Silver was awarded to Old Bar Beach Festival in the festivals and events category (story page 1), with Nabiac's Honeycomb Valley farmstay receiving bronze in the hosted accommodation category.

"It's the first time we've entered the awards so it was great to see the farmstay recognised as being one of the best hosted accommodation holidays in the State," said Anna Campbell, who runs Honeycomb Valley with her husband Andrew.

They were among the 700 industry members and guests who attended the gala event and ceremony last Friday at the Grand Pavilion at Rosehill Gardens.

"It was a bit different to get out of gumboots," she said of the experience.

Needless to say they were thrilled with the recognition.

"We're jumping all over the farm," said Anna yesterday, in between taking bus tour groups around to pick fresh plums and blueberries, before enjoying a solar cooked lunch.

"In our category there were luxury B&Bs on the beach so it was nice that a farmstay at Nabiac was awarded."

The hosted accommodation category was won by Ossian Hall Valley Retreat, north of Windsor, with silver going to Mollymook Beach Waterfront on the South Coast.

Apart from a few Hunter Valley wineries, Honeycomb Valley was the only agritourism business to win an award this year.

"At Honeycomb Valley Farm we offer a farmstay, courses in beekeeping, breadbaking and outdoor art, our own range of 'farmerceuticals' (skin care made with our raw honey, sun-melted beeswax and goat's milk) and host bus group tours who enjoy farm tours and morning teas and lunches cooked in the largest solar oven in Australia," said Mrs Campbell.

The couple and their three children took over the farmstay four years ago, the first of its kind they have owned and run (they have had experience in the management of accommodation in the past).

In that time they have planted 3000 trees and have made a number of changes.

"It's just nice the farm was recognised by State tourism. The guests tell us they love it but it's nice for an external body to agree."

The farmstay is also the Campbell family farm.

"We're trying to live off the land, and are learning heaps while having a bit of fun."

Their three children are a big part of the guests' experience.

Honeycomb Valley was the winner of the 2010 North Coast Tourism Award for hosted accommodation, and received the champion honey title at this year's Wallamba Show.