A cool-climate Granite Belt town known for pinot noir and apple orchards has claimed Queensland’s most coveted tourism crown.
Stanthorpe doesn’t have a reef. It doesn’t have a rainforest canopy walk or a celebrity chef strip. What it does have – wineries, rolling granite country, farmgate produce and some of the coldest winters in Queensland – just beat everything else the Sunshine State has to offer.
The town was crowned Queensland’s Top Tourism Town at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s (QTIC) annual awards, going one better than last year when it took home silver and cementing its reputation as the state’s most underrated destination.
The full list of winners also handed the Top Small Tourism Town title to Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays – a town so synonymous with Queensland tourism it almost didn’t need the award – while tiny Toogoolawah, a Somerset region village most Australians couldn’t point to on a map, pulled off the upset of the night by winning Top Tiny Tourism Town.
Village Toogoolawah took out Top Tiny Tourism Town.
A gem hunter from outback Queensland became the state’s best tour guide. Jeb Connelly, a proud Pitta Pitta man from the Sapphire Gemfields, learnt everything he knows on Country.
Connelly runs Jebs Gems Tag A Long Tours, taking visitors fossicking for sapphires and gems while weaving in Indigenous cultural knowledge and outback storytelling that no guidebook could replicate.
QTIC CEO Natassia Wheeler said what set Connelly apart wasn’t just his knowledge – it was how he made people feel.
“He guides with humility, kindness and an innate ability to make every guest feel valued and included," Wheeler said.
“What makes Jeb’s story particularly inspiring is that he has built a successful tourism business through lived experience, passion and a deep commitment to sharing his culture."
Jeb Connelly (centre) is Queensland’s Top Tour Guide for 2026.
All three winning towns – Stanthorpe, Airlie Beach and Toogoolawah – will now represent Queensland at the national Australian Top Tourism Town Awards later this year, where they’ll face off against the best from every other state.
For Stanthorpe, it’s a chance to show the rest of the country what Queensland already knows: sometimes the best destination doesn’t have a beach. Sometimes it has a cellar door, a granite boulder and a bottle of cool-climate shiraz waiting for you at the end of a country road.
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
AI Prompt
The winners
Stanthorpe is Queensland’s top town.
Gold
Top Tourism Town: Stanthorpe
Top Small Tourism Town: Airlie Beach
Top Tiny Tourism Town: Toogoolawah
Top Tour Guide: Jeb Connelly, Jebs Gems Tag A Long Tours
Silver
Top Small Tourism Town: Port Douglas
Top Tiny Tourism Town: Hughenden
Top Tour Guide: Guy Watson, Urban Tours
Bronze
Top Small Tourism Town: Esk
Top Tiny Tourism Town: Cape Tribulation
Top Tour Guide: Paul Porteous, Cairns Adventure Group
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Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her 4+ years at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? South Australia and The Kimberley.
From barefoot beach walks to moonlit dinners, this three-day Hamilton Island itinerary will have lovebirds swooning.
Few Aussie destinations do romance quite like Hamilton Island. Set in the dreamy Whitsunday Islands, this popular honeymoon destination combines luxury retreats, palm-fringed reefs and spectacular dining with the easy rhythm of tropical living. Whether you’re planning a honeymoon, anniversary or spontaneous couples’ weekend, here’s how to spend a loved-up three days on Hamilton Island.
Day 1
Morning
Let picturesque ocean views welcome you the moment you check in. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)
Nothing kills the holiday buzz faster than waiting at the baggage carousel. Luckily, our arrival couldn’t have been smoother. Staying at the boutique, adults-only Beach Club Hotel means VIP transfers are included, so the moment we land, a staff member greets us and whisks our bags straight from the baggage claim to our room. We don’t have to lift a finger.
Occupying a prime piece of real estate on Catseye Beach, Beach Club is a peaceful retreat just steps from sugar-white sand and a turquoise lagoon. Within 10 minutes of stepping off the plane, we’ve arrived and are switched into holiday mode.
We check into our room, immediately delighted by the sight of several wallabies grazing in the garden just in front of our private terrace. Beyond, picturesque ocean vistas stretch across the horizon. The room’s mini bar is stocked with bespoke sweet treats; the bathroom with premium Aesop amenities that add to the luxury.
After we’ve checked out the resort’s beachside infinity pool – plotting the lounge chairs we’ll no doubt return to later – we head out to explore the island. Families glide by on hire bikes and chirping rainbow lorikeets dot the foliage. We decide to hike up to Passage Peak – one of the most scenic walks on Hamilton Island – which takes about 40 minutes one way and boasts panoramic Whitsundays views that will stick with you for long after you leave.
Afternoon
Recharge with a laid-back lunch at Beach Club Restaurant. (Image: Nikki To)
After working up an appetite, Beach Club Restaurant is the perfect place to snap up a light lunch. Think barramundi, nourish bowls, Wagyu beef burgers, brown butter toasties and Queensland chilli prawns. For those who don’t want to move from their prime perch on the beach or by the pool, there’s also the option to order bites via QR code from the resort’s lounge chairs.
After our fill, we plunge into the hotel’s incredible infinity pool, its surface blending near seamlessly into the blues of Catseye Beach. Quiet and tucked away from the island’s hum, it feels illegal to do anything but relax here.
Evening
Celebrate your first evening over beautifully plated coral trout. (Image: Nikki To)
There’s truly nothing more satisfying than a little R&R (rest & robe) time in your hotel room after spending the day in the sun. Fresh from a shower, we watch the ripe tangerine sun slowly dip below the palm-framed horizon from our plush terrace daybed. Two wallabies are still grazing on the grass. It’s a magical setting; I find it hard to believe I am only a few hours away from home.
Come dinnertime, we zip over to nearby Catseye Pool Club, which is a short buggy ride from the hotel or a five-minute walk. A chic new haunt from Sydney-based pair Josh and Julie Niland, the restaurant is all about reconnecting over flavour-rich share plates using high-quality Aussie ingredients.
We sit in a corner overlooking Catseye Beach – arguably the best seat in the house – with mini table lamps casting a soft glow about the contemporary indoor-outdoor setting. What comes next is pure delight; grilled prawns served with tumeric and lemongrass marinade, macadamia satay sauce and a Thai-leaning sour green mango salad. Then, elegantly plated coral trout served with kasundi and zucchini. We savour it all slowly, the conversation flowing easily between bites and sips while the moonlight transforms the ocean into molten silver.
Day 2
Morning
Tee off side by side against a backdrop of sweeping ocean views. (Image: Andrea Francolini)
A la carte breakfast is complimentary for guests of Beach Club, and we take full advantage of the fact. Barista-quality coffee and pressed juice – today it’s carrot, melon, orange and pineapple – arrive alongside pastries baked fresh this morning. For the larger meal, I treat myself to the buttermilk pancakes with praline butter.
If you prefer an active start to the morning rather than lying in, you’ll find plenty of options. Perhaps tee off at the 18-hole golf course, where the views are as much of a drawcard as the sport itself. Designed by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson, the course is integrated into the ridged landscape of Dent Island.
Afternoon
Uncover new favourite wines together. (Image: Sharyn Cairns)
For wine-curious couples, Beach Club’s new Talk & Taste experience is a must. Held several times a week for up to eight guests, it’s an intimate tasting of Aussie drops paired with curated bites – all guided by Bommie Assistant Manager and wine enthusiast Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher.
We opt for the white wine and seafood option, enjoying pours from Eden Valley to Launceston while Courtenay shares her knowledge and passion for the intricacies of wine making.
Later, we drive our golf buggy up to One Tree Hill. This is one of the most popular spots on the island for sunset, but we chose to come a little earlier so we have more space to ourselves. We enjoy afternoon wine and cheese, admiring the 360-degree views of the island and its impossibly blue waters.
Evening
Dress up for a romantic evening at Bommie Restaurant. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)
Since we are, after all, on holiday, we continue the tipples at Bommie Deck. Suspended above Hamilton Island’s marina, this architectural monument is a fabulous place for a sunset spritz.
Just a few steps inside is Bommie Restaurant, the contemporary Australian fine dining establishment headed by chef Ryan Locke. Of anywhere on the island, this is the place to frock up and celebrate a special occasion – especially if theatrical culinary experiences take your fancy. The tasting set menu is a whirlwind of native Australian flavours and creative plating – with highlights including the cured venison wrapped in wattle seed seasoning. For dessert, a clever take on white chocolate and lemonade ends the night on a high.
Day 3
Morning
Ease into the morning with a paddleboarding adventure. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)
Another low-key morning means another blissful breakfast at Beach Club. This time, it’s smashed avo toast topped with Persian fetta, dukkah and poached eggs – a deliciously fueling start to the day.
The weather today is perfect for a paddle, so we walk straight from our room onto the sand of Catseye Beach to pick up some SUP boards. Guests of Beach Club receive complimentary non-motorised water sports equipment, spanning everything from mini catamarans to snorkel gear and kayaks. Finding our balance on the boards is a fun challenge at first, but before long, we’re gliding across the glassy water like naturals.
Afternoon
Add the ultimate highlight with a Heart Reef flight together. (Image: Hamilton Island)
No couples’ retreat is complete without a touch of pampering. Located in the resort area, Spa Wumurdaylin offers everything from body wraps and facials to de-stress massages using natural Australian products. The Soul Temple treatment begins with a heavenly feeling sugar scrub, followed by a Vichy vertical shower and underwater massage. I leave in a daze.
If you prefer adventure to relaxation, there is an abundance of day trips from Hamilton Island, from snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef to Whitsundays helicopter tours – all of which make for unforgettable experiences that will bring you and your partner closer.
Evening
Close your journey over a beautiful dinner by the sea. (Image: Sharyn Cains)
Enjoy an elevated evening at qualia’s tranquil Pebble Beach restaurant, where a private beach setting complements the thoughtful, seasonal menu. Or perhaps continue relaxing at Beach Club, feasting on roast lamb and seafood at the poolside restaurant or soaking in ocean views from your room with in-house room delivery. And don’t forget the champagne – a weekend of love, fun and restoration is worth toasting.
Getting there
Hamilton Island has its own airport called the Great Barrier Reef Airport, which makes it fuss-free to get to. Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar offer short, direct flights from most major Australian cities, including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Cairns. This means you’ll spend less time travelling and more time enjoying each other’s company.
