Our inaugural 2007 Australian Gourmet Traveller Travel Awards celebrate the nation’s best experiences, from the finest five-star hotel to luxe outback accommodation and the best in adventure and eco-tourism. Bravo.

Isolation from the rest of the world has always made Australians yearn for distant places – the culture of Europe, the dynamism of America, the raw excitement and exoticism of Asia and Africa.

A bit of wanderlust is a wonderful thing, but sometimes, in our desire to discover the rest of the planet, we can overlook the pleasures and marvels of our own country. After all, there is no other place on earth that can rival the diverse and spectacular landscapes and the many unique characters that make touring Australia so memorable.

Gourmet Traveller’s inaugural Travel Awards, proudly presented in association with Nespresso, aim to recognise what is truly special about our homeland, and to remind us why there’s no place like home. We set out to chart the incomparable adventures, the wild places, and the dedicated operators whose reputation extends far beyond our own remote shores.

To pinpoint the foremost Australian experiences we polled the country’s most knowledgeable travellers – a panel comprising writers and editors, authors and television presenters who make it their business to explore what is so wonderful about this place. From their votes we have compiled the following master list of dream Australian holidays, as well as their thoughts on the next international hotspot. The winners span the travel spectrum, from five-star indulgence to the ultimate introduction to Aboriginal lore, from island resorts of unrivalled comfort to a city-fringe estate that marries great wines with fine art and one of the finest small cruise lines in the world. The result is a celebration of the culture, dynamism, raw excitement and exoticism that exist within our own borders. No passport necessary.

WORDS KENDALL HILL