Australia best tourist attractions revealed at national awards
The tourism industry’s best and brightest have been honoured at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.
The tourism industry’s best and brightest were honoured at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards on Friday night.
The event, held at the Adelaide Convention Centre in South Australia, recognised the efforts and achievements of dozens of tourism operators across 26 categories.
Notable winners included Canberra’s Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre, which took out the gold award for Major Tourist Attraction, and the annual Darwin Festival, which won gold in the Major Festivals and Events category.
Other winners included Malbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance (Cultural Tourism), The Reef House Adults Retreat in Palm Cove, Queensland (five-star luxury accommodation) and Sierra Escape glamping operation in the wine region of Mudgee, NSW (Unique Accommodation).
Two of the night’s winners clocked up gold for their third consecutive year: BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, a caravan park in Queensland, and Urban Camp Melbourne, which is largely used for school camps.
The celebration marked the 40th anniversary of the awards, begun in 1984. Labor politician and former minister John Brown, who spearheaded Paul Hogan’s famous 1983 “shrimp on the barbie” tourism campaign, was a guest of honour at the ceremony.
Senator Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism, congratulated the nominees and winners for their “passion, creativity and authenticity that make visitors eager to explore … our country”.
“Your efforts have not only enhanced the global appeal of Australia but have also supported thousands of jobs, strengthened local communities, and contributed to the continued growth of our economy,” Mr Farrell said.
QANTAS AUSTRALIAN TOURISM AWARDS WINNERS
Major Tourist Attractions
Gold – Questacon: The National Science and Technology Centre, ACT
Silver – Zoos Victoria – Melbourne Zoo
Bronze – WA Museum Boola Bardip
Tourist Attractions
Gold – Katherine Outback Experience, NT
Silver – Northern Rivers Rail Trail, NSW
Bronze – National Dinosaur Museum, ACT
Major Festivals & Events
Gold – Darwin Festival, NT
Silver – Beef Australia 2024, Qld
Bronze – Lightscape Melbourne – Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Festivals & Events
Gold – Birdsville Big Red Bash, Qld
Silver – Margaret River Region Open Studios, WA
Bronze – Junction Arts Festival, Tas
Ecotourism
Gold – National Arboretum Canberra
Silver – The Big Duck Boat Tours, SA
Bronze – Busselton Jetty , WA
Cultural Tourism
Gold – Shrine of Remembrance Melbourne
Silver – SEIT Tours, NT
Bronze – Port Macquarie Museum, NSW
5 Star Luxury Accommodation
Gold – The Reef House Adults Retreat, Qld
Silver – Mt Hay Retreat, NSW
Bronze – Pullman Bunker Bay Resort, Tas
4–4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation
Gold – Peppers Silo Hotel, Tas
Silver – Oval Hotel, SA
Bronze – Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, Qld
3–3.5 Star Accommodation
Gold – Urban Camp Melbourne
Silver – Safari Lodge Motel, NT
Bronze – Broadwater Resort, Busselton, WA
Hosted Accommodation
Gold – The Dragonfly Inn, Tas
Silver – Boat Harbour Jetty B&B, Vic
Bronze – Wooleen Station, WA
Unique Accommodation
Gold – Sierra Escape, NSW
Silver – The Cove Tasmania, Tas
Bronze – Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, WA
Self Contained Accommodation
Gold – Old Coach Road Estate, SA
Silver – Pinnacles, Airlie Beach, Qld
Bronze – Alice’s Cottages, Tas
New Tourism Business
Gold – Spinifex Brewery Cable Beach, WA
Silver – Red Rock Hut, King Island, Tas
Bronze – NT Driver Guide – Escorted Touring
Excellence in Food Tourism
Gold – Harvest Tours, WA
Silver – Love Lord Howe, NSW
Bronze – The Truffle Farm, Tas
Excellence in Accessible Tourism
Gold – Balloon Aloft Australia, NSW
Silver – National Arboretum Canberra
Bronze – Adelaide Fringe, SA
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences
Gold – Cape York Peninsula Lodge , Qld
Silver – Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia – Wintjiri Wiru, NT
Bronze – Kool Tours, SA
Major Tour & Transport Operators
Gold – HeliSpirit, WA
Silver – Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, Tas
Bronze – Ocean Rafting, Qld
Tour & Transport Operators
Gold – Fun Over 50 Holidays – Immersive Tours and Adventures, Qld
Silver – Spirit of the Coorong, SA
Bronze – Air Adventure Golf, Tas
Adventure Tourism
Gold – Balloon Aloft Australia, NSW
Silver – Bendleby Ranges, SA
Bronze – Aquascene Magnetic Island, QLD
Visitor Information Services
Gold – Swan Valley Visitor Centre, WA
Silver – Quilpie Visitor Information Centre, Museum & Gallery, Qld
Bronze – Canberra and Region Visitors Centre
Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries
Gold – Seppeltsfield Barossa, SA
Silver – Bangor Vineyard Shed, Tas
Bronze – Singlefile Wines, WA
Tourism Retail, Hire & Services
Gold – Younique Stays, Tas
Silver – Go Adventure Nagambie, Vic
Bronze – Uluru Audio Guide, NT
Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services
Gold – Sea World Cruises Dining Experiences, Qld
Silver – Grain of the Silos, Tas
Bronze – Potager, NSW
Caravan & Holiday Parks
Gold – BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, Qld
Silver – Alivio Tourist Park Canberra
Bronze – BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park, Tas
Business Event Venues
Gold – Peppers Silo Hotel, Tas
Silver – Darwin Convention Centre
Bronze – Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Tourism Marketing & Campaigns
Gold – The Tweed Tourism Company, NSW
Silver – Rottnest Island Authority – Wrap Yourself In Wonder, WA
Bronze – Barossa Australia – Barossa. Be Curious, SA
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