Finalists Revealed – The People’s Choice Awards 2014 shortlist

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The people have spoken… in Australian Traveller magazine’s People’s Choice Awards 2014. After an overwhelming number  of nominations here is the finalists shortlist – (in no particular order).

Winners will be announced at our award ceremony to be held at the brand-new InterContinental Sydney Double Bay on Monday, December 1. Follow us on Twitter (using #ATPeoplesChoice) and Facebook for updates. The full list of winners will appear in Australian Traveller ‘Best Holidays of 2015’ edition, out December 4.

Excited? We are! Good luck to all the finalists.

AUSTRALIA’S BEST STAYS

BEST HOTEL

  • Crown Towers Melbourne, Vic
  • QT Sydney, NSW
  • Langham Melbourne, Vic
  • Park Hyatt Sydney, NSW
  • Shangri-La Sydney, NSW

BEST LUXURY RESORT

  • Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, NSW
  • Southern Ocean Lodge, SA
  • Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania
  • qualia, Hamilton Island, Qld
  • One&Only Hayman Island, Qld

BEST AFFORDABLE RESORT

  • Pinetrees Lord Howe Island, NSW
  • Emma Gorge at El Questro, Kimberley, WA
  • Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff, NSW
  • Desert Gardens Hotel, Ayers Rock Resort, NT
  • Crowne Plaza, Hunter Valley, NSW

BEST HOTEL SPA

  • Spa qualia, Hamilton Island, Qld
  • Salus Spa, Lake House, Daylesford, Vic
  • The Spa at Byron at Byron, NSW
  • Crown Spa, Crown Towers Melbourne, Vic
  • Chuan Spa, Langham Melbourne, Vic

BEST QUIRKY ACCOMMODATION

  • Atlantic Byron Bay, Byron Bay, NSW
  • QT Hotel Sydney, NSW
  • Roar and Snore, Taronga Zoo, NSW
  • White Cliffs Underground Motel, White Cliffs, NSW
  • Undara Lava Tubes Wilderness Lodge, Savannah Way, Qld

BEST GLAMPSITE

  • Paperbark Camp, Jervis Bay, NSW
  • Longitude 131, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, NT
  • Sal Salis, Ningaloo Reef, WA
  • Nightfall Wilderness Camp, Lamington National Park, Qld
  • Eco Beach, Broome, WA

BEST CAMPSITE

  • Peoples’ Park Coral Bay, Ningaloo Reef, WA
  • Clarkes Beach Holiday Park, Byron Bay, NSW
  • Lake Argyle Caravan Park, WA
  • Big4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, Airlie Beach, Qld
  • Ayers Rock Resort, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, NT

 

AUSTRALIA’S BEST TOWNS

CITY OF THE YEAR

  • Hobart, Tas
  • Sydney, NSW
  • Melbourne, Vic
  • Perth, WA
  • Brisbane, Qld

BEST BEACH TOWN

  • Port Douglas, Qld
  • Noosa, Qld
  • Byron Bay, NSW
  • Lorne, Vic
  • Coral Bay, WA
  • Broome, WA
  • Airlie Beach, Qld
  • Mooloolaba, Qld
  • Jervis Bay, NSW
  • Yamba, NSW

FRIENDLIEST TOWN

  • Broome, WA
  • Airlie Beach, Qld
  • Byron Bay, NSW
  • Cairns, Qld
  • Exmouth, WA

COSIEST TOWN

  • Bright, Vic
  • Leura, NSW
  • Margaret River, WA
  • Daylesford, Vic
  • Stanthorpe, Qld

BEST KEPT SECRET COUNTRY TOWN

  • Ballarat, VIC
  • Mudgee, NSW
  • Exmouth, WA
  • Orange, NSW
  • Broome, WA

 

AUSTRALIA’S BEST SUMMERS

SEXIEST HOTEL POOL

  • qualia, Hamilton Island, Qld
  • Adelphi Hotel, Melbourne, Vic
  • Palazzo Versace, Surfer’s Paradise, Qld
  • Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, NSW
  • One&Only Hayman Island, Qld
  • Lake Argyle Caravan Park, Kimberley, WA
  • Crown Metropol, Perth, WA
  • Park Hyatt, Sydney, NSW
  • Spicers Peak Lodge, Scenic Rim, Qld
  • Peppers Palm Cove, Qld

BEST BEACH

  • Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW
  • Cable Beach, Broome, WA
  • Whitehaven beach, Whitsunday Island, Qld
  • Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay, NSW
  • Main Beach, Noosa, Qld

MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND GETAWAY

  • Hayman Island, Qld
  • Hamilton Island, Qld
  • Lord Howe Island, NSW
  • Kangaroo Island, SA
  • Fraser Island, Qld

BEST CRUISING EXPERIENCE

  • Cruising the Kimberly coastline
  • Bareboating in the Whitsundays
  • Cruising Sydney harbour
  • Cruising on a big liner
  • Sailing on Ningaloo Reef

 

AUSTRALIA’S BEST EATS

BEST FOOD REGION

  • Tamar Valley, Tas
  • Central West NSW
  • Yarra Valley, Vic
  • Margaret River, WA
  • McLaren Vale, SA

BEST WINE REGION

  • Barossa Valley, SA
  • Yarra Valley, Vic
  • McLaren Vale, SA
  • Hunter Valley, NSW
  • Margaret River, WA

BEST CITY RESTAURANT

  • Quay, Sydney, NSW
  • Vue de Monde, Melbourne
  • Attica, Melbourne
  • Rockpool, Bridge St, Sydney
  • Aria, Sydney

BEST REGIONAL RESTAURANT

  • Biota, Bowral, NSW
  • Rick Stein at Bannisters, Mollymook, NSW
  • Lake House, Daylesford, Vic
  • Muse Restaurant, Pokolbin, NSW
  • Hentley Farm, Barossa Valley, SA

BEST REGIONAL CAFÉ CULTURE

  • Mornington Peninsula, Vic
  • Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Qld
  • Margaret River Region, WA
  • Byron Bay Hinterland, NSW
  • Southern Highlands, NSW

 

AUSTRALIA’S BEST JOURNEYS

BEST ROAD TRIP

  • Great Ocean Road, Vic
  • East Coast Escape, Tasmania
  • Pacific Coast (Sydney, NSW to Brisbane, Qld)
  • Gibb River Road, Kimberley, WA
  • The Nullarbor (Ceduna, SA to Perth, WA)

BEST TRAIN TRIP

  • Indian Pacific, NSW-SA-WA
  • Kuranda Scenic Railway, Qld
  • The Sunlander, Qld
  • The Ghan, SA–NT
  • Puffing Billy Railway, Vic

 

AUSTRALIA’S BEST AIR TRAVEL

BEST AIRPORT

  • Adelaide Airport, SA
  • Brisbane Airport, Qld
  • Cairns Airport, Qld
  • Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine), Vic
  • Sydney Airport, NSW

BEST MAJOR AIRLINE

  • Qantas Airways
  • Virgin Australia
  • Jetstar
  • Tigerair

BEST REGIONAL AIRLINE

  • AirNorth
  • QantasLink
  • REX
  • Skywest
  • Skytrans

 

BEST OVERALL TRAVEL EXPERIENCE OF 2014

  • Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef
  • Seeing Uluru at sunset
  • Swimming with Ningaloo’s whale sharks
  • Exploring the Kimberley
  • Doing the Top End

Thanks to our sponsors

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Win 1 of 10 luxury holidays worth over $38,000!

What’s better than booking your dream holiday? Winning it, of course!

Enter the 2025 Australian Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards for your chance to win big in our mega prize giveaway!

To celebrate our Readers’ Choice Awards, we have curated 10 incredible travel prizes worth $38,871 to give away, to inspire you to explore Australia.

Please note: you will not be able to choose which prize you win.The winners will be contacted after the competition closes and announced in issue 108 (on sale from 3 November 2025).

Read the general competition terms and conditions, as well as the Australian Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards terms and conditions, before you enter. You only need to enter the giveaway once.

Entries for this competition close at 5 pm AEST on 25 September 2025.

Intrepid Travel | JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa | Pair’d Margaret River | Kingfisher Bay Resort | Prancing Horse | Star RV | Lancemore | The Fullerton Hotel Sydney | Glenayr Farm | Taronga Zoo

Intrepid Travel’s six-day exploration of Tasmania’s Cradle Coast worth $6430

Intrepid-Travel-Tasmania-Cradle-Mountain-leader

Explore the edge of the world on this six-day exploration of Tasmania’s untamed Cradle Coast.

Discover the wild and rugged beauty of Australia’s most southern state on Intrepid Travel’s Best of Tasmania’s Tarkine & Cradle Mountain trip. The ultimate six-day escape for two loops in Tarkine/Takayna rainforest, a Cradle Mountain hike and inspired pit stops along the Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail. Spot wombats, stargaze in remote stays, and connect with Indigenous culture in stunning national parks. Includes accommodation, select meals, and unforgettable scenery.

What’s included?

  • Hotel stay (four nights)
  • Cottage stay (one night)
  • Five breakfasts
  • One lunch
  • Two dinners
  • Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail sampling fresh raspberries, cheese, ice cream and brews along the way

A luxury stay at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa worth $5280

JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa_ Saltwater Lagoon Ariel View

Enjoy white sandy beaches, a swim-up grotto and waterfalls.

Treat your other half to a long weekend away in an Ocean View Executive Suite at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa. Enjoy daily breakfast for two at Citrique restaurant, a signature massage or facial at Spa by JW, and a three-course dinner with wine pairing at the award-winning Citrique. This unforgettable experience also includes complimentary self-parking so you can get out and explore while on the Goldie.

What’s included?

  • Three-night stay in an Ocean View Executive Suite
  • Breakfast daily for two in Citrique Restaurant
  • Signature massage or facial for two at Spa by JW
  • Three-course dinner with wine pairing for two in the award-winning Citrique Restaurant
  • Self-parking

A Pair’d festival getaway in Margaret River worth $5000

Beach club at Pair'd Margaret River

Enjoy diverse programming at Pair’d. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Win a three-night luxury escape for two at Smiths Beach Resort during the annual Pair’d Margaret River Festival. Enjoy return flights to Busselton, admission to select signature events from 21–23 November, and access to the best of the region’s bounty. This prize also includes exclusive Pair’d merch – everything you need for the ultimate festival adventure in the heart of WA’s iconic Margaret River Region.

Pair’d is Western Australia’s top wine and food festival, designed with a ‘wine first’ approach. This festival brings together the best of culinary, music and cultural experiences, all thoughtfully curated by sommeliers to create an unforgettable celebration of the senses.

What’s included?

  • Three-night luxury stay at Smiths Beach Resort, nestled on the pristine coastline of the Margaret River Region
  • Festival ticket pack to select signature events across the weekend of 21–23 November
  • Return flights to Busselton, flying into the heart of the region
  • Exclusive Pair’d merchandise, perfect for your weekend adventure

The ultimate K’gari adventure worth $5000

Lake McKenzie aerial shot on K'gari

Paradise awaits on K’gari.

Pack that floppy hat and factor 50+ sunscreen for five unforgettable days on World Heritage-listed K’gari (formerly Fraser Island). This epic prize includes airport transfers, ferry transport to the island, three nights at Kingfisher Bay Resort and one night at K’gari Beach Resort.

This ultimate island escape includes two days of guided 4WD touring, daily buffet breakfasts, touring lunches, national park fees and tickets to the magical Illumina light and sound show.

What’s included?

  • Return airport transfers to River Heads / Hervey Bay Airport
  • Return passenger ferry transfer
  • Three nights at Kingfisher Bay Resort
  • One night at K’gari Beach Resort
  • Full days of guided 4WD coach touring including lunch, National Park fees and permits
  • Daily buffet breakfast
  • Illumina light show experience

A $5000 supercar escape with Prancing Horse

Red Ferrari driving down road with Palm trees.

Drive an unparalleled collection of supercars on exclusive driving experiences across Australia.

Buckle up for the drive of a lifetime with Prancing Horse luxury driving experiences. Take the wheel of the world’s most coveted supercars – think Ferrari, McLaren or Lamborghini – for a breathtaking spin through one of six spectacular Australian regions. The ultimate road trip for two lucky rev-heads includes curated routes with gourmet dining, luxury hotels and jaw-dropping scenery.

What’s included?

  • Gourmet dining at award-winning restaurants
  • Exceptional hospitality and some of the most exciting driving roads in Australia

A seven-day Star RV motorhome getaway worth over $4300

Star RV Polaris 2 MountCook 1 NZ

This is your chance to live the van life dream. (Image: Clint Trahan)

Ready to hit the road? Win a seven-day adventure in a premium Star RV Polaris 6 motorhome valued at more than $4300. Choose to explore Australia or New Zealand with unlimited kilometres, 24/7 roadside assistance, basic insurance and a fully equipped home on wheels that sleeps six. The swanky motorhome is decked out with a full kitchen, bathroom, air-conditioning and outdoor gear included.

Designed with space, style and adventure in mind, the Polaris 6 has ample room to stretch out. Whether you’re chasing sunsets along the coast or stargazing in the outback, this is road tripping at its best. Perfect for a family holiday, a friend escape or a couple’s adventure – you get to write the story.

What’s included?

  • Unlimited kilometres
  • 24/7 roadside assistance
  • Basic insurance cover
  • Fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and air conditioning
  • Camping chairs and a table for those al fresco moments

A luxury Red Hill Escape worth over $2500

The Ninch Lindenderry

Rest and dream at Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill.

If ever there was a place for you to rest and dream, it is Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill. The escape includes a stay in the luxurious Balcony Suite, tucked away amid 13 hectares of gardens and vineyards on the Mornington Peninsula.

Enjoy daily breakfast and a two-course degustation dinner with wine pairing at the acclaimed two-hatted restaurant, The Dining Room. Just minutes from beaches and top wineries, this is the perfect getaway for food, wine and nature lovers.

What’s included?

  • Breakfast
  • Two-course degustation dinner and wine pairing at the award-winning two-hatted restaurant, The Dine Room

A night at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney worth $2200

The Fullerton Staircase

A night in the Heritage Long Suite offers a truly unforgettable stay.

Experience over-the-top indulgence in the Heritage Long Suite, the largest guestroom at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney in the historic former General Post Office building. The suite features original marble fireplaces, a grand living area, the postmaster’s original writing desk from 1874 and a dining space for six.

Two lucky guests will enjoy Fullerton Club Lounge access with breakfast, afternoon tea, evening canapés and handcrafted cocktails. With its heritage charm and modern amenities, the prize amounts to an unforgettable stay for two.

What’s included?

  • Exclusive access to the Fullerton Club Lounge
  • A full-size refrigerator
  • Stocked mini-bar (on request)
  • A dining area for six
  • Ensuite master bathroom
  • Separate guest bathroom
  • King-sized beds

A luxe glamping stay for eight at Glenayr Farm worth $2000

Glenayr Farm hot tub

Glenayr Farm is a fully sustainable, off-grid accommodation. (Image: Salty Luxe)

Grab seven of your nearest and dearest and make a beeline for wine country in Mudgee. At Glenayr Farm, a 129-hectare working sheep and cattle property, you’ll have four luxe bell tents all to yourselves for two blissful nights. Pick up a bottle of wine at a nearby cellar door and uncork it in a hot tub or by the outdoor fire pit come evening.

Fall in love with the unrivalled views of the sunsets and incredible vistas over one of the most beautiful areas in the region. At night, the sky explodes to life as the area is one of the premier stargazing sites in Australia. Disconnect to reconnect and immerse in the peace of nature and country living.

What’s included?

  • Communal area with kitchen
  • Lounge/games room with billiards table, TV and bathrooms
  • Private hot tubs
  • Fire pits

A Wildlife Retreat experience worth $1159

Taronga Zoo Eco Retreat

Unique eco-retreat accommodation with immersive native animal experiences, modern Australian dining, all overlooking iconic Sydney Harbour.

Wake up with koalas and kangaroos at the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga with an unforgettable overnight stay for two in an Animal View Room. Overlooking Sydney Harbour and hidden within Taronga Zoo, this luxury eco-retreat includes two-day zoo access, a guided Sanctuary tour, buffet breakfast at Me-Gal restaurant and free onsite parking. It’s a unique blend of nature, comfort and conservation – the perfect wild escape in the heart of Sydney/Warrane.

Every visit to Taronga Zoo directly supports vital wildlife conservation efforts, meaning your unforgettable experience helps contribute to a greater cause.

What’s included?

  • Two-day access to Taronga Zoo Sydney
  • An exclusive guided Sanctuary tour to meet some of Australia’s most beloved native animals up close
  • A delicious buffet breakfast at the Me-Gal restaurant
  • Onsite parking

Subscribe now to increase your chances of winning big. Simply subscribe to view digital versions of past magazines going back seven years, so you can get plenty of travel inspiration while you wait for your first printed magazine to arrive.