The NSW Tourism industry and its successes were celebrated recently for 2016 with this year’s ceremony held at Sydney’s Luna Park. Winners, awarded in Gold, Silver and Bronze categories were announced for a range of categories including Major Festivals and Events, Major Tourist Attractions and Ecotourism. Included in this the Gold level winners were the likes of Byron Bay Bluesfest (Major Festivals and Events), AAT Kings NSW (Major Tour and Transport Operators) and BridgeClimb Sydney (Major Tourist Attractions).
All the Gold Winners from the national categories will be proceeded to the QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards, held in Darwin early next year. For more information about the NSW Tourism Awards, visit their website here.
Check out the full list of winners below!
2016 NSW TOURISM AWARD WINNERS
MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Sponsored by Destination NSW
GOLD: BridgeClimb Sydney, Sydney
SILVER: Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney
BRONZE: Australian Reptile Park, Central Coast
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Sponsored by Destination NSW
GOLD: Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Country NSW
SILVER: Sealy Lookout, Orara East State Forest, North Coast
BRONZE: Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail, North Coast
MAJOR FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Sponsored by Sydney Airport
GOLD: Byron Bay Bluesfest, North Coast
SILVER: Tamworth Country Music Festival, Country NSW
BRONZE: Hunter Valley Steamfest, The Hunter
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Sponsored by NRMA
GOLD: Parkes Elvis Festival, Country NSW
SILVER: Boggabri Drovers Campfire, Country NSW
BRONZE: Deni Ute Muster, Murray
ECOTOURISM
Sponsored by Forestry Corporation
GOLD: Byron Bay Eco Cruises & Kayaks, North Coast
SILVER: Tri State Safaris, Outback NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Region X – Unspoilt Experiences Batemans Bay, South Coast
CULTURAL TOURISM
Sponsored by Sydney Airport
GOLD: Nundle Woollen Mill, Country NSW
SILVER: Cultural Heritage and Tourism, City of Parramatta, Sydney
BRONZE: Old Dubbo Gaol, Country NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Sydney Outback Wilderness & Aboriginal Explorer Tour and Cruise, Sydney
QANTAS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER TOURISM
Sponsored by QANTAS
GOLD: Sand Dune Adventures, The Hunter
SILVER: Arakwal Dolphin Dreaming, North Coast
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Sydney Outback Wilderness & Aboriginal Explorer Tour and Cruise, Sydney
SPECIALISED TOURISM SERVICES
GOLD: Ask Roz, Blue Mountains
SILVER: Booking Boss, Sydney
VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICES
Sponsored by Destination NSW
GOLD: Southern Highlands Welcome Centre, Country NSW
SILVER: Sea Acres Rainforest Centre, North Coast
BRONZE: Albury Visitor Information Centre, Murray
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Liverpool Plains Visitor Information Centre, Country NSW
BUSINESS EVENT VENUES
Sponsored by Business Events Sydney
GOLD AND HALL OF FAME: Chateau Elan at The Village, The Hunter
SILVER: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery by Sofitel, Blue Mountains
BRONZE: Luna Park Sydney, Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Star Event Centre, Sydney
MAJOR TOUR AND TRANSPORT OPERATORS
Sponsored by QANTAS
GOLD AND HALL OF FAME: AAT Kings NSW, Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Captain Cook Cruises, Sydney
TOUR AND TRANSPORT OPERATORS
Sponsored by QANTAS
GOLD: Beyond Ballooning, The Hunter
SILVER: Outback Geo Adventures, Outback NSW
BRONZE: Tweed Endeavour Cruises, North Coast
ADVENTURE TOURISM
GOLD: Lets Go Surfing Australia, Sydney
SILVER: Tri State Safaris, Outback NSW
BRONZE: Beyond Ballooning, The Hunter
DESTINATION MARKETING
GOLD: Reset Your Senses in Mudge Region, Country NSW
SILVER: Wild About Wales, NSW Coastal Regions
BRONZE: Destination Southern Highlands, Country NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Sydney Outback, Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: UNSPOILT South Coast Marketing Campaign, South Coast
TOURISM RESTAURANTS AND CATERING SERVICES
Sponsored by Tourism Austraila
GOLD: Cupitt’s Kitchen, South Coast
SILVER: Margan Wines and Restaurant, The Hunter
BRONZE: Bent on Food, North Coast
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Legends Grill at The Vintage, The Hunter
TOURISM WINERIES, DISTILLERIES AND BREWERIES
Sponsored by Tourism Australia
GOLD: Cupitt’s Winery and Brewery, South Coast
SILVER: Hungerford Hill Wines, The Hunter
CARAVAN & HOLIDAY PARKS
Sponsored by Caravan & Camping Industry Association NSW
GOLD AND HALL OF FAME: BIG4 Deniliquin Holiday Park, Murray
SILVER: Merimbula Beach Holiday Park, South Coast
BRONZE: BIG4 Great Lakes at Forster Tuncurry, North Coast
HOSTED ACCOMMODATION
GOLD: Eldee Station, Outback NSW
SILVER: Telegraph Retreat Cottages, North Coast
BRONZE: Noonaweena, Central Coast
UNIQUE ACCOMMODATION
Sponsored by Sydney Weekender
GOLD AND HALL OF FAME: Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Country NSW
SILVER: Thou Walla Sunset Retreat, The Hunter
SELF CONTAINED ACCOMMODATION
Sponsored by Sydney Weekender
GOLD: Lilypad Luxury Cabins, North Coast
SILVER: SeaHorse Diamond Beach, North Coast
BRONZE: Lakeview Luxury Cabins, Country NSW
STANDARD ACCOMMODATION
Sponsored by Sydney Weekender
GOLD: Moama on Murray Resort, Murray
SILVER: Boogie Woogie Beach House, North Coast
BRONZE: Royal National Park Cottages, Sydney
DELUXE ACCOMMODATION
GOLD: The Observatory Port Macquarie, North Coast
SILVER: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery By Sofitel, Blue Mountains
BRONZE: Crowne Plaza Terrigal Central Coast
LUXURY ACCOMMODATION
GOLD: The Darling Hotel, Sydney
SILVER: Halcyon House, North Coast
BRONZE: Mountain Whispers, Blue Mountains
NEW TOURISM BUSINESS
GOLD: Rees International, North Coast
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Emerald & Aqua, South Coast
EXCELLENCE IN FOOD TOURISM
Sponsored by NRMA
GOLD AND HALL OF FAME: Margan Wines & Restaurants, The Hunter
SILVER: Bent on Food, North Coast
BRONZE: Food Am I, Riverina
TOURISM EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Sponsored by Sydney Airport
GOLD: TEACH at Wollongong TAFE, North Coast
SILVER: Sydney TAFE Tourism and Hospitality, Sydney and Surrounds
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION BY AND INDIVIDUAL TO NSW
Sponsored by Destination NSW
WINNER: Cameron Arnold
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Sponsored by Destination NSW
WINNER: Australian Reptile Park, Central Coast
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