Congratulations to all the winners of the prestigious 2024 Queensland Tourism Awards.
01 Major Tourist Attraction
GC Aqua Park, a family-owned inflatable park at Broadwater Parklands, offers an exciting, inclusive, and accessible experience for all. Its prime location and welcoming atmosphere make it a favorite for locals and tourists.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Bronze: Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre
02 Tourist Attractions
Established in 1888, the Bundaberg Rum Distillery offers a world-class visitor experience with interactive tours, a museum, and tastings. Guests explore the distillery’s rich history and craftsmanship, including Australia’s first Blend Your Own Rum Experience.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Cobbold Gorge Tours
Bronze: Skypark Cairns by AJ Hackett
03 Major Festivals and Events
Beef2024, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest event of its kind, showcases paddock-to-plate experiences with 276 events over seven days. Drawing 125,576 attendees and international delegates, it generated $102 million and created 721 jobs in 2024.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Bronze: Rockynats 04
04 Festivals and Events
Birdsville’s Big Red Bash is an iconic music festival in Australia’s Simpson Desert, featuring top-tier artists against the stunning backdrop of 40-metre-high red dunes. It’s a one-of-a-kind adventure attracting fans from across the country.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Outback Queensland Masters
Bronze: St Lawrence Wetlands Weekend – Isaac Regional Council
05 The Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism
Home to 1,200 species, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort offers an exceptional marine ecotourism experience on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Renowned for eco-initiatives, it’s a multi-award-winning leader in sustainable tourism in Australia.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Fun Over 50 Holidays – Immersive Tours and Adventures
Bronze: Small World Journeys
06 Cultural Tourism
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, a Gold Coast icon for 75 years, offers immersive experiences with native wildlife and Indigenous culture. Guests enjoy hand-feeding lorikeets, cuddling koalas, and world-class education, inspiring conservation of Australia’s precious wildlife.
Other winners in this category
Silver: QLD Music Trails – Between the Tides
Bronze: WWII Secret Base, Charleville
07 Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism
Cape York Peninsula Lodge, 100% First Nations-owned, offers guided cultural tours with Gudang-Yadhaykenu traditional owners. Guests enjoy rainforest adventures, pristine beaches at Pajinka, and swimming in Fruit Bat Falls, plus Torres Strait Islander cultural performances.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre
Bronze: Mungalla Aboriginal Tours
08 Tourism Retail and Hire Services
Sonia Jones Travel, a boutique Brisbane-based agency, specialises in bespoke travel experiences tailored to clients’ preferences. With global expertise and exclusive insights, they deliver seamless planning, unforgettable journeys, corporate travel solutions, and personalised group tours.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Shute Harbour Marine Terminal
Bronze: Whitsunday Coast Airport
09 Visitor Information Services
Located in Quilpie Shire, the Quilpie Visitor Information Centre welcomes guests with a gallery, museums, and local opal products. Visitors can enjoy the Quilpeta Night Show on a massive outdoor screen in a relaxing setting.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Brisbane Visitor Information and Booking Centre
Bronze: Bowen Visitor Information Centre
10 Business Event Venues
Cedar Creek Lodges, set in Tamborine Mountain, offers exceptional conference and retreat facilities, blending natural beauty with top-tier service. Enjoy gourmet dining, comfortable accommodations, and unique team-building activities like the award-winning Canyon Flyer Zipline.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Voco Brisbane City Centre
Bronze: Windmill Motel and Events Centre
11 Major Tour and Transport Operators
Multi award-winning Ocean Rafting offers thrilling Whitsunday tours, including the Northern Exposure and Southern Lights, featuring Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet access, snorkeling, scenic flights over the Great Barrier Reef, and personalised small group experiences.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Red Cat Adventures
Bronze: Sea World Cruises
12 Tour and Transport Operators
Fun Over 50 Holidays, a leading sustainable tour operator, offers luxury all-inclusive packages for travellers aged over 50. In 2023-2024, they supported 954 businesses and employed 14.8 staff while promoting eco-friendly tourism across Australia.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Iconic Whitsunday Adventures
Bronze: Creative Tours
13 Adventure Tourism
Located on Magnetic Island, Aquascene offers award-winning marine adventures and educational experiences. Guests can snorkel pristine coral reefs, interact with wildlife, and learn local culture, all while enjoying inclusive and accessible tours designed for everyone.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Cape York Motorcycle Adventures
Bronze: Ocean Rafting
14 The Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing and Campaigns
Discover Rockhampton’s diverse experiences, from trophy barramundi fishing and treetop boardwalks to visiting the zoo, exploring caves, enjoying local cuisine, and day trips to the Southern Great Barrier Reef – all in one vibrant city.
Other winners in this category
Silver: St George Region: You’ll be Hooked
Bronze: Brisbane Economic Development Agency – Brisbane Favours The Bold Campaign
15 Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
Sea World Cruises, Gold Coast’s marine tourism experts, welcome over 100,000 guests annually aboard three luxury catamarans. Enjoy award-winning service, scenic dining cruises, and breathtaking whale encounters along the world-renowned humpback highway from May to November.
16 Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries
Established in 1888, Bundaberg Rum Distillery offers interactive tours, including Australia’s first Blend Your Own Rum Experience. Guests explore the distillery’s history, craftsmanship, and enjoy tastings at this world-class tourist attraction welcoming tens of thousands annually.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Western Queensland Spirit Distillery & Cellar Door
Bronze: Tamborine Mountain Distillery
17 Caravan and Holiday Parks
Owned by the McKinnon family for 31 years, the 4.5-star BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is a leading Queensland holiday park. It offers diverse accommodations and over 15 onsite activities, including a mega waterslide park and outdoor cinema.
Other winners in this category
Silver: BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park
Bronze: Esk Caravan Park
18 Hosted Accommodation
The Country House at Hunchy Montville is a 5-star bed and breakfast nestled in a serene rainforest near Montville. It features two luxurious King Spa Suites, stunning views, and exceptional dining, offering an award-winning getaway for couples.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Montville Misty View Cottages
19 Unique Accommodation
Mitchell Grass Retreat Longreach offers an authentic outback experience with luxury tents featuring ensuites and plush bedding. Guests can enjoy a saltwater pool, firepits, and stunning views of the Mitchell Grass Plains under a starry sky.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Cruise Whitsundays
Bronze: Oh Deere Farm Stay
20 Self Contained Accommodation
Pinnacles offers the ultimate self-contained accommodation in Airlie Beach, featuring 29 stylish apartments with balconies, jacuzzis, and breathtaking views. Enjoy a 20 metre wet edge pool, sauna, gym, and onsite tour assistance for Whitsunday adventures.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Camp Island Lodge
Bronze: On The Beach Noosa
21 3-3.5 Star Accommodation
Welcome to Great Keppel Island Hideaway, located on Australia’s Southern Great Barrier Reef, just a 30-minute ferry ride from the mainland. Experience breathtaking beauty, crystal-clear waters, sandy beaches, and vibrant marine life on this tropical paradise.
22 4-4.5 Star Accommodation
Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, a 4.5-star tropical haven, offers engaging activities for families through its Very Important Kids (VIK) and Very Important Grown-Ups (VIG) programs. Enjoy Cairns’ only swim-up bar, Moku Beach Bar & Restaurant, and easy access to top attractions.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Cape York Peninsula Lodge
Bronze: The Boathouse Apartments
23 5 Star Luxury Accommodation
The Reef House Boutique Hotel and Spa in Palm Cove is an adults-only wellness resort offering over 28 complimentary inclusions. Guests enjoy beachfront yoga, aqua aerobics, sleep workshops, and personalised services for total relaxation and rejuvenation.
Other winners in this category
Silver: RACV Royal Pines Resort
Bronze: InterContinental Hayman Island Resort
24 New Tourism Business
Welcome to Vertigo, a fully accessible dining experience suspended 17 meters above the historic Brisbane Powerhouse. Co-founders John Sharpe and Kate Gould launched this unique culinary adventure in October 2023, offering thrilling after-dinner descents and rich cultural experiences.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Arro Jet Boating
Bronze: Eastwoods Dining
25 Excellence in Food Tourism
Beef2024, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest beef tourism experience, takes place from May 5-11 in Rockhampton, Queensland. Guests will enjoy gourmet meals and immerse themselves in the paddock-to-plate experience, generating significant economic impact and global attention.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Creative Tours
Bronze: Scenic Rim Regional Council – Scenic Rim Eat Local Movement
26 Excellence in Accessible Tourism
BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, a 4.5-star holiday park owned by the McKinnon family for 31 years, offers diverse accommodations and over 15 onsite activities, including a waterslide park, lagoon pool, mini golf, and an Autism Sensory Room.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World
Bronze: Museum of Brisbane (MoB)
27 Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer or Volunteer Group
The Mary Valley Rattler Volunteer Team is dedicated to preserving rail heritage in the Gympie region. Since relaunching in October 2018, they have welcomed over 145,000 guests aboard this iconic steam train experience.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Airlie Beach Cruise Ship Ambassadors
Bronze: Brisbane Visitor Information and Booking Centre
28 The Stephen Gregg Award for Young Achiever of the Year
Chelsea Handley, owner of Barefoot Tours and founder of Allbout Cairns, is a visionary leader in sustainable tourism. She advocates for responsible practices and industry unity, inspiring young entrepreneurs and promoting Cairns as a premier destination.
29 The Marie Watson-Blake Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
Elizabeth Hackett has dedicated over 30 years to Queensland’s tourism industry, starting with a backpacker hostel in Airlie Beach. Her leadership and innovation have transformed businesses and uplifted the entire tourism sector in the Whitsundays.
30 RACQ People’s Choice Award - Accommodation
Cedar Creek Lodges, nestled in Tamborine Mountain, offers a unique retreat with exceptional facilities for conferences, team-building, and leisure. Guests enjoy gourmet dining, comfortable accommodations, and diverse activities in a serene natural setting, promoting relaxation and creativity.
31 RACQ People’s Choice Award – Experience and service
Skypark Cairns by AJ Hackett offers thrilling adventure experiences, including the world’s highest bungee jump and a giant swing, set amidst stunning tropical landscapes. It’s an adrenaline-packed destination for thrill-seekers and adventure enthusiasts visiting Cairns.