RICHMOND - beautiful one day, and free for three.
In a cheeky bid to pinch tourists from the nearby Blue Mountains, the historic western Sydney town of Richmond is offering three free nights at a new caravan park for any tourists with a van or motor home.
Travellers are invited to use the park's facilities and enjoy the breathtaking mountain views - all without having to pay a cent.
Hoping to revive its popularity of the 1800s, Richmond is opening its hidden secrets in a bid to take a chunk of the $8 billion motor home industry.
Local RSL, the Richmond Club, has spent $250,000 to lure tourists back to the town, with the free Wanderest caravan park promotion seen as a way of bringing more tourists - and their dollars - into the community's shops, galleries, pubs and clubs.
Where else can you experience the wonders of the gravity-defying Magnetic Hill, where you can park your car, put it in neutral and watch it climb up the hill?
How about one of the nation's oldest racetracks, or the RAAF base, fishing on the Hawkesbury or a walking tour past a string of stately mansions?
"Richmond is a hidden secret. A lot of locals want to keep it hidden but for economic prosperity we have to reveal it," Richmond Club CEO Kimberley Talbot said.
Ms Talbot said the initial concept of a free camp was suggested 2 1/2 years ago, after the club chairman travelled Australia staying in caravan parks.
"With the Wanderest project, we wanted more people having the opportunity to experience what the area has to offer. It is truly God's land," she said.
"A well-developed plan for tourism can bring many benefits to a community.
"If you have vacant land, a caravan park is easy to set up and clubs can bring economical sustainability to their local areas."
Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia manager projects Phil Berry said the Richmond plan "is a great innovation and a brilliant location".
"By creating the rest area it's encouraging them to spend their dollars there," Mr Berry said.
"What they have done in Richmond is superb.
"Many rest areas are just a flat piece of land. They have added additional facilities.
"We need more around the Sydney area," he said.
The park features toilets, showers, powered and non-powered sites, a dump site for black water, picnic tables and open grassed areas - all with a clear view of the Blue Mountains.
