More than 200 industry representatives gathered in Coffs Harbour for the 2018 North Coast Regional Tourism Awards on Wednesday 25 July.
Winners in 13 categories were announced at the gala awards ceremony from finalists including local councils, tourism businesses, events, restaurants, wineries and accommodation providers. The night also included recognising nine operators who were inducted into the Regional Tourism Awards Hall of Fame.
2018 North Coast Regional Tourism Awards
category winners
Destination Marketing
Gold: Coffs Harbour City Council, Coffs Harbour
Finalist: Clarence Valley Council, Clarence Valley
Caravan and Holiday Parks
Gold: BIG4 Great Lakes at Foster-Tuncurry
Silver: Reflections Holiday Parks Seal Rocks, Seal Rocks
Self-Contained Accommodation
Gold: Riverside Holiday Resort Urunga, Urunga
Silver: Macquarie Waters Boutique Apartments, Port Macquarie
Standard Accommodation
Gold: Heritage Hotel Motel, Dorrigo
Finalist: Vacation Village Resort, Port Macquarie
New Tourism Business
Gold: Open Air Picnics
Excellence in Food Tourism
Gold: The Cheesemaking Workshop, Coffs Harbour
Tourism Education and Training
Gold: TEACH at TAFE NSW Wollongbar, Wollongbar
Tourist Attractions
Gold: Forestry Corporation of NSW, Coffs Harbour
Silver: Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail, Port Macquarie
Bronze: The Big Banana Pty Ltd, Coffs Harbour
Finalist: Koala Preservation Society, Port Macquarie
Festivals and Events
Gold: Lismore City Council, “Eat the Street”
Silver: Woolgoolga Curryfest
Finalist: Bonville Golf Resort
Ecotourism
Gold: Byron Bay Eco Cruises & Kayaks
Silver: Jetty Dive Centre
Cultural Tourism
Gold: Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail
Silver: Port Macquarie Museum
Encouragement Award: Bunker Cartoon Gallery
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism
Gold: Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation, Coffs Harbour
Silver: Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours, Coffs Harbour
Specialised Tourism Services
Gold: Arts Mid North Coast Inc
Hall of Fame Inductees
The Big Banana Fun Park, Coffs Harbour (Major Tourist Attractions)
Byron Bay Bluesfest, Byron Bay (Major Festivals and Events)
Port Macquarie Museum, Port Macquarie (Cultural Tourism)
Arakwal Dolphin Dreaming, Byron Bay (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism)
State Forests of the Coffs Coast, Coffs Harbour (Specialised Tourism Services)
Lismore and Nimbin Visitor Information Centres, Lismore (Visitor Information Services)
TEACH at Wollongbar TAFE, Wollongbar (Tourism Education & Training)
Bent on Food, Wingham (Excellence in Food Tourism)
Park Beach Holiday Park, Coffs Harbour (Caravan and Holiday Parks)
