Congratulations to all the winners of the prestigious 2023 Queensland Tourism Awards.
01 Major Tourist Attraction
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary gives guests the opportunity to get up close to native and exotic wildlife and learn about the importance of conservation through unique, immersive shows and experiences.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Sea World
Bronze: GC Aqua Park
02 Tourist Attractions
Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience are an iconic tourist attraction that hosts roughly 70,000 guests a year. The attraction provides guests with a range of experiences including several tour options, a retail store and bar.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Historic Village Herberton
Bronze: Daintree Discovery Centre
03 Major Festivals and Events
Celebrating 73 years in 2022, Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers saw over 364,000 attendees enjoy the iconic event.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Isa Rodeo Limited – 2022 Mount Isa Mines Rodeo
Bronze: Rare Spares Rockynats 03
04 Festivals and Events
The Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships, created by Isa Rodeo Limited in partnership with Mona Aboriginal Corporation, have an action-packed schedule of rodeo, rock music and good old rodeo entertainment!
Other winners in this category
Silver: Outback Queensland Masters
Bronze: Crankworx Cairns
05 The Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism
Fun Over 50 Holidays creates authentic and immersive guest tour experiences nationwide that leave positive long-term legacies for the communities they visit through their People & Planet Program.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Barefoot Tours
Bronze: Daintree Discovery Centre
06 Cultural Tourism
Fun Over 50 Holidays creates authentic and immersive guest tour experiences nationwide that leave positive long-term legacies for the communities they visit through their People & Planet Program.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Paronella Park
Bronze: Qld Music Trails – The Outback Trail
07 Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism
100 per cent First Nations-owned, Cape York Peninsula Lodge offers guided coastal tours by traditional rangers and the chance to learn Torres Strait Islander culture with award-winning dancers, Naygayiw Gigi.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre
Bronze: Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre
08 Tourism Retail and Hire Services
Whitsunday Coast Airport is the aviation hub of the Whitsundays connecting 470,000 passengers through seven destinations. The airport actively works with industry to market and promote the region.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Shute Harbour Marine Terminal
Bronze: Pelican Boat Hire
09 Visitor Information Services
Operated by Ipswich City Council, the accredited Ipswich Visitor Information Centre consistently delivers high-quality face-to-face, telephone and digital information services to visitors to Ipswich.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Shute Harbour Marine Terminal
Bronze: Pelican Boat Hire
10 Business Event Venues
In 2022, Sofitel Brisbane Central executed 524 Magnifique meetings and events totalling $8 million in revenue and 15,369 room nights totalling $2.3 million in residential events accommodation revenue.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Empire Apartment Hotel Conference Centre
Bronze: Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre
11 Major Tour and Transport Operators
Whitsundays tour operator, Ocean Rafting, offers daily adventure tours around the Whitsunday Islands with a fleet of eight vessels, two planes and over 30 employees.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Tropic Wings Cairns Tours & Charter
Bronze: Cruise Whitsundays
12 Tour and Transport Operators
Creative Tours provide a range of tours focusing on local produce and local stories across the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions.
Other winners in this category
Silver: 1770 LARC! Tours
Bronze: SeaLink Whitsundays
13 Adventure Tourism
Whitsundays tour operator, Ocean Rafting, offers daily adventure tours around the Whitsunday Islands with a fleet of eight vessels, two planes and over 30 employees.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Aquascene Magnetic Island
Bronze: Cape York Motorcycle Adventures
14 The Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing and Campaigns
The Explore Rockhampton Ultimate Mates Trip campaign leverages off the ‘mates trip’ tourism offerings in our region including fishing, mountain biking, breweries and more.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Visit Sunshine Coast – Australia’s Craft Beer Capital
Bronze: Tourism Noosa – Find Your Inner Noosa – Winter Campaign
15 Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
Sea World Cruises operate daily Lunch and Dinner Cruises on the stunning Gold Coast waterways. Carrying over 50,000 passengers per annum, these unique experiences sell out most days.
Other winners in this category
Silver: The FLACKYARD
16 Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries
Tamborine Mountain Distillery was founded in 1993 and is the third oldest distillery in Queensland and Australia’s most awarded distillery of this new millennium.
17 Caravan and Holiday Parks
4.5 star rated BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort has developed a reputation as one of Queensland’s leading resort holiday parks. Offering a range of accommodation from tropical landscaped camp sites through to self-contained studios. The resort provides options to suit every taste and budget and offers the ultimate holiday escape.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Esk Caravan Park & Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Motel
Bronze: Cape York Camping Punsand Bay
18 Hosted Accommodation
A boutique 5-star luxury rainforest retreat for couples, with eight villas nestled in pristine rainforest bordering Kondalilla National Park.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Bli Bli House Riverside Retreat
Bronze: Glass on Glasshouse
19 Unique Accommodation
Mitchell Grass Retreat boasts 15 Luxury Glamping Tents in Outback Queensland. Guests can roast marshmallows around the fire pits, sleep in a swag, enjoy a scenic flight and watch the sunset.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Lady Musgrave Experience
Bronze: Cruise Whitsundays – Reefstays
20 Self Contained Accommodation
Pinnacles is home to 29 stylish 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments providing the perfect home away from home experience. Pinnacles can cater for up to 114 guests at any one time.
Other winners in this category
Silver: RACV Noosa Resort
Bronze: Mirage Whitsundays
21 3.5 Star Accommodation
Pinnacles is home to 29 stylish 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments providing the perfect home away from home experience. Pinnacles can cater for up to 114 guests at any one time.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Great Keppel Island Hideaway
22 4.5 Star Accommodation
Set amidst lush tropical gardens, Cape York Peninsula Lodge’s 4-star accommodation offers guests an unforgettable experience with an epicurean restaurant, resort pool, events and cultural tours.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Empire Apartment Hotel
Bronze: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort
23 5 Star Accommodation
The Reef House Boutique Hotel & Spa caters exclusively to adults with individually curated experiences to ensure total relaxation and rejuvenation. The 5 Star hotel hosts 17,000 guests annually.
Other winners in this category
Silver: InterContinental Hayman Island Resort
Bronze: Emporium Hotel South Bank
24 New Tourism Business
A new, family-owned business located on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Kokomo Cruises provide intimate experiences and unforgettable moments on the water. Their private charters offer a range like no other, from idyllic island stop offs to stunning broadwater cruises in summer to whale watching and sunset cruises in the winter.
Other winners in this category
Silver: qtQT Gold Coast
Bronze: ULTIQA Signature at Broadbeach
25 Excellence in Food Tourism
Creative Tours provide exceptional experiences focusing on local produce and local stories. They also focus on promoting the growth of the local food and the agritourism industry.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Sarina Sugar Shed
Bronze: Scenic Rim Regional Council – Scenic Rim Eat Local Movement
26 Excellence in Accessible Tourism
4.5-star rated BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is developing a reputation as one of Queensland’s leading accessible holiday parks. Successfully completing all six modules in QTF’s Accessible Tourism Program, the resort offers five self-contained accessible-friendly cabins, including a visually impaired studio, as well as accessible amenities and activities for guests with a range of accessible needs.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Hopo Gold Coast Ferry
Bronze: Aquascene Magnetic Island
27 Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer or Volunteer Group
Moreton Bay Region Tourism and Events Volunteer Program was established 26 years ago and has over 300 volunteers actively promoting the hidden gems of the region.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Townsville Enterprise Tourism Ambassadors
Bronze: Capricorn Enterprise – Beverly “Gillo” Gilligan
28 The Stephen Gregg Award for Young Achiever of the Year
Hailey Brown is a Queensland entrepreneur who has become a catalyst for change within the tourism industry. Hailey created Vacayit, a digital program that works with events and hotels to promote inclusion through audio guides.
29 The Marie Watson-Blake Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
A true pioneer of ecotourism, Michael Hackett was a softly spoken and humble man who left an indelible mark on Queensland’s tourism landscape. The industry has been a major beneficiary of Michael’s hard-fought battles.
30 RACQ People’s Choice Award - Accommodation
The award-winning ‘PicturEsk piece of Paradise’ is nestled in the beautiful Brisbane Valley between Lakes Wivenhoe and Somerset. With a variety of accommodation options, Esk Caran Park offers comfortable and spacious accommodation options to suit every traveller.
31 RACQ People’s Choice Award – Experience and service
Since opening its doors in 1935, this five-hectare mystical wonderland, complete with Spanish-style castle, waterfall and over 7000 tropical trees and palms, has earnt its place as one of North Queensland’s premier tourist attractions.