GT 2010 Travel Awards

Abercrombie & Kent

Expert Panel Awards: Best Tour Operator

Abercrombie & Kent

Runner up: Intrepid Travel

From not-so-humble beginnings in Nairobi in 1962, Abercrombie & Kent has morphed into one of the world’s most exceptional tour companies. Safaris are still its most recognisable stock in trade, but A & K now offers invigorating adventures on every continent. Most itineraries are tailored individually to clients’ desires, whether that be breaching the dark heart of Papua New Guinea, touring Aboriginal artist communities by private charter or cruising the Nile in A & K’s private fleet of Sun Boats with rooftop bars and pools. Other itineraries take small groups on unexpected adventures – up the Amazon, perhaps, or on an opulent expedition cruise to Antarctica, where all passengers have balconies for wildlife viewing. There’s also a feel-good benefit to travelling with A & K; a portion of its profits is funnelled back into the communities. It’s luxury with all the trappings. www.abercrombiekent.com.au

www.tripadvisor.com

Expert Panel Awards: Most Indispensable Website

www.tripadvisor.com

Runner-up: www.wotif.com

Our homegrown hotel-booking site, wotif.com, was pipped at the post this year by the globe’s most helpful internet travel guide. Founded in 2000, tripadvisor.com is best-known for its candid hotel reviews, which are posted by ordinary albeit well-travelled and opinionated people from around the world. The reviews have become an indispensable aid for millions of people deciding where to book their next holiday. To date, more than 450,000 hotels have been assessed and 2 million traveller photos published to back up those reviews. Over time, the site has evolved to also offer downloadable guides to more than 13,000 popular destinations, as well as flight searches and airline seat maps, plus restaurant recommendations. Today it has websites in 19 countries, from India to Italy, and, through businesses such as cruisecritic.com and seatguru.com, it’s the most comprehensive travel research tool on the web.

New York City

Expert Panel Awards: Hottest International City

New York City

Runners-up: Cape Town and Vancouver (tied)

It seems a little unfair, really. While several of the world’s great cities have laid claim to 2010 as their year to shine – Istanbul as European Capital of Culture, Cape Town as co-host of the FIFA World Cup, Vancouver as Winter Olympics host and Shanghai with the World Expo – our expert judges couldn’t avert their eyes from the city dubbed “the centre of the world” by former UN chief Trygve Lie. Clearly, New York doesn’t need special events or expos to attract visitors; the siren call of the city is so irresistible that the people will come, inevitably, at any time. They are drawn by the high life, the low life, the legendary public spaces and cultural attractions, the soaring skyscrapers and surprisingly human-scale neighbourhoods, and, above all, by the unstoppable energy that has made New York the global capital of finance, fashion, gastronomy, entertainment and culture.

Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, WA

Expert Panel Awards: Best Green Tourism Initiative

Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, WA

Runner-up: Ecotraining Australia

Since it opened in 2008, Sal Salis has been at the vanguard of conservation tourism, introducing visitors to Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Reef while ensuring there is minimal impact on the landscape. Guests stay in nine safari-style tents that sit above the spinifex- and saltbush-crusted dunes and subsist on solar power, chemical-free linen and daily water rations. The privations are more than offset by the pleasures of sunset cocktails, lamplight dinners and the wonders of one of the world’s great reefs. Mammoth whale sharks stalk the waters from March to July, humpbacks migrate from July to November and there are year-round thrills from turtles, rays and the myriad fish that live on the reef. Terra firma offers further diversions in the form of fossil- and wallaby-filled walks through the limestone gorges of Cape Range and stunning wildflower displays. www.salsalis.com.au

Port Arthur Historic Site, Tas

Expert Panel Awards: Best Australian Heritage Experience

Port Arthur Historic Site, Tas

Runner-up: Q Station, Manly, NSW

The phrase “hauntingly beautiful” may be one of the most hackneyed clichés in travel journalism, but it captures perfectly the intrigues of Port Arthur. This historic site is one of the prettiest ports in the country; on a sunny day there are few lovelier places to be than wandering its cottage gardens and elm avenues. But its natural beauty masks a tragic past – first as a hellish penal colony and then as the site of Australia’s worst massacre. A pilgrimage here offers a chance to learn about some of the characters who first inhabited this convict settlement, and an opportunity to contemplate the evil wreaked on this place 14 years ago when 35 tourists and workers were shot dead. Both dark episodes are treated with respect and gravity by guides and by fixed displays that don’t shy away from telling the chilling truths about the site’s history. www.portarthur.org.au

Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, Blue Mountains, NSW

Expert Panel Awards: Best New Hotel/Resort/Lodge

Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, Blue Mountains, NSW

Runner-up: Arkaba Station, Flinders Ranges, SA

The Dubai-based Emirates Group has emerged as a formidable purveyor of luxury travel. Its airline revolutionised the modern in-flight experience, while properties such as Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa in Dubai and, now, the Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa in NSW, have shown that these forward-thinking sheikhs can set standards on the ground too. The $125-million Wolgan Valley resort, flanked by sandstone escarpments on the fringe of the Blue Mountains World Heritage area, blends first-class accommodation and environmental stewardship. Certified carbon-neutral, the resort sources all its produce locally and operates on strict environmental principles, though guests are more likely to be distracted by the king-sized four-poster beds, private pools and spectacular scenery than thoughts of solar panels and saving the world. www.emirateshotelsresorts.com

Kakadu Culture Camp, Kakadu National Park, NT

Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Indigenous Tourism Experience

Kakadu Culture Camp, Kakadu National Park, NT

Runner-up: Kooljaman, Cape Leveque, WA

Kakadu National Park is one of our most treasured sites, as recognised by its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981. Kakadu’s human occupation stretches back more than 40,000 years and the web of ecosystems that supports animal and human life is unparalleled on the continent. Interpreting Kakadu is the mission of the Hunter family’s Culture Camp. Fred, Jenny, Dell and Douglas were born here and welcome guests to their bush camp to live the Bininj (Aboriginal) way. As traditional owners, they are privy to the secrets of the land and share their knowledge of everything from bush-tucker walks to didgeridoo jams. Between them, Fred and Jenny have 35 years of experience as Kakadu park rangers and it’s their knowledge of the land’s flora and fauna that makes their bush camp the best introduction to Kakadu’s charms. www.kakaduculturecamp.com

Singapore Airlines

Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Airline Service

Singapore Airlines

Runner-up: Virgin Group

There’s not an award in the sky that has eluded Singapore Airlines since it split from Malaysian and started flying solo in 1972. Ranked among the world’s most admired companies in Forbes magazine’s annual survey, the airline’s brand is based around its staff, those famous Singapore Girls. Draped in distinctive Pierre Balmain sarong kebayas, SIA’s attendants seem to epitomise our ideal of gracious cabin staff. The airline was the first to offer complimentary in-flight drinks and headsets, holds the record for the world’s longest flight and was the first to nail its colours to the A380. The SIA superjumbos, launched ahead of the competition in 2007, feature such amenities as first-class suites with stand-alone 2-metre-long beds. When it comes to entertainment, the KrisWorld in-flight system is always evolving to stay ahead of the pack. This is not an airline that rests on its laurels. www.singaporeair.com

Emporium Hotel, Brisbane, Qld

Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Small Luxury Hotel

Emporium Hotel, Brisbane, Qld

Runner-up: Lake House, Daylesford, Vic

Its brazen red foyer and art-strewn interiors wowed onlookers when the Emporium burst onto the Brisbane scene in 2007. Regarded as the Queensland capital’s first truly boutique hotel, Emporium decked out its 102 studio rooms in a flamboyant style (impressive plasma televisions, zebra-print armchairs) that immediately eclipsed the city’s hotel fare. Guests can relax with in-room indulgences – the pampering menu includes long-stemmed roses and chocolate-dipped strawberries – or party beside the rooftop pool or in the street-level cocktail lounge. The picks of the accommodation are the four Deluxe Corner suites, apartment-sized lodgings popular with bridal parties and rock stars. Emporium continues to evolve to meet the needs of modern nomads, with thoughtful extras such as hair straighteners and picnics by Porsche Boxster. Flashy? Yes, but heaps of fun. www.emporiumhotel.com.au

Qualia, Hamilton Island, Qld

Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Spa/Health Retreat

Qualia, Hamilton Island, Qld

Runner-up: Gaia Retreat & Spa, Byron Bay, NSW

Its Latin name translates as “a collection of deep sensory experiences” and Qualia spa delivers this in spades. This Whitsundays retreat takes centre stage at the Hamilton Island resort, its six spa pavilions equipped with indulgent essentials such as Roman baths and alfresco Vichy showers that make the most of Coral Sea views. The treatment menu is one of the most comprehensive in the land, showcasing Australian-made Li’tya and Sodashi products in therapies inspired by indigenous healing traditions. Qualia’s six “signature ceremonies” include the 90-minute Kumali Ritual – a body scrub and wrap with hot poultice massage designed to soothe the tensions of holidaying heiresses. Male treatments tend to be more down-to-earth. Wild Oats, named after resort owner Bob Oatley’s maxi-yacht, is a facial and sea-salt back scrub that ends with a macho mani and pedi. www.qualia.com.au

Sea World Resort & Water Park, Broadwater, Qld

Readers’ Choice Awards: Getaway Best Family Experience

Sea World Resort & Water Park, Broadwater, Qld

Runner-up: Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, NSW

It’s home to more than 30 bottlenose dolphins, the nation’s only polar bears and a kaleidoscope of fish across 17 aquariums, but that’s only part of the attraction. Over 22 years this Gold Coast institution has welcomed more than 5 million visitors with its mix of creature encounters and marine-themed rides. Highlights include a glass-bottomed boat trip across the largest man-made shark lagoon for intimate encounters with dusky, bull and bronze whaler sharks, and the 70km per hour thrills of the Jet Rescue ride. Accommodation at the adjacent resort gives guests exclusive park access and Kodak moments, such as breakfast with a side order of seals. The resort’s Research and Rescue Foundation saves stranded whales, dolphins and turtles, underlining their commitment to animal welfare. Not your average Gold Coast theme park. www.seaworld.myfun.com.au

Readers’ Choice Awards: Nespresso Best Large Luxury Hotel

Readers’ Choice Awards: Nespresso Best Large Luxury Hotel

Crown Towers, Melbourne, Vic

Runner-up: Park Hyatt, Sydney, NSW

Feeling her age after 13 years as the sovereign of Southbank, Crown Towers booked in for a little work last year and has emerged looking more fabulous than ever. An extensive makeover by architects Bates Smart has refreshed and modernised the hotel’s 482 rooms with a rich palette of black and grey, silver and chrome that befits Melbourne’s premier riverfront address. High thread-count linens and leather-bound king-sized beds amp up the style quotient; and original artworks by David Band and Belinda Fox lend distinct character to each suite. Bathrooms have been gutted and rebuilt as white-and-chrome pleasure dens complete with glittering chandeliers. The hotel’s 82 suites and 32 decadent villas cater to the exacting standards of high rollers and high society, and there are private dining rooms, cocktail bars and panoramic views across the city and bay. www.crowntowers.com.au

Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, SA

Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Resort/Lodge

Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, SA

Runner-up: Qualia, Hamilton Island, Qld

Let’s face it – with a lodge the calibre of Southern Ocean on our doorstep, it’s likely to be some time before another superlative property arrives to challenge its supremacy. James and Hayley Baillie’s clifftop lodge is a masterstroke of modern architecture and creature comforts that has swiftly elevated Kangaroo Island to the wish-lists of the international jet set (and affluent Australians). The wave-shaped lodge takes its name from the surging sea that dominates views from each of the 21 suites as well as the communal Great Room. The lodge is a light-filled beacon of comfort amid the surrounding wilderness. Guest activities revolve around the great outdoors – encounters with wallabies, koalas and the island’s colony of sea lions – and the great indoors – king-sized beds with goose-down pillows, an open cellar and cosy fires. www.southernoceanlodge.com.au

Lake House, Daylesford, Vic

Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Hotel/Resort Dining

Lake House, Daylesford, Vic

Runner-up: Glass, Hilton Sydney, NSW

It’s an inspirational story, the tale of how the daughter of Russian immigrants arrived in Daylesford in the 1970s and founded an institution renowned for its standards of accommodation and cuisine. That institution is the Lake House, a picturesque hotel and restaurant in the heart of central Victoria’s spa country; its founder is Alla Wolf-Tasker. She and husband Allan developed this sanctuary from a neglected mine site and, since 1984, have been wowing diners with their commitment to pure regional produce prepared with tremendous flair. Assisted by head chef David Green, Wolf-Tasker creates memorable plates, such as free-range pork served three ways – an agnolotto of braised pork, poached crisp belly and melting loin slices infused with fennel and melting loin slices infused with fennel and apple. It’s one of regional Australia’s star attractions. www.lakehouse.com.au

Maria Island Walk, Maria Island, Tas

Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Eco Adventure

Maria Island Walk, Maria Island, Tas

Runner-up: Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, WA

Conservation can take many forms. At Maria Island, a fragile ecosystem off Tasmania’s north-east coast, Ian and Bronwyn Johnstone have discovered the best way to preserve this small-scale Noah’s Ark is to share it. Their four-day walks teach visitors to appreciate and respect the wonders of Tassie’s nature-sanctuary-cum-adventure-playground by introducing them to abundant wildlife, a colourful colonial history (Maria was once a penal settlement), and the island’s beauty. The 20km-long national park allows extensive but achievable hikes through landscapes populated with indigenous animals. Maria Island Walk’s guides are ranked among the country’s best; that might have something to do with their campside cooking talents, but could as easily be due to the intelligence and enthusiasm they bring to educating outsiders about this special place. www.mariaislandwalk.com.au

Orion Expedition Cruises

Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Cruise Line

Orion Expedition Cruises

Runner-up: Cunard

Yet again Australia’s classy little expedition ship has beaten the big global brands to take out line honours in our Best Cruise Line regatta. Former Cunard chief Sarina Bratton showed terrific foresight when she launched this single-vessel company in 2004, with an elegant 53-cabin ship and a roster of intrepid itineraries. Previously inaccessible destinations were suddenly within reach and the promise of exploring them in style tapped a rich new vein in the burgeoning cruise market. Remote regions such as the Kimberley coastline or Papua New Guinea finally revealed their treasures to well-heeled adventurers, thanks to Orion’s compact size and first-class trappings. This unique combination of style and adventure has proven so successful that a second ship, the 100-passenger Orion II, will set sail next year for even more distant ports in Russia’s Far East, Indochina and Japan. www.orioncruises.com.au

Qualia, Hamilton Island, Qld

Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Hotel Villas/Suites

Qualia, Hamilton Island, Qld

Runner-up: Crown Towers, Melbourne, Vic

Not content with winning our Best New Property title in 2008 and Best Resort Accommodation last year, in 2010 the acclaimed Qualia scoops Best Spa and our new category of Best Hotel Villas/Suites. It’s no surprise, really, when you consider the factors that make Qualia the quintessential Australian beach resort. Nestled in landscaped native bushland with views across the Whitsunday Passage, the 60 pavilions encapsulate that indefinable brand of suave luxury sought by elite travellers.The 27 north-facing Windward pavilions come with infinity plunge pools and a spacious outdoor “room”, while the 33 Leeward lodgings have west-facing decks tailor-made for sunset cocktails. The ultimate crash pad in this glamorous gated resort is the Beach House, a waterfront residence with full-sized pool and plenty of room for friends. www.qualia.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS CHEN

Voyager Estate, Margaret River, WA

Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Wine Tourism Experience

Voyager Estate, Margaret River, WA

Runner-up: Yering Station, Yarra Glen, Vic

To understand why this is the best vineyard experience in Australia, you need to drive down State Route 10 from Perth until you reach the giant flagpole and pull up to the Cape Dutch winery complex beside it. Voyager Estate owner Michael Wright knows eye-catching acreage is good for business, so his South African-inspired folly sits in extravagant gardens maintained by a full-time staff. The setting is so beautiful that the grounds have become a tourist attraction in themselves. Wright has also gone to the trouble of providing a very good restaurant, where diners feast on the finest produce Western Australia has to offer. Voyager has matured into a champion of the Margaret River experience, with community events such as the Vintage Stomp and Grand Parade, and regular musical performances that go very nicely with a glass of the house wine. www.voyagerestate.com.au