Why Mudgee is betting on slower holidays to boost the local visitor economy
Glenayr Farm. Picture supplied / Mudgee Region TourismOne extra night away can make all the difference, and no one knows that better than visitors to our corner of the world. Subscribe now for unlimited. . .
Glenayr Farm. Picture supplied / Mudgee Region TourismOne extra night away can make all the difference, and no one knows that better than visitors to our corner of the world. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue readingAll articles from our websiteThe digital version ofToday'sPaperAll otherin your areaMudgee Region Tourism is giving visitors a new reason to turn the out-of-office on and leave it there, as regional NSW ramps up its push to get travellers out of the city and into country towns. The region has launched what it says is Australia's first 'rest rebate', a campaign encouraging weekend travellers to slow down, stay longer and come home actually feeling like they have had a break. The offer gives visitors a complimentary Sunday night when they book Friday and Saturday nights at participating providers across the Mudgee region. Mudgee Region Tourism says the idea is to turn a two-night quick trip into a three-night breather. Twelve accommodation providers are taking part across Mudgee, Gulgong, Kandos and Rylstone and packages are available through June, July and August. The rebate has been launched alongside national research commissioned by Mudgee Region Tourism, which found 78 per cent of Australians had gone to work stressed, burnt out or mentally exhausted, while 64 per cent had returned from a holiday more tired than when they left. The survey of 1018 Australians also found 59 per cent checked work emails outside work hours, 41 per cent felt guilty doing nothing on holiday, and 59 per cent felt too uncomfortable to tell their boss they needed a mental health day. Glenayr Farm. Picture supplied / Mudgee Region TourismMudgee Region Tourism chief marketing officer Beau Kassas said the campaign was about removing one of the barriers that stopped people extending their stay. "The Mudgee Region has always understood the benefits of slow travel, and now we are able to reward Aussies for turning any weekend into a long weekend," Mr Kassas said. "By removing the cost of the extra night, the Rest Rebate is removing one barrier that often stops us from extending our stay and truly switching off. "By focusing on the peace that comes with a slower pace, we aim to change the way Aussies travel - and show how regional travel can be a genuine tool for rest, and a way to address the burnout and exhaustion that so many are experiencing. "Good for the brainClinical psychologist Dr Maria-Elena Lukeides has lent her expertise to the initiative, with Mudgee Region Tourism saying the three-night stay is designed to give visitors enough time to properly unwind rather than squeeze rest between check-in, dinner bookings and the Sunday drive home. "Burnout is not simply tiredness - it is a recognised occupational syndrome that requires structured recovery time, not just a day off," Dr Lukeides said. Beau Kassas. "The always-on state actively blocks the brain from recovering. Most Australians are locked in threat and drive mode - scanning for problems, chasing achievement, dopamine-fuelled and urgency-driven. "The soothing system, which governs genuine rest through the release of oxytocin, only activates when the brain feels truly safe and unhurried. A rushed two-night trip rarely gets us there - three nights in a slow, unhurried environment does. "Regional NSW is the keyNSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said regional NSW had a major role to play in growing the visitor economy. "Regional NSW is home to some of the nation's best kept secrets, and we're making sure more people discover them," Mr Kamper said. "We want people to stay longer and spend more in NSW, and the best way to do that is to get visitors travelling to our regions. "Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said every visitor to regional NSW helped support local businesses, create jobs and strengthen communities. Regional NSW welcomed 64. 4 million domestic and international visitors who spent $27. 2 billion in the year to March 2026, according to the NSW Government. The Mudgee Region is among the most popular tourist destinations in the state. Picture supplied / Mudgee Region TourismState government chucks inThe campaign comes as the NSW Government launches a new 12-month regional tourism marketing strategy aimed at attracting more visitors, boosting local businesses and creating jobs across regional NSW. The first phase of the Destination NSW campaign will showcase Byron Bay, the Barrington Coast, Shoalhaven, Sapphire Coast and Port Stephens, with region-specific activity to follow across digital, social media, search, PR, influencer engagement, events and Destination NSW-owned channels. While Mudgee is not named in the first phase, the region's Rest Rebate lands squarely in the same visitor economy push: getting people to stay longer, spend more and discover what regional NSW has to offer. Locals benefitMr Kassas said the rebate also had benefits for the local visitor economy, encouraging people to stay longer and spend more in the region. "In an always-on world, towns like Mudgee, Gulgong, Kandos and Rylstone aren't just a nice escape - we're part of the solution," he said. "The rest rebate is how we make that case. "As it happensBreaking news alertBe the first to know when news breaks.