Nature big winner at Tasmanian Tourism Awards

NATURE based tourism was the big winner at last night’s 2016 Tasmanian Tourism Awards.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary owner Greg Irons won the Tourism Ministers Young Achiever Award at the Tasmanian awards. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

NATURE based tourism was the big winner at last night’s 2016 Tasmanian Tourism Awards.

A 100-year-old national park, a brand new three day walking track, a flyfishing tour, a walking company, a farm stay and a trip into the wilderness on a six seater single engine aircraft were among the winners announced at the Wrest Point Casino black tie event.

Tourism operators working within Tasmania’s National Parks and World Heritage Areas dominated the awards.

Freycinet National Park won Best Major Tourist Attraction at the awards. Picture: SUPPLIED.

Freycinet National Park was named Tasmania’s best major tourist attraction and the Three Capes Track was named Tasmania’s best new tourism business for 2016.

Twenty-two operators from across the State and the industry, including 10 first time winners, were recognised.

Host Ranger Kaely Kreger said tourists who had seen the photos of the dolerite cliffs on the Three Capes Track were always amazed by the “phenomenal” reality of the cliffside walk. She said places like Cradle Mt and Freycinet were “really exceptional locations that leave tourists tired but refreshed from their immersion in nature”.

Three Capes Track was named Tasmania’s best new tourism business. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“Tassie is really remarkable for the number of places that you can feel a connection to wild nature,’’ she said.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Luke Martin said eight of the category winners were operating tourism projects within Tasmania’s National Parks and World Heritage Areas.

“Our leading operators who work within these remarkable parts of the State are committed to world leading eco-tourism activities,’’ Mr Martin said.

For the first time in its 40-year-history, Salamanca Market won the Major Festivals and Events category and will now be recognised alongside Australia’s largest and most famous events at the national awards.

Hobart's Salamanca Market won in the Major Festivals and Events category. Picture: SUPPLIED

The people in the industry were also recognised with Peter Mooney named the Tasmanian Tourism Champion for his tireless efforts conserving and managing National Parks and World Heritage Areas. “As General Manager Peter has overseen unprecedented growth in visitation to Tasmania’s National Parks — bringing more tourists into regional communities across Tasmania,’’ judges said.

Peter Mooney was named the Tasmanian Tourism Champion. Pictured with his wife Jan.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary founder Greg Irons was named The Tourism Ministers Young Achiever.

“Greg has established through Bonorong, Tasmania’s only dedicated wildlife rescue service and continues to reinvest and grow both the tourism and conservation arms of his business,’’ judges said.

The awards are not easy to enter and harder to win, said Mr Martin.

“We deliberately maintain a very high judging standard in order to encourage our best operators to constantly aspire to be better and elevate the standard across the industry.”

A highlight of this year’s event was the induction of five businesses into the Tasmanian Tourism Hall of Fame, for winning their category for three consecutive years.

Par Avion Wilderness Tours, Josef Chromy Wines, Curringa Farm Accommodation, Sandpiper Ocean Cottages and The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel all entered the Hall of Fame.

Mr Martin said Sandpiper Ocean Cottages — a small family-run accommodation business on the East Coast — “constantly do that little bit extra and go that little bit further.”

“Now they have joined the likes of Wrest Point and Saffire as one of the few accommodation products in the Tasmanian Tourism Hall of Fame.

“All of our winners are icons of our industry and represent the very best of Tasmania’s tourism industry, and we can all be tremendously proud of their achievement.”

Winners will represent the state in the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Darwin in February, 2017.

List of winners:

Best Major Tourist Attraction Freycinet National Park.

Best Tourist Attraction Bruny Island Cruises.

Best Major Festival and Event Salamanca Market.

Best Festival and Event The Falls Music & Arts Festival.

Best Ecotourism Tasmanian Walking Company.

Best Cultural Tourism Cascades Female Factory.

Best Specialised Tourism Service RiverFly 1864.

Best Information Service Wonders of Wynyard Exhibition and Visitor Information and Centre.

Best Business Event Venue The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel.

Best Major Tour and Transport Operators Par Avion Wilderness Tours. Hall of Fame Winner.

Best Tour and Transport Operators Jump Tours.

Best Adventure Tourism The Maria Island Walk.

Best Destination Marketing Great Eastern Drive.

Best Tourism and Restaurant Catering Services Josef Chromy Wines. Hall of Fame Winner.

Best Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries Josef Chromy Wines.

Best Caravan and Holiday Parks BIG 4 St Helens Holiday Park.

Bested Hosted Accommodation Curringa Farm Accommodation. Hall of Fame Winner.

Best Unique Accommodation Pumphouse Point.

Best Self Contained Accommodation Avalon Coastal Retreat.

Best Standard Accommodation Sandpiper Ocean Cottages. Hall of Fame Winner.

Best Deluxe Accommodation The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel. Hall of Fame Winner.

Best Luxury Accommodation Saffire Freycinet.

Gustav Award for New Tourism Business Three Capes Track.

Excellence in Food Tourism Bruny Island Cheese Co.

People’s Choice Award Hide-Away Cottage Retreat.

Tasmanian Tourism Champion Peter Mooney

Tourism Ministers Young Achiever Award Greg Irons.

Originally published as Nature big winner at Tasmanian Tourism Awards