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
Hi Guys
There is no real room there for tour operators or walking tours. Perhaps a criteria for us could be auditioned next year. We are the most innovative walking tour operator in Australia, we are also aiming to be the most recognised.
Good job though on the rest of it.
Go well
Regards
Brett Neagle
Nice to see this sort of effort to promote Australian accommodation providers however interesting that there is no category for boutique accommodation such as that found in the wine regions or places such as the Blue Mountains.
I love Yamba NSW because the town is so clean, the water in both the river and all of the 8 beaches is usually pristine. There are fabulous cafés and restaurants with flavours to suit every palate. Fabulous coffee, e.g. Local brand “Botero”. My sister from Adelaide said she can go into Adelaide with a purse full of money and find nothing to buy but was amazed when shopping in Yamba “I could buy something from every boutique here!”, she also said the meat was the best she had ever tasted. The relaxed ambience and super friendly locals make you feel happy! Add to that a perfect climate, one of the biggest rivers in the country – with fish! Yamba has it all!
Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW the best beach in Australia really? does no one travel outside NSW