Winners of past Australian Traveller giveaways

hero media
Here are the lucky winners of Australian Traveller’s past competitions.

Congratulations to our winners! Don’t forget to subscribe to stay in the loop on our latest giveaways. You could win anything from a luxury escape for two in Australia to the latest travel gear, luggage, experiences and more.

2025 Readers’ Choice Awards

The winner of the Intrepid Travel six-day exploration of Tasmania’s Cradle Coast was Dale Thomas.

The winner of the luxury stay at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa was Shauna Tracey.

The winner of the Pair’d festival getaway in Margaret River was Andrew Walker.

The winner of the ultimate K’gari adventure was Vicki Fox.

The winner of the supercar escape with Prancing Horse was Peter Gregory.

The winner of the seven-day Star RV motorhome getaway was Sarah Biggs.

The winner of the luxury Red Hill Escape was Prue Phillips.

The winner of the night at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney was Pauline K Hanson.

The winner of the luxe glamping stay for eight at Glenayr Farm was Rachel Anderson.

The winner of the Wildlife Retreat experience was Nicole Wincupp.

Christmas giveaway

The winner of the adventurous traveller prize pack was Jennifer Livingstone.

The winner of the beach traveller prize pack was Amanda Fraser.

The winner of the coupled-up traveller prize pack was Jacqueline Johnston.

The winner of the traveller wanting to disconnect prize pack was Carolyne Yeow.

The winner of the family traveller prize pack was Kim May Tini.

The winner of the foodie traveller prize pack was Justine Amy Gardiner.

The winner of the luxurious traveller prize pack was Kylie Servante.

The winner of the outback traveller prize pack was Mairi Taylor.

The winner of the sophisticated traveller prize pack was Amy Cooper.

The winner of the wellness traveller prize pack was Sam Wills.

Father’s Day giveaway

The winner of a Father’s Day prize pack worth over $10,000 was Karoline Willis.

Airnorth giveaway

The winner of an immersive Red Centre escape for 2 worth over $6800 was Jim Coutts.

Federal Group giveaway

The winner of a luxury weekend escape for 2 to Hobart worth over $3000 was Samantha Clifton.

Mother’s Day giveaway

The winner of a $3000 travel gift pack for Mother’s Day was Grace Chamia.

Kakadu National Park

The winner of the 4-night holiday to Kakadu National Park was Holley J.

Mega Holiday Giveaway

The winner of the Royal Caribbean cruise was Dannielle N.

The winner of the Virgin Voyages cruise was Naomi R.

The winners of the 10 double passes to the Josef Chromy Art of Sparkling Experience were Tim M, Millie E, Lou B, Vanessa S, Josh M, Katarina S, Alexia D, Romaine S. Gaylene N and Gina W.

The winner of the Sunshine Coast foodie getaway was Michael M.

The winner of the JW Marriott Gold Coast was Aimee B.

The winners of the 10 $200 vouchers with Qantas Hotels and Holidays were Cyan VG, Lorrae C, Suzanne M, Karen T, Jessica E, Terry C, Savanna Y, Jo B, Andrei D and Masayo U.

The winner of a two-night Lizard Island getaway was Gemma M.

The winner of the Sealink Rottnest Island seafood experience for two was Adam R.

The winners of the three family holidays to Uluru were Bron M, Mandy G and Lynn G.

The winner of the luxurious trip to the tip of Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula was Toni C.

The winner of the long weekend at Noosa Eat and Drink Festival was James S.

The winner of the Crystalbrook Collection luxury escape was Tara L.

The winners of the Quest weekend local experience packages were Monica P, Carla T, Jenny M, Angela R, Kate W, Mary-Anne D, Brent D, Sigrid K, Luana M C and Lisa B.

The winner of the ultimate ‘city meets paradise’ escape to Brisbane was Nicolle P.

The winners of the Victorinox Touring 2.0 Sling Bags were Gabrielle E, Bradley J, Scott S, Matt W, Renaldo R, Charlotte L-J, Larissa S, Claire S, Leanne C and Mayanna D.

The winner of the seven-night escape to Cocos (Keeling) Islands was Rachael A.

The winners of the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park overnight stays were Rebecca M, Ula L, Amelia M, Corinne B and Karen T.

The winners of the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park treatments at On The Park Rejuvenation Day Spa were Kate T, Leanne N, Carolyn F, Nancy H and Stacey M.

The winners of the 6 Accor Hotels experiences were Nikita H, Rebecca K, Angie J, Prue M, Stephanie D and Julie C.

The winners of Samsung’s best tech for travelling were Kiri W and Jenny C.

The winner of the K’gari and Lady Elliot Island adventure for 2 was Russell C.

The winner of the romantic trip for 2 on the legendary Ghan was Chantelle A.

The winner of the culturally immersive overnight package for two at Bundanon was Owen J-H.

The winner of the Wild Bush Luxury experience was Margaret A.

The winner of the AAT Kings tour to discover Tasmania’s wild side was Tahlia C.

The winner of the 5-night stay at Sheraton Grand Mirage Port Douglas was Andrew S.

The winner of the 5 Lancemore Hotels getaways was Zoe T.

The winner of the 7 nights of pure Whitsundays luxury was Perla L M.

hero media

Victoria’s surprising new outdoor adventure hotspot

A town charmingly paused in time has become a hot mountain biking destination. 

There’s a forest reserve full of eucalyptus and pines surrounding town – when you combine all the greenery with a main street of grand old buildings still standing from the Victorian Gold Rush, Creswick looks more period movie set than a 21st-century town.  

old gold bank Victoria
Grand buildings from the Victorian gold rush. (Image: Visit Victoria)

This entire region of Victoria – the Central Goldfields – is as pretty-as-a-picture, but there’s something extra-special about Creswick. I used to live 30 minutes north; I’d drive in some evenings to cruise its main street at dusk, and pretend I was travelling back in time. 

It was sleepy back then, but that’s changed. Where I used to walk through its forest, now I’m hurtling down the state’s best new mountain bike trails. There’s a 60-kilometre network of mountain bike trails – dubbed Djuwang Baring – which make Creswick the state’s hottest new mountain biking destination.  

Meet Victoria’s new mountain biking capital 

Creswick bike trail
This historic town has become a mountain biking hotspot.

Victoria has a habit of turning quiet country towns into mountain biking hotspots. I was there in the mid-2000s when the tiny Otways village of Forrest embarked on an ambitious plan to save itself (after the death of its timber cutting industry) courtesy of some of the world’s best mountain bike trails. A screaming success it proved to be, and soon mountain bike trails began popping up all over Victoria. 

I’m no expert, so I like that a lot of Creswick’s trails are as scenic as they are challenging. I prefer intermediate trails, such as Down Martuk, with its flowing berms and a view round every corner. Everyone from outright beginners to experts can be happy here. There’s trails that take me down technical rock sections with plenty of bumps. But there’s enough on offer to appeal to day-trippers, as much as hard-core mountain-bikers. 

I love that the trails empty onto that grand old main street. There’s bars still standing from the Gold Rush of the 1850s I can refuel at. Like the award-winning Farmers Arms, not to be confused with the pub sharing its name in Daylesford. It’s stood since 1857. And The American Creswick built two years later, or Odessa Wine Bar, part of Leaver’s Hotel in an 1856-built former gold exchange bank.  

The Woodlands
The Woodlands is set on a large bushland property. (Image: Vanessa Smith Photography)

Creswick is also full of great cafes and restaurants, many of them set in the same old buildings that have stood for 170 years. So whether you’re here for the rush of the trails or the calm of town life, Creswick provides. 

A traveller’s checklist 

Staying there 

1970s log cabin
Inside the Woodlands, a chic 1970s log cabin. (Image: Vanessa Smith Photography)

RACV Goldfields Resort is a contemporary stay with a restaurant, swimming pool and golf course. The Woodlands in nearby Lal Lal comprises a chic log cabin set on a 16-hectare property abundant in native wildlife. 

Eating there 

Le Peche Gourmand
Le Peche Gourmand makes for the perfect pitstop for carb and sugar-loading.

The menu at Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel includes some Thai-inspired fare. Fuel up for your ride on baguettes and pastries from French patisserie Le Peche Gourmand . The Farmers Arms has been a much-loved local institution since 1857. 

Playing there 

Miss NorthcottsGarden
Miss Northcotts Garden is a charming garden store with tea room. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Creswick State Forest has a variety of hiking trails, including a section of the 210-kilometre-long Goldfields Track. Miss Northcotts Garden is a quaint garden store with tea room.