Celebrations around Australia for our Great Walks
Category: News
It’s been a year to celebrate for Great Walks of Australia, with many of our walks being recognised at recent state tourism awards ceremonies around the country for the truly inspiring and exhilarating experiences they are.
Tasmanian Walking Company, operators of Bay of Fires Lodge Walk and Cradle Mountain Huts Walk, took home gold in the Ecotourism category at the recent Tourism Tasmania Awards. Freycinet Experience Walk continued to celebrate their Silver Jubilee in style as it was their first time entering after 25 years in operation and what a delightful surprise for everyone to be awarded a silver medal in Ecotourism! We’re sure this will be the first award of many for this remarkable experience. The long established Maria Island Walk not only won gold in the Tour and Transport Operator category but a silver too in the Adventure Tourism Category. Congratulations to all our Tasmanian Great Walks… you’ve made Tassie (and us) proud.
Representing South Australia, the Murray River Walk, who only joined Great Walks of Australia last year, celebrated their first full year in operation with a gold award in Ecotourism at the South Australian Tourism Committee Awards. Congratulations on your recognition for helping people discover the magical food, wine, and beauty of the Murray River.
The Tourism Western Australia Awards recognised Walk into Luxury, operator of the Margaret River Cape to Cape Walk, with a gold medal in the Tour and Transport Operator category. It was their first time entering and in accepting the award, Managing Director Nikki King, recognised her team for consistently going above and beyond to care for guests.
Great Walks’ newest member, Auswalk, who only joined in August this year and began operations of their Blue Mountains Grand Traverse Walk last month celebrated with the top prize in the Adventure Tourism category at the RACV Victorian Tourism Awards. Hats off to Auswalk who have taken this prize home for two consecutive years and are now totalling five state tourism awards wins.
The Northern Territory Brolgas Awards saw Australian Walking Holidays (World Expeditions) win gold in Ecotourism for the Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort. Well done for winning such a prestigious award, which recognises ecologically sustainable tourism two years in a row – and a special thanks to NT Parks and Wildlife and the indigenous traditional owners of the land who make this possible.
The Qantas Australian Tourism Awards will be held in Perth in February next year with all of the award-winning walking experiences representing their state and Great Walks of Australia at the National Awards Ceremony. Good luck to all and may the best walks win!