About the Travel Awards
The fourth annual Gourmet Traveller Travel Awards, in association with Nespresso, showcase the very best in Australian tourism. Vote for your favourites.
In the international shorthand used to neatly classify countries, Australia is home to kangaroos, koalas, an opera house, beautiful beaches and Uluru. But those of us who live here know there is far more to this great southern land than a top-five list of attractions. Our island home is a world-beater when it comes to wilderness adventures, unique indigenous discoveries and incredible accommodation in truly spectacular locations. We’re also dab hands at decadent spas and health retreats, wine tourism and hotel and resort dining – all achievements we should take pause to celebrate once in a while.
Enter the Gourmet Traveller Travel Awards. Now in their fourth year of generous sponsorship by Nespresso, our awards take this annual opportunity to pay credit where it’s due in the travel industry. Supported by the country’s best television travel program, Getaway, these awards are Australia’s premier salute to tourism’s finest.
We use the most comprehensive methodology to pick our winners, starting with an expert panel of professional travel writers, editors, photographers and industry experts who cast their votes in 12 award categories. Their responses are whittled down to a shortlist of four finalists in each class, after which we open voting to you, our readers, and to Getaway viewers. Last year more than 33,000 votes were cast, and this year we’re hoping for even more.
The awards format is the same as in previous years, though we’ve dropped some categories and replaced them with new ones to keep the awards fresh. This is the first year, for instance, that we’ve honoured hotel and resort dining. How could we not, when the likes of the Royal Mail Hotel, Glass at the Hilton Sydney and the Lake House in Daylesford are igniting our imaginations with their innovative Australian cuisine? We also want your opinions about which hotel or villa suites are the best in the nation, and which is your favourite airline service – Singapore, Etihad, Emirates or the Virgin Group. You decide. In fact, tell us everything – from your favourite small and large luxury hotels to your best-loved wine tourism experience and family holiday spot.
Online voting is live from Monday, 29 March until midnight, Tuesday, 4 May, so get ready, set and go vote for Australia’s finest holiday experiences. Look out also for our Travel Awards promotions on Getaway on Channel Nine, Thursdays at 7.30pm. Award-winners will be announced in a special section of our June issue.
One last thing: while you’re voting, please take a moment to share with us your best travel tip – we’d love to hear that little piece of wisdom you’ve picked up along the way.
Win a luxury New Zealand break!
Share your favourite travel tip with us and you could be taking off to the North Island's spectacular Huka Lodge for a short break for two valued at more than $18,000. Set on the banks of the Waikato River and favoured by everyone from international celebrities to royal families, the multi-award-winning Huka Lodge is widely regarded as one of the world's best. The lucky winner will fly business class to Rotorua with awards partner Air New Zealand before transferring to Huka Lodge for a three-night luxury experience in a choice of exclusive accommodation: the secluded Owner's Cottage or the stunning new Alan Pye Cottage. Also up for grabs are two runners-up prizes of CitiZ coffee machines in 60s White, kindly donated by key awards sponsor Nespresso.
Included in the main prize are:- Two return Air New Zealand business class tickets to Rotorua, valued at $7600
- A three-night stay at one of Huka Lodge's two exclusive cottages, with pre-dinner drinks, a five-course dinner, full country breakfast and a private chef and butler as required, plus transfers from Rotorua airport, valued at $11,000.
VOTE NOW