What’s better than booking your dream holiday? Winning it, of course!
The Australian Traveller 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards are back, and your opinion matters. Got 10 minutes? That’s all it takes to vote for your favourite Australian travel experiences, operators and destinations – and enter the draw to win 1 of 15 ultimate Aussie holidays.
We know your time is precious, and we really appreciate you giving us 10 minutes of it. In return, it’s your chance to shape the awards, tell us exactly what content you want to see more of, and score an unforgettable getaway. A win-win-win, really. And let’s be honest, you’ve spent longer trying to pick something on Netflix. At least this could end in a holiday.
Please note: Winners will not be able to choose which prize they win. Winners will be contacted via email after the competition closes and announced in Issue 112 and on our socials.
Swim with manta rays on a 5-night Coral Coast escape for 2, worth up to $4500
Explore the Coral Coast for 5 nights. (Credit: C J Maddock)
Swim with manta rays in the wild.
Discover WA’s incredible coastal beauty with three nights in Carnarvon and two nights in Coral Bay. The prize includes accommodation, passes to Carnarvon’s three iconic attractions, a dining voucher, a tour with Wooramulla Eco Cultural Journeys and a once-in-a-lifetime experience swimming with majestic manta rays in Ningaloo’s pristine waters.
What’s included?
Accommodation in Carnarvon (3 nights)
Accommodation in Coral Bay (2 nights)
Dining voucher
Exclusive Wooramulla Eco Cultural Journeys tour voucher
Passes to Carnarvon’s 3 iconic attractions
Manta Ray experience
A 2-night stay at The Westin Brisbane, worth $4259
Wind down in luxury at The Westin Brisbane.
Indulge in a luxurious two-night escape at The Westin Brisbane. Stay in the elegant Renewal Suite with valet parking, club lounge access and daily buffet breakfast. Enjoy dinner for two at The Westin Signature Restaurant, then unwind with a 60-minute signature massage for two at Heavenly Spa by Westin. A revitalising city stay designed around total wellbeing.
What’s included?
2 nights in the Renewal Suite
Valet parking
Daily breakfast buffet
Dinner for 2 at the Westin signature restaurant
60-minute massage for 2 at Heavenly Spa by Westin
A 3-night escape to the InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef, worth $4000
Escape to one of Australia’s most iconic retreats.
Snorkel, sail and soak up the beauty of Hayman Island with a glamorous three-night island stay at InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef. Located in the Whitsundays, this iconic retreat invites two guests to stay in a One Bedroom Pool Ocean View Suite, complete with sweeping Coral Sea views. Daily breakfast and return boat transfers from Hamilton Island Airport are included.
What’s included?
3-night stay in a One Bedroom Pool Ocean View Suite
Daily breakfast for 2
Return transfers for 2 from Hamilton Island Airport
The ultimate coastal wellness escape to Wollongong, worth $1688
Win a wellness holiday in Wollongong.
Experience the coastal goodness of Wollongong with a packed wellness itinerary. Enjoy a clifftop getaway perched above the ocean and surrounded by rainforest at the boutique Tumbling Waters Retreat. When hunger strikes, head to the iconic Imperial at Clifton for a delicious meal steeped in history. Wind down in the afternoon with stunning ocean views and live music at the Headlands Hotel. Round out your day with a full-body workout at Limber Co, then melt away any remaining tension with a rejuvenating treatment at ibah Spa.
10-pack class pass for Limber Co with Liber tote and socks
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
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An overnight luxury beachfront stay at The Langham, Gold Coast, worth $1500
Enjoy a taste of beachfront luxury at The Langham, Gold Coast.
Dive into absolute beachfront luxury with an overnight stay in a Junior Ocean Suite at The Langham, Gold Coast. Enjoy daily buffet breakfast at Akoya restaurant, valet parking and direct access to the Gold Coast’s iconic shoreline – where spectacular ocean views come standard.
What’s included?
A 1-night stay in the Junior Ocean suite
Daily buffet breakfast at Akoya
Valet parking
Direct beach access
A night at The Langham, Melbourne for 2, worth $1353
Conveniently located in the heart of the city, enjoy an overnight getaway in elegance at The Langham, Melbourne.
Experience the buzz of Melbourne with a swish overnight stay in a One Bedroom Suite at The Langham, Melbourne. Enjoy breakfast at Melba Restaurant, club lounge access and a complimentary glass of house wine – all wrapped in the hotel’s signature elegance on the banks of the Yarra.
What’s included?
1-night stay for 2 in a 1-bedroom suite
Breakfast at Melba Restaurant
Club lounge access
1 complimentary house wine
Savour a foodie getaway to Geelong, worth $1298
Experience all Geelong has to offer with the luxury of bay front views.
Treat yourself and a plus one to a premium waterfront escape in Geelong. Stay overnight in a Bayview Room at the newly opened Crowne Plaza Geelong, complete with buffet breakfast and sweeping views across the bay. The experience continues with a perfume-making workshop at Aysha Hansen Fine Fragrances, Asian fusion dining at Two Noble and a nightcap at Geelong Cellar Door, home to one of the region’s largest collections of local wines. A perfectly curated taste of Geelong.
What’s included?
Overnight stay in a Bayview Room at Crowne Plaza Geelong
Buffet breakfast for 2
Perfume-making workshop at Aysha Hansen Fine Fragrances
Dinner at Two Noble
Night Cap at Geelong Cellar Door
An off-grid cabin stay and sauna session in Denmark, worth over $1200
Take a relaxing break in nature with Heyscape.
Set on the breathtaking Raintree Estate, Heyscape immerses guests in the wild beauty of Denmark, WA. Enjoy a two-night stay in your choice of either a one-bedroom cabin or a four-person cabin, complete with premium bedding and an outdoor barbecue. Slow things right down with a private sauna session for two at The Fieldhouse amid towering trees and coastal calm.
What’s included?
2-night stay in a 1-bed cabin or 4-person cabin in Denmark
A private sauna session for 2 people at The Fieldhouse
A $1000 Accor gift card to use on your next getaway
Redeem your next getaway with Accor.
Where will you go next? Put a dream escape on the calendar with a $1000 accommodation gift card, redeemable across participating Accor hotels in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. From city stays to resort escapes, this versatile prize lets you choose the getaway that suits you best, with plenty of time to plan, thanks to a generous 36-month validity period.
What’s included?
A $1000 gift card to select Accor hotels
36-month validity period
2 nights of calm, coastal glamping in Gippsland worth $800
Go glamping in style in Gippsland.
Designed for couples seeking a slower pace, this two-night boutique glamping escape at The Inverloch Glamping Co. is set on rolling farmland just minutes from Inverloch’s beaches in Gippsland. Spend your days exploring the Bunurong Coast or simply staying put with a coffee in hand. Come evening, unwind by the firepit or under open skies, then enjoy plush bedding in a safari tent, bell tent, dome or cabin.
Weekly travel news, experiences insider tips, offers, and more.
What’s included?
A 2-night stay glamping at The Inverloch Glamping Co
Access to the camp kitchen
Private bathroom
1 night in a harbour view room at The Langham, Sydney, worth $800
Take in the beauty of of Sydney Harbour right outside your window.
Wake to Harbour Bridge vistas with a night in a Deluxe Harbour View Room at The Langham, Sydney. Located in The Rocks district, this heritage hotel blends historic charm with indulgence. Enjoy an included breakfast for two and serene harbour surrounds.
What’s included?
Overnight stay in a Deluxe Harbour View room for 2
Breakfast for 2
1 night in a water view room at Pier One Sydney Harbour, worth $750
Wake to sparkling water views beneath the Harbour Bridge.
Live out your five-star harbourfront dreams with a one-night stay in a Water View Room at Pier One Sydney Harbour. Wake to sparkling water views beneath the Harbour Bridge and enjoy breakfast for two, then get lost in Walsh Bay’s vibrant waterfront precinct, home to cultural attractions, dining hotspots and iconic Sydney scenery.
What’s included?
1-night stay for 2 in a Water View Room
Breakfast for 2
An overnight escape at The Anchorage Port Stephens, worth $699
The Anchorage is a Port Stephens icon.
Escape to a private marina haven in Port Stephens, just 2.5 hours north of Sydney. This one-night stay in a Loft Suite for two guests includes breakfast and access to The Anchorage’s postcard-perfect surrounds, where white sands meet gentle waves. A refined waterfront escape designed for pure relaxation.
What’s included?
A 1-night stay in a loft suite for 2
Breakfast for 2 included
Private waterfront access
A weekend getaway for 2 at voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley, worth $675
Enjoy an unforgettable getaway to the Hunter Valley for two.
Escape to wine country with an overnight stay at voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley in a King Grand Valley View Room. The package includes buffet breakfast for two, a bottle of wine on arrival, free parking and wi-fi. An ideal base for exploring the flavour-filled Hunter Valley region at a relaxed pace.
What’s included?
Overnight accommodation at voco in the King Grand Valley view room
Buffet breakfast for 2 adults
Bottle of wine on arrival
Free parking
Free wi-fi
A Hawkesbury Valley weekend getaway for 2, worth $625
The Hawkesbury Valley is the perfect weekend getaway to switch off.
Flee the city for a relaxing night at Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley, located around an hour’s drive from Sydney. Bed down in a King Bed Junior Suite, complete with a bottle of wine on arrival, buffet breakfast for two adults and complimentary parking and wi-fi. Set amid peaceful surroundings, this weekend retreat is perfect for slowing down and switching off.
What’s included?
Overnight stay in a King Bed Junior Suite at the Crowne Plaza
Buffet breakfast for 2
Bottle of wine on arrival
Free parking
Free wi-fi
Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?
From rainforest walks and scenic drives to historic gold-rush towns and standout regional dining experiences, you can find it all in West Gippsland.
Hover over West Gippsland on Google Earth and you’ll see vast tracts of land spread out like green velveteen around the Toorongo Falls Reserve. It’s a landscape that feels almost impossibly lush for a region sitting little more than an hour from Melbourne.
Track southeast in late autumn and early winter and you’ll see pockets of the Mt Baw Baw Plateau dusted in snow. In addition to the forests of mountain ash veined with creeks and rivers, there are pastures and farmland cross-stitched together to form pretty patchworks.
But West Gippsland isn’t defined by scenery alone: in addition to its awe-inspiring nature, a Venn diagram of the region includes gold-rush history and great culinary experiences. Spend a long weekend here and it quickly becomes clear how often these three overlap.
Getting there
Spend the weekend eating and exploring in West Gippsland. (Credit: Messmates Dining)
Getting to West Gippsland involves as easy drive – it’s just over an hour out of Melbourne along the Monash Freeway.
Not driving? Catch the train from Melbourne on the Gippsland line, terminating at either Traralgon or Bairnsdale, and hop off at Warragul or Drouin.
Visit historic villages
Wander into Australia’s Gold Rush history at Walhalla. (Credit: Rob Blackburn)
The West Gippsland region is on the Traditional Lands of the Kulin and Kurnai nations, specifically linked to the Bunurong, Gunaikurnai and Wurundjeri Peoples, whose connection to Country stretches back thousands of years.
European settlement occurred in the 19th century as timber cutters, farmers and gold seekers pushed into the region’s dense forests. Small towns grew around sawmills and railway lines, and many of those gold rush settlements, timber towns and railway villages still shape the character of the region today.
The most evocative of these is Walhalla Historic Township, a remarkably preserved gold-rush township tucked deep in the mountains. In the late 1800s, it was one of Victoria’s richest goldfields. Today visitors can step inside that history at the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine, where underground tours reveal the scale of the mining operation that once powered the town’s prosperity. Nearby, the Walhalla Goldfields Railway retraces part of the original narrow-gauge line through the valley, offering a slow journey past forest and river scenery.
Further west, Noojee is a classic mountain village. It’s surrounded by dense forest and waterfalls and has become a natural base for exploring the Baw Baw region. Just outside town, Noojee Trestle Bridge stands as one of West Gippsland’s most striking relics of the rail era. The towering wooden structure is the tallest surviving trestle bridge in Victoria and today forms the centrepiece of an easy scenic walk with wide views across the valley.
Catch your own lunch at Alpine Trout Farm. (Credit: Nicky Cawood)
At Alpine Trout Farm near Noojee, visitors can fish for trout in mountain-fed ponds before enjoying the catch prepared fresh onsite. It’s a simple experience that reflects the area’s long connection to the surrounding waterways.
Back in Warragul, the region’s main service town, the story shifts from heritage to modern regional life. With galleries, restaurants and sweeping views across the rolling farmland of Gippsland, the town has become a lively hub linking the district’s past with its evolving food and cultural scene. Drive through the town and you’ll find heritage buildings, old pubs and weatherboard cottages that hint at the area’s early days as a frontier landscape.
In other towns the past survives in quieter ways – a historic hall here, a century-old bakery there.
Even simple roadside stops can feel cinematic in West Gippsland. The region also delivers plenty of opportunities to lace up your walking shoes.
One of the region’s most rewarding nature escapes lies just outside Noojee at Toorongo Falls Reserve. A network of walking tracks winds through the cool-temperate rainforest where towering mountain ash trees filter the light and the air smells of rich, damp earth. The 2.2-kilometre trail to the viewing platform overlooking Toorongo Falls is short, but spectacular, as the water cascades down over moss-covered rock faces into a cool, green gully in Little Toorongo River.
Further north, the Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort offers year-round adventures. In winter, the mountain attracts skiers and snowboarders. The warmer months are just as compelling, with scenic drives to see alpine wildflowers, mountain bike trails and panoramic hiking routes that open across the plateau.
Cyclists and walkers looking for a more relaxed pace can follow the Rokeby Neerim Rail Trail, which traces a former railway line through farmland and small Gippsland villages. The mostly flat trail passes rolling paddocks, creeks and historic bridges, making it an easy way to drop it down a gear when exploring the countryside.
Taste the best eats of West Gippsland
Taste the best of the region at Hogget Kitchen.
For many travellers, the real drawcards of West Gippsland are the food and wine. The region sits in the heart of Victoria’s fertile dairy country, and that agricultural backdrop has helped shape a dining scene where seasonal produce and local provenance take centre stage.
Hogget Kitchen has helped put Warragul firmly on the radar for serious regional dining in West Gippsland. Here, head chef and owner Trevor Perkins runs the kitchen alongside well-known winemakers William (Bill) Downie and Pat Sullivan. Hogget Kitchen lives up to its promise of exceptional destination dining; what lands on the table depends largely on what nearby farms have harvested that week as well as a wine list from Wild Dog Winery and other Gippsland producers.
Warragul is also where you’ll find Messmates Dining where the kitchen team is led by Michelin-trained chefs. The Euro-leaning bistro and wine bar brings a polished edge to the local dining scene using produce sourced from across West Gippsland.
For something more casual, the century-old Noojee Hotel is the kind of hub that every traveller dreams of finding after a long drive. Expect generous pub classics served on the sunny deck in summer or beside the crackle of a log fire in winter. Nearby, rustic Toolshed Bar, Bistro & Cabins is the place to go for a wood-fired pizza topped with smoked local trout paired with Gippsland wine, making it a rewarding stop for lunch or an overnight stay.
Time your visit with the Truffle Festival
Food lovers visiting in winter should consider timing their trip to coincide with Noojee Truffle Festival, running from 10 July to 2 August 2026. The inaugural event celebrates the region’s emerging truffle industry with tastings, special menus and events built around one of winter’s most prized ingredients.
