One of the world’s best whiskies isn’t in Scotland; it’s actually in Renmark, South Australia. And it’s actually affordable.
Australian whisky has come a long way since its beginnings, and now we’re competing (and winning) on the world stage. The 2026 New York International Spirits Competition – an annual, globally recognised event – has just named 23rd Street Distillery in Renmark, South Australia, the Australian Distillery of the Year.
About the win
23rd Street Distillery earned unmatched scores.
For the second year in a row, 23rd Street Distillery has been named Australian Distillery of the Year. But in 2026, the judges’ scores made for an especially impressive milestone.
The distillery’s Australian single malt whisky took Double Gold with 96 points – an impressive score that placed it at the top of the entire competition, ahead of more than 500 whisky entries from 39 countries. For whisky lovers, this means it was judged to be better than whisky favourites like Glenmorangie Signet, Glenmorangie 18 Year Old, Highland Park 15 Year Old, The Glenrothes 18, Bruichladdich 18 and Crown Royal 31 Year Old – all of which retail for two to three times the price.
“We’re blown away! This recognition is built on beautiful Australian ingredients, hard work and a constant drive to refine what we do," said Paul Burnett, head distiller.
Visiting 23rd Street Distillery
Sit down at the distillery restaurant, Twenty Third Street. (Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission)
South Australia’s Riverland region may be lesser-known, but its position next to the Murray River and incredible food, wine and spirit offerings make it one worth discovering.
And it’s here, in the suburb of Renmark, that you’ll find 23rd Street Distillery. Inside a restored building from 1914, the distillery draws on the Riverland’s warm climate, historic copper pot stills and locally grown Australian barley to create whiskies with a distinctly Australian identity.
Really get to know the whiskies by joining a guided tasting flight, distillery tour or even a cocktail masterclass. And then line the stomach at the distillery restaurant, Twenty Third Street. Find wood-fired pizzas and a seasonal menu making the most of Riverland’s produce.
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Australian single malt whisky
Visit the distillery for whisky and gin tastings. (Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission)
The winning whisky is crafted using barley grown on Kangaroo Island and matured for a minimum of three years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels. The result? A golden amber-coloured drop with aromas of toffee, lifted fruit and delicate vanillin oak. The palate is described as full and lightly sweet, with citrus, apricot and malted milk, finishing with butterscotch oak and lingering warmth.
“Our focus on maturing in a variety of oak types and finishing in old fortified barrels brings a depth and complexity that truly defines our whiskies," said Burnett. “To be recognised alongside the world’s best is something we don’t take lightly. It’s a real milestone for the brand and a reminder that you can push boundaries while still keeping exceptional spirits within reach."
The details
Visit the winning distillery. (Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission)
Address: Corner of Renmark Avenue and Twenty Third Street. Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday from 10am – 4pm, Thursday to Saturday from 10am – 10pm.
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Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
Conjuring calm and active adventure in equal measure, Hamilton Island is a tropical tonic for body and mind.
Hamilton Island knows a thing or two about indulgence. There are long lunches to linger over, seafood towers to savour and poolside loungers designed for guilt-free idling. But for health-minded travellers wanting to feel energised inside and out, this sliver of the Whitsundays takes wellbeing just as seriously. Think yoga mats rolling out at dawn, kayaks skimming turquoise water, state-of-the-art fitness facilities and spa therapists working tropical magic. These Hamilton Island wellness experiences promise to restore, rebalance and leave you feeling brand new.
1. E-Mountain biking
Follow Hamilton Island’s mountian biking trails. (Credit: Harry Gruttner)
For travellers with an appetite for adrenaline, Hamilton Island’s new self-guided e-mountain biking experience is worth carving out a morning for. Start at HI Trails HQ, where you’ll be fitted with a full-suspension, pedal-assisted e-mountain bike and given a run-through of a nine-kilometre section of the island’s 25-kilometre trail network. The electric boost makes the ride more accessible (and the climbs more manageable), though an intermediate level of fitness is still recommended.
As a first-time mountain biker, I start off wobbly – taking my time to get used to switching gears and electric modes – and wonder if I’ve overestimated my coordination. But soon something clicks. Suddenly we’re zooming through pockets of eucalyptus and out onto ridgelines with sweeping views of electric blue waters, catching our breath at hidden bays with barely another soul in sight. More than 70 per cent of the island remains untouched, so witnessing these lesser-explored pockets feels like a blessing. It’s the kind of adventure that leaves you buzzing, accomplished and blissfully tired out.
2. HI Fitness Club
Stretch out with reformer pilates.
If mountain biking isn’t quite your speed, there are plenty of other ways to stay active on the island. One of the newest Hamilton Island wellness experiences, HI Fitness Club now has 24-hour access, offering a fully equipped modern gym, group classes spanning HIIT to yoga, plus two bubbling spas and a sauna waiting to loosen sore muscles.
I drop in for a Reformer Pilates class. Each of the four machines has its own mini screen with a wide selection of high-quality virtual classes, meaning I can select one that suits my level and mood that day. Beyond Pilates, the virtual library is like a choose-your-own adventure for fitness enthusiasts: dance, Body Pump, Body Combat and GRIT Cardio are among the options. Or perhaps challenge a family member or friend to a hit of tennis at one of the three courts.
3. Walking trails
Get the blood pumping on a morning run.
We set out early. By 6:45am, we’re halfway up Passage Peak, the highest point on Hamilton Island and widely considered its most impressive vantage point. From the Scenic Trail Entrance, the viewing platform takes around an hour to reach by foot, with moderate inclines that will get your heart pumping without feeling too punishing. The payoff at the top is immediate. Bush-clad Whitsundays islands scatter across the horizon in every direction, the sunrise brushing the scene with soft melon and gold tones. I take my time soaking up the 360° panorama, remembering how powerful an active start in nature can be for clearing the mind and energising the day ahead.
While Passage Peak is one of the most popular hikes on Hamilton Island, Flat Top Hill Lookout and the longer Southeast Head Trail are also excellent choices.
4. Spa wumurdaylin
Feel your worries melt away at Spa wumurdaylin.
In a tranquil treatment room at Spa wumurdaylin, the world disappears. The space is all brown stone tiles, bamboo racks and lush garden views, setting the tone for my Soul Temple treatment. My therapist, Kass, begins with a full-body, exfoliating orange buff sugar scrub that feels divine. Next comes the vertical Vichy shower and underwater massage to knead out muscle knots. The sound of cascading water is reminiscent of a tropical rainstorm, and stress becomes a distant memory.
It’s a prime example of the transportive power of the island’s spa, where guests can come to reset the mind and loosen tension in the body. The menu spans radiance facials to deep release rituals and mud wraps, all using products from pH-balanced skincare brand LaGaia Unedited. Concluding with herbal tea, I leave in a blissful daze.
5. Sunrise yoga
Start your day on the right foot.
Morning movement doesn’t get more surreal than sunrise yoga on The Sundays’ seaside terrace. As we roll out our mats, morning light spills across Catseye Beach below, turning the water into a sheet of molten gold. But the setting only does half the healing. I match my breath to the rhythm of the waves and feel my body gradually lengthen and wake as instructor Tyla Rae guides us through a slow, mindful flow.
Available exclusively to guests of The Sundays, this session captures the spirit of wellness on Hamilton Island – immersion in nature, slowing down by the sea, recalibrating both body and mind. To round out the experience, the perfect ocean cool-off awaits just steps away.
6. Getting out on the water
Try your hand at a host of watersports.
Speaking of ocean delights, Catseye Beach’s host of watersports delivers spades of fun and rejuvenation. Glide over the crystalline water in a kayak, test your sailing skills in a mini catamaran, spot schools of fish (and a turtle if you’re lucky) from a stand-up paddleboard, or slip into an underwater wonderland when you snorkel off the beach.
Out here, the water is so clear it feels like floating in glass, and the green silhouettes of the Whitsunday Islands rise on the horizon. Half an hour on the water here is all you need to reset your entire mood.
Guests staying at qualia, Beach Club, The Sundays, Reef View Hotel, Palm Bungalows and Hamilton Island Holiday Homes have complimentary access to all these water activities, making it easy to dive right in.
7. Take a swing
Enjoy incredible views with a swing of golf.
For others, mindfulness comes from calm concentration – and golf fits the bill to a tee. Designed by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson, Hamilton Island Golf Club is perched along the scenic ridges of Dent Island. It’s Australia’s only golf course on its own island, making it one of the most scenic golf courses in the world. The experience is suitable for golfers of all skill levels, with spectator bookings also available for those simply wishing to take in the views. Follow the game with a well-earned lunch at the Clubhouse restaurant.
