Entrants & Results
2014 Tourism Award winners
- 01. Major Tourist Attractions
- 02. Tourist Attractions
- 03. Major Festivals and Events
- 04. Festivals & Events
- 05. Ecotourism
- 06. Cultural Tourism
- 08.Specialised Tourism Services
- 09. Visitor Information Services
- 10. Business Tourism
- 11. Major Tour & Transport Operators
- 12. Tour & Transport Operators
- 13. Adventure Tourism
- 14. Destination Marketing
- 15. Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services
- 16. Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries
- 17. Caravan & Holiday Parks
- 18. Hosted Accommodation
- 19. Unique Accommodation
- 21. Standard Accommodation
- 22. Deluxe Accommodation
- 23. Luxury Accommodation
- 24. New Tourism Business
- 25. Excellence in Food Tourism
- 26. Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism
- 27. Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
- 28. Tourism Education and Training
- 29. Local Government Award for Tourism
- 30. Backpacker Accommodation
- 31. Young Achievers Award
- Minister's Encouragement Award
- RACV People's Choice Awards for Guest Satisfaction
- RACV People's Choice Awards for Service
- All
Category
01. Major Tourist Attractions
Winner
Sovereign Hill
Sovereign Hill is situated in the gold rush town of Ballarat, an outdoor museum presenting the story of Australia’s history from the gold rush in 1861.
By day, you can tour the town by horse-and-coach, pan for gold, witness a gold pour, travel deep underground on a gold mining tour, shop 1850s-style, visit goldfields schools and cottages and meet costumed characters for a chat and a photo.
During the evening visitors to Sovereign Hill are able to dine while experiencing the drama of 1854 Eureka Rebellion and stay in the accommodation at the Comfort Inn Sovereign Hill.
Other Winners:
Finalist: SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
Finalist: Mt Buller Alpine Resort
Category
02. Tourist Attractions
Winner
Peninsula Hot Springs
Entering the bathing area is like stepping into another world, a sanctuary where the mind and body are calmed by the steam, soothing aroma and the sound of running water. It’s a place where time is forgotten and lingering is part of the code of harmony……
An hour’s drive South of Melbourne on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula natural hot mineral waters are flowing from deep underground and into the pools and private baths at Peninsula Hot Springs. Bathe and relax at the Spa Dreaming Centre and dine in the café at this tranquil ecotourism attraction.
Other Winners:
Finalist: Halls Gap Zoo
Finalist: Hedgend Maze
Category
03. Major Festivals and Events
Winner
Melbourne Cup Carnival
The Melbourne Cup Carnival is one of Australia’s major festivals and events, held at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival is a unique social and cultural tradition dating back to 1861 that draws the finest equine athletes from all over the world.
The carnival attracts more than 340,000 racegoers to Flemington over the four day Carnival each year contributing greatly to Victoria’s economy
Category
04. Festivals & Events
Winner
2013 Maryborough RACV Energy Breakthrough
The RACV Energy Breakthrough is an exciting program designed to provide opportunities for students, teachers, parents and local industry to work together to design and construct a vehicle, a machine or innovation in technology that will represent an ‘energy breakthrough’.
The program encourages participants to examine and use the latest technology while considering its impact on the environment and the way people live locally and globally.
Other Winners:
Finalist: SCODY 3 Peaks Challenge
Finalist: Sanguine Estate Music Festival
Finalist: La Dolce Vita Wine & Food Festival 2013
Category
05. Ecotourism
Winner
Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park
Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park is situated in Pearcedale, Victoria on remnant and rehabilitated bushland. Moonlit Sanctuary Park is dedicated to the conservation of Australian wildlife and wild habitats, educating visitors and the broader community with their educational programs. Activities include meeting endangered species, feeding kangaroos and wallabies, cuddling koalas and enjoying encounters with colourful birds, reptiles and dingoes.
At night, Moonlit Sanctuary comes alive with lantern-lit tours.
Night birds are active, tiny feathertail gliders and giant yellow-bellied gliders swoop around, and endangered quolls, pademelons and bettongs forage for food.
Category
06. Cultural Tourism
Winner
Bendigo Tramways
Bendigo Tramways is an iconic, heritage tram service that shares fascinating stories about the city that was founded on one of the world’s richest goldfields.
Their Anzac Centenary Tram shares stories of Bendigo as it was during WW1, and offers guided tours of Australia’s oldest operating Tram Depot where you can discover the colourful history of Bendigo’s tram fleet and be blown away by each meticulously hand restored tram.
Other Winners:
Finalist: Cape Otway Lightstation
Category
08.Specialised Tourism Services
Winner
Leisure Options
Leisure Options is an accredited tourism business specialising in premium, boutique holiday and travel experiences for people with disabilities. The focus is on making what is often perceived as impossible, possible, by ensuring that tours are inclusive, barrier free and most of all, fun.
Leisure Options offer experiences that showcase the finest destinations throughout Victoria, interstate and internationally.
With over 500 travellers each year the company is successfully fulfilling its vision of accessible travel for all.
Other Winners:
Finalist: Penguin Parade app
Category
09. Visitor Information Services
Winner
Frankston Visitor Information Centre
Strategically located on the stunning Frankston Waterfront, the Frankston Visitor Information Centre provides quality information and retailing which complements the Mornington Peninsula region.
The Centre provides a central point for a range of ticketing, booking and community services encompassing a wide range of customer needs encouraging visitors to explore the vibrant, urban waterfront destinations in Victoria where arts, nature and cultural experiences connect.
Other Winners:
Finalist: Phillip Island and Bass Coast Visitor Information Centre Network
Finalist: Greater Shepparton Visitor Centre
Finalist: Sunbury Visitor Information Centre
Category
10. Business Tourism
Winner
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is situated in the heart of Melbourne on the banks of the Yarra River in South Wharf and is Australia’s largest convention and exhibition facility.
MCEC works closely with key business partners to attract important business events to Victoria to enhance tourism and the growth of the state.
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre connects people with everything needed for a successful event offering versatile spaces, up-to-date technology, food and wine and staff with the skills and experience to bring it all together.
Other Winners:
Finalist: Business Events Victoria
Finalist: Yarra Valley Conference Centre
Category
11. Major Tour & Transport Operators
Winner
Searoad Ferries
Searoad Ferries delivers a 40 minute ferry crossing between Sorrento and Queenscliff connecting the Mornington Peninsula to the Bellarine and Great Ocean Road. Ferries operate 365 days of the year, every hour from 7am to 6pm.
There are two world class all weather ferries offering easy drive on/drive off car facilities, comfortable viewing lounges and external observation decks. The ferry passes by marine National Parks and spectacular scenery, visitors to both regions can experience the beauty of Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay.
Category
12. Tour & Transport Operators
Winner
Global Ballooning Australia
Global Ballooning Australia is the largest hot air ballooning company in Victoria, offering sunrise hot air balloon flights over Melbourne and Yarra Valley.
Global Ballooning Australia caters for all types of occasions including corporate events, marriage proposals, weddings or just for a new adventure, providing a sustainable adventure experience highlighting passengers comfort, safety and enjoyment.
Category
13. Adventure Tourism
Winner
The Enchanted Maze Garden & Tree Surfing
Enchanted Adventure Garden is a natural attraction situated on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula at Arthurs Seat. With stunning views over the park’s formal gardens and hedge mazes, the park offers many different things to see and activities to try including giant sculpture, indoor and outdoor mazes, Tube Sliding, Tree Surfing, the Big Zip Line or alternatively set up a picnic and enjoy the natural surroundings.
It’s a place where you can loose yourself in the colours of garden design or marvel at the formal structures of hedge topiary.
Other Winners:
Finalist: The Twelve Apostles Walk by bothfeet
Finalist: The Summit
Finalist: Bogong Horseback Adventures
Finalist: Riviera Nautic
Category
14. Destination Marketing
Winner
Wine Food Farmgate
Wine Food Farmgate is an extensive wine and food promotional campaign created for the Mornington Peninsula.
It features the best seasonal food and wine experiences, and is a great way for visitors to connect with chefs and their restaurants, vignerons and their vineyards, artisan producers, growers and specialty storeowners.
Wine Food Farmgate helps you plan your own food and wine discovery and encourages you to share what you find via social media.
Other Winners:
Finalist: Instagrampians
Finalist: Victoria’s High Country: Australia’s premier cycling destination
Category
15. Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services
Winner
Stillwater at Crittenden
Stillwater at Crittenden is a multi-award winning tourism restaurant on Victoria’s stunning Mornington Peninsula.
The restaurant, nestled amid the vines within the grounds of Crittenden Estate Winery, provides a full service, yet relaxed, fine dining experience showcasing local produce and regional wines.
Category
16. Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries
Winner
Fowles Wine Cellar Door and Cafe
Fowles Wine is a boutique family owned winery based in the Strathbogie Ranges and craft some of Australia’s finest cool climate wines including “Ladies who Shoot their Lunch” and “Are you Game?”.
Fowles Wine strives for excellence in the tourism industry by providing quality products and services which are enhanced by the unique events held an their Cellar Door Cafe located in Avenel.
Other Winners:
Finalist: Dal Zotto Wines Cellar Door and Trattoria
Finalist: Pizzini Wines
Category
17. Caravan & Holiday Parks
Winner
BIG4 Beacon Resort
BIG4 Beacon Resort is located in Queenscliff, a coastal township south-west of Melbourne. The resort is set amongst native gardens opposite the beach and operate all year-round and offers facilities to suit a variety of holiday styles.
Popular with families, children can enjoy free daily activities and the indoor playground, whilst adults are able to make use of the onsite day spa’s massage and beauty treatments or use of the function room for groups.
BIG4 Beacon Resort also offer luxury one, two and three bedroom villas, self-contained cabins, motel rooms and caravan and camping sites.
Other Winners:
Finalist: RACV Cobram Resort
Category
18. Hosted Accommodation
Winner
Montfort Manor
Montfort Manor is located in the heart of Central Gippsland, Victoria overlooking the tree-lined driveway, lake and manicured gardens, Montfort Manor offer four luxury suits to accommodate corporate business travellers, romantic weekenders, honeymoon couples and sophisticated leisure travellers for both long and short stays.
The grounds offer a range of activities including walking paths which surround the property lake, a multi-use tennis court including a hitting wall and two swimming pools.
Other Winners:
Finalist: Lakeside Cottage Luxury Bed & Breakfast
Finalist: Quamby Homestead
Category
19. Unique Accommodation
Winner
Riviera Nautic
Riviera Nautic is based in Metung at the eastern end of the Gippsland Lakes.
With a diverse fleet of yachts and motor cruisers, Riviera Nautic offers guests the opportunity to experience a self-drive boating holiday immersed in the natural surrounds of Australia’s largest inland waterway, the Gippsland Lakes
An abundance of bird and marine life can be seen with wide expanses of water for exhilarating sailing, tranquil rivers for cruising and fishing and deserted beaches and peaceful coves to visit.
The charter boat provides guests with accommodation, transport and entertainment rolled into one package, offering a truly unique experience.
In 2014, Riviera Nautic enters the Hall of Fame.
Other Winners:
Finalist: Gisborne Peak Winery Eco-Cottages
Category
21. Standard Accommodation
Winner
Jetty Road Retreat
Jetty Road Retreat is situated on the Gippsland Lakes, 3.5 hours east of Melbourne, providing secluded waterfront accommodation in a peaceful bush setting.
Jetty Road Retreat features four self-contained two-bedroom units, offering an affordable lakeside living experience, with access to a private jetty and a range of activities to enjoy such as: beach walks, kayaking and jetty fishing.
Jetty Road Retreat is ideal for enjoying all East Gippsland’s attractions and inspiring natural environment.
Category
22. Deluxe Accommodation
Winner
Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway
Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway is an AAA rated 4.5 star hotel located in the heart of Wangaratta’s CBD, providing 77 suites and apartments, state of the art conference facilities and the award winning on-site regional restaurant Atrium.
Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway is positioned to capture the regional touring market visiting Victoria’s High Country including the towns, villages, producers and artisan makers of Beechworth, Bright, Rutherglen, Milawa and the King Valley.
Other Winners:
Finalist: Aquabelle Apartments
Finalist: Alto Hotel on Bourke
Category
23. Luxury Accommodation
Winner
Drift House
Drift House, located in the heart of the coastal town of Port Fairy in South West Victoria, offers luxury accommodation that appeals to those looking for an escape that is individual and interesting.
The suits are equipped with a beautiful design and an environment that creates a relaxing escape, coupled with thoughtful and personal service, which is what makes Drift House a special getaway.
Other Winners:
Finalist: Crown Metropol Melbourne
Finalist: RACV Torquay Resort
Finalist: Hilton Melbourne South Wharf
Category
24. New Tourism Business
Winner
Naturewise Eco Escapes
Naturewise Eco Escapes make positive contributions to Victoria’s environment, and cater for growing nature-based tourist demands.
Ten new Naturewise Eco Escapes have been developed providing meaningful, small group experiences, ranging from one to four day adventures.
These all-inclusive tour packages offer participants an exclusive opportunity to work alongside Parks Victoria rangers to meet priority protected area needs, whilst exploring Victoria’s most spectacular natural areas.
Other Winners:
Finalist: Horseback Winery Tours
Finalist: Melbourne Star Observation Wheel
Finalist: A Very Fine Yarn – Creswick Woollen Mills
Finalist: Port of Echuca Discovery Centre
Category
25. Excellence in Food Tourism
Winner
Green Olive at Red Hill
Green Olive at Red Hill is a family business located one hour from Melbourne in the wine growing region of the Mornington Peninsula.
Overlooking a dam, Green Olive showcase a picturesque setting for visitors to enjoy. The property grows olives, grapes, herbs and veggies, raise sheep and chickens.
When visiting Green Olive, guests can enjoy farm produce tapas dishes, wine from their vineyard, cooking classes, farm tours and farm gate produce tastings.
Category
26. Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism
Winner
The Falls Music and Arts Festival
The Falls Music & Arts Festival is an annual event over New Year’s Eve held in Lorne, Victoria and is regarded as one of the most environmentally and socially sustainable events in Australia.
Operating over the past 21 years, the festival continues to produce innovative techniques for waste management, power saving measures, successful community involvement programs and so much more.
Category
27. Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
Winner
Alla Wolf-Tasker
Alla Wolf-Tasker is the proprietor and culinary director of Lake House, the famed boutique hotel and restaurant in the spa town of Daylesford, Victoria.
Alla opened Lake House more than 30 years ago and it has attracted acclamation and awards ever since. Widely acknowledged for her pioneering work in establishing regional destination dining in Australia, Alla was championing local seasonal cuisine long before it became a marketing mantra. Her tenacity and belief in what was possible and her work with small-scale producers has been described as ‘legendary’.
Category
28. Tourism Education and Training
Winner
Crown College Melbourne
Crown College is one of the largest and most successful registered training organisations in Australia, providing customised and innovative learning to employees wishing to build long-term careers in tourism.
Crown College focus’ on incorporating innovative and exciting learning experiences, delivering content that exceeds participant expectations, setting the benchmark in tourism education and training.
Category
29. Local Government Award for Tourism
Winner
Murrindindi Shire Council
Located in North East Victoria Murrindindi Shire Council has delivered a comprehensive program of events and tourism developing key strategic partnerships with local, state and regional organisations and have pro-actively sought funding opportunities to facilitate an extensive range of activities including the commissioning of a purpose built accredited Visitor Information Centre in Yea; branding and marketing initiatives for the Great Victorian Rail Trail; participation in a range of activities as part of the Goulburn River Valley Tourism collective and has supported and delivered a number of major events within the region.
Other Winners:
Finalist: Corangamite Shire Council
Category
30. Backpacker Accommodation
Winner
Space Hotel
Space Hotel is an affordable and contemporary accommodation in Melbourne’s CBD with a diverse range of room types from dorm beds to private suites and family rooms catering for travellers with different budgets.
Space Hotel emphasise their social elements with facilities such as an in-house cinema, a restaurant-quality communal kitchen, and a rooftop area showcasing panoramic views of the city.
Other Winners:
Finalist: Greenhouse Backpackers
Category
31. Young Achievers Award
Winner
Monique Bayer
Monique Bayer is the founder and owner of Walk Melbourne Tours where they strive to get their guests excited about discovering Melbourne, its stories and its well-known food culture.
Walk Melbourne offers five food driven walking tours of Melbourne, each running 2-3 hours, making an assured effort to stop, eat and drink on each tour devouring Melbourne’s sights, smells, tastes, sounds and textures.
Monique Bayer is the soul behind Walk Melbourne. She loves food and she loves Melbourne and has spent the last 15 years finding all the food treasures of the city just to share with her guests.
Category
Minister's Encouragement Award
Winner
Daylesford Cider Company
The Daylesford Cider Company, is just 5km from Daylesford in Victoria’s beautiful central highlands.
In 2003 Owner, David Stagg, proceeded to plant some apple trees and headed to the UK to learn how to make cider. He mastered not only farming the right variety of apple but also how to make a heady brew. In 2009 David and his wife Sally opened a purpose built tavern and cellar door on their property and with all production done on site they have the ability to brew up to 10,000 litres each year.
Category
RACV People's Choice Awards for Guest Satisfaction
Winner
Captains Retreat B&B
Captains Retreat B&B is located on properties around Victoria’s waterfront metropolis of Williamstown. The B&B’s aim is to provide their guests with a relaxed & comfortable ‘home away from home’ experience offering the options of self-contained accommodation in cottages & apartments or B&B style accommodation in the main house.
Category
RACV People's Choice Awards for Service
Winner
Killara Holiday Flats
Killara Holiday Flats are self contained units off the Princes Hwy in a quiet location, minutes from Lakes Entrance close to beaches, shops and restaurants.
Each unit is spacious and suited to recreational fishermen and families.
