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 cabins to canvas, craft distillers to destination dining, Heathcote locals reveal their eco-savvy passions in ways that resonate with those seeking to travel lightly.

Heathcote , on traditional Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, is synonymous with its garnet-hued shiraz, but wine isn’t the only string to its bow. The town itself is sprinkled with heritage buildings from the gold rush era, and beyond that a growing collection of sustainable gastronomy and eco-friendly escapes. Nearby Bendigo, one of only 65 cities in the world recognised as a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy, plates up an astonishing calibre of produce, wine and food for its size. Increasingly the entire region is taking up the challenge, though Heathcote in particular shines with its focus on sustainability.

Pink Cliffs GeologicalReserve — The dramatic landscape of Heathcote’s Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Goodfrey)

The eco-stays bringing sustainability to Heathcote

Yellow BoxWood’s safari-style tents — Yellow Box Wood’s safari-style tents are nestled on 40 hectares of bushland. (Image: Emily Goodfrey)

Andee and Lisa Davidson spent years working in southern Africa before settling in Heathcote. “We had a vision of how this could be,” explains Andee. “We wanted a retreat, but one that was off-grid and environmentally sustainable.” Now, at Yellow Box Wood , two luxury safari-style tents are at the heart of 40 hectares of rolling hills and native bush, with kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, goanna and birdlife aplenty. It’s all solar-powered, wood for the fire is mainly fallen timber, and water is collected on the carport roof. No lack of creature comforts though – en suite with rain shower, espresso coffee maker, comfy seating, wood-burning fire all set to go. There’s also a solar-heated, mineral salt pool in a bush setting, walking tracks, and even a mini bush golf course. On my visit, I put the vision to the test. Cocooned in the plush four-poster bed I can glimpse the stars, while the heater casts a golden glow on the canvas. In the morning, I wake to a blush-pink sunrise, kangaroos feeding and a soundtrack of magpies.

If a tent is not your style, Stephen and Cally Trompp’s carbon-neutral Mt Ida Eco Cabin might entice with its generous deck and farmland views. Inside the cabin, corrugated iron walls as rusty as a shearing shed, gleaming (recycled) floorboards, timber truss ceiling (crafted by Stephen), wood-fired heater and an old-school turntable with a pile of vinyls to spin. It’s fun, and a little boho. “Everything is recycled. The cabin takes maximum advantage of the sun in winter. It’s all solar-powered. Don’t panic, though,” says Stephen, “you can still charge your phone and get 4G reception!” Settle into an Adirondack chair on the deck or pedal off on a mountain bike to suss out the wineries.

A taste of Spain in Central Victoria

Another person with a vision is Evan Pritchard at his Three Dams Estate where the wines reflect his deep love of Spain and of Spanish-style grapes, such as tempranillo. Afternoons in the ‘wine shed’ or cantina are matched with music (flamenco is a favourite), Spanish bites from tapas to paella (with Evan on the pans!) and views to Mount Alexander. Sustainability is also a passion. “You don’t need to buy anything. We decided to be off-grid from the start, but it is a lifestyle change,” he says. “You need to think about it and be careful.” Everything here is recycled, reassembled, refurbished. Evan has an electric car (with solar-powered charger), solar-power for the winery, and even a jaunty little electric tractor/forklift. “I love the idea of all the things you can do using the sun.” Sipping a crisp rosado (a Spanish rosé) with Evan in the sunshine, I couldn’t agree more.

The vineyard redefining sustainable winemaking

Silver Spoon winery — The Silverspoon Estate winery is completely off-grid. (Image: Graham Hosking)

On the other side of Heathcote, Silver Spoon Estate demonstrates sustainability on a more extensive scale. Tracie and Peter Young’s winery, cellar door, award-winning restaurant and their own house are all solar-powered and off the grid. Sustainability is intrinsic to everything they do. The property sprawls across 100 hectares, with 20 hectares under vine – shiraz, viognier, grenache, tempranillo. As the climate has changed, so too has the approach. These are dry-grown vineyards. “We prune for drought. That means lower yields but more intense flavours,” says Peter. The fine-dining restaurant offers sweeping views, a wood-burning fire and a deck for languid lunches. Head chef Ben Hong sources regional, sustainable ingredients and weaves estate wines into the menu – think crispy wild mushroom arancini, viognier-infused chicken breast.

Silver Spoon’s award-winning restaurant.

Heathcote’s other hidden gems

Not all local wineries have a cellar door, but I find local treasures at the Heathcote Wine Hub , a petite 1855 timber church in the main street, lovingly returned to life by Karen Robertson and Carey Moncrieff. “Carey is a scrounger,” says Karen. “He doesn’t throw a single thing away.” He does, however, craft things into something quite special. Heritage floors, light-filtering lancet windows and shelves of regional wines create the perfect ambience for wine tasting. Or order a glass and linger over a cheese platter.

Heathcote is not all wine, of course. Nathan Wheat and partner Vanessa Curtis run Envy Distilling with a committed sustainable ethic – and a serious love of gin. Their small-batch distillery produces grape-based gin, and soon brandy. Distilled water is reused in an ingenious cooling system. All waste is treated on site. They buy excess wine from winemakers to distil and buy recycled barrels. “Distilling with the sun,” as Nathan says. Each Envy gin has its own story. Spicy, award-winning The Dry, is designed to capture the region’s dry, rugged nature. Pull up a stool at the bar (reclaimed timbers and tiles, of course), order a Gin Flight, or kick back with a cocktail and let Nathan share his eco journey.

Envy gins — Sample gins at small-batch distillery Envy.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

It’s less than two hours’ drive from Melbourne. The scenic route we take goes past Sunbury, then along a splendid country road through Romsey and the magic, boulder-strewn landscape of Lancefield. Watch for kangaroos on the road!

Staying there

Go off-grid in style at Yellow Box Wood for glamping or try Mt Ida Eco Cabin for a couple’s weekend hideaway.

Eating there

French dishes at Chauncy — Award-winning French restaurant Chauncy.

At award-winning Chauncy , French chef Louis Naepels and sommelier wife Tess Murray have created a tiny, elegant pocket of rural France. Meticulously restored 1850s sandstone building, sun-drenched dining room, impeccable service, a menu suffused with local flavours and thoughtful wine pairings.

Fodder is both cafe and social hub. Chef Mo Pun and sister Lalita serve classic Aussie breakfast-to-lunch fare, though their Nepalese heritage sneaks through.

Playing there

Sanguine Estate ’s cellar door and terrace overlook bucolic vineyards. Its award-winning, dry-grown wines include the distinctive D’Orsa Blanc dessert wine, reflecting the family’s Swiss-Italian heritage. Order a charcuterie board and stay a while. Keep it carbon neutral by cycling some (or all) of the 50-kilometre O’Keefe Rail Trail to Bendigo.

At Bridgeward Grove , learn about the property’s Old Mission Grove heritage olive trees, do a sommelier olive oil tasting, and stock up on sustainably grown olives and oil. Explore the unique landscape, wildflowers and wildlife of pink cliffs geological reserve.

Finalists Revealed – The People’s Choice Awards 2014 shortlist