PORT Macquarie's reputation as a food and wine travel destination is expected to receive a boost next year with Lyndey Milan filming part of her new 'Taste of Australia' series locally.
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The nine-episode series will be distributed to domestic and international television markets including China, South East Asia and the UK, for broadcast in 2013.
Lyndey Milan is one of Australia's most recognised food and wine personalities and a renowned ambassador for excellence in gourmet travel.
She will feature seven unique areas of regional NSW in her new series including Port Macquarie, the Hunter Valley, Armidale and Tamworth, Orange, Albury, the Snowy Mountains and the South Coast.
Four episodes of the series - including the one in Port Macquarie - have already been filmed.
Mrs Milan, a regular visitor to Port Macquarie, told the Port News that she had thoroughly enjoyed her most recent visit to the region.
Besides filming at the Bago Vineyards and Maze, she also visited the Lorne Valley macadaemia farm, Ricardoes Tomoatos and Strawberries and cooked with one of the chefs from The Stunned Mullett.
Mrs Milan also filmed at Port Macquarie's koala hospital and enjoyed a camel ride on the beach.
She said the local beaches were stunning but one of her aims was to show that there's more to the Port Macquarie region than its beaches.
Destination NSW chief executive officer, Sandra Chipchase, said the organisation was "delighted" to have secured the new series.
She said it would encourage viewers to visit the state's 'wonderful' regional food and wine areas and would also highlight regional NSW's vibrant attractions and unique accommodation.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, has also welcomed commencement of work on the new series.
He said Lyndey Milan's reputation and the fact regional NSW produces some of the finest foods and wines in the world made for a "perfect combination".
Port Macquarie is already well-established as a food and wine destination with events such as Tastings on Hastings attracting thousands of people every year.
Mrs Milan expects filming to wrap up in May next year.
Readers can follow its progress on Lyndey Milan's Taste of Australia Facebook page.