2009 Tourism Awards Winners

Introduction | Winners | Sponsors

Major Tourist Attraction
Gold Award	Featherdale Wildlife Park (Sydney) www.featherdale.com.au
Silver Award	Sydney Opera House (Sydney) www.sydneyoperahouse.com
Bronze Award	ANZ Stadium (Sydney) www.anzstadium.com.au

Finalists	ANZ Stadium (Sydney) Featherdale Wildlife Park (Sydney) Sydney Opera House (Sydney)



Tourist Attractions
Gold Award	Booderee National Park (South Coast) www.environment.gov.au/parks/booderee
Silver Award	The Magic of Jenolan, Jenolan Caves (Blue Mountains) www.jenolancaves.org.au
Bronze Award	Temora Aviation Museum (Riverina) www.aviationmuseum.com.au

Finalists	Booderee National Park (South Coast) Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin, Hunter The Magic of Jenolan, Jenolan Caves (Blue Mountains) Moonshadow Cruises (Mid North Coast) Temora Aviation Museum (Riverina)



Major Festivals and Events
Gold Award	Sydney Festival 2009 (Sydney) www.sydneyfestival.org.au

Finalists	Sydney Festival 2009 (Sydney) Vivid Sydney (Sydney)



Festival and Events
Gold Award	NSW Caravan, Camping, 4WD and Holiday Supershow (Sydney) www.caravan-camping.com.au
Silver Award	2009 Countrylink Parkes Elvis Festival (Central NSW) www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au
Bronze Award	Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular (Hunter) www.hvg.com.au

Finalists	2009 Countrylink Parkes Elvis Festival (Central NSW) Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular (Hunter) NSW Caravan, Camping, 4WD and Holiday Supershow (Sydney) Old Bar Beach Festival (Mid North Coast) World Youth Day 2008 – Days in the Diocese (South Coast)



Ecotourism
Gold Award	Blue Mountains National Park (Blue Mountains) www.nationalparks.com.au
Silver Award	Lane Cove River Tourist Park (Sydney) www.lanecoverivertouristpark.com.au
Bronze Award	Blackbutt Reserve (Hunter) www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au

Finalists	Blackbutt Reserve (Hunter) Blue Mountains National Park (Blue Mountains) Fivebough & Tuckerbil Wetlands (Riverina) Lakesea Park (South Coast) Lane Cove River Tourist Park (Sydney) Port Macquarie Koala Hospital (Mid North Coast) Tread Lightly eco tours (Blue Mountains)



Heritage and Cultural Tourism
Gold Award	Temora Aviation Museum (Riverina) www.aviationmuseum.com.au
Silver Award	Utes in the Paddock (Central NSW) www.utesinthepaddock.com.au

Finalists	Bygone Beauties (Blue Mountains) The Norman Lindsay Gallery (Blue Mountains) The Original Gold Rush Colony (South Coast) Smoky Cape Lighthouse Cultural Heritage Precinct (Mid North Coast) Temora Aviation Museum (Riverina) Tocal Homestead (Hunter) Utes in the Paddock (Central NSW)


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Indigenous Tourism
Gold Award	Booderee National Park (South Coast) www.environment.gov.au/parks/booderee

Finalists	Booderee National Park (South Coast) Cronulla Cruises – Tour of Djeebahn (Sydney) Mutawintji Eco Tours (Outback NSW)



Specialised Tourism Services
Gold Award	Newcastle Airport (Hunter) www.newcastleairport.com.au
Silver Award	two eight two eight (Central NSW) web.mac.com/gulargambone2828
Bronze Award	BridgeClimb’s Photographic and Retail Services (Sydney) www.bridgeclimb.com

Finalists	Bent on Food (Mid North Coast) BridgeClimb’s Photographic and Retail Services (Sydney) Kangaroo Valley Tourist Association (South Coast) Spa Sublime (Blue Mountains)



Rod Murdoch Memorial Award Visitor Information and Services
Gold Award	Oberon Visitor Information Centre (Blue Mountains) www.oberonaustralia.com
Silver Award	Clarence River Tourism - Clarence River and Clarence Coast Visitor Information Centres (Northern Rivers) www.clarencetourism.com
Bronze Award	Lismore and Nimbin Visitor Information Centres (Northern Rivers) www.visitlismore.com.au

Finalists	Clarence Tourism – Clarence River & Clarence Coast Visitor Information Centres (Northern Rivers) Eurobodalla Coast Visitor Information Centres (South Coast) Griffith Visitors Centre (Riverina) Lismore and Nimbin Visitor Information Centres (Northern Rivers) Moree Visitor Information Centre (New England NW) Oberon Visitor Information Centre (Blue Mountains)



Meetings and Business Tourism
Gold Award	Crowne Plaza Newcastle (Hunter) www.crowneplaza.com.au
Silver Award	Old Leura Dairy (Blue Mountains) www.oldleuradairy.com

Finalists	Coachhouse Marina Resort (South Coast) Crowne Plaza Newcastle (Hunter) Old Leura Dairy (Blue Mountains) Shoal Bay Resort & Spa (Mid North Coast) Tour East Australia (Sydney)



Major Tour and/or Transport Operators
Gold Award	Moonshadow Cruises (Mid North Coast) www.moonshadow.com.au

Finalists	AAT Kings Sydney (Sydney) Moonshadow Cruises (Mid North Coast) Oz Experience Backpacker Transport (Sydney) Tour East Australia (Sydney)


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Tour and/or Transport Operators
Gold Award	Sydney Seaplanes (Sydney) www.seaplanes.com.au
Silver Award	Tri State Safaris (Outback NSW) www.tristate.com.au
Bronze Award	Boutique Tours Australia (Hunter) www.boutiquetoursaustralia.com.au

Finalists	Activity Tours Australia (Hunter) Balloon Joy Flights, Canowindra, Central NSW Boutique Tours Australia (Hunter) Dolphin Watch Cruises – Jervis Bay (South Coast) Precision Helicopters Helicopter Scenic Flights/South Solitary Island Heli Tours (Mid North Coast) Sydney Seaplanes (Sydney) Tri State Safaris (Outback NSW)



Adventure Tourism
Gold Award	Tri State Safaris (Outback NSW) www.tristate.com.au
Silver Award	Skydive the Beach Sydney (South Coast) www.skydivethebeach.com
Bronze Award	Adventure Underground, Jenolan Caves (Blue Mountains) www.jenolancaves.org.au

Finalists	Port Stephens Parasailing (Mid North Coast)



Tourism Marketing
Gold Award	Darling River Run (Outback NSW) www.darlingriverrun.com.au
Silver Award	Grand Pacific Drive (South Coast) www.grandpacificdrive.com.au
Bronze Award	rentahome.com.au (Sydney) www.rentahome.com.au

Finalists	Barrington Tops Tourism Initiative (Hunter) Darling River Run (Outback NSW) Eurobodalla Coast Tourism (South Coast) Grand Pacific Drive (South Coast) Greater Port Macquarie Tourism Marketing (Mid North Coast) holidayz.com.au (Capital Country) Lake Macquarie “Love the Lake” brand and campaign (Hunter) Privileged Guest Card (Blue Mountains) rentahome.com.au (Sydney)



Tourism Education and Training
Gold Award	Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (Blue Mountains) www.hotelschool.com.au
Silver Award	Travel 2153, The Hills College, Western Sydney Institute, TAFE NSW, Baulkham Hills (Sydney) www.tafensw.edu.au

Finalists	Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (Blue Mountains) Shoal Bay Resort & Spa (Mid North Coast) School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Southern Cross University (Northern Rivers) Travel 2153, The Hills College, Western Sydney Institute, TAFE NSW, Baulkham Hills (Sydney)



Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
Gold Award	Bent on Food (Mid North Coast) www.bentonfood.com
Silver Award	The Corner restaurant café (Mid North Coast) www.mwaters.com.au
Bronze Award	Redsalt Restaurant (Hunter) www.crowneplaza.com.au/huntervalley

Finalists	Bellachara Boutique Hotel (South Coast) Bent on Food (Mid North Coast) The Conservation Hut (Blue Mountains) The Corner restaurant café (Mid North Coast) Dish Café (Central NSW) Esca Bimbadgen (Hunter) The Lagoon Restaurant (South Coast) Redsalt Restaurant (Hunter) Taronga Centre (Sydney)

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Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Boutique Breweries
Gold Award	Coolangatta Estate (South Coast) www.coolangattaestate.com.au
Silver Award	Trentham Estate Winery (Outback NSW) www.trenthamestate.com.au

Finalists	Coolangatta Estate (South Coast) Trentham Estate (Outback NSW) Wyndham Estate Cellar Door (Hunter)



Tourist and Caravan Parks
Gold Award	BIG4 Deniliquin Paringa Holiday Park (Riverina) www.big4deniliquin.com
Silver Award	Lane Cove River Tourist Park (Sydney) www.lanecoverivertouristpark.com.au
Bronze Award	Halifax Holiday Park (Mid North Coast) www.beachsideholidays.com.au

Finalists	BIG4 Deniliquin Paringa Holiday Park (Riverina) BIG4 Lake Macquarie Monterey Tourist Park (Hunter) BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park (South Coast) Halifax Holiday Park (Mid North Coast) Jenolan Caravan Park (Blue Mountains) Lane Cove River Tourist Park (Sydney)



Backpacker Accommodation
Gold Award	Sydney Central YHA (Sydney) www.yha.com.au

Finalists	Samurai Beach Bungalows - Port Stephens YHA (Mid North Coast) Sydney Central YHA (Sydney)



Hosted Accommodation
Gold Award	Ossian Hall Valley Retreat (Sydney) www.ossianhall.com.au
Silver Award	Black Sheep Inn (Central NSW) www.blacksheepinn.com.au
Bronze Award	Milton Country Cottages (South Coast) www.miltoncountrycottages.com.au

Finalists	Black Sheep Inn (Central NSW) Christina's B&B - Lake Macquarie (Hunter) Milton Country Cottages (South Coast) Ossian Hall Valley Retreat (Sydney) Telegraph Retreat, Telegraph Point (Mid North Coast) Whispering Pines Chalet and Cottages (Blue Mountains)



Unique Accommodation
Gold Award	Old Leura Dairy (Blue Mountains) www.oldleuradairy.com
Silver Award	Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort (Hunter) www.riverwooddowns.com.au
Bronze Award	Somewhere Unique - An Escape for 2 in the Hunter (Hunter) www.somewhereunique.com.au

Finalists	Barrengarry Boutique Farm Cottages (South Coast) Cockatoo Island Camping (Sydney) Old Leura Dairy (Blue Mountains) Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort (Hunter) Smoky Cape Lighthouse B&B & Heritage Cottages (Mid North Coast) Somewhere Unique - An Escape for 2 in the Hunter (Hunter)


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Standard Accommodation
Gold Award	Wanderers Retreat Port Stephens (Mid North Coast) www.wanderersretreat.com
Silver Award	The Old Vic Inn Historic Guesthouse (Central NSW) www.oldvicinn.com.au
Bronze Award	The Lodge Outback Motel (Outback NSW) www.lodgemotel.com.au

Finalists	Ibis Wollongong (South Coast) The Lodge Outback Motel (Outback NSW) The Old Vic Inn Historic Guesthouse (Central NSW) Scone Motor Inn (Hunter) Wanderers Retreat Port Stephens (Mid North Coast)



Deluxe Accommodation
Gold Award	The Vintry (Hunter) www.thevintry.com.au
Silver Award	Emaroo Cottages (Outback NSW) www.emaroocottages.com.au
Bronze Award	Crowne Plaza Newcastle (Hunter) www.crowneplaza.com

Finalists	Bellachara Boutique Hotel Gerringong (South Coast) Crowne Plaza Newcastle (Hunter) Emaroo Cottages (Outback NSW) Macquarie Waters Boutique Apartment Hotel (Mid North Coast) The Observatory Port Macquarie (Mid North Coast) Seván Apartments Forster (Mid North Coast) Shoal Bay Resort & Spa (Mid North Coast)



Luxury Accommodation
Gold Award	Shangri-La Hotel Sydney (Sydney) www.shangri-la.com
Silver Award	Sheraton on the Park (Sydney) www.sheraton.com/sydney

Finalists	Aqua Shores Mollymook Beach (South Coast) Peppers Salt Resort and Spa (Northern Rivers) Shangri-La Hotel Sydney (Sydney) Sheraton on the Park (Sydney) Tower Lodge (Hunter)



New Tourism Development
Gold Award	Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse Holiday Accommodation (Mid North Coast) www.srla.com.au
Silver Award	Taronga Zoo Roar and Snore (Sydney) www.taronga.org.au
Bronze Award	Treetop Adventure Park (Central Coast) www.treetopadventurepark.com.au

Finalists	Darling River Run, Outback NSW Kangaroo Valley Tourist Park Canoe Hire (South Coast) Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse Holiday Accommodation (Mid North Coast) Taronga Zoo Roar and Snore (Sydney) Treetop Adventure Park (Central Coast)



Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism
Gold Award	Crystal Creek Meadows Luxury Cottages & Spa Retreat (South Coast) www.country-accommodation.com.au
Silver Award	The Observatory Port Macquarie (Mid North Coast) www.theobservatory.net.au
Bronze Award	Lane Cove River Tourist Park (Sydney) www.lanecoverivertouristpark.com.au



Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
2009 Winner	Philip Hammon



Outstanding Contribution to Regional Tourism by an Individual
2009 Winner	Suzanne Button (Mid North Coast)



Sam Fiszman Young Achiever in Tourism Award (formerly the Wendy O’Donohue Award)
2008 Winner	Jason King (Outback NSW)



Registered clubs
Gold Award	The Epping Club (Sydney) www.eppingclub.com

Finalists	Catalina Country Club (South Coast) Club Forster (Mid North Coast) The Epping Club (Sydney) Wagga RSL Club (Riverina) Wentworth Falls Country Club (Blue Mountains) Western Suburbs (Newcastle) Leagues Club (Hunter)




The Sunday Telegraph People’s Choice Award
2009 winner	Taronga Zoo Roar and Snore