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

 

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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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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 places to wine and dine across regional Victoria

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    There’s no shortage of exceptional eateries in regional Victoria. From casual classics to finely tuned fine diners, here’s our pick of the plentiful bunch.

    Le Foyer Brasserie, Bendigo

    French plate at Le Foyer Brassiere, Bendigo
    Le Foyer serves upscale French fare.

    From the owners behind Bendigo’s beloved The Woodhouse comes this newly opened elegant French bistro. It’s all about welcoming warmth at this city fine diner, after all Le Foyer, translates to ‘the hearth’ in French. A place to linger in the chic, Parisian-style salon, the menu unfurls in the classics, from beef bourguignon to steak frites and mille-feuille.

    Riverbank Moama, Murray River

    seafood plate at Riverbank Moama, Murray River
    Dine on the banks of the Murray at Riverbank Moama. (Image: Cindy Power Photography)

    If you’re journeying on or beside the Murray, it’s only fitting that you dine by its banks. This nature-nestled restaurant by the river is idyllic for a long, sun-filled lunch. The menu is an unfussy playlist of the hits served with a seasonal spin – and the mood is as gently flowing as the nearby water.

    Felix, Geelong

    a bartender mixing up drinks at Felix, Geelong
    Felix offers a relaxed French bistro experience. (Image: Cameron Murray Photography)

    Soft brown banquettes, walnut hues and a terrazzo bar welcomes with relaxed French bistro vibes at Geelong’s Felix. But really, it’s the collage of simple, seasonal flavours that make this restaurant an easy-going favourite. Come for brunch or dinner; vegans are welcomed with a dedicated menu.

    The Perch, Lavers Hill

    a plate of food at The Perch, Lavers Hill
    Savour the seasonal menu at The Perch.

    A laid-back classic of the Great Ocean Road, The Perch at Lavers Hill welcomes those taking a pause from the serpentine drive. Lunch in the warm-wood dining room is accompanied by vineyard vistas and fleeting cameos from native birds.

    The Shared Table, Ballarat

    The Shared Table, Ballarat
    The Shared Table in Ballart.

    If you go for the ‘Dine without Decision’ option at this beloved eatery, you’re free from the tyranny of food envy with a chef-selected procession of dishes that highlight the bounty of the Midwest region. Think mochi gnocchi with pumpkin and XO or Western Plains pork cotoletta.

    Barragunda Dining, Mornington Peninsula

    Paddock-to-platedining at Barragunda Dining, Mornington Peninsula
    Paddock-to-plate dining at its finest. (Image: Arianna Harry Photography)

    This fine diner, which opened in early 2025, has been lauded as one of the region’s most ambitious and significant openings in recent years. Set on a 400-hectare, cliffside Cape Schanck property that delivers the kitchen with a cornucopia of produce, it’s elegant and honest paddock-to-plate dining at its most refined.

    Mount William Station, Grampians

    plating a dish at Mount William Station, Grampians
    Dine on elevated seasonal and local produce at Mount William Station. (Image: Phil Hocking)

    Whether you’re staying at this luxe historic station or just swinging in for dinner with friends, the shared table vibe here is country hospitality at its most welcoming and elevated. Seasonal and local produce guides chef Dean Sibthorp’s hand for plates finessed with the mountain-fresh flavour of the Grampians.

    Emerald City, Yarra Valley

    a curated plate at Emerald City, Yarra Valley
    Emerald City offers a curated dining experience that is wonderfully intimate.

    You’re certainly not in Kansas anymore when you slip behind the emerald curtain from Cavanagh’s Whiskey and Alehouse to the diminutive Emerald City. Allusions to the fraudulent wizard and Dorothy aside, this acutely intimate four-seat diner is a curated experience worthy of a road trip. As you may imagine, bookings are essential.

    du Fermier, Trentham

    dining at du Fermier, Trentham
    du Fermier is Trentham’s exquisite French fine diner. (Image: DJN Photography)

    Annie Smithers’ intimate, farmhouse-y French fine diner is not at all new, but it is every bit iconic. It’s long attracted food-lovers to its charming dining room for a set menu that undulates with the seasons. If you’re a gourmand to your core, book into one of Annie’s delightfully informal masterclasses.

    Messmates Dining, Gippsland

    diners at Messmates Dining, Gippsland
    Inside Messmates Dining. (Image: Fotoarco)

    This Warragul diner’s menu is a well-arranged collection of delicious, farm-forward morsels crafted, quite simply, to delight. Dishes such as French onion dip scooped onto nigella seed crackers and fresh-made pasta tossed with a black pepper and butter emulsion are all about balanced, enjoyable flavours paired with good wine.

    Finalists Revealed - The People's Choice Awards 2014 shortlist - Australian Traveller