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

 

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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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

 

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insider tips, offers, and more.

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

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The best new accommodation along the Great Ocean Road

    Louis Costello Louis Costello
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    A new wave of retreats, hotels, glamping sites and more is encouraging visitors to savour their time spent along the Great Ocean Road.

    Long holding a place as one of Australia’s most rewarding drives, cliffs, curves and shifting coastal light continue to draw travellers to Victoria’s coastline year after year. What has evolved more quietly is the range of new accommodation along the Great Ocean Road to add new dimensions to the drive.

    Rather than competing for attention, these stays are shaped by their settings. They sit beside rivers, among vines, on the edge of lakes and close to town centres where local life unfolds at an unhurried pace. Together, they point to a way of travelling the Great Ocean Road that values time spent in place, as much as distance covered.

    1. The Monty, Anglesea

    Nina Cantina at the monty great ocean road
    Pop into Nina Cantina for tacos and views.

    Anglesea has always appealed to travellers drawn to a quieter stretch of coast, where surf culture, bushland and river scenery blend into one. The Monty complements that character with a recent rebrand and refresh with traditional beach road trip nostalgia in mind. Mid-century retro decor means rooms are contemporary and funky, without being over-styled.

    A highlight of the stay is Nina Cantina, the on-site Mexican restaurant overlooking the Anglesea River. Opening in 2026, it will undoubtedly become a popular gathering point, bringing together locals, day trippers and overnight guests. Watch the river flow while tucking into plates of tacos, before enjoying a digestion swim in The Monty’s pool.

    Mornings in Anglesea often begin quietly. Kangaroos are a familiar sight on the nearby golf course, and walking tracks wind through heathland that reflects the natural landscape of the Surf Coast. From here, the road south feels like a continuation rather than a departure, easing travellers into the next stretch of the journey.

    2. Basalt Retreats, Port Fairy

    Basalt Retreat Private Villa interior
    Discover this new adults-only retreat.

    Near Port Fairy, Basalt Retreats is an adults-only delight set among a 24-year-old vineyard at Basalt Wines. The accommodation is a mixture of luxury and linens (and ultra comfy beds), allowing the long stretches of grapes to take centre stage. As the sun sets, Basalt Retreats settles into stillness. With minimal light pollution, the night sky becomes part of the experience, and star-searchers will delight in the uninterrupted views of our vast universe.

    Poombeeyt Koontapool lookout
    See Poombeeyt Koontapool from the lookout.

    Staying along the Great Ocean Road western region gives you en route access to coastal landmarks. A visit to Poombeeyt Koontapool at Loch Ard Gorge is a must for those fascinated by natural blowholes, with enough walking trails to tucker out the most seasoned hiker.

    The Poorpa Yanyeen Meereeng Trail between Timboon and Port Campbell reveals how wetlands, farmland and coastline connect across the region, best appreciated on foot or by bike.

    3. Lake Colac Holiday Park, Colac

    Lake Colac Holiday Park along the Great Ocean Road
    Book into a cabin at Lake Colac Holiday Park.

    Lake Colac Holiday Park introduces new cabin accommodation set along the edge of a broad volcanic lake. The cabins are modern and light-filled, designed to make the most of the water views and open skies.

    Lake Colac plays an important role in local life, hosting community events and everyday rituals alike. Staying here offers insight into the agricultural heart of the Great Ocean Road region, where the pace is shaped by seasons rather than sightseeing schedules.

    Brae Restaurant great ocean road victoria
    Have a delicious lunch, then join a farm tour at Brae Restaurant. (Image: Visit Vic)

    Colac’s central location places visitors within reach of standout regional experiences. Otways Distillery’s Birregurra cellar door reflects the surrounding forest in its approach to spirits. While Brae Restaurant’s guided farm and kitchen garden tours offer a closer look at the land that underpins its acclaimed dining. Together, they highlight the strong connection between produce, place and people.

    4. Glamping tents, Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve

    Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve Glamping
    Take a breather in Apollo Bay with brand new glamping tents.

    Back on the coast, Apollo Bay has always been known to be a natural place to take a breather, sitting roughly at the Great Ocean Road’s midway point. The brand-spanking new glamping tents at the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve offer comfortable accommodation that remains closely connected to the outdoors. With ensuite bathrooms and thoughtfully designed interiors, the cabin-tent hybrids offer enough privacy and luxuries to make the trip feel more luxurious than your standard camping affair.

    Set near the river and within walking distance of the town centre, the location allows guests to move easily between beach walks, forest drives and relaxed meals.

    A session at The Corner Sauna fits naturally into a stay here. The wood-fired sauna has become part of Apollo Bay’s way of life, offering warmth and restoration after time spent in the elements (also known as a frolic at the beach).

    Apollo Bay Fishermens Co-op
    Enjoy fresh seafood at Apollo Bay Fishermen’s Co-op.

    Apollo Bay has enough to entertain and dazzle travellers more than your average town. Graze on fresh seafood at local cafes – like Graze or Apollo Bay Fishermen’s Co-op – before venturing to nearby waterfalls. Spend hours kayaking among real-life seals, try your hand at surf lessons taught by understanding and patient guides, or simply spend your days reading a book while the surf crashes in front of you.

    Together, these new accommodation openings highlight the Great Ocean Road’s continued evolution. With more places that invite travellers to slow down and stay a little longer, the journey becomes less about rushing between landmarks and more about engaging with the unique towns along the way.

    Start planning your next trip along the Great Ocean Road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.