Port Stephens snaps spotlight this weekend as up to 100 Instagrammers converge on region for supermeet

Up to 100 leading Instagrammers will converge on Port Stephens this weekend for an Instagram ‘Supermeet’ that will showcase the region’s natural beauty to hundreds of thousands of their followers across Australia and around the world.

Destination Port Stephens is coordinating and supporting the event from Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20, 2015, with the local industry in conjunction with well known Instagrammer, Melissa Evans, from Left of the Middle Photography in Lake Macquarie who uses the Instagram hubs @amazing_australia @mynewcastle @exploringaustralia @australiagram and @instameetnewcastle.

The Instagrammers, who come from Sydney, Newcastle, regional NSW and also from interstate, range from photographers just starting out on Instagram to semi-professional and professional Instagrammers with anywhere from 15,000 to 45,000 followers.

The group will be out and about in Port Stephens all weekend to take pictures of a range of organised activities, with the best images posted to win prizes offered by local tourist operators. Activities include a whale watch cruise with Tamboi Queen Cruises, a walk up Tomaree Headland, sand dune adventures with 4WD Tours R US, stand up padddleboarding classes with Shoal Bay SUP and a sunrise breakfast at Zenith Beach.

Destination Port Stephens CEO, Janelle Gardner, said the region had united to harness the increasing power of social media to showcase the area’s natural beauty. “This Instagram supermeet is an incredible opportunity for Port Stephens to show off our amazing natural assets to a wide domestic and international audience,” Ms Gardner said. “If a picture speaks a thousand words, the many images these talented photographers will be sharing will speak volumes for the appeal of Port Stephens as a destination.”

“Instagram is fast becoming a very powerful platform for communicating to a receptive and engaged audience. We have had incredible support for the Instameet from local operators who see the value in banding together to welcome the Instagrammers to Port Stephens. It provides a unique opportunity to showcase our beaches and waterways, national parks, the Worimi Conservation Lands and our cafes and restaurants over the weekend whilst also increasing our audience for further promotion year round.”

The Instagrammer leading the group, Melissa Evans, from Lake Macquarie added: “Port Stephens has it all photo wise so it makes the perfect destination for our group of instagrammers to meet and take lots of amazing pictures for our followers.”

To follow the Port Stephens Supermeet and see the images the Instagrammers take, access the Port Stephens Instagram profile @portstephens and follow the hashtags #portstephens and #psiloveyou.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia