NSW Tourism Award winners announced in gala ceremony at Sydney’s Luna Park

The NSW Tourism industry and its successes were celebrated recently for 2016 with this year’s ceremony held at Sydney’s Luna Park. Winners, awarded in Gold, Silver and Bronze categories were announced for a range of categories including Major Festivals and Events, Major Tourist Attractions and Ecotourism. Included in this the Gold level winners were the likes of Byron Bay Bluesfest (Major Festivals and Events), AAT Kings NSW (Major Tour and Transport Operators) and BridgeClimb Sydney (Major Tourist Attractions).

All the Gold Winners from the national categories will be proceeded to the QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards, held in Darwin early next year. For more information about the NSW Tourism Awards, visit their website here.

Check out the full list of winners below!

2016 NSW TOURISM AWARD WINNERS

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Sponsored by Destination NSW

GOLD: BridgeClimb Sydney, Sydney
SILVER: Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney
BRONZE: Australian Reptile Park, Central Coast

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Sponsored by Destination NSW

GOLD: Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Country NSW
SILVER: Sealy Lookout, Orara East State Forest, North Coast
BRONZE: Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail, North Coast

MAJOR FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Sponsored by Sydney Airport

GOLD: Byron Bay Bluesfest, North Coast
SILVER: Tamworth Country Music Festival, Country NSW
BRONZE: Hunter Valley Steamfest, The Hunter

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Sponsored by NRMA

GOLD: Parkes Elvis Festival, Country NSW
SILVER: Boggabri Drovers Campfire, Country NSW
BRONZE: Deni Ute Muster, Murray

ECOTOURISM
Sponsored by Forestry Corporation

GOLD: Byron Bay Eco Cruises & Kayaks, North Coast
SILVER: Tri State Safaris, Outback NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Region X – Unspoilt Experiences Batemans Bay, South Coast

CULTURAL TOURISM
Sponsored by Sydney Airport

GOLD: Nundle Woollen Mill, Country NSW
SILVER: Cultural Heritage and Tourism, City of Parramatta, Sydney
BRONZE: Old Dubbo Gaol, Country NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Sydney Outback Wilderness & Aboriginal Explorer Tour and Cruise, Sydney

QANTAS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER TOURISM
Sponsored by QANTAS

GOLD: Sand Dune Adventures, The Hunter
SILVER: Arakwal Dolphin Dreaming, North Coast
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Sydney Outback Wilderness & Aboriginal Explorer Tour and Cruise, Sydney

SPECIALISED TOURISM SERVICES

GOLD: Ask Roz, Blue Mountains
SILVER: Booking Boss, Sydney

VISITOR INFORMATION SERVICES
Sponsored by Destination NSW

GOLD: Southern Highlands Welcome Centre, Country NSW
SILVER: Sea Acres Rainforest Centre, North Coast
BRONZE: Albury Visitor Information Centre, Murray
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Liverpool Plains Visitor Information Centre, Country NSW

BUSINESS EVENT VENUES
Sponsored by Business Events Sydney

GOLD AND HALL OF FAME: Chateau Elan at The Village, The Hunter
SILVER: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery by Sofitel, Blue Mountains
BRONZE: Luna Park Sydney, Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Star Event Centre, Sydney

MAJOR TOUR AND TRANSPORT OPERATORS
Sponsored by QANTAS

GOLD AND HALL OF FAME: AAT Kings NSW, Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Captain Cook Cruises, Sydney

TOUR AND TRANSPORT OPERATORS
Sponsored by QANTAS

GOLD: Beyond Ballooning, The Hunter
SILVER: Outback Geo Adventures, Outback NSW
BRONZE: Tweed Endeavour Cruises, North Coast

ADVENTURE TOURISM

GOLD: Lets Go Surfing Australia, Sydney
SILVER: Tri State Safaris, Outback NSW
BRONZE: Beyond Ballooning, The Hunter

DESTINATION MARKETING

GOLD: Reset Your Senses in Mudge Region, Country NSW
SILVER: Wild About Wales, NSW Coastal Regions
BRONZE: Destination Southern Highlands, Country NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Sydney Outback, Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED: UNSPOILT South Coast Marketing Campaign, South Coast

TOURISM RESTAURANTS AND CATERING SERVICES
Sponsored by Tourism Austraila

GOLD: Cupitt’s Kitchen, South Coast
SILVER: Margan Wines and Restaurant, The Hunter
BRONZE: Bent on Food, North Coast
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Legends Grill at The Vintage, The Hunter

TOURISM WINERIES, DISTILLERIES AND BREWERIES
Sponsored by Tourism Australia

GOLD: Cupitt’s Winery and Brewery, South Coast
SILVER: Hungerford Hill Wines, The Hunter

CARAVAN & HOLIDAY PARKS
Sponsored by Caravan & Camping Industry Association NSW

GOLD AND HALL OF FAME: BIG4 Deniliquin Holiday Park, Murray
SILVER: Merimbula Beach Holiday Park, South Coast
BRONZE: BIG4 Great Lakes at Forster Tuncurry, North Coast

HOSTED ACCOMMODATION

GOLD: Eldee Station, Outback NSW
SILVER: Telegraph Retreat Cottages, North Coast
BRONZE: Noonaweena, Central Coast

UNIQUE ACCOMMODATION
Sponsored by Sydney Weekender

GOLD AND HALL OF FAME: Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Country NSW
SILVER: Thou Walla Sunset Retreat, The Hunter

SELF CONTAINED ACCOMMODATION
Sponsored by Sydney Weekender

GOLD: Lilypad Luxury Cabins, North Coast
SILVER:
SeaHorse Diamond Beach, North Coast
BRONZE: Lakeview Luxury Cabins, Country NSW

STANDARD ACCOMMODATION
Sponsored by Sydney Weekender

GOLD: Moama on Murray Resort, Murray
SILVER: Boogie Woogie Beach House, North Coast
BRONZE: Royal National Park Cottages, Sydney

DELUXE ACCOMMODATION

GOLD: The Observatory Port Macquarie, North Coast
SILVER: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery By Sofitel, Blue Mountains
BRONZE: Crowne Plaza Terrigal Central Coast

LUXURY ACCOMMODATION

GOLD: The Darling Hotel, Sydney
SILVER: Halcyon House, North Coast
BRONZE: Mountain Whispers, Blue Mountains

NEW TOURISM BUSINESS

GOLD: Rees International, North Coast
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Emerald & Aqua, South Coast

EXCELLENCE IN FOOD TOURISM
Sponsored by NRMA

GOLD AND HALL OF FAME: Margan Wines & Restaurants, The Hunter
SILVER: Bent on Food, North Coast
BRONZE: Food Am I, Riverina

TOURISM EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Sponsored by Sydney Airport

GOLD: TEACH at Wollongong TAFE, North Coast
SILVER: Sydney TAFE Tourism and Hospitality, Sydney and Surrounds

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION BY AND INDIVIDUAL TO NSW
Sponsored by Destination NSW

WINNER: Cameron Arnold

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Sponsored by Destination NSW

WINNER: Australian Reptile Park, Central Coast

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