AFTER a bronze award last year, Heathcote has again made the cut as one of four finalists in the 2023 TAC Top Small Tourism Towns.<\/p>\n
Heathcote Tourism and Development president Peter Young said the nomination was an affirmation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt tells us how far we’ve come,\u201d he said. \u201cWe now have a two-hat restaurant in the town, we’ve got a brewery and just the whole vibe of the place has really improved.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have become a tourism destination, but I think there’s a long way for us to go to get the full recognition that Heathcote deserves and to many people it’s still an undiscovered gem.<\/p>\n
Mr Young said the awards helped raise awareness of what the region had to offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey stimulate people to come here and see the place and actually experience it for themselves,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more visitors we get the more investment we can make, and everything builds on itself.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve got some great natural attributes,\u201d he said. \u201cWe’re on the route to Bendigo and we’re on the route to Echuca which are two major destinations from Melbourne.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got this lovely fresh air, we’ve got some beautiful scenery, we’ve got some of the best wines in the world and we’ve got other developing artisan-type activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it’s got such a wonderful future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Young said there were many special experiences on offer across the district.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think to sit in a cellar door and view the vines and the vistas is quite fantastic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo drive up to the top of Chinaman\u2019s Bend and have a look at the vineyards is really quite stunning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heathcote is up against Koroit, Sorrento and Woodend for the title of Top Small Tourism Town.<\/p>\n
The wider region is also represented with Bendigo nominated as one of eight Top Tourism Towns.<\/p>\n
City of Greater Bendigo manager tourism and major events Terry Karamaloudis said he was excited to see Bendigo and Heathcote reach the finals for the third year in a row.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe final decision is based on public voting, user reviews, suggested itineraries, so it means so much for Bendigo and Heathcote to be recognised in this way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be named the top regional or small regional town, you, your family and friends are encouraged to vote.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, vote 1 for Bendigo and Heathcote today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bendigo will battle it out with Ballarat, Echuca, Frankston, Lakes Entrance, Mildura, Warrnambool and Werribee in the Top Tourism Towns category.<\/p>\n