2008 NSW Tourism Award Winners

Tourism NSW and Tourism Industry Council NSW are pleased to announce the results for the 2008 NSW Tourism Awards.

Major Tourist Attraction
Gold Award	BridgeClimb (Sydney) www.bridgeclimb.com
Silver Award	Featherdale Wildlife Park (Sydney) www.featherdale.com.au
Finalists	BridgeClimb (Sydney) Featherdale Wildlife Park (Sydney) Fleet Air Arm Museum (South Coast)



Tourist Attractions
Gold Award	Pet Porpoise Pool (Mid North Coast) www.petporpoisepool.com
Silver Award	Moonshadow Cruises (Mid North Coast) www.moonshadow.com.au
Bronze Award	Jamberoo Action Park (South Coast) www.jamberoo.net
Finalists	Booderee National Park (South Coast) Coffs Harbour Butterfly House (Mid North Coast) Jamberoo Action Park (South Coast) Jenolan Caves "The Magic of Jenolan" (Blue Mountains) Moonshadow Cruises (Mid North Coast) Pet Porpoise Pool (Mid North Coast) Temora Aviation Museum (Riverina) Whale Watching Sydney (Sydney)



Major Festivals and Events
Gold Award	Sydney Royal Easter Show (Sydney) www.eastershow.com.au
Silver Award	Sydney Festival 2008 (Sydney) www.sydneyfestival.org.au
Finalists	2008 City v Country Festival of Football (South Coast) Sydney Festival 2008 (Sydney) Sydney Royal Easter Show (Sydney)



Festival and Events
Gold Award	CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival (2008) (Central NSW) www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au
Silver Award	Temora Aviation Museum Flying Days (Riverina) www.aviationmuseum.com.au
Bronze Award	The Bitter & Twisted International Boutique Beer Festival (Hunter) www.bitterandtwisted.com.au
Finalists	CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival (2008) (Central NSW) Myall River Festival (Mid North Coast) NSW Caravan, Camping, 4WD & Holiday Supershow (Sydney) Temora Aviation Museum Flying Days (Riverina) The Bitter & Twisted International Boutique Beer Festival (Hunter)



Ecotourism
Gold Award	Montague Island Tours (South Coast) www.montagueisland.com.au
Silver Award	Blackbutt Reserve (Hunter) www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/discover_newcastle/blackbutt_reserve
Finalists	Blackbutt Reserve (Hunter) Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia (Hunter) Montague Island Tours (South Coast)



Heritage and Cultural Tourism
Gold Award	Temora Aviation Museum (Riverina) www.aviationmuseum.com.au
Silver Award	Maitland Gaol (Hunter) www.maitlandgaol.com.au
Bronze Award	Bells Milk Bar & Museum (Outback NSW) www.bellsmilkbar.com.au
Finalists	Bells Milk Bar & Museum (Outback NSW) Cape Byron Headland Reserve (Northern Rivers) Maitland Gaol (Hunter) Old Mogo Town Gold Rush Theme Park (South Coast) Temora Aviation Museum (Riverina) The Boggy Creek Show (Snowy Mountains) The Norman Lindsay Gallery (Blue Mountains) Timbertown Heritage Theme Park (Mid North Coast) Tocal Homestead (Hunter)


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Indigenous Tourism
Gold Award	Booderee National Park (South Coast) www.environment.gov.au/parks/booderee
Finalists	Blue Mountains Walkabout (Blue Mountains) Booderee National Park (South Coast) Harry Nanya Tours (Outback NSW)



Specialised Tourism Services
Gold Award	two eight two eight (Central NSW)web.mac.com/gulargambone2828/two.eight.two.eight
Silver Award	Newcastle Airport (Hunter) www.newcastleairport.com.au
Bronze Award	Cockle Bay Wharf (Sydney) www.cocklebaywharf.com.au
Finalists	Cockle Bay Wharf (Sydney) Datatrax Tourism Touchscreens (Capital Country) Newcastle Airport (Hunter) Spa Sublime Day Spa (Blue Mountains) two eight two eight (Central NSW) Wollongong Conference and Events (South Coast)



Visitor Information and Services
Gold Award	Clarence River Tourism - Clarence River and Clarence Coast Visitor Information Centres (Northern Rivers) www.clarencetourism.com
Silver Award	Cowra Visitor Information Centre (Central NSW) www.cowratourism.com.au
Bronze Award	Lismore Visitor Information Centre (Northern Rivers) www.visitlismore.com.au
Finalists	Batemans Bay Visitors Centre (South Coast) Clarence River Tourism - Clarence River and Clarence Coast Visitor Information Centres (Northern Rivers) Cowra Visitor Information Centre (Central NSW) Greater Port Macquarie Visitor Information Centre (Mid North Coast) Lake Macquarie Tourism Visitor Information Centre (Hunter) Lismore Visitor Information Centre (Northern Rivers) Mittagong Visitor Information Centre (Capital Country) Port Stephens Visitor Information Centre (Mid North Coast)



Meetings and Business Tourism
Gold Award	Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Resort (Hunter) www.crowneplaza.com.au
Silver Award	Crowne Plaza Newcastle (Hunter) www.crowneplaza.com.au
Finalists	Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Resort (Hunter) Crowne Plaza Newcastle (Hunter) Novotel Wollongong Northbeach (South Coast) Shoal Bay Resort and Spa (Mid North Coast) The Hilton Sydney (Sydney)



Major Tour and/or Transport Operators
Gold Award	AAT Kings Sydney Sightseeing (Sydney) www.aatkings.com
Silver Award	Tour East Australia (Sydney) www.toureast.com.au
Bronze Award	Moonshadow Cruises (Mid North Coast) www.moonshadow.com.au
Finalists	AAT Kings Sydney Sightseeing (Sydney) Moonshadow Cruises (Mid North Coast) Northern Highland Travel (Hunter) Tour East Australia (Sydney)


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Tour and/or Transport Operators
Gold Award	Boutique Wine Tours (Hunter) www.boutiquewinetours.com.au
Silver Award	Tri State Safaris (Outback NSW) www.tristate.com.au
Bronze Award	Dolphin Watch Cruises - Jervis Bay (South Coast) www.dolphinwatch.com.au
Finalists	Blue Mountains Trolley Tours (Blue Mountains) Boutique Wine Tours (Hunter) Dolphin Watch Cruises - Jervis Bay (South Coast) Fleet Helicopters Scenic Flights and Adventures (New England) Port Stephens 4WD Tours (Mid North Coast) Silver City Tours (Outback NSW) Tri State Safaris (Outback NSW)



Adventure Tourism
Gold Award	EastSail Corporate Incentive Events & Adventure Sailing (Sydney) www.eastsail.com.au
Silver Award	Tri State Safaris (Outback NSW) www.tristate.com.au
Bronze Award	Jenolan Caves Adventure Underground (Blue Mountains) www.jenolancaves.org.au
Finalists	River Deep Mountain High (Blue Mountains) EastSail Corporate Incentive Events & Adventure Sailing (Sydney) Jenolan Caves Adventure Underground (Blue Mountains) Pines Surfing Academy (South Coast) Port Stephens Parasailing Nelson Bay (Mid North Coast) Skydive The Beach Sydney (South Coast) Surf Camp Australia - Surf Camps for Beginners (Sydney) Tri State Safaris (Outback NSW)



Tourism Marketing
Gold Award	TakeABreak.com.au (Sydney) www.takeabreak.com.au
Silver Award	BlueMountainsAustralia.com (Blue Mountains) www.bluemts.com.au
Bronze Award	NSW Caravan & Camping Tourism Marketing (Sydney) www.cciansw.com.au
Finalists	BlueMountainsAustralia.com (Blue Mountains) Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Resort (Hunter) Grand Pacific Drive - Sydney to Wollongong and Beyond (South Coast) NSW Caravan & Camping Tourism Marketing (Sydney) TakeABreak.com.au (Sydney) The Newell Highway (Central NSW) Tourism Marketing for Greater Port Macquarie (Mid North Coast)



Tourism Education and Training
Gold Award	Travel 2153, Western Sydney Institute, TAFE NSW (Sydney) www.tafensw.edu.au/campuses/location_82.htm
Silver Award	Southern Cross University - School of Tourism and Hospitality Management (Northern Rivers) www.scu.edu.au/schools/tourism/
Finalists	Millennium Travel, Tours & Events (Sydney) Travel 2153 – Western Sydney Institute, TAFE NSW (Sydney) Shoal Bay Resort and Spa (Mid North Coast) Southern Cross University - School of Tourism and Hospitality Management (Northern Rivers) TAFE NSW - Illawarra Institute Tourism Training (South Coast)



Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
Gold Award	breeze Restaurant & Bar (Hunter) www.crowneplaza.com.au
Silver Award	Esca Bimbadgen (Hunter) www.bimbadgen.com.au
Bronze Award	Bent on Food (Mid North Coast) www.bentonfood.com
Finalists	Bent on Food (Mid North Coast) breeze Restaurant & Bar (Hunter) Dish Café (Central NSW) Esca Bimbadgen (Hunter) Summer Salt Restaurant (Sydney) Redsalt Restaurant (Hunter) Compass Group at Taronga Conservation Society Australia (Sydney) Windjammers Restaurant (South Coast)
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Tourism Wineries
Gold Award	Bimbadgen Estate (Hunter) www.bimbadgen.com.au
Silver Award	Coolangatta Estate (South Coast) www.coolangattaestate.com.au
Bronze Award	Trentham Estate Winery (Outback NSW) www.trenthamestate.com.au
Finalists	Bimbadgen Estate (Hunter) Coolangatta Estate (South Coast) Trentham Estate Winery (Outback NSW)



Tourist and Caravan Parks
Gold Award	Lane Cove River Tourist Park (Sydney) www.lanecoverivertouristpark.com.au
Silver Award	BIG4 North Star Holiday Resort (Northern Rivers) www.northstar.com.au
Bronze Award	BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park (South Coast) www.nelligen-holiday-park.nsw.big4.com.au
Finalists	Austin Tourist Park (New England NW) BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park (South Coast) BIG4 North Star Holiday Resort (Northern Rivers) Broulee Beach Holiday Park (South Coast) Jenolan Caravan Park (Blue Mountains) Lane Cove River Tourist Park (Sydney) Trial Bay Eco Tourist Park (Mid North Coast)



Backpacker Accommodation
Gold Award	Sydney Central YHA (Sydney) www.yha.com.au
Silver Award	Samurai Beach Bungalows - Port Stephens YHA (Mid North Coast) www.samuraiportstephens.com
Finalists	Samurai Beach Bungalows - Port Stephens YHA (Mid North Coast) Sydney Central YHA (Sydney)



Hosted Accommodation
Gold Award	Crystal Creek Meadows Luxury Cottages & Spa Retreat (South Coast) www.country-accommodation.com.au
Silver Award	Whispering Pines B&B and Cottages (Blue Mountains) www.whisperingpines.com.au
Bronze Award	Wilderness Grove (Hunter) www.wildernessgrove.com
Finalists	Chaucer Palms Boutique Bed & Breakfast (Hunter) Crystal Creek Meadows Luxury Cottages & Spa Retreat (South Coast) Hillcrest Mountain View Retreat (Northern Rivers) Milton Country Cottages (South Coast) Shoal Bay Bed and Breakfast (Mid North Coast) Whispering Pines B&B and Cottages (Blue Mountains) Wilderness Grove (Hunter) Mudgee Homestead Guest House (Central NSW)



Unique Accommodation
Gold Award	EastSail Overnight Indulgence/Overnight Opulence (Sydney) www.eastsail.com.au
Silver Award	Old Leura Dairy (Blue Mountains) www.oldleuradairy.com
Bronze Award	Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort (Hunter) www.riverwooddowns.com.au
Finalists	Banjos Bushland Retreat (Hunter) Barrengarry Boutique Farm Cottages (South Coast) EastSail Overnight Indulgence/Overnight Oppulence (Sydney) Old Leura Dairy (Blue Mountains) Ossian Hall Valley Retreat (Sydney) Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort (Hunter) Smoky Cape Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast and Self Catering Cottages (Mid North Coast)


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Standard Accommodation
Gold Award	The Old Vic Inn Historic Guesthouse (Central NSW) www.oldvicinn.com.au
Silver Award	The Lodge Outback Motel (Outback NSW) www.lodgemotel.com.au
Bronze Award	O'Carrollyn's Eco Village (Mid North Coast) www.ocarrollyns.com.au
Finalists	Comfort Inn Lake Macquarie (Hunter) O'Carrollyn's Eco Village (Mid North Coast) Hotel Ibis Wollongong (South Coast) The Lodge Outback Motel (Outback NSW) The Old Vic Inn Historic Guesthouse (Central NSW)



Deluxe Accommodation
Gold Award	Shoal Bay Resort and Spa (Mid North Coast) www.shoalbayresort.com
Silver Award	The Observatory Port Macquarie (Mid North Coast) www.observatory.net.au
Bronze Award	Emaroo Cottages (Outback NSW) www.emaroocottages.com.au
Finalists	Boutique Seahorse Inn (South Coast) Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Resort (Hunter) Emaroo Cottages (Outback NSW) Four Points by Sheraton Darling Harbour (Sydney) Mountain Heritage Hotel & Spa Retreat (Blue Mountains) Shoal Bay Resort and Spa (Mid North Coast) The Castlereagh Boutique Hotel (Sydney) The Observatory Port Macquarie (Mid North Coast)



Luxury Accommodation
Gold Award	Tower Lodge (Hunter) www.towerlodge.com.au
Silver Award	InterContinental Sydney (Sydney) www.ichotelsgroup.com
Bronze Award	Sheraton on the Park Hotel (Sydney) www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index
Finalists	Aqua Shores Mollymook Beach (South Coast) InterContinental Sydney (Sydney) Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa (Blue Mountains) Sheraton on the Park Hotel (Sydney) Star City Hotel & Apartments (Sydney) The Hilton Sydney (Sydney) The Westin Sydney (Sydney) Tower Lodge (Hunter)



New Tourism Development
Gold Award	Greater Blue Mountains Drive (Blue Mountains) www.greaterbluemountainsdrive.com.au
Silver Award	Somewhere Unique (Hunter) www.somewhereunique.com.au
Bronze Award	Oaks Pacific Blue Resort (Mid North Coast) www.theoaksgroup.com.au
Finalists	Greater Blue Mountains Drive (Blue Mountains) Green Pedal Tours (Central NSW) Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk (South Coast) Kegel Barn Coffs Harbour 9-Pin Bowling Centre (Mid North Coast) Oaks Pacific Blue Resort (Mid North Coast) Somewhere Unique (Hunter)



Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism
Gold Award	Lane Cove River Tourist Park (Sydney) www.lcrtp.com.au
Finalists	Lane Cove River Tourist Park (Sydney) The Gumnut Awards - Sustainable Tourism in the Caravan & Camping Sector (Sydney)



Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
2008 Winner	John Thorpe



Outstanding Contribution to Regional Tourism by an Individual
2008 Winner	Julie-Anne Wuttke



Wendy O’Donohue Young Achiever in Tourism Award
2008 Winner	Nora McWilliam
	Nora was also the recipient of the Sam Fiszman Prize to encourage outstanding contribution by a young person to the NSW tourism industry.



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) Wentworth Falls Country Club (Blue Mountains)

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2008 NSW Tourism Award Winners

Tourism NSW and Tourism Industry Council NSW are pleased to announce the results for the 2008 NSW Tourism Awards.

Major Tourist Attraction

Tourist Attractions

Major Festivals and Events

Festival and Events

Ecotourism

Heritage and Cultural Tourism

Indigenous Tourism

Specialised Tourism Services

Visitor Information and Services

Meetings and Business Tourism

Major Tour and/or Transport Operators

Tour and/or Transport Operators

Adventure Tourism

Tourism Marketing

Tourism Education and Training

Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services

Tourism Wineries

Tourist and Caravan Parks

Backpacker Accommodation

Hosted Accommodation

Unique Accommodation

Standard Accommodation

Deluxe Accommodation

Luxury Accommodation

New Tourism Development

Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism

Outstanding Contribution by an Individual

Outstanding Contribution to Regional Tourism by an Individual

Wendy O’Donohue Young Achiever in Tourism Award

Registered clubs