Planning Minister launches Five Lands Walk expansion

NSW Minister for Planning Mr Rob Stokes caught the ferry from Pittwater to Ettalong on Friday, June 10, to launch an expansion of the Five Lands Walk to the Peninsula and Sydney's northern beaches.

For the first time, the Five Lands Walk will invite visitors from the northern beaches will to travel by ferry to Ettalong on June 25 to then be transported by bus to MacMasters Beach to commence their walk.

"By expanding and promoting the Five Lands Walk to the Northern Beaches of Sydney via the Peninsula, we have the opportunity to attract new day trippers and weekend stays on the beautiful Central Coast," said Member for Terrigal, Mr Adam Crouch.

"Over 15,000 people walked the Five Lands last year on its 10th anniversary with nearly 3000 of those visitors from outside the region.

"This is great news for our local economy and a major boost to visitation numbers," he said.

Mr Stokes said he was delighted to link the Northern Beaches with one of the most significant tourism events on the Central Coast.

"This Cinque Terre-like walk takes in the magnificent coastal views with its unique natural beauty and diverse culture which I've had the pleasure of experiencing first hand early this year," Mr Stokes said.

"It is so important that we explore and enhance these linking tourism events so that we can broaden the offer to visitors who want to experience all natural charms of the Central Coast and my own backyard

"It was a great privilege to be welcomed by the local Aboriginal Darrawang Bingayja dancers at Ettalong Beach Wharf to the land of the Darkinjung," he said.

"With over 85 per cent of all businesses in our region being micro to small businesses, it is vitally important that we look at innovative ways to increase visitor numbers," Mr Crouch said.

Media release, 9 Jun 2016

Debra Wales, Office of Adam Crouch MP