Just in: These Aussie experiences named best in the country

Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
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Looking for your next Aussie adventure? These award-winning experiences should be added to your bucket list.

There are countless amazing experiences to be had in Australia, and the annual Qantas Australian Tourism Awards celebrates Australia’s top tourism businesses that are delivering exceptional experiences. 

Held at the Adelaide Convention Centre last Friday, the awards honoured operators across 26 categories, from Unique Accommodation to Excellence in Food Tourism, highlighting the industry’s dedication to quality and innovation in 2024. 

Big Red Bash. Qantas Australian Tourism Awards 2024
The Big Red Bash music festival is held in the Simpson Desert. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Shaun de Bruyn, Chairperson of the Australian Tourism Awards highlighted the significance of the awards:

“Over the past 40 years, the Australian Tourism Awards have been a testament to the vision, perseverance and passion of our industry. Each winner represents the evolving spirit of Australian tourism – businesses that embrace innovation, adapt to change, and continually raise the bar for visitor experiences."

Qantas Australian Tourism Awards 2024
Katherine Outback Experience celebrates the region’s farming history and culture. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

Notable winners include the Birdsville Big Red Bash, a music festival held in outback Queensland, which took home Gold in the Festivals & Events category, and Cape York Peninsula Lodge, an Indigenous, community-owned property awarded Gold in the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences category.

The iconic Darwin Festival, which celebrates the art, culture, and beauty of the Northern Territory, won Gold in Major Festivals and Events, while the Tourist Attractions category saw Katherine Outback Experience take home Gold for its immersive and educational outback tours in the Northern Territory.

Darwin Festival. Qantas Australian Tourism Awards 2024
Darwin Festival celebrates the Northern Territory’s unique culture, diversity, and art. (Image: Tourism NT/@betsybiglap)

For a relaxing and indulgent escape, The Reef House Adults Retreat in Queensland won Gold in the 5-Star Luxury Accommodation category, and Mudgee’s luxury eco-glamping experience, Sierra Escape, won Gold in the Unique Accommodation category.

For those seeking a bit of history and science, Major Tourist Attractions saw the much-loved Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre in Canberra take Gold. 

Sierra Lodge Mudgee. Qantas Australian Tourism Awards 2024
Luxury glamping awaits at the incredible Sierra Escape in Mudgee. (Image: Sierra Escape Mudgee)

De Bruyn also noted that “this milestone is not just about celebrating history but also looking ahead to who will shape Australian tourism into the future." 

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The full list of winners

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences
GOLD – Cape York Peninsula Lodge (QLD)
SILVER – Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia – Wintjiri Wiṟu (NT)
BRONZE – Kool Tours (SA)

Cultural Tourism
GOLD – Shrine of Remembrance (VIC)
SILVER – SEIT Tours (NT)
BRONZE – Port Macquarie Museum (NSW)

Unique Accommodation
GOLD – Sierra Escape (NSW)
SILVER – The Cove Tasmania (TAS)
BRONZE – Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm (WA)

Self Contained Accommodation
GOLD – Old Coach Road Estate (SA)
SILVER – Pinnacles, Airlie Beach (QLD)
BRONZE – Alice’s Cottages (TAS)

Hosted Accommodation
GOLD – The Dragonfly Inn (TAS)
SILVER – Boat Harbour Jetty B&B (VIC)
BRONZE – Wooleen Station (WA)

Caravan & Holiday Parks
GOLD – BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort (QLD) – Hall of Fame Inductee
SILVER – Alivio Tourist Park Canberra (CBR)
BRONZE – BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park (TAS)

New Tourism Business
GOLD – Spinifex Brewery Cable Beach (WA)
SILVER – Red Rock Hut, King Island (TAS)
BRONZE – NT Driver Guide – Escorted Touring (NT)

Tourism Marketing & Campaigns
GOLD – The Tweed Tourism Company (NSW)
SILVER – Rottnest Island Authority – Wrap Yourself In Wonder (WA)
BRONZE – Barossa Australia – Barossa. Be Curious (SA)

Ecotourism
GOLD – National Arboretum Canberra (CBR)
SILVER – The Big Duck Boat Tours (SA)
BRONZE – Busselton Jetty (WA)

Business Event Venues
GOLD – Peppers Silo Hotel (TAS)
SILVER – Darwin Convention Centre (NT)
BRONZE – Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (VIC)

Tour & Transport Operators
GOLD – Fun Over 50 Holidays – Immersive Tours and Adventures (QLD)
SILVER – Spirit of the Coorong (SA)
BRONZE – Air Adventure Golf (TAS)

Major Tour & Transport Operators
GOLD – HeliSpirit (WA)
SILVER – Pennicott Wilderness Journeys (TAS)
BRONZE – Ocean Rafting (QLD)

Tourism Retail, Hire & Services
GOLD – Younique Stays (TAS)
SILVER – Go Adventure Nagambie (VIC)
BRONZE – Uluru Audio Guide (NT)

Adventure Tourism
GOLD – Balloon Aloft Australia (NSW)
SILVER – Bendleby Ranges (SA)
BRONZE – Aquascene Magnetic Island (QLD)

Excellence in Food Tourism
GOLD – Harvest Tours (WA)
SILVER – Love Lord Howe (NSW)
BRONZE – The Truffle Farm (TAS)

Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services
GOLD – Sea World Cruises Dining Experiences (QLD)
SILVER – Grain of the Silos (TAS)
BRONZE – Potager (NSW)

Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries
GOLD – Seppeltsfield Barossa (SA)
SILVER – Bangor Vineyard Shed (TAS)
BRONZE – Singlefile Wines (WA)

Visitor Information Services
GOLD – Swan Valley Visitor Centre (WA)
SILVER – Quilpie Visitor Information Centre, Museum & Gallery (QLD)
BRONZE – Canberra and Region Visitors Centre (CBR)

3-3.5 Star Accommodation
GOLD – Urban Camp Melbourne (VIC) – Hall of Fame Inductee
SILVER – Safari Lodge Motel (NT)
BRONZE – Broadwater Resort, Busselton (WA)

4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation
GOLD – Peppers Silo Hotel (TAS)
SILVER – Oval Hotel (SA)
BRONZE – Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort (QLD)

5 Star Luxury Accommodation
GOLD – The Reef House Adults Retreat (QLD)
SILVER – Mt Hay Retreat (NSW)
BRONZE – Pullman Bunker Bay Resort (WA)

Excellence in Accessible Tourism
GOLD – Balloon Aloft Australia (NSW)
SILVER – National Arboretum Canberra (CBR)
BRONZE – Adelaide Fringe (SA)

Tourist Attractions
GOLD – Katherine Outback Experience (NT)
SILVER – Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NSW)
BRONZE – National Dinosaur Museum (CBR)

Major Tourist Attractions
GOLD – Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre (CBR)
SILVER – Zoos Victoria – Melbourne Zoo (VIC)
BRONZE – WA Museum Boola Bardip (WA)

Festivals & Events
GOLD – Birdsville Big Red Bash (QLD)
SILVER – Margaret River Region Open Studios (WA)
BRONZE – Junction Arts Festival (TAS)

Major Festivals and Events
GOLD – Darwin Festival (NT)
SILVER – Beef Australia 2024 (QLD)
BRONZE – Lightscape Melbourne – Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (VIC)

 

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Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and a self-proclaimed cheese and gin connoisseur. In her role, she creates and manages online content that remains relevant and valuable over time. With a background in publishing and e-commerce in both interior design and travel, along with an English major from The University of Sydney, Rachael is dedicated to curating engaging content that informs and inspires. She began her career at Belle magazine, then went on to become Senior Content Producer at Homes to Love focusing on Australian House & Garden and Belle, followed by Editor at Bed Threads. Her work has also appeared in Qantas Travel Insider. When she's not writing, editing, or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars, and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list are Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and Lord Howe Island.
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Inspire your senses with these iconic East Kimberley stays

    Jennifer Ennion Jennifer Ennion
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    The East Kimberley should be on every bucket list, and here’s why.

    Livistona palms soar out of chasms the colour of Valencia oranges. Shady waterholes beckon travellers daring to venture off the bitumen. From the air, fruit farms give way to vast plains that meet rolling hills and fascinating geological formations centuries in the making. The East Kimberley is one of Australia’s most treasured wilderness areas, but don’t be fooled by its rust-coloured roads. This north-eastern corner of Western Australia is home to some of Australia’s most iconic stays by Discovery Resorts that should be on everyone’s bucket list.

    A group of people enjoy an intimate dining experience at El Questro Homestead.
    Dine in the heart of nature.

    Your guide to Lake Argyle

    The backstory

    With rolling hills that glow amber at sunrise and glassy water that reflects the Kimberley’s bright blue sky, a visit to Lake Argyle is nothing short of awe-inspiring. As Australia’s second-largest man-made freshwater lake, travellers flock here to soak in the views from boats, helicopters and Discovery Resorts – Lake Argyle.

    The latter is a lakeside oasis, a resort where travellers crossing from Western Australia into the Northern Territory (or vice versa) converge. Fifty minutes’ drive south of Kununurra, the property is perched atop a cliff overlooking the sprawling Lake Argyle.

    Discovery Resorts – Lake Argyle was originally built in the late 1960s to provide accommodation for builders of the Ord River dam, which formed Lake Argyle. In the decades that followed it had several owners, until a Kununurra local took the reins in 2004 and reinvented the property with luxury villas and its now world-famous infinity pool. The iconic property was added to the Discovery Resorts portfolio in 2021, undergoing a major upgrade that took the resort from a beloved campground to an all-encompassing resort with premium waterfront villas.

    A boat glides across the expansive waters of Lake Argyle, surrounded by the breathtaking landscapes of the Kimberley. As part of the Discovery Holiday Parks experience, this unforgettable journey offers adventure and relaxation.
    Glide across the vast, shimmering waters of Lake Argyle.

    The rooms

    A lakeside resort like no other, Discovery Resorts – Lake Argyle offers something for everyone, from campsites to villas and cabins. The Deluxe Lakeview Cabins have views of the opposing cliff and are surrounded by bush, ensuring plenty of privacy, while both the Deluxe and Standard Cabins are ideal for families, with contemporary furnishings and one, two or four bedrooms. The campsites also come in a variety of sizes.

    The facilities

    There’s no doubt the biggest drawcard to Discovery Resorts – Lake Argyle is the lake, 20 times the size of Sydney Harbour. One of the best ways to experience it is on the Kimberley Durack Sunset Explorer Cruise, during which you’ll see freshwater crocodiles nesting along the banks (it’s home to 30,000 freshies) and even get the chance to swim in their waters. The cruise also takes in Mt Misery, towering above the original and now submerged Argyle Downs Homestead.

    If you have young children who need to get to bed early, a great alternative is the three-hour Lunch Explorer Cruise. You’ll tour around the lake’s bays as you learn about the local wildlife before stopping at a remote island for a swim.

    Refuel between adventures at the onsite pub-style eatery, The Lake Argyle Cafe. The cafe is the heart of the resort, bringing together friends new and old over a steak, cold beer and live music. Hours vary with the seasons, but rest assured you’ll be able to enjoy a good feed year-round, with a well-stocked general store also open during the day.

    Cool off from a day of exploring in the striking infinity pool with some of the best views in the country (you’ll find sweeping views of the lake below). Or enjoy a flight with HeliSpirit, or clear your mind during a yoga class on the lawn.

    Two people unwind in an infinity pool, overlooking stunning Lake Argyle at Discovery Holiday Parks.
    Take a dip in the infinity pool and soak in breathtaking Lake Argyle views.

    Your guide to El Questro

    The backstory

    One of the most famous stays in Australia is El Questro. A former cattle station, it’s evolved into one of the country’s most recognisable tourism destinations over the past 30 years, and is now embarking on a new chapter to elevate the region’s rich First Nations culture.

    The property draws travellers seeking to reconnect with nature and the beauty of this country. Wild in spirit but immaculate in style, El Questro is a 283,000-hectare property like no other; surrounded by dramatic gorges, impressive mountain ranges, thermal springs, secluded waterfalls and even rainforest, it’s the perfect base for adventurous souls.

    A person floats leisurely in the river at Discovery Holiday Parks, immersed in nature’s tranquillity.
    Float along Zebedee Springs and immerse in nature.

    The rooms

    Across the sprawling El Questro are three properties catering to the wide variety of travellers who journey this way. The most impressive is the luxurious Homestead, where 10 suites perch at the edge of a burnt-orange cliff, with cantilevered bedrooms over the peaceful Chamberlain River. The adults-only, all-inclusive Homestead is a member of the prestigious Luxury Lodges of Australia collection and offers a backdrop of thick bushland; riverside, you’ll find an immaculate lawn and a shaded pool that lures guests out of their rooms.

    At Emma Gorge, travellers will be immersed in the beauty of the Cockburn Ranges, falling asleep to the sounds of wildlife in safari-style tented cabins. This is where you come if you want to completely connect with your environment while retaining a few creature comforts. The Emma Gorge Tented Cabins sleep three or four people and feature private ensuites and ceiling fans.

    Families also love The Station, home to simple yet comfortable air-conditioned rooms, as well as a large, leafy campground. Sitting by the Pentecost River, The Station is open from April to October and has a range of accommodation, from unpowered and powered campsites to air-conditioned tents for two people and a Gardenview Family Room for five.

    Two people stand beside a suite perched on the edge of a striking burnt-orange cliff, gazing out over the serene Chamberlain River below.
    Take a breather with stunning views of nature all around.

    The facilities

    Located in the heart of the Kimberley, El Questro retains its strong connection with its Traditional Owners, the Ngarinyin people. A highlight of a stay here is the Injiid Marlabu Calls Us experience; over two hours, guests are immersed in the soul of Country by witnessing ancient healing rituals, listening to generational stories and learning about the land’s ancestral heritage.

    Other experiences include bird watching, cruising through Chamberlain Gorge, hiking through Emma Gorge, horse riding, four-wheel-driving and soaking in Zebedee Springs. At the properties, you can also cool off in the pools, and relax in the restaurants or at private dining locations. A bonus of staying at The Homestead is the exclusive service of El Questro’s dedicated reservations team, who will craft a bespoke itinerary tailored to your travel tastes.

    A group of people stand beside a tree, with a car parked nearby, taking in the surrounding natural beauty.
    Experience thrilling nature activities.

    Book your East Kimberley adventure today with Discovery Resorts.