The Australian Tourism Awards celebrate the best of the tourism industry from across the country. The national program recognises and rewards businesses who are committed to excellence, innovation, and outstanding achievements in tourism.
Select category winners from the Queensland Tourism Awards gain automatic entry into the national awards, where they have a chance to be crowned the best in the country.
Well done to the 14 Queensland tourism icons who secured podium finishes at the 2023 Australian Tourism Awards and a special congratulations to the five Queensland businesses who won gold.
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.
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.
03 Major Festivals and Events
Celebrating 73 years in 2022, Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers saw over 364,000 attendees enjoy the iconic event.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
18 Hosted Accommodation
A boutique 5-star luxury rainforest retreat for couples, with eight villas nestled in pristine rainforest bordering Kondalilla National Park.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.