NEW Norfolk has today been named the bronze prize winner in the Australian Tourism Industry Council’s Top Tourism Town Awards, after being named Tasmania’s top tourism town earlier this year. The Federal Member for Lyons, Brian Mitchell MHR, said third-place on the national stage was a fitting recognition for one of Tasmania’s “true gems”. “If I had it my way, New Norfolk would have taken out the gold medal,” Mr Mitchell said.
The awards were announced in an online presentation earlier today (Thursday) with the judges praising New Norfolk as “an adventurer’s playground, home to one of the most awarded restaurants in Tasmania, distilleries, a thriving arts community.” They also recognised its blossoming local market community.
Mr Mitchell said he enjoyed spending time at New Norfolk and he could be found at the Saturday markets more often than not. He said he looked forward to the expansion of Corumbene Care and pointed to the ongoing facelift at Willow Court as evidence of the town’s growing popularity. “Locals have long known New Norfolk is a beautiful place – and now the secret is well and truly out,” he said.
Tasmanian Tourism minister Sarah Courtney MHA congratulated New Norfolk for being awarded bronze in the inaugural Search for Australia’s Top Tourism Towns, as well as the North-West Coast town of Stanley which was awarded bronze in the Small Town category.
“This is a great acknowledgement of two terrific regional towns and shows that Tasmania is again more than capable of punching above its weight when it comes to visitor appeal,” Ms Courtney said. “Stanley won bronze in the Small Top Tourism Town with a population less than 5000, and New Norfolk also won Bronze in the Top Tourism Town with a population more than 5000. Both of these achievements are well deserved, and I’d like to encourage Tasmanians and visitors alike to get out and experience all the wonders they have to offer.”
New Norfolk is an adventurer’s playground, home to one of the most awarded restaurants in Tasmania, distilleries, a thriving arts community, and the historical Willow Court asylum. The weekly market brings visitors from across the state for the finest local fresh produce, arts and crafts, collectibles, food vendors and live music, and in the warmer months, you can kayak with the platypus, stand-up paddle board, hydro-bike, swim, fish, and watch the occasional dragon boat race all set against the picturesque Derwent River. Widely regarded as the ‘Antiques Capital of Tasmania’ with numerous vintage, collectibles and antiques stores to rummage through, old will always be the new in New Norfolk.
Australian Tourism Industry Council – Quality Tourism Australia
New Norfolk’s entry in the Top Tourism Towns Awards was organised by a collective of tourist operators known as Derwent Valley Tasmania and part-funded by the Derwent Valley Council.
The Australian Tourism Industry Council’s website and Facebook page invite people to find out more about New Norfolk from the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre in Hobart.
