Winners announced at Australian Tourism Awards
The Australian Tourism Awards took place over the weekend showcasing the best in outstanding customer service, innovation and ongoing business excellence at a gala event held in Launceston.
Daniel Gschwind, chair of the Australian Tourism Awards, congratulated all the winners and finalists from across Australia.
“To reach the finalists stage of the Australian Tourism Awards is a great honour in itself and all finalists should be immensely proud of their efforts,” he said.
“The winners from tonight’s event truly are the best of the best, with a lot of strong competition across all categories.
“Those that have taken home the trophy have been honoured for their hard work, innovation and commitment to quality, which contributes to the ongoing success of our $55.3 billion tourism industry.
“It is businesses like these that drive the growing contribution that tourism makes to the economy and communities right across Australia.”
Four businesses were inducted into the Australian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame for taking the top honours in their respective categories three years running - Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers (Queensland) for Major Festivals and Events, Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures (Western Australia) for Adventure Tourism, The Beach House and Bayside (Western Australia) for Hosted Accommodation, and The Frames Luxury Accommodation (South Australia) for Deluxe Accommodation.
The Irwin Family was awarded the title of Australian Tourism Legend, recognising for their continued contribution to the local tourism industry through the promotion of Australia as a destination of choice, and also through their tireless work in protecting the environment.
(Excellence in Food Tourism winner: Two Feet & a Heartbeat, WA)
Below is the full list of winners:
Australian Tourism Legend
Irwin Family
Major Tourist Attractions
Gold: Port Arthur Historic Site, Tas
Silver: National Gallery of Australia, ACT
Bronze: Busselton Jetty, WA
Tourist Attractions
Gold: Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures, WA
Silver: Capricorn Caves, Qld
Bronze: Katherine Outback Experience, NT
Major Festivals & Events
Gold: Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, Qld
Silver: Formula 1 2018 Rolex Australian Grand Prix, Vic
Bronze: Splendour in the Grass 2017, NSW
Festivals & Events
Gold: Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo, Qld
Silver: CinefestOZ, WA
Bronze: Parkes Shire Council — 2018 Parkes Elvis Festival, NSW
Ecotourism
Gold: Fun Over Fifty, Qld
Silver: Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park, Vic
Bronze: Three Capes Track, Tas
Cultural Tourism
Gold: Port Arthur Historic Site, Tas
Silver: Paronella Park, Qld
Bronze: Fremantle Prison, WA
Qantas Award for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism
Gold: Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours and Experiences, WA
Silver: Nitmiluk Tours and Cicada Lodge, NT
Bronze: Mossman Gorge Centre, Qld
Specialised Tourism Services
Gold: Proud Mary, SA
Silver: Small World Journeys, Qld
Bronze: Willie Creek Pearls at Elizabeth Quay, WA
Visitor Information Services
Gold: Swan Valley Visitor Centre, WA
Silver: Canberra and Region Visitors Centre, ACT
Bronze: Tourism Central Australia, NT
Business Event Venues
Gold: Adelaide Hills Convention Centre, SA
Silver: Holmesglen at Eildon, Vic
Bronze: Novotel Twin Waters Resort, Qld
Major Tour & Transport Operators
Gold: Red Cat Adventures, Qld
Silver: Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, Tas
Bronze: SkyBus, Vic
Tour & Transport Operators
Gold: Kimberley Quest, WA
Silver: Ocean Safari, Qld
Bronze: Autopia Tours — Small Group Adventures, Vic
Adventure Tourism
Gold: Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures, WA
Silver: Roaring 40s Kayaking, Tas
Bronze: Calypso Star Charters, SA
Destination Marketing
Gold: Pie Time, Southern Highlands, NSW
Silver: Shoalhaven Tourism – 100 Beach Challenge Campaign, NSW
Bronze: Yorke Peninsula Tourism, SA
Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services
Gold: Cicada Lodge Restaurant at Nitmiluk Gorge, NT
Silver: Sandalford Wines, WA
Bronze: Royal Mail Hotel, Vic
Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries
Gold: Bundaberg Rum Visitor Experience, Qld
Silver: Seppeltsfield Estate, SA
Bronze: Willie Smith’s Apple Shed, Tas
Caravan & Holiday Parks
Gold: BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, Qld
Silver: NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park, Tas
Bronze: RAC Cervantes Holiday Park, WA
Hosted Accommodation
Gold: The Beach House at Bayside, WA
Silver: Cobbold Village, Qld
Bronze: Mulberry Lodge Country Retreat, SA
Unique Accommodation
Gold: Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures – The Horizontal Hotel, WA
Silver: Whitsunday Escape, Qld
Bronze: Jamala Wildlife Lodge, ACT
Self-Contained Accommodation
Gold: The Frames, SA
Silver: Avalon Coastal Retreat, Tas
Bronze: Balingup Heights Hilltop Forest Cottages, WA
Standard Accommodation
Gold: Cave Hill Creek, Vic
Silver: Grand Hotel and Apartments Townsville, Qld
Bronze: Leumeah Lodge, ACT
Deluxe Accommodation
Gold: MACq 01 Hotel, Tas
Silver: Wallaroo Marina Apartments, SA
Bronze: Kununurra Country Club Resort, WA
Luxury Accommodation
Gold: Cicada Lodge at Nitmiluk Gorge, NT
Silver: Alkina Lodge, Vic
Bronze: RACV Royal Pines Resort, Qld
New Tourism Business
Gold: St Andrews Beach Brewery, Vic
Silver: Blue Ginger Picnics, NSW
Bronze: Vasse Virgin at Seppeltsfield, SA
Excellence in Food Tourism
Gold: Two Feet & a Heartbeat, WA
Silver: Sarina Sugar Shed, Qld
Bronze: Coal River Farm, Tas
Sheridan Randall, 5th March 2019