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Australian Traveller 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards terms and conditions

Credit: C J Maddock

Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
Terms and conditions of entry for the Australian Traveller 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards.

In addition to the general terms and conditions of entry for Australian Traveller Media competitions and giveaways, these are the terms and conditions for each of the prizes in the Australian Traveller 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards.

By entering, I agree to have my personal information shared with Australian Traveller Media. By opting in, I consent to receiving marketing communications from and having my name, email and phone number shared with and handled by the prize suppliers in accordance with their respective privacy policies.

You only need to enter the giveaway once.

Swim with manta rays on a 5-night Coral Coast escape for 2, worth up to $4500

Bookings via Carnarvon Visitor Centre, subject to availability. Minimum 30 days advance booking required.

Prize not transferable or redeemable for cash. Travel within the specified period only. Subject to availability. Blackout dates apply. The weather may impact tours. Travel insurance not included. Additional costs at the winner’s expense unless stated.

Blackout dates: School holidays, public holidays, and major event periods, including WA Tourism Conference dates (25–27 May 2026), and other peak periods as advised.

A 2-night stay at The Westin Brisbane, worth $4259

The prize is valid for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of issue. Any unused portion of the prize will be forfeited after the expiry date.

Valid dates: August 2026-August 2027

The stay must be completed within the stated validity period and is subject to availability at the time of booking.

Advance reservations are required and must be made directly with the hotel, quoting the prize details.

Blackout dates may apply, including but not limited to public holidays, special events, and peak periods.

The offer must fall within the valid dates and is only redeemable within the designated stay window.

Any additional costs, including but not limited to taxes, incidental charges, meals, and upgrades, are the responsibility of the guest. Taxes are additional where applicable.

The prize is non-transferable, non-exchangeable, and cannot be redeemed for cash or other services.

The hotel reserves the right to amend or withdraw the offer at any time without prior notice.

Other restrictions may apply.

A 3-night escape to the InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef, worth $4000

The winner will be provided with a gift voucher detailing the inclusions.

Subject to availability. The voucher must be redeemed within one year of receiving.

Blackout dates apply, including the festive period, school holidays, public holidays and Resort buyouts.

Flights are not included in this prize.

This certificate is non-transferable or redeemable for cash.

An overnight luxury beachfront stay at The Langham, Gold Coast, worth $1500

The offer is subject to availability and within the valid dates.

Standard cancellation policy applies, and all incidentals are to be covered by guests on departure.

Valid for 12 months from the date of issuance.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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A night at The Langham, Melbourne for 2, worth $1353

Vouchers are non-refundable, non-transferable, non-discountable, and cannot be exchanged for cash.

Vouchers must be presented to redeem.

Vouchers cannot be partially redeemed; any unused balance will not be refunded or credited.

All vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotions or special events.

Accommodation voucher reservations shall be made through the hotel reservation office directly; redemption is subject to room availability, blackout dates may apply and may not be used on special dates and public holidays.

In case of disputes, The Langham, Melbourne reserves the right to make the final decision.

Terms and conditions are subject to change.

Valid for 12 months from the date of issuance.

Savour a foodie getaway to Geelong, worth $1298

Not transferable or redeemable for cash.

No public holidays or 21 Dec 2026 – 10 January 2027.

An off-grid cabin stay and sauna session in Denmark, worth over $1200

Minimum 2-night booking

Valid for Denmark location only

Cannot be exchanged for cash

Cannot be used during WA Public Holiday long weekends

Travel between August 2026 – July 2028

A $1000 Accor gift card to use on your next getaway

The gift card is redeemable across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji participating hotels for a validity period of 36 months. Bookings are subject to availability.

2 nights of calm, coastal glamping in Gippsland worth $800

Prize is for two (2) nights’ accommodation for two (2) adults at The Inverloch Glamping Co, Inverloch, Victoria.

Prize is subject to availability and must be booked in advance.

Blackout dates may apply, including peak periods, public holidays and school holidays.

Prize must be redeemed within 12 months from the date of issue.

Accommodation type (bell tent, safari tent, cabin or dome) will be determined by the provider, subject to availability.

Prize is non-transferable, non-refundable and not redeemable for cash.

Travel to and from Inverloch, meals, and any additional expenses are not included.

Guests must comply with all booking terms, conditions of stay and property rules set by The Inverloch Glamping Co.

Any additional costs incurred during the stay (e.g. upgrades, extras, damages) are the responsibility of the winner.

Valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

Nat valid for Victorian long weekends (including Labour Day, King’s Birthday, AFL Grand Final, Melbourne Cup), 20 December – 31 January (summer peak period) or the Easter long weekend (dates vary annually).

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

1 night in a harbour view room at The Langham, Sydney, worth $800

Subject to availability at the time of booking, blackout dates apply.

Valid for 12 months from the date of issuance.

1 night in a water view room at Pier One Sydney Harbour, worth $750

The prize will be issued as a digital voucher. To redeem, the winner must contact the hotel reservations team to book their stay, subject to availability. The voucher must be quoted at the time of booking and presented at check-in.

Valid for travel for 12 months from the date of issue.

Not valid 30–31 December and during special event periods. Additional blackout dates may apply.

An overnight escape at The Anchorage Port Stephens, worth $699

The winner will be presented with a physical voucher.

Voucher will be valid for three years once received.

Valid for mid-week stays (Sunday-Thursday), excludes public holidays and NSW school holidays.

A weekend getaway for 2 at voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley, worth $675

Must book at least 7 days prior to arrival. Weekday bookings are also permitted. Not available on Public Holidays or Special Event dates. may apply.

Voucher valid for stays until 31st December 2027.

Blackout dates include public holidays and Hotel Special Event Dates. All stay dates are subject to availability.

A Hawkesbury Valley weekend getaway for 2, worth $625

Must book at least 7 days prior to arrival. Weekday bookings are also permitted. Not available on Public Holidays or Special Event dates. may apply.

Voucher valid for stays until 31st December 2027.

Blackout dates include public holidays and Hotel Special Event Dates. All stay dates are subject to availability.

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From coast to bush: these are Gippsland’s best hikes

    Michael Turtle Michael Turtle
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    Video credit: Tourism Australia

    From coast to mountains, hiking in Gippsland offers a stunning array of landscapes, with trails that take you deep into the region’s heritage.

    I step out onto the sand and it cries out underfoot. Kweek! I take another step and there’s another little yelp. Screet! Picking up the pace, the sounds follow me like my shadow, all the way down to the water. It’s obvious how this spot got its name – Squeaky Beach – from the rounded grains of quartz that make the distinctive sounds under pressure.

    For many, Wilsons Promontory National Park is the gateway to Gippsland, and the best way to explore it is by walking its network of hiking trails, from coastal gems such as Squeaky Beach through to the bushland, among the wildlife. But it’s still just a taste of what you’ll find on foot in the region.

    Venture a bit further into Gippsland and you’ll discover the lakes, the rainforest, and the alpine peaks, each changing with the season and offering summer strolls or winter walks. Just like that squeaky sand, each step along these trails has something to tell you: perhaps a story about an ancient spirit or a pioneering search for fortune.

    The best coastal hikes in Gippsland

    sunset at Wilsons Promontory National Park
    Wilsons Promontory National Park is a sprawling wilderness with many coastal bushland trails. (Image: Mark Watson)

    Wilsons Promontory National Park (or ‘The Prom’, as you’ll end up calling it) is an easy three-hour drive from Melbourne, but you might ditch the car when you arrive, with much of the park’s 50,000 hectares accessible only by foot. From the inky water of Tidal River (dyed dark purple by abundant tea trees), I like the easy walks along the coast, among lichen-laden granite boulders, to golden beaches and bays.

    a couple on Mount Oberon
    Panoramic views from the summit of Mount Oberon. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    The trail to the panoramic views at the summit of Mount Oberon is a bit harder, up steep timber and granite steps, but it’s a popular 6.8-kilometre return. The more remote hikes are found through the open banksia and stringybark woodland of the park’s north, or along the multi-day Southern Circuit, which ranges from about 35 to 52 kilometres, with sunrises and sunsets, kangaroos and cockatoos, and maybe even whales.

    a golden sand beach at Wilsons Promontory National Park
    Walk ‘The Prom’s’ golden sand beaches. (Image: Tourism Australia/Time Out Australia)

    You might also see whales on the George Bass Coastal Walk, even closer to Melbourne on the western edge of Gippsland. This dramatic seven-kilometre trail along the clifftops takes in sweeping views of the wild ocean, occasionally dipping down from grassy green hills to coastal gullies and a secluded beach. It also now links into the Bass Coast Rail Trail for an extra 14 kilometres.

    the George Bass Coastal Walk
    George Bass Coastal Walk trails for seven kilometres along clifftops. (Image: Visit Victoria/Time Out Australia)

    Over at the eastern edge of Gippsland, in Croajingolong National Park, you can wander along the lakeshores beneath koalas and around goannas (I keep my distance since one chased me here!). For those who are even more adventurous, the park is also the starting point for the 100-kilometre Wilderness Coast Walk, usually done over seven days.

    the Croajingolong National Park, Gippsland
    Wander along the lakeshores in Croajingolong National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    The best bush hikes in Gippsland

    the Baw Baw National Park
    The alpine heath of Baw Baw National Park. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    Deep in the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine at Walhalla, mining guide Richard tells me how this small town in the mountains east of Melbourne boomed when prospectors found gold here in 1862. These days, you’ll find most of the town’s treasure – its heritage – above ground, with the Walhalla Tramline Walk a wonderful way to explore it.

    Just seven kilometres long, the walk takes you through decades of Gold Rush history, following the original rail trail from lush bushland to the mining sites, and through the charming village of just 20 residents with its wooden cottages and old shopfronts adorned with turn-of-the-century advertising posters. Blazing a trail where trailblazers once opened up the region, this is also the starting point for the 650-kilometre Australian Alps Walking Track.

    Nearby, Baw Baw National Park has walks through gnarled snow gums and alpine heaths that show off the colourful wildflowers in summer and the pristine carpet of white in winter. Several trails are perfect for snowshoes, including a 45-minute route from St Gwinear up to vast views across the Latrobe Valley.

    Further up into the mountains, the Toorongo and Amphitheatre Falls Loop Walk is an easy 2.2-kilometre path that serenades you with the sound of flowing water as you pass mossy rocks and tree ferns en route to two sets of waterfalls cascading over boulders in the remote wilderness.

    The best cultural hikes in Gippsland

    the Mitchell River National Park, Gippsland
    Hike the Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

    Across a pool in a natural sandstone amphitheatre, deep within a cave behind a waterfall, it’s said the Nargun has its lair. A fierce creature, half human and half stone, that abducts children and can’t be harmed by boomerangs or spears, the story of the Nargun has been told around the campfires of the local Gunaikurnai people for generations.

    As a culturally significant place for women, hikers are asked not to go into the Den of Nargun, but a 3.4-kilometre loop walk leads you through a rainforest gully to the entrance where you can feel the powerful atmosphere here in Mitchell River National Park, along Victoria’s largest remaining wild and free-flowing waterway.

    the bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park
    Bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

    The Den of Nargun is part of the Bataluk Cultural Trail, a series of important traditional Gunaikurnai sites through central Gippsland. Another location is Victoria’s largest cave system, Buchan Caves Reserve, with trails to important archaeological sites of human artefacts up to 18,000 years old. The FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk includes the naturally sculpted white limestone steps of the 400-metre-long Federal Cave, while the Granite Pools Walk goes among tall timber and moss-covered gullies.

    the ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park
    The ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park. (Image: Josie Withers)

    Also important to the Gunaikurnai people is Tarra-Bulga National Park, known for its ancient myrtle beeches and enormous mountain ash trees. Just 40 minutes return, the Tarra Valley Rainforest Walk offers a taste of this verdant landscape, while the Grand Strzelecki Track takes you deep into the lost world of forest giants on an epic 100-kilometre trail rich with tradition.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    the WildernessRetreats in The Prom
    Wilderness Retreats in The Prom. (Image: Christian Pearson)

    Wilderness Retreats in Wilsons Promontory offers glamping-style tents with luxurious queen beds. Star Hotel is a reconstruction of a Gold Rush-era hotel from 1863 in the heart of heritage Walhalla. Caves House is a historic three-bedroom house with views over the Buchan River.

    Eating there

    the Carrajung Estate, Gippsland
    Enjoy a post-hike lunch at Carrajung Estate. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

    Kilcunda General Store serves great coffee and meals of local produce at the George Bass Coastal Walk. Alpine Trout Farm is located near Toorongo Falls in Noojee. Fish for your own lunch and barbecue it with the provided cookware.

    Carrajung Estate is a short drive from Tarra-Bulga National Park. The winery’s restaurant offers a seasonal menu of regional ingredients and you can stay at The Lodge.

    a seafood feast at Carrajung Estate, Gippsland
    The table is set for a seafood feast at the estate.

    Video credit: Tourism Australia