Uber gets people around cities. You know that already. But Bega and Broken Hill? Perhaps not. Well for New South Wales – that’s about to change. 

From today, people anywhere in NSW can sign-up to drive with the Uber app. That’s ahead of April where we will be turning on the Uber app across every square metre of NSW, making it one of the largest geographic areas we serve anywhere in the world. We’ve brought forward our plans to bring Uber to regional NSW to help fire and drought-affected regions get back on their feet. It’s our way of supporting the #LoveNSW initiative to bring domestic and international tourism to the regions.

From locals in Jindabyne to Moruya to Armidale, we’ve heard from people right across the state that they want Uber to come to their community – so now’s the opportunity to sign-up. We’re keen to see locals and tourists alike support these regional drivers when the Uber app goes live state-wide in April. 

Our own data shows domestic and international tourists love Uber. In fact overseas visitors from more than 80 countries regularly use the Uber app to get around Australia – both in cities and further afield. And over the first two months of 2020, tens of thousands of domestic tourists, from 35 places around Australia, used the Uber app to get around the parts of regional NSW we already cover. So we also believe rideshare can help drive spend for other local businesses as tourists get around to the fantastic restaurants, wineries and pubs that regional NSW has to offer.

A key focus of ours will be making sure the app is ready to go live for communities along the NSW South Coast (all the way to the Victorian border) – ahead of the busy domestic tourism season in April, when families travel over the Easter long weekend and school holidays. The South Coast is one of the state’s top 3 regions for domestic tourism, and was one of the areas hardest hit by this summer’s bushfires. 

From there we want to help domestic and international tourists alike get out to support everything from winter tourism in the Snowy Mountains, to the Broken Heel Festival in Broken Hill to the Mudgee Food & Wine Festival in, well – Mudgee! 

Tourism & Transport Forum Australia CEO Margy Osmond applauded the move. 

“TTF applauds Uber’s commitment to growing transport choices for both residents and visitors to regional towns across NSW and it will be really exciting to watch these regions light up in the coming months,” she said.

“Regional NSW hosts an incredible array of fabulous events and Uber services will help ensure ease of access for everyone.

“The expansion also helps to open up the options in the regions, from a Friday night out for locals to visitors attending local festivals etc, the service is a winner. 

“Importantly at the moment, when it is so important to encourage people to visit our local towns this new transport option will make the whole experience easier,” Ms Osmond said.

So if you’re an Uber user in Sydney, wondering where to holiday this year, take this as a sign. And if you live anywhere in regional and rural NSW, and are interested in signing up to drive with Uber, you’ll be pleased to know that in NSW the process is straightforward and cost-effective. Find out more here.

#LoveNSW