A surprise coastal town has been inducted into the NSW Tourism Association's Hall of Fame.
The 2026 NSW Top Tourism Town Awards winners were announced on Wednesday.
The awards looked at the top tourism town with a population over 5,000 people, small tourism town with a population between 1,500 and 5,000 and a tiny tourism town with a population below 1,500.
Kiama claimed a major win, being inducted into the Hall of Fame following three Gold wins in the Top Tourism Town category.
"This is a rare honour and it is an incredible achievement for Kiama,” Cameron McDonald, the town's mayor, said.
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"We pride ourselves on being a go-to destination for visitors whether they are coming to our town for a day trip, a weekend away or an extended stay.
"Kiama not only has plenty of places to visit but a special community where everybody is welcome, whether you’re a local or from out of town."
Councillor Matt Brown, the council's tourism chair, said tourism is such a big part of Kiama, and it's "incredibly humbling" to be elevated to Hall of Fame status.
Huskisson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2025 after three consecutive Gold wins in the Tiny Tourism Town category.
Council said tourism is a massive part of the communtiy.
(Getty Creative)What towns won NSW Tourism awards?
Kiama was followed by Orange, which took second place, and Wollongong, which won third place, in the Top Tourism Town category.
Gulgong won Gold in the Small Tourism Town category, followed by Gloucester and Thirlmere. Shoal Bay won the NRMA People's Choice Award in the category.
In the Tiny Tourism Town category, Broke won Gold, followed by Millthorpe and Mungindi.
NSW Tourism Association CEO Natalie Godward said these awards shine a spotlight on what makes regional parts of the state so memorable.
“Every finalist and winner should be incredibly proud of the way they welcome visitors and showcase the best of their region. There’s never been a better time to get out, hit the road, support local businesses and discover the incredible experiences right across our state.”
The Gold-winning town will now represent NSW at the Australian Top Tourism Town Awards in Canberra.
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