We are a lucky bunch in Queensland, with some of the most spectacular destinations and experiences right on our doorstep. For the past 34 years, the Queensland Tourism Awards have been recognising the outstanding achievements of tour operators across our beautiful state. Here are a few of the fabulous operators who took home gold at the annual gala ceremony last night…
Habitat Noosa
Habitat Noosa on the Sunshine Coast took out gold in the New Tourism Business category, and we can see why! This gorgeous glamping spot is the perfect place to reconnect with nature without roughing it. You can even leave the camp oven at home with CootharaBAR Bistro just a stone’s throw away. See more of Kay’s visit here.
Red Cat Adventures
Red Cat Adventures won gold in both the Major Tour and/or Transport Operators category and the Adventure Tourism category, and we can see why! Aboard the Red Cat Adventures’ Thundercat, you can see the very best of the Whitsundays all in a day. Click here to learn more.
Tasman Venture
If you have always dreamed of seeing migrating humpback whales, you can’t go past Tasman Venture, the winners of gold in Tour and/or Transport Operators category. Tasman Venture operates out of Hervey Bay during mid-July to early November. See more of Mel’s adventure here.
Australian Age of Dinosaurs
Out west in Winton, you can find the gold winner of the Major Tourist Attractions category. A tour around the Australian Age of Dinosaurs is guaranteed to be a fantastic experience for all. The Museum is home to the largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils in the world, as well as an impressive canyon filled with life-sized bronze dinosaurs. You can find more of Kay’s visit here.
Calile Hotel
The Calile Hotel on James Street in Fortitude Valley is Brisbane’s first urban resort and the gold winner of the Luxury Accommodation category. It’s no surprise that this spectacular hotel won gold, with its divine contemporary design, Greek restaurant and impressive amenities. For those particularly bold and in need of a bit of a pep, you can even get a vitamin infusion in the Hotel’s wellness medispa, Kailo.
2019 QUEENSLAND TOURISM AWARDS WINNERS
Major Tourist Attractions
1st / Gold Australian Age of Dinosaurs
2nd / Silver Australia Zoo
3rd / Bronze Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Tourist Attractions
1st / Gold Cobbold Gorge
2nd / Silver Bundaberg Rum Visitor Experience
3rd / Bronze Paronella Park
Major Festivals and Events
1st / Gold Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival
2nd / Silver Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival
3rd / Bronze Cooly Rocks On
Festivals and Events
1st / Gold Groundwater Country Music Festival
2nd / Silver Mount Isa Mines Rodeo
3rd / Bronze Birdsville Big Red Bash
The Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism
1st / Gold Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
2nd / Silver Fun Over Fifty
3rd / Bronze Paronella Park
Cultural Tourism
1st / Gold Paronella Park
2nd / Silver Fun Over Fifty
3rd / Bronze Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Highly Commended The Gulflander
Qantas Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism
1st / Gold Rainforestation Nature Park- Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience
2nd / Silver Minjerribah Camping
3rd / Bronze Spirits of the Red Sand
Highly Commended Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre
Specialised Tourism Services
1st / Gold Small World Journeys
2nd / Silver Local Tickets Pty Ltd
3rd / Bronze Whitsunday Coast Airport
Visitor Information and Services
1st / Gold Julia Creek Visitor Information Centre
2nd / Silver The Mackay Region Visitor Information Centre
3rd / Bronze Hervey Bay Visitor Information Centre
Highly Commended Cunnamulla Fella Visitor Information Centre
Business Event Venues
1st / Gold Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
2nd / Silver Empire Apartment Hotel Conference Centre
3rd / Bronze RACV Royal Pines Resort
Major Tour and/or Transport Operators
1st / Gold Red Cat Adventures
2nd / Silver Ocean Rafting
3rd / Bronze Cruise Whitsundays
Tour and/or Transport Operators
1st / Gold Tasman Venture
2nd / Silver Pterodactyl Helicopters
3rd / Bronze Ocean Safari
Adventure Tourism
1st / Gold Red Cat Adventures
2nd / Silver Whitsunday Jetski Tours
3rd / Bronze Ocean Rafting
The Richard Power Award for Destination Marketing
1st / Gold Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
2nd / Silver Destination Gold Coast 2019 Family Campaign
3rd / Bronze Discover Ipswich – Humans Wanted Campaign
Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
1st / Gold The Windmill Cafe Bargara
2nd / Silver Dracula’s Gold Coast
3rd / Bronze Noosa Beach House Restaurant & Bar
Highly Commended Northerlies Beach Bar and Grill
Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries
1st / Gold Bundaberg Rum Visitor Experience
2nd / Silver Sarina Sugar Shed
3rd / Bronze Sirromet Winery
Caravan and Holiday Parks
1st / Gold Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut
2nd / Silver BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort
3rd / Bronze BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park
Hosted Accommodation
1st / Gold Cobbold Village
2nd / Silver The Country House at Hunchy
3rd / Bronze Bli Bli House Riverside Retreat
Unique Accommodation
1st / Gold Cumberland Charter Yachts
2nd / Silver Gilberton Outback Retreat
3rd / Bronze Cruise Whitsundays – Reefsleep
Self Contained Accommodation
1st / Gold Saltbush Retreat
2nd / Silver RACV Noosa Resort
3rd / Bronze Ravensbourne Escape – Tranquility Luxury Studio
Standard Accommodation
1st / Gold Grand Hotel and Apartments Townsville
2nd / Silver Ibis Mackay
3rd / Bronze No bronze awarded
HALL OF FAME Grand Hotel and Apartments Townsville
Deluxe Accommodation
1st / Gold Empire Apartment Hotel Rockhampton
2nd / Silver Ridgemill Escape – Cabins in the Vineyard
3rd / Bronze Novotel Surfers Paradise
Luxury Accommodation
1st / Gold The Calile Hotel
2nd / Silver RACV Royal Pines Resort
3rd / Bronze W Brisbane
New Tourism Business
1st / Gold Habitat Noosa
2nd / Silver Mary Valley Rattler
3rd / Bronze Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre
Excellence in Food Tourism
1st / Gold Sarina Sugar Shed
2nd / Silver No Silver awarded
3rd / Bronze No Bronze awarded
Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer or Volunteer Group
1st / Gold Queensland Air Museum
2nd / Silver Moreton Bay Region Visitor Information Centres
3rd / Bronze Airlie Beach Volunteer Cruise Ship Ambassador Program
Young Achievers Award
Robert Irwin
The Marie Watson-Blake Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
David Elliott
RACQ People’s Choice Award – Experience & Services
Australia Zoo
HALL OF FAME Paronella Park
RACQ People’s Choice Award – Accommodation
RACV Royal Pines Resort
HALL OF FAME RACV
Royal Pines Resort
