Finalists Revealed - The People's Choice Awards 2014 shortlist

The people have spoken… in Australian Traveller magazine’s People’s Choice Awards 2014. After an overwhelming number of nominations here is the finalists shortlist – (in no particular order).

Winners will be announced at our award ceremony to be held at the brand-new InterContinental Sydney Double Bay on Monday, December 1. Follow us on Twitter (using #ATPeoplesChoice) and Facebook for updates. The full list of winners will appear in Australian Traveller ‘Best Holidays of 2015’ edition, out December 4.

Excited? We are! Good luck to all the finalists.

AUSTRALIA’S BEST STAYS

BEST HOTEL

Crown Towers Melbourne, Vic
QT Sydney, NSW
Langham Melbourne, Vic
Park Hyatt Sydney, NSW
Shangri-La Sydney, NSW

BEST LUXURY RESORT

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, NSW
Southern Ocean Lodge, SA
Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania
qualia, Hamilton Island, Qld
One&Only Hayman Island, Qld

BEST AFFORDABLE RESORT

Pinetrees Lord Howe Island, NSW
Emma Gorge at El Questro, Kimberley, WA
Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff, NSW
Desert Gardens Hotel, Ayers Rock Resort, NT
Crowne Plaza, Hunter Valley, NSW

BEST HOTEL SPA

Spa qualia, Hamilton Island, Qld
Salus Spa, Lake House, Daylesford, Vic
The Spa at Byron at Byron, NSW
Crown Spa, Crown Towers Melbourne, Vic
Chuan Spa, Langham Melbourne, Vic

BEST QUIRKY ACCOMMODATION

Atlantic Byron Bay, Byron Bay, NSW
QT Hotel Sydney, NSW
Roar and Snore, Taronga Zoo, NSW
White Cliffs Underground Motel, White Cliffs, NSW
Undara Lava Tubes Wilderness Lodge, Savannah Way, Qld

BEST GLAMPSITE

Paperbark Camp, Jervis Bay, NSW
Longitude 131, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, NT
Sal Salis, Ningaloo Reef, WA
Nightfall Wilderness Camp, Lamington National Park, Qld
Eco Beach, Broome, WA

BEST CAMPSITE

Peoples’ Park Coral Bay, Ningaloo Reef, WA
Clarkes Beach Holiday Park, Byron Bay, NSW
Lake Argyle Caravan Park, WA
Big4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, Airlie Beach, Qld
Ayers Rock Resort, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, NT

AUSTRALIA’S BEST TOWNS

CITY OF THE YEAR

Hobart, Tas
Sydney, NSW
Melbourne, Vic
Perth, WA
Brisbane, Qld

BEST BEACH TOWN

Port Douglas, Qld
Noosa, Qld
Byron Bay, NSW
Lorne, Vic
Coral Bay, WA
Broome, WA
Airlie Beach, Qld
Mooloolaba, Qld
Jervis Bay, NSW
Yamba, NSW

FRIENDLIEST TOWN

Broome, WA
Airlie Beach, Qld
Byron Bay, NSW
Cairns, Qld
Exmouth, WA

COSIEST TOWN

Bright, Vic
Leura, NSW
Margaret River, WA
Daylesford, Vic
Stanthorpe, Qld

BEST KEPT SECRET COUNTRY TOWN

Ballarat, VIC
Mudgee, NSW
Exmouth, WA
Orange, NSW
Broome, WA

AUSTRALIA’S BEST SUMMERS

SEXIEST HOTEL POOL

qualia, Hamilton Island, Qld
Adelphi Hotel, Melbourne, Vic
Palazzo Versace, Surfer’s Paradise, Qld
Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, NSW
One&Only Hayman Island, Qld
Lake Argyle Caravan Park, Kimberley, WA
Crown Metropol, Perth, WA
Park Hyatt, Sydney, NSW
Spicers Peak Lodge, Scenic Rim, Qld
Peppers Palm Cove, Qld

BEST BEACH

Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW
Cable Beach, Broome, WA
Whitehaven beach, Whitsunday Island, Qld
Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay, NSW
Main Beach, Noosa, Qld

MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND GETAWAY

Hayman Island, Qld
Hamilton Island, Qld
Lord Howe Island, NSW
Kangaroo Island, SA
Fraser Island, Qld

BEST CRUISING EXPERIENCE

Cruising the Kimberly coastline
Bareboating in the Whitsundays
Cruising Sydney harbour
Cruising on a big liner
Sailing on Ningaloo Reef

AUSTRALIA’S BEST EATS

BEST FOOD REGION

Tamar Valley, Tas
Central West NSW
Yarra Valley, Vic
Margaret River, WA
McLaren Vale, SA

BEST WINE REGION

Barossa Valley, SA
Yarra Valley, Vic
McLaren Vale, SA
Hunter Valley, NSW
Margaret River, WA

BEST CITY RESTAURANT

Quay, Sydney, NSW
Vue de Monde, Melbourne
Attica, Melbourne
Rockpool, Bridge St, Sydney
Aria, Sydney

BEST REGIONAL RESTAURANT

Biota, Bowral, NSW
Rick Stein at Bannisters, Mollymook, NSW
Lake House, Daylesford, Vic
Muse Restaurant, Pokolbin, NSW
Hentley Farm, Barossa Valley, SA

BEST REGIONAL CAFÉ CULTURE

Mornington Peninsula, Vic
Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Qld
Margaret River Region, WA
Byron Bay Hinterland, NSW
Southern Highlands, NSW

AUSTRALIA’S BEST JOURNEYS

BEST ROAD TRIP

Great Ocean Road, Vic
East Coast Escape, Tasmania
Pacific Coast (Sydney, NSW to Brisbane, Qld)
Gibb River Road, Kimberley, WA
The Nullarbor (Ceduna, SA to Perth, WA)

BEST TRAIN TRIP

Indian Pacific, NSW-SA-WA
Kuranda Scenic Railway, Qld
The Sunlander, Qld
The Ghan, SA–NT
Puffing Billy Railway, Vic

AUSTRALIA’S BEST AIR TRAVEL

BEST AIRPORT

Adelaide Airport, SA
Brisbane Airport, Qld
Cairns Airport, Qld
Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine), Vic
Sydney Airport, NSW

BEST MAJOR AIRLINE

Qantas Airways
Virgin Australia
Jetstar
Tigerair

BEST REGIONAL AIRLINE

AirNorth
QantasLink
REX
Skywest
Skytrans

BEST OVERALL TRAVEL EXPERIENCE OF 2014

Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef
Seeing Uluru at sunset
Swimming with Ningaloo’s whale sharks
Exploring the Kimberley
Doing the Top End

Thanks to our sponsors

From natural wonders to historical sites, we’ve rounded up Victoria’s most epic icons that deserve a place on your itinerary.

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park

From towering mountains to crystal cascades and ancient rock art sites, the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is a playground for both outdoor adventurers and nature lovers. Don’t miss the views from the highest peak Mount William or the iconic Pinnacle.

Murray River

A paddle steamer down the Murray in Echuca — The wonders of the Murray are best experienced on board a paddle steamer. (Image: Visit Victoria)

A natural icon of majestic proportions, the Murray River flows for a staggering 2700 kilometres, making it one of the world’s longest navigable rivers. Meandering through Victoria before flowing out to sea at Goolwa in South Australia, the river is home to diverse wildlife, picturesque towns and secluded creeks and beaches.

Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell

the Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road — The Twelve Apostles are a star attraction on the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

These limestone sea stacks are arguably Victoria’s most famous icon . After an $8-million upgrade to its lookout, The Blowhole near Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool (meaning breath of the whale) has recently reopened. A brand-new Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre, complete with rooftop lookout, will open in 2026.

You Yangs, Geelong

kangaroos in You Yangs — Kangaroos enjoy dusk in the You Yangs. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Rising 300-plus metres from the flat volcanic plains between Melbourne/Naarm and Geelong, the You Yangs are massive granite boulders named for the local Wadawurrung word ‘Youang’, meaning ‘big hills’. Hiking, biking, rock climbing and horse-riding are popular within this regional park.

Redwood Forest, Yarra Valley

Near the town of Warburton, an extraordinary forest of some 1500 Californian Redwoods stands among native orchids, eucalypt trees and rich birdlife. Planted in the 1930s, these 55-metre-plus trees can live for 2000 years and will grow to be some of the world’s tallest.

Wilsons Promontory, Gippsland

the Wilsons Promontory — Wilsons Promontory is home to the incredible Skull Rock formation. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The Prom, as it’s known locally, is the southernmost tip of mainland Australia. This 50,000-hectare reserve comprises granite mountains and forest, fringed by sandy beaches and surrounded by a marine park rich in marine biodiversity. It’s also home to the incredible and imposing Skull Rock formation.

Hanging Rock Reserve, Macedon Ranges

This six-million-year-old volcanic rock  was thrown into the national spotlight thanks to the 1967 novel and consequent 1975 film based on the fictional disappearance of schoolgirls in 1901. Mystery aside, visitors can walk the steep 105-metre summit, fish for trout and go twitching.

Sovereign Hill, Ballarat

exploring Sovereign Hill — Step back in time at Sovereign Hill. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Cry ‘eureka!’ at Sovereign Hill , a living museum to the prosperous Gold Rush era of the 1850s, during which Ballarat produced the most gold in the world. Visitors to this much-loved attraction can walk historic  streets, enter a gold mine and try panning for the good stuff, too.

The Great Stupa, Bendigo

Who’d have thought the largest Buddhist temple in the Western world would be tucked away in Bendigo’s bushland? Welcoming visitors to explore, this sacred Buddhist pagoda is an epicentre for Tibetan culture, architecture, art and interfaith harmony.

Cape Schanck Lighthouse, Mornington Peninsula

the Cape Schanck Lighthouse from above — Heritage-listed Cape Schanck Lighthouse. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

Ensuring the safe passage of ships in the notoriously treacherous Bass Strait since 1859, this heritage-listed lighthouse overlooks dramatic volcanic coast and wild beaches. The surrounding reserve is home to a plethora of wildlife including little penguins, seals and echidnas.

Finalists Revealed – The People’s Choice Awards 2014 shortlist