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2025 Readers’ Choice Awards – here are the results you’ve been waiting for

Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
Thousands of Australian Traveller readers voted in our 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. The results are in, and here are your winners.

We asked you to vote for your favourite Australian travel experiences, and we received thousands of responses. Here are the results: the most dreamy destinations, incredible hotels and unforgettable journeys around the country. 

Read more about the winners in our 2025 Readers’ Choice hub.

Best city to visit

Winner: Melbourne/Naarm, Vic

Runners-up:  
Sydney/Warrane, NSW 
Perth/Boorloo, WA 
Brisbane/Meanjin, Qld  
Adelaide/Tarntanya, SA 

Best town to travel to

Winner: Noosa , Qld

Runners-up:   
Byron Bay, NSW  
Port Douglas, Qld 
Mudgee, NSW 
Margaret River, WA 

Best outback destination

Winner: Uluṟu, NT  

Runners-up: 
Broken Hill, NSW
Alice Springs, NT
Longreach, Qld
Broome, WA  

Honourable mentions: South Australian outback; Top End, NT 

Best island escape

Winner: Hamilton Island, Qld

Runners-up:  
Lord Howe Island, NSW 
Tasmania  
Kangaroo Island, SA 
Hayman Island, Qld 

Best family holiday spot

Winner: Gold Coast, Qld  

Runners-up:
Noosa, Qld
Sunshine Coast, Qld
Cairns/Gimuy, Qld
Port Douglas, Qld 

Honourable mentions: NSW coastal towns of Yamba, Port Stephens and Port Macquarie 

Best under-the-radar destination

Winner: Tasmania/Lutruwita

Runners-up:
Adelaide/Tarntanya, SA
Kangaroo Island, SA
Yamba, NSW
Canberra, ACT 

 Honourable mention: Newcastle, NSW

Best country escape

Winner: Mudgee, NSW  

Runners-up:   
Hunter Valley, NSW 
Orange, NSW 
Daylesford, Vic  
Margaret River, WA 

Best glamping or off-grid experience

Winner: Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, WA

Runners-up:   
Paperbark Camp, NSW 
Wallaroo Outback Retreat, Qld 
Longitude 131°, NT 
Cockatoo Island, NSW

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

AI Prompt

Best road trip

Winner: Great Ocean Road , Vic

Runners-up:  
Tasmania/Lutruwita
Gibb River Road, WA 
Cairns to Port Douglas, Qld 
East coast of Australia  

Best foodie experience

Winner: Melbourne/Naarm, Vic

Runners-up:   
Tasmania/Lutruwita
Margaret River, WA 
Adelaide/Tarntanya, SA 
Hunter Valley, NSW 

Best wine region

Winner: Barossa Valley, SA 

Runners-up:  
Hunter Valley, NSW 
Margaret River, WA 
Yarra Valley, Vic 
McLaren Vale, SA

Best cultural or arts experience

Winner: Melbourne/Naarm, Vic 

Runners-up:  
Mona, Tas
Uluṟu, NT
Sydney/Warrane, NSW  
National Gallery of Victoria, Vic 

Best festival to travel for

Winner: Adelaide Fringe, SA

Runners-up:   
Vivid Sydney, NSW  
Dark Mofo, Tas 
Byron Bay Bluesfest, NSW 
Floriade, ACT

Best First Nations experience

Winner: Uluṟu, NT  

Kakadu, NT   
Darwin, NT   
Alice Springs/Mparntwe, NT  
Garma Festival, NT

Best beach

Winner: Whitehaven Beach, Qld

Runners-up:  
Noosa Main Beach, Qld  
Bondi Beach, Qld 
Hyams Beach, NSW   
Cable Beach, WA

Best walk or hike destination

Winner: Blue Mountains, NSW

Runners-up:  
Cradle Mountain, Tas  
Grampians/Gariwerd, Vic 
Bondi to Coogee, NSW   
Noosa National Park, Qld 

Best rail journey

Winner: The Ghan, SA-NT 

Runners-up:   
Indian Pacific, WA, SA + NSW 
Puffing Billy, Vic   
Kuranda Scenic Railway, Qld   
Spirit of Queensland, Qld 

Best resort

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Winner: Hamilton Island, Qld

Runners-up:  
Hayman Island, Qld   
qualia, Qld   
Sea World Resort, Qld   
Saffire Freycinet, Tas  

Best destination for wellness

Winner: Byron Bay, NSW 

Runners-up:  
Daylesford, Vic   
Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Qld   
Noosa, Qld 
Hepburn Springs, Vic

Best family accommodation

Winner: Sea World Resort, Qld

Runners-up:   
Paradise Resort, Gold Coast  
Turtle Beach Resort, Qld  
RACV Noosa, Qld  
Wallaroo Outback Retreat, Qld 

Best hotel

Winner: Park Hyatt Sydney, NSW 

Runners-up:  
The Calile Hotel, Qld   
W Melbourne, Vic   
W Sydney, NSW 
Crown Towers Melbourne, Vic

Best accommodation brand

Winner: Accor  

Runners-up:  
Marriott  
Hilton  
Sofitel  
Hyatt  

Best luxury accommodation brand

Winner: Sofitel 

Runners-up:  
Crown  
Hilton  
Hyatt  
Langham 

Best cruise line to sail from Australia

Winner: Royal Caribbean

Runners-up:  
Princess Cruises   
Carnival Cruise Line    
Celebrity Cruises 
Ponant

Best airline

Winner: Qantas

Runners-up:  
Virgin Australia  
Jetstar   
Rex Airlines   

Best airport to spend time in

Winner: Sydney/Warrane, NSW  

Runners-up:   
Melbourne/Naarm, Vic   
Brisbane/Meanjin, Qld   
Adelaide/Tarntanya, SA   
Perth/Boorloo, WA

BONUS: Editors’ Choice

Winner: The Kimberley, WA 

Runners-up:  
Hamilton Island (Race Week), Qld 
Cocos Keeling Islands 
Arnhem Land, NT 
Southern Highlands (Osborn House), NSW 
Arkaba Walk, SA 
Victoria’s High Country (Pedal to Produce Trail), Vic 

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Your guide to a summer staycation in Sydney

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
    Continue
    Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

    Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

    Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

    Where to stay

    The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

    the Fullerton Hotel Sydney
    Sleep inside a 151-year-old icon.

    Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney. The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

    Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

    the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom
    Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

    Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

    The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

    Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

    Where to drink & dine

    1. The Bar

    the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar
    Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

    Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

    Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

    The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of  Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

    On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

    Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

    2. The Place

    the Fullerton Hotel the place dining
    Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

    On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

    3. Local gelato

    Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks
    Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

    What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

    What to do/see

    1. GPO Heritage Tour

    the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby
    Be awed by the building’s history.

    Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

    From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

    2. Circular Quay

    aerial of circular quay sydney
    Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

    An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

    3. Royal Botanic Gardens

    view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden
    Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

    It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

    4. Theatre Royal

    a show at Theatre Royal
    Take in a show at Theatre Royal. (Image: Daniel Boud)

    Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

    Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.