, art, culture and more," they say.
It aims to feed tourism back into regional areas and help them thrive again, safely and securely.
With international travel restrictions still in place for quite some time, this creates an opportunity for holidaymakers to look at a few shorter local breaks throughout the year to replace their one big overseas trip.
An estimated 10 million Australian travellers were scheduled to head overseas for a holiday this year, and now it's hoped those with itchy feet can be converted to staying in hotels at home.
Other NSW destinations that have made the list include Merimbula, Newcastle, Cowra, Brunswick Heads, Ballina, Coffs Harbour, Putty, Wagga Wagga, Mudgee, Albury, Grafton, Hunter Valley and Broken Hill.
One in a hundred
It's no surprise Tamworth's boot-scootin' country music roots have charmed their way onto the featured list.
Econolodge Savannah Park coowner Tash Walmsley said being at the forefront of Tamworth's plug was a welcome surprise.
Being well-known for their "unusual yet iconic" guitar-shaped swimming pool opened by country music legend Slim Dusty, they were the perfect choice to highlight the Country Music Capital.
Yet Mrs Walmsley said discovering Tamworth's musical heritage, while extensive, is just one facet of many to enjoy around the region.
Come out and discover all the hidden gems, the things that make the country and our area fascinating.
- Tash Walmsley
"There's heaps to do here alongside the country music themes, with the Hall of Fame and Golden Guitar and the actual events themselves," she explained.
"There is so much to do: dams where you can do your fishing, skiing, hunting and camping, as well as places to go motorbike riding, horse riding, all that outdoorsy stuff."
Not to mention the Marsupial and Adventure Parks, which she knows are hits with travelling families.
"Come out and discover all the hidden gems, the things that make the country and our area fascinating," she encouraged.
Thinking about Aussie first
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the discussion of buying and supporting Aussie made, Aussie produced goods to almost every table in the country.
And while the issue is in the spotlight, what better time than to explore the region's hubs for agricultural production, like Moree.
Touted on the website as the 'town with it all', Moree is one such hotspot, with a cotton industry established in the 1960s now the largest cotton-producing region in Australia.
While locals and tourists alike know the town on the plains as home to the artesian baths, it is less commonly known for having the largest pecan farm in Australia.
Even those who live locally don't know how may trees we have.
- David Reibel
Stahmann Farms' Trawalla farm manager David Reibel said visitors would not only financially assist farmers and businesses, but would also open up eyes to the potential of self-sufficiency in Australia.
"People are most surprised about the size and the scale of our farm here, as you can only see a little bit from the road," he explained.
"Even those who live locally don't know how may trees we have."
What Mr Reibel loves, is Moree's unique geography, and especially encourages people from the city to come and see what's what.
"It's a strong farming community with brilliant farmers and farms, from cotton through to pecans, but the people really make it, their friendliness," he explained.
"It's been a tough few years for us out here in the bush, and if people can spend some money, find out about what we do and support us then it'd be greatly appreciated."
With farm tours and Great Artesian Baths, and the ever popular Maslina Bar & Grill, who've hosted celebrities like Red-Hot Chilli Peppers, and royals including Princess Diana, Moree is a hidden treasure indeed.