Winners announced at the 2018 Country & Outback Regional Tourism Awards
Image credit: Andrew Murray
Leading regional tourism businesses, events, and visitor experiences from Oberon to Broken Hill and north to the Queensland border were recognised at the 2018 Country & Outback Regional Tourism Awards in Orange on Saturday night.
Winners in 15 categories were announced at the gala awards ceremony from finalists including tourism businesses, local councils, events, restaurants, wineries and accommodation providers. More than 120 industry representatives were in attendance to see who would take home the coveted awards.
In association with the gala, Destination Country & Outback hosted the inaugural Country and Outback Tourism Forum on Friday. A half-day event for networking and business development, it saw more than 65 of the region’s tourism operators and event organisers engage in sessions with experts on topics including destination management, remote working, digital media, and business events.
2018 Country & Outback Regional Tourism Award winners
Tourist Attractions
Gold: Mayfield Garden, Oberon
Silver: Outback Astronomy, Broken Hill
Major Festivals and Events
Gold: Tamworth Country Music Festival, Tamworth
Festivals and Events
Gold: Parkes Elvis Festival, Parkes
Silver: Canowindra Balloon Challenge, Canowindra
Finalist: Orange F.O.O.D Week, Orange
Finalist: Australian Celtic Festival, Glen Innes
Ecotourism
Gold: Wolgan Valley Eco Tours, Wolgan Valley
Cultural Tourism
Gold: Nundle Woollen Mill, Nundle
Silver: Old Dubbo Gaol, Dubbo
Specialised Tourism Services
Gold: The Age of Fishes Museum, Canowindra
Visitor Information Services
Gold: Mudgee Region Tourism, Mudgee
Silver: Bathurst Regional Council, Bathurst
Bronze: Liverpool Plains Visitor Information Centre, Willow Tree
Finalist: Dubbo Regional Council, Dubbo
Finalist: Orange Visitor Information Centre, Orange
Finalist: Parkes Visitor Information Centre, Parkes
Destination Marketing
Gold: Mudgee Region Tourism, Mudgee
Silver: Parkes Shire Council, Parkes
Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries
Gold: Heifer Station Wines Pty Ltd
Finalist: Blue Wren Wines, Mudgee
Hosted Accommodation
Gold: Eldee Station, Broken Hill
Unique Accommodation
Gold: Sierra Escape, Mudgee
Self-Contained Accommodation
Gold: Lakeview Luxury Retreat, Orange
Silver: Kirsten Serviced Apartments, Mudgee
Standard Accommodation
Gold: Manera Heights Apartments, Dubbo
Silver: Shearing Shed Motor Inn, Dubbo
Bronze: Lodge Outback Motel, Broken Hill
Deluxe Accommodation
Gold: The Parkview Hotel, Mudgee
Excellence in Food Tourism
Gold: Orange Ex-Services’ Club, Orange
Finalist: Wayward Trails Pty Ltd, Arding
Category winners from the Regional Tourism Awards will now gain finalist status upon entering the NSW Tourism Awards to be held in Sydney later this year.