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The Award-Winning Experiences to Add to Your Travel Bucket List
Need some travel inspo? The winners list of the 2024 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards is the perfect place to start.
We may be biased, but Australia truly is one of the most exceptional destinations on the planet.
With jaw-dropping locations and unique cultural experiences that can’t be found anywhere else, and accommodation innovators who combine luxury with simplicity and sustainability, when it comes to planning your ultimate Australian travel bucket list it can be hard to know where to start.
Luckily, this week, the winners of the 2024 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards were announced. Celebrating the very best in the country’s tourism industry, gold, silver and bronze awards were handed out across 26 categories, including unique accommodation, luxury stays and food tourism.
We’ve scoured the list to find the award-winning experiences and stays to add to your must visit list for 2025.
The Best Unique Accomodation: Sierra Escape, Mudgee
Looking for a stay that’s unlike any other? Sierra Escape just took out the top prize in the awards’ unique accommodation category—and it’s easy to see why.
The adults-only, eco-glamping experience is just 20 minutes from the gorgeous New South Wales town of Mudgee (known for its epic food and wine scene), with each glamping tent offering show-stopping views, luxe king size beds and outdoor bathtubs for soaking under the stars.
What better place to relax after a day out exploring than by the campfire, or enjoying a glass of local wine on a private deck with an uninterrupted sunset view?
The Best Adventure Tourism: Balloon Aloft
Always dreamed of soaring in the skies above some of Australia’s most iconic landscapes? Balloon Aloft makes it happen. Offering flights in five locations across the country—Hunter Valley, Camden Valley, Byron Bay, Mudgee and Burketown—the company was actually the first in Australia to offer passenger balloon rides.
Family owned-and operated, flights begin at sunrise for the very best views, whether you’re soaring above stunning vineyards, along the coastline or along spectacular salt flats. The company also took home the gold award in the Accessible Tourism category, after adding the first accessible hot air balloon to their Hunter Valley fleet in 2023.
Excellence in Food Tourism: Harvest Tours
We’re not ashamed to admit it: we love a winery. But sometimes you want an experience that goes the extra mile, and for that, Harvest Tours has won the prestigious gold award when it comes to food tourism.
Located in Western Australia’s Margaret River region, the tour company aims to deliver a personal and truly authentic experience to customers, inviting them to explore the very best of the local food and wine scene. Expect to be connected with the best of the best—the most skilled winemakers, the best produce, stunning scenery, enthusiastic and inspiring local business owners—during each tour, which brings a sense of relaxation to a premium experience.
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Best 5-Star Luxury Accommodation: The Reef House Adults Retreat Palm Cove
An adults-only escape that epitomises luxury, it’s no surprise The Reef House took out this year’s top prize when it comes to 5-star stays. The award-winning Palm Cove hotel offers complete rest, relaxation and revitalisation, with 28 signature inclusions—think breakfast overlooking the Coral Sea, a daily poolside sorbet, beachfront yoga, fishing, degustations and spa treatments—all part and parcel of any stay.
Choose to stay in one of the hotel’s 67 rooms or suites, with feature tropical-inspired interiors, with some having king-sized beds and attached private spas. Trust us when we say you’ll never want to leave.
The Best Self-Contained Accommodation: Old Coach Road Estate
A luxurious villa situated on a beautiful 200 acre rural property on South Australia’s stunning Fleurieu Peninsula, Old Coach Road Estate has been named the best self-contained accommodation in the country. With plenty to do on-site (think picnics by the dam, a short hike or outdoor games on the lawn) there’s no need to leave the property, but if you choose to go exploring the stunning stay is just a short drive to the famous McLaren Vale wineries, stunning coastlines beautiful beaches.
Expect to be joined by friendly wildlife like kangaroos during your visit, and with more than enough room for all your favourite people to stay with an open fire, three king bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and outdoor setting, the only question is: when do you want to go?
The Best Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries: Seppeltsfield Barossa
One of the most iconic wineries in Australia (it was established in 1851, after all), the Barossa’s Seppeltsfield has been honoured at the 2024 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards with a gold medal.
Combining a world-class luxury experience with a cellar door, the estate also serves as a vibrant community of artisans and is home to a restaurant, cafe, craft and design studios, skincare supplier and a distillery. Take a wine tasting tour to visit the historic Centennial Cellar, or book in for a wine and cheese pairing which features world-renowned cheeses perfectly matched to every delicious drop.
Feeling inspired by our recap of Australia’s new award-winning experiences? Check out our guide of the best new hotels in Australia for a stylish stay, or find a night away with a difference with this list of the best treehouse accommodation in the country.
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