Congratulations to all the winners of the prestigious 2026 Queensland Tourism Awards
01 Major Tourist Attraction
GC Aqua Park, an inflatable water park at Broadwater Parklands, offers safe, inclusive and accessible fun for all ages, with exciting activities, group events and family-friendly experiences year-round.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Bronze: Dreamworld
02 Tourist Attractions
A Gold Coast icon for over 40 years, Dracula’s delivers an immersive night of gothic glamour, combining jaw-dropping acrobatics, live music, bold comedy and unforgettable entertainment.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World
Bronze: Charlotte Plains
03 Major Festivals and Events
The Eumundi Markets are an iconic Sunshine Coast destination, welcoming over 1.2 million visitors annually to explore 600+ stalls showcasing local artisans, culture and vibrant market experiences.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Stanthorpe Festival Association
Bronze: ASICS Gold Coast Marathon
Highly Commended: 2026 Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro presented by GWM
04 Festivals and Events
Australia’s largest immersive medieval experience, the Abbey Medieval Festival brings history to life through jousting, reenactments, markets, music and hands-on activities, welcoming over 25,000 visitors annually.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Rockynats 06
Bronze: Qld Music Trails – The Outback
Highly Commended: Pranafest
05 The Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism
Fun Over 50 Holidays creates fully hosted, eco-certified journeys across Australia, connecting travellers aged 50+ with nature, local communities and conservation through responsible and meaningful travel experiences.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
Bronze: Nautical By Nature Mackay
06 Cultural Tourism
Fun Over 50 Holidays creates culturally immersive journeys for travellers aged 50+, connecting guests with Traditional Custodians, regional communities, local heritage and authentic Australian stories through meaningful experiences.
Other winners in this category
Silver: WWII Secret Base Charleville
Bronze: Hinkler Hall of Aviation
Highly Commended: The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame & Outback Heritage Centre
07 Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences
Saltwater Eco Tours delivers award-winning cruises through Mooloolaba’s waterways, blending Indigenous culture, local stories, cuisine and live music aboard a beautifully restored heritage-listed vessel.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Jellurgal Cultural Experiences
Bronze: Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours
08 Tourism Retail and Hire Services
East Coast Car Rentals provides convenient, value-focused vehicle hire across Australia, combining a modern fleet, competitive pricing and friendly local service to make every journey simple and reliable.
Other winners in this category
Silver: O’Reilly’s Mountain Cafe and Gift Shop
Bronze: Whitsunday Coast Airport
09 Visitor Information Services
The Cunnamulla Fella Visitor Information Centre welcomes visitors to Queensland’s Southern Outback, showcasing regional heritage, culture and local tourism through expert advice, exhibitions and authentic outback experiences.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Bowen Visitor Information Centre
Bronze: Noosa Visitor Information Centre
10 Business Event Venues
The Cairns Convention Centre is a world-class business events venue offering versatile facilities and tropical hospitality, uniquely positioned between the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Sunshine Coast Convention Centre
Bronze: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Highly Commended: Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre
11 Major Tour and Transport Operators
Fun Over 50 Holidays creates premium, fully hosted, all-inclusive Australian holidays for travellers aged 50+, combining distinctive regional experiences, comfortable coach travel and meaningful connections with communities and culture.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Cairns Adventure Group
Bronze: Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom
12 Tour and Transport Operators
Dive Spear and Sport 1770 delivers small-group reef adventures, combining diving, snorkelling and freediving with expert local knowledge, education and conservation across the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Aquascene Magnetic Island
Bronze: Iconic Whitsunday Adventures
Highly Commended: Brisbane Whale Watching
13 Adventure Tourism
Cairns Adventure Group delivers rafting, rainforest, river and marine experiences across Tropical North Queensland, connecting guests with spectacular natural environments through accessible, sustainable and responsible adventure tourism.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Iconic Whitsunday Adventures
Bronze: Aquascene Magnetic Island
Highly Commended: Nautical By Nature Mackay
14 The Richard Power Award for Tourism Marketing and Campaigns
Busbys on Tour is a family-focused drive tourism campaign inspiring visitors to explore the Rockhampton Region through a five-night itinerary, engaging content and connections with local tourism operators.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Visit Moreton Bay
Bronze: South Bank Destination Brand Refresh and Local Guides Campaign
15 Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services
Canungra Valley Vineyards is a distinctive Scenic Rim destination, bringing together estate wines, chef-led dining, artisan picnics and genuine country hospitality beside the tranquil Canungra Creek.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Dracula’s
Bronze: Devon Pixies
16 Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries
Ridgemill Estate is a 4.5-star Halliday-rated Granite Belt winery offering diverse wine tastings and immersive cellar door experiences, complemented by knowledgeable service and a strong commitment to sustainable tourism.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Beenleigh Artisan Distillery
Bronze: Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Experience
17 Caravan and Holiday Parks
BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park is a family friendly resort with a waterpark, pool, playground, games, and stylish stays. Close to theme parks, it’s the perfect base for fun, relaxation, and adventure.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Broadwater Tourist Park
Bronze: Burleigh Beach Tourist Park
Highly Commended: Cape York Camping Punsand Bay
18 Hosted Accommodation
Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat is a multi-award-winning, five-star adults-only retreat near Montville, offering eight luxurious villas surrounded by pristine rainforest for an intimate and enchanting escape.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Bli Bli House Riverside Retreat
Bronze: Clandulla Cottages & Farmstay
19 Unique Accommodation
Whitsunday Escape offers self-skippered catamaran charters through the Whitsunday Islands, combining freedom, adventure and comfort while allowing guests to explore the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park independently.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Paradise Resort Gold Coast
Bronze: Oh Deere Farm Stay
20 Self Contained Accommodation
RACV Noosa Resort is a five-star Sunshine Coast retreat combining spacious apartment-style accommodation, luxury resort facilities, personalised hospitality and industry-leading sustainability within a 15-hectare conservation sanctuary.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Pinnacles, Airlie Beach
Bronze: Ridgemill Estate Cabins in the Vineyard
Highly Commended: Pat’s Farm
21 3-3.5 Star Accommodation
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is an iconic family-owned ecotourism destination, offering immersive nature experiences, abundant wildlife and extensive walking tracks within the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Lazy Lizard Motor Inn
Bronze: Wongai Beach Hotel
Highly Commended: Great Keppel Island Hideaway
22 4-4.5 Star Accommodation
Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort is a 4.5-star family resort in central Cairns, offering contemporary accommodation, a beach-entry lagoon pool and an ideal base for exploring Tropical North Queensland.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Diamondvale Estate
Bronze: Quest Mackay on Gordon
23 5 Star Luxury Accommodation
The Reef House Adults Retreat is a five-star, adults-only Palm Cove resort offering all-inclusive luxury, personalised experiences and signature inclusions designed for rest, rejuvenation and relaxation.
Other winners in this category
Silver: The Calile Hotel
Bronze: Crystalbrook Vincent
24 New Tourism Business
Alsahwa Estate is a regenerative agritourism destination in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, connecting guests with food, land and community through seasonal dining, farm experiences, wellness programs and events.
25 Excellence in Food Tourism
Maleny Cheese is a family-run artisan cheesemaker and food tourism destination, offering award-winning cheese and yoghurt, tasting experiences and authentic paddock-to-plate dining in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Other winners in this category
Silver: The Folly Truffles
Bronze: Scenic Rim Eat Local Movement
Highly Commended: Wild Local
26 Excellence in Accessible Tourism
Australia’s largest immersive medieval experience, the Abbey Medieval Festival brings history to life through jousting, reenactments, markets, music and hands-on activities, welcoming over 25,000 visitors annually.
Other winners in this category
Silver: Whitsunday Coast Airport
Bronze: Bay Island Lifestyle
27 Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer or Volunteer Group
Tourism and Events Moreton Bay Volunteers are 158 passionate local ambassadors, welcoming over 36,000 visitors annually across information centres, regional festivals and the City of Moreton Bay Greeters program.
Other winners in this category
Silver: National Trust Australia (Queensland)
Bronze: Bowen Tourism and Business Volunteers
28 The Stephen Gregg Bursary for Young Achiever of the Year
Jeremy Miller, Business Development Manager at The Tourism Group and 2026 Young Tourism Leader, supports tourism operators nationwide through business development, digital innovation, accreditation and visitor experience initiatives.
29 The Marie Watson-Blake Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
Daniel Gschwind led QTIC from 2001 to 2022, shaping tourism policy and industry collaboration, and now contributes to tourism research, sustainability, industry development and workforce capability at Griffith University.