Winners: Best Accommodation – People’s Choice 2015

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Best hotels to stay in Australia this year? Here are the winners of the Best Accommodation awards in Australian Traveller’s People’s Choice Awards 2015.

1. Winner Best Luxury Hotel – Crown Towers, Melbourne

Right in the thick of it all on Melbourne’s buzzing Southbank, Crown Towers (pictured) is an extravagant slice of luxury, with spectacular views overlooking the Yarra River, rooftop tennis courts, an expansive day spa to unwind in and a 25-metre indoor pool.

The runners-up:
2. Langham, Melbourne, Vic
3. Park Hyatt, Sydney, NSW
4. qualia, Hamilton Island, Qld
5. InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, NSW

2. Winner Best Affordable Hotel – Mantra on Salt Beach, NSW

From just $124 a night, Mantra on Salt Beach is a family favourite, perfectly positioned in Kingscliff on the New South Wales coastline with Byron Bay just a half-hour drive away. Well-appointed rooms overlook a lagoon-style pool and there are several restaurants, the Spa at Salt and a tennis court if you’ve done too much relaxing.

The runners-up:
2. QT Sydney, NSW
3. Adina Bondi Beach, NSW
4. The Cullen, Melbourne, Vic
5. East Hotel, Canberra, ACT

3. Winner Hotel That Best Caters to Children – Jamala Wildlife Lodge, Canberra

With the look and feel of a luxury lodge in the Serengeti, you’ll be forgiven for thinking that you’re not actually in the heart of Canberra in the city’s National Zoo & Aquarium. Geared towards the conservation of endangered animals, a stay in one of the Giraffe Treehouses will have kids coming face-to-face with the tallest beasts in the world, while a night in the five-star Jungle Bungalows or uShaka Lodge, lets you get close to cheetahs, tigers and bears; some rooms also feature huge aquariums. It’s a magical place that children will always remember.

The runners-up:
2. Paradise Resort Gold Coast, Qld
3. Sea World Nara Resort, Qld
4. Turtle Beach, Gold Coast, Qld
5. Daydream Island, Qld

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

AI Prompt

4. Winner Best Place to Camp – Jervis Bay, NSW

Are powdery white beaches, turquoise waters and sleepy seaside villages the prerequisites of a great camping holiday? Our readers think so, voting Jervis Bay on NSW’s South Coast the best place to camp. Whether it be pitching a tent in Booderee National Park’s Green Patch campsite (pictured), or retreating at glampsite Paperbark Camp (did someone say hot shower?).

The runners-up:
2. Wilson’s Promontory, Vic
3. Seal Rocks, NSW
4. Lake Argyle, WA
5. Noosa and Halls Gap, Qld & Vic

 

ALL THE RESULTS: Australian Traveller’s People Choice Awards 2015

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Slowing down in Moree: a guide to the Artesian Spa Capital of Australia

(Credit: Destination NSW)

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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    The Artesian Spa Capital of Australia offers the perfect destination to escape the grind and reset.

    The world moves more slowly in Moree, and that’s how it should be. Here, country charm and heritage buildings fill the town’s wide streets. While the surrounding farmland mixes with lush riverways to create a fascinating landscape.

    But the biggest pull? Moree is known as the Artesian Spa Capital of Australia. It’s truly a place to slow down and disconnect, all an easy train ride from Sydney.

    Soak in Moree’s artesian water

    kids at Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre
    Dive in to Moree’s artesian waters.

    Moree is not your typical wellness retreat, replacing pretence with casual and easy. Blessed to be sitting above the Great Artesian Basin, it feeds the town (and surrounding villages) with hot, mineral-rich water. Loaded with minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and sulphur, this water is believed to help with skin health, joint function and tissue repair.

    And the town’s crown jewel, Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre, has reopened after extensive upgrades. This state-of-the-art aquatic centre offers accessible facilities with multiple artesian baths of varying temperatures between 38 and 41°C.

    Feel like exploring a little further? About an hour’s drive from Moree, the village of Boomi also offers public access to this same artesian water. Pop into Boomi Artesian Pool to make the most of a 25-metre cold pool, a wading pool and a hot artesian spa pool.

    Just an hour west of Boomi, you’ll also find Mungindi Hot Artesian Pool, another relaxing place to rejuvenate for the afternoon in the mineral-rich water.

    Moree’s best stays

    woman swimming ta Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre
    Stay right by Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre.

    There are several motels within walking distance of the aquatic centre, so you linger longer in its therapeutic waters. A day pass not enough? Really soak in the benefits of Moree at three local stays with their own artesian baths.

    Gwydir Thermal Pools Resort boasts five artesian pools for motel and caravan park guests, ranging in soothing temperatures from 34 to 39 degrees. And that includes a 25-metre lap pool.

    The Phoenix, Artesian Spa Resort & Accommodation features outdoor artesian thermal pools and six indoor artesian spas, all 34 to 42°C, plus regular pools for guests staying in their accommodations.

    While the Artesian Spa Motel matches 46 comfortable budget rooms set across five acres of landscaped grounds, with direct access (for guests) to its own natural artesian hot thermal pool.

    Moree’s location at the crossroads of the Newell and Gwydir Highways makes it the ideal resting place for those road tripping through country NSW. With plenty of accommodation options, including farm stays, quaint bed and breakfasts and affordable motels.

    Delving into nature around Moree

    aerial of moree
    Find plenty of natural beauty in and around Moree. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Beyond the baths, find calm in Moree’s nature. Soak up the impressive Gwydir River from the peaceful Tareelaroi Weir Recreation Area. Popular with locals, this scenic spot is perfect for fishing, kayaking and picnics. Delve into local history at the Terry Hie Hie Picnic Area – a significant Gamilaroi cultural site. The picnic area is still used today as a ceremonial gathering ground, with educational signage sharing the history of the Gamilaroi People and the mission which used to reside here in the early 20th Century. Follow the Yana-y Warruwi Walking Track to explore the area’s box pine forest.

    Combine nature and culture at the Jellicoe Park Open Spaces Aboriginal Art Trail along the scenic Mehi River Walk. Find artworks from local Indigenous artists across a range of different mediums, like carved logs, engraved and painted sandstone and scar tree paintings.

    A taste of Moree

    meal at Moree Country Club
    Sit down for a tasty meal after a game of golf. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Taste the best of local cafes as you wander past the Art Deco architecture of Moree’s tree-lined main streets. Join the locals each morning at Brooker Trading Co as they line up for their morning java. Stay for classic breakfast dishes like eggs benedict and Dutch pancakes, or arrive later in the day for a hearty lunch menu. Inside a gorgeous Art Deco building, 61 Balo is another tasty breakfast option, with pet-friendly service. The recently renovated Cafe Omega is another popular stop for fresh, hearty meals – the chicken burger is a particular crowd pleaser – all served with a smile.

    Get inspired as you wander the CBD’s Mural Trail, stopping at some of Moree’s six art galleries along the way. Bank Art Museum is a must-see, housed in the town’s heritage bank building and home to a collection of First Nations art, plus a changing calendar of touring exhibitions.

    Bank Art Museum Moree
    Step inside the gorgeous Bank Art Museum Moree. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Get active with a round on the beautiful riverside course at Moree Golf Club (and refuel afterwards at the delicious onsite restaurant) or a game of bowls at Moree Services Club’s state-of-the-art facility. Visit on the last weekend of September to join (or watch) Run the Plains, Moree’s annual two-day running festival.

    Known as ‘white gold’ country, Moree is Australia’s most productive agricultural region. Visit from April to September to join a cotton farm tour and get to know one of Moree’s major exports.

    However long you choose to stay, there’s plenty to soak in around Moree.

    Start planning the ultimate escape at visitmoreeplains.com.au.

    Winners Best Accommodation - People's Choice 2015