The state’s peak tourism organisation, NSW Tourism Industry Council, is excited to announce the winners of the prestigious NSW Tourism Awards for 2022.

Held this evening in iconic Luna Park Sydney’s Big Top, over 450 industry representatives gathered for the first time in three years to celebrate these outstanding tourism businesses.

The awards are managed by the NSW Tourism Industry Council powered by Business NSW, the state’s peak business organisation, and supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

“The NSW Tourism Awards celebrate those tourism experiences that inspire visitors to #feelnewsouthwales and recognise those businesses who exemplify quality tourism,” said Paula Martin, Senior Director, NSW Tourism Industry Council.

“These businesses provide leadership in innovation, marketing and in the delivery of quality products and services. These are businesses who advance and promote the NSW and Australian tourism industry through consistent customer service and quality experiences to all.

“A highlight of this year’s awards program was the high number of first-time entrants (32), many of whom are very new businesses.

“They should all be very proud of this recognition of their business excellence, particularly after the ravages of Covid, floods and all off the back of the devastating Black Summer Bushfires,” Paula Martin said.

Tourism Minister Ben Franklin said the event highlighted the industry’s commitment to delivering premium products and experiences to all visitors to NSW.

“I’d like to congratulate all winners and finalists of the 2022 NSW Tourism Awards, who have shown a commitment to excellence throughout this year,” Mr Franklin said.

“It is an exciting time for our visitor economy, with domestic overnight visitor expenditure in NSW recently surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

"They should all be very proud of this recognition of their business excellence, particularly after the ravages of Covid, floods and all off the back of the devastating Black Summer Bushfires."

“The NSW Government is committed to supporting tourism operators, businesses and event owners that create jobs, boost regional economies and position NSW as a global destination.”

Hospitality and tourism entrepreneur Donna Carrier, one of the most passionate and hardworking tourism operators on the North Coast, was awarded the Dean Gorddard Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual to NSW.

The award is in recognition of her dedication and advocacy for tourism in her local and regional area, over the past 18+ years.

Riverside Holiday Resort Urunga was inducted into the prestigious NSW Tourism Awards Hall of Fame, for taking out top honours in Excellence in Accessible Tourism for the third year in a row.

Glenayr Farm Mudgee and Love Lord Howe were joint recipients of the Judges’ Tourism Star Award’, a special award to reward their tremendous resilience and innovation during a very challenging year.

Winners in the designated national award categories will represent NSW at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Sydney, 17 March 2023.

About NSW Tourism Industry Council

Powered by Business NSW, the NSW Tourism Industry Council helps businesses operating in the Visitor Economy maximise their potential to ensure New South Wales remains the number one tourism destination in Australia.

Media enquiries: Paula Martin - 0414 901 777

Website: https://www.businessnsw.com/members/nsw-tourism-awards-2022/winners-2022

EDITORS’ NOTE: A full list of this year’s NSW Tourism Awards winners by category is outlined below.

2022 NSW Tourism Award Winners:

Major Tourist Attractions
Gold: Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo
Silver: The Australian Reptile Park, Somersby
Bronze: The Big Banana Fun Park, Coffs Harbour

Tourist Attractions
Gold: Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail, Port Macquarie
Silver: Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
Bronze: Aussie Ark, Barrington Tops

Major Festivals and Events
Gold: Bluesfest Byron Bay
Silver: GLOW at Sydney Zoo

Festivals and Events
Gold: Tumbafest Inc, Tumbarumba
Silver: Bathurst Winter Festival
Bronze: The Coffs Coast Food & Wine Festival

Ecotourism
Gold: Sydney by Kayak, Lavender Bay
Silver: Vision Walks - Eco Tours, Byron Bay
Bronze: Tweed Eco Cruises, Tweed Heads

Cultural Tourism
Gold: Local Sauce Tours, Sydney
Silver: Old Dubbo Gaol
Bronze: Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail, Port Macquarie

Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism
Gold: Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours, Coffs Harbour
Silver: Bundyi Cultural Tours, Wagga Wagga
Bronze: Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation, Coffs Harbour

Tourism Retail & Hire Services
Gold: Sydney Harbour Kayaks, The Spit Bridge, Mosman
Silver: Ask Roz Blue Mountains

Visitor Information Services
Gold: Mudgee Region Tourism
Silver: Bathurst Visitor Information Centre
Bronze: Eden Visitor Information Centre, Sapphire Coast

Business Event Venues
Gold: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains by MGallery
Silver: Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Tour and/or Transport Operators
Gold: Tweed Eco Cruises, Tweed Heads
Silver: Beyond Ballooning, Lovedale
Bronze: Blue Mountains Stargazing

Adventure Tourism
Gold: Balloon Aloft, Hunter Valley, Camden Valley, Mudgee and Byron Bay
Silver: Sydney Harbour Kayaks, The Spit Bridge, Mosman
Bronze: Beyond Ballooning, Lovedale

Tourism Marketing and Campaigns
Gold: MidCoast Council: Destination Barrington Coast
Silver: Shoalhaven City Council, Tourism
Bronze: The Tweed Tourism Company

Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
Gold: Potager, Carool
Silver: Bent on Food, Wingham
Bronze: Antica Australis, Carcoar

Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries
Gold: Courabyra Wines, Tumbarumba

Caravan and Holiday Parks
Gold: North Star Holiday Resort, Hastings Point
Silver: NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort, Central Coast
Bronze: BIG4 Deniliquin Holiday Park

Hosted Accommodation
Gold: Blueberry Hills on Comleroy, Kurrajong
Silver: Belle Bois, Capertee Valley
Bronze: Amaroo Valley Springs, Kurrajong

Unique Accommodation
Gold: Zoofari Lodge, Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo
Silver: Glenayr Farm Mudgee
Bronze: Berger Houseboat Holidays, Tweed Heads

Self-Contained Accommodation
Gold: Bandalong Cottages, Mudgee
Silver: Peppertree Hill, Mudgee
Bronze: Mt Warning Estate, Dum Dum

4 – 4.5 Star Accommodation
Gold: The Byng Street Boutique Hotel, Orange
Silver: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains by MGallery
Bronze: Wildlife Retreat at Taronga, Mosman

5 Star Accommodation
Gold: Mt Hay Retreat, Berry
Silver: Kalinya Estate, Bargo

New Tourism Business
Gold: Italian Cooking Experience with Stefano Marvello, Bowral
Silver: Navigate Expeditions, Sapphire Coast
Bronze: Evamor Valley, Mudgee

Excellence in Food Tourism
Gold: Margan Wines & Restaurant, Broke
Silver: Food I Am, Wagga Wagga
Bronze: Country Food Trails, Orange

Excellence in Accessible Tourism*
Gold/ Hall of Fame: Riverside Holiday Resort Urunga
Silver: Cocky Guides, Sydney
Bronze: Sea Horse Diamond Beach

Local Government Award for Tourism*
Gold: MidCoast Council: Destination Barrington Coast
Silver: Central Coast Council - Destination Central Coast

Dean Gorddard Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual*
Winner: Donna Carrier

Judges’ Tourism Star Award*
Joint Winners:
• Glenayr Farm, Mudgee
• Love Lord Howe

Ground Swell 2022 Commendation presented by Take 3 for the Sea*
From First Wave, Take 3’s tourism industry pilot project in 2021 through to the current 2022 Ground Swell Program, Take 3 for the Sea has engaged with 160 tourism businesses of all kinds. For the first time, Take 3 for the Sea commended three businesses, each of which have made significant contributions to visitor litter reduction under the program. Not only have they embraced the Take 3 philosophy, these businesses have shown leadership by taking ownership and action to prevent litter.

Commendations:
• F.O.C.K. Festival of Canoe and Kayak, Gangurang, Kangaroo Valley
• Niigi Niigi - Sealy Lookout, Coffs Harbour – a Ground Swell collaboration between Forestry Corporation, Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours and Treetops Adventure
• Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures, Central Coast

*Does not progress to the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards