Winners celebrated at Australian Tourism Awards
Victorian tourist attractions and operators were big winners at the Qantas-sponsored Australian Tourism Awards on Friday, scooping 10 of the top prizes.
The 26 award winners for 2015 were announced in Melbourne at an event attended by tourism representatives from across the country.
Victorian sites and operators claimed ten gold awards, with Sovereign Hill in Ballarat winning the major tourist attraction category.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival also took out the top prize for major festivals and events.
Tasmania also fared well, winning seven golds as well as a number of silver and bronze awards.
Federal Minister for Tourism and International Education, Senator Richard Colbeck, paid tribute to the “booming” industry’s efforts to attract more visitors in order to meet the Tourism 2020 goal of surpassing $115 billion in overnight visitor expenditure by 2020.
“Visitors flocked to Australia in record numbers in 2015 and without these industry award winners, Australia couldn’t come close to being the highly desirable and memorable destination it is for visitors,” he said.
“I’d like to thank all winners and finalists for their dedication to producing unforgettable tourism experiences set against what truly is the worlds best backdrop.”
Last year the country welcomed a record one million visitors from China, as spending increased 13 per cent to $34.8 billion – the strongest year of growth since 2001.
Read on for a full list of award winners:
Australian Tourism Legend
Mr Geoff McGeary OAM
Major Tourist Attractions
Gold, Sovereign Hill VIC
Silver, Port Arthur Historic Site TAS
Bronze, Taronga Zoo NSW
Tourist Attractions
Gold, Bruny Island Cruises TAS
Silver, Questacon ACT
Bronze, Daintree Discovery Centre QLD
Major Festivals and Events
Gold, 2014 Melbourne Cup Carnival VIC
Silver, Floriade 2014 ACT
Bronze, MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival 2015 TAS
Festivals and Events
Gold, Fun4Kids Festival VIC
Silver, Boggabri Drovers Campfire NSW
Bronze, 2015 National Folk Festival ACT
Ecotourism
Gold, The Tasmanian Walking Company TAS
Silver, Sail Ningaloo – Overnight Sailing Tours WA
Bronze, Sea Darwin Eco Cruises NT
Cultural Tourism
Gold, Venture North Australia NT
Silver, Port Arthur Historic Site TAS
Bronze, Bendigo Tramways VIC
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism
Gold, Voyages Ayers Rock Resort NT
Silver, Arakwal Dolphin Dreaming Cape Byron State Conservation Area NSW
Bronze, Koomal Dreaming WA
Specialised Tourism Services
Gold, Canberra Airport ACT
Silver, Cruisin’ Motorhomes TAS
Bronze, Leisure Options VIC
Visitor Information Services
Gold, Alice Springs Visitor Information Centre NT
Silver, Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre TAS
Bronze, Barossa Visitor Centre SA
Business Event Venue
Gold, The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel TAS
Silver, Alice Springs Convention Centre NT
Bronze, Chateau Elan at The Vintage NSW
Major Tour and Transport Operators
Gold, Searoad Ferries VIC
Silver, Reef Magic Cruises QLD
Bronze, ADAMS Pinnacle Tours WA
Tour and Transport Operators
Gold, Top Drop Tours WA
Silver, Ocean Safari QLD
Bronze, Uluru Camel Tours NT
Adventure Tourism
Gold, Enchanted Adventure Garden and Tree Surfing VIC
Silver, Uluru Camel Tours NT
Bronze, Calypso Star Charters SA
Destination Marketing
Gold, Wine Food Farmgate VIC
Silver, Australia’s Nature Coast QLD
Bronze, #RideNorthTas TAS
Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
Gold, Stillwater at Crittenden VIC
Silver, AAT Kings Uluru BBQ Dinner NT
Bronze, Josef Chromy Wines TAS
Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries
Gold, Pizzini Wines Cellar Door VIC
Silver, Sandalford Wines WA
Bronze, Margan Wines NSW
Caravan and Holiday Parks
Gold, BIG4 Deniliquin Holiday Park NSW
Silver, BIG4 Beacon Resort VIC
Bronze, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort QLD
Hosted Accommodation
Gold, Curringa Farm Tours and Accommodation TAS
Silver, HideAway Haven WA
Bronze, Eldee Station NSW
Unique Accommodation
Gold Taronga Western Plains Zoo NSW
Silver Avalon City Retreat TAS
Bronze Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures – The Horizontal Hotel WA
Self Contained Accommodation
Gold, Avalon Coastal Retreat TAS
Silver, The Frames SA
Bronze, Aquabelle Apartments VIC
Standard Accommodation
Gold, Moama on Murray Resort NSW
Silver, Sandpiper Ocean Cottages TAS
Bronze, Cottesloe Beach Hotel WA
Deluxe Accommodation
Gold, The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel TAS
Silver, The Observatory Port Macquarie NSW
Bronze, Yondah Beach House SA
Luxury Accommodation
Gold, Drift House VIC
Silver, Saffire Freycinet TAS
Bronze, The Playford SA
New Tourism Business
Gold, Pumphouse Point TAS
Silver, National Anzac Centre WA
Bronze, Halcyon House NSW
Excellence in Food Tourism
Gold, Green Olive at Red Hill VIC
Silver, Farm Gate Market TAS
Bronze, The Lake House Denmark – Vinofoods WA
Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism
Gold, The Observatory Port Macquarie, NSW
Silver, The Tasmanian Walking Company, TAS
Bronze, Fun Over 50, QLD
Image credit: iStock
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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