I had no idea how gorgeous and vibrant regional NSW is until we were diverted inland to escape the bushfires last weekend.

Every small business could learn a thing or two from the best, clearly family-run, little ventures we came across during our unexpected adventure.

Businesses near the M1 need to be notified when a major incident occurs about how emergency services are responding, so they can advise travellers. Credit:Max Mason Hubers

Becoming increasingly uneasy sitting in a mile-long gridlock before the roadblock on the MI, the main route up and down the eastern seaboard, at Karuah where the fire front was, we finally turned back north up the highway to find an inland route back down to Sydney.

Trying to figure out the best way home, we regrouped with my family (along with the rest of the population holidaying on the NSW mid north coast who were also trying to figure out how to get back down the M1) at Bulahdelah, a riverside town recently bypassed by the highway.