Bent on Food, Wingham, Big 4 Great Lakes at Forster-Tuncurry, Boogie Woogie Beach House, Seahorse Diamond Beach and The Wingham Akoostik Music Festival will represent the Great Lakes/ Manning in this week's finals in Port Macquarie.

The winners will be announced in Port Macquarie on Saturday, when we’re expecting around 200 tourism industry leaders to come together and celebrate this great tourism night of nights, North Coast Destination Network executive officer, Belinda Novicky said.

 “The finalists represent a good cross section of our industry from Newcastle to  Destination Tweed.

 “The winners will then go on to represent our region at the NSW Tourism Awards for Excellence later this year.”

Dianne and Chris Denton from Seahorse holiday accommodation at Diamond Beach are thrilled with their nomination.

“We are just over the moon; proud and thrilled, ” Dianne said today.

The couple run a luxury pet friendly (horses included) beach holiday accommodation on six acres in Diamond Beach complete with ocean and rural views, swimming pool and private rainforest.

“People can come and fulfill their life-long dream to ride a horse on the beach. We love sharing our home with people,” Dianne said.

Earlier this month Seahorse Diamond Beach won an excellence in tourism  and hospitality award at this year's Manning, Gloucester, Great Lakes Business Awards.

Big 4 Great Lakes manager, Shane Ridgewell is hoping his tourist park will go one better in this year's awards. In the 2015 awards the park was awarded a gold in the North Coast finals, and a highly commended for the State.

“We are delighted to be part of the awards,” Shane said.

“We enjoy working with NSW Tourism and setting benchmarks in the industry.”