Golden Backpack Awards: All the winners

Thursday, 06 Nov, 2009 0

SYDNEY – The winners of the Golden Backpack Awards, Australia and New Zealand’s only dedicated awards programme for the independent travel sector, have been announced.

Run by TNT Magazine, the Golden Backpacks saw a national campaign in print and at www.tntdownunder.com to gather votes from consumers in more than 30 categories.

Backpackers voted for their favourite hostel, tour and backpacker night in every State and Territory in Australia and across the Tasman.

National awards recognised tour operators, transport providers and hostel booking engines while the general category saw awards for best travel agent, recruitment service and training provider.

Awards were also presented for innovation and outstanding achievement in the industry.

More than 40,000 votes were cast.

The awards were sponsored by Tourism New South Wales, Backpacking Queensland, Tourism Victoria, The South Australian Tourism Commission, Tourism Western Australia, WorldNomads.com, Sleepmaker, Tiger Airways, Taxback, St George Bank, The Adventure Travel Trade Association, The Adventure Travel and Backpackers Expo, Backpacker Trade News, TNT Magazine and Thumbrella.com.au.

TNT Magazine publishing director Martin Lane said, “Each vote is put through a rigorous checking process to ensure fair play – we only accept votes with verifiable contact details so the Golden Backpacks really do reflect the will of the people.”

NEW SOUTH WALES AWARDS

Sponsored By Tourism New South Wales

Best Hostel

Finalists:
Arts Factory
Sydney Central YHA
Wake Up!
Westend Backpackers
Base, Sydney
Nomads, Byron Bay

Winner: Nomads, Byron Bay

Best tour/activity

Finalists:
Oz Experience, Blue Mountains Day Tour
Jim’s Alternative Tours, Nimbin
Bridge Climb
Mojosurf
OzIntro
Skydive the Beach

Winner: Mojosurf

Best Backpacker Night

Finalists:
Scubar
The World Bar
Cheeky Monkeys
The Gaff
Sidebar
Scary Canary

Winner: Sidebar

TASMANIA AWARDS

Sponsored By Taxback

Best Hostel

Finalists
Central City Backpackers
Montgomery’s YHA
Bicheno Backpackers Hostel
The Pickled Frog
Launceston Backpackers
Arthouse Backpack Hostel

Winner: Central City Backpackers

Best tour/activity

Finalists:
Adventure Tours Australia, 6-day Taste of Tasmania Tour
Bottom Bits Bus
Jump tours
Under Down Under
Smash and Grab Tours
Freycinet Adventures

Winner: Under Down Under

Best Backpacker Night

Finalists:
The Pickled Frog
Republic Bar & Café
Bicheno Backpackers Hostel
The TRC Hotel
Cradle Mountain Lodge
Central City Backpackers

Winner: The Pickled Frog

NORTHERN TERRITORY AWARDS
Sponsored by Tiger Airways

Best Hostel

Finalists:
Chillis Backpackers
Alice Lodge Backpackers
Melaleuca On Mitchell
Annie’s Place
Haven Resort
Toddys Backpacker Resort

Winner: Melaleuca On Mitchell

Best tour/activity

Finalists:
Kakadu Dreams
Mulgas Adventures
Outback Safaris
Groovy Grapes, Rock Patrol Tour
Adventure Tours Australia, 3-day Uluru Tour
The Rock Tour

Winner: Adventure Tours Australia, 3-day Uluru tour

Best Backpacker Night

Finalists: T
he Vic Hotel
Melaleuca On Mitchell
Discovery Nightclub
Bojangles Saloon & Dining Room
Toddys Backpacker Resort
Annie’s Place

Winner: The Vic Hotel

VICTORIA AWARDS
Sponsored by Tourism Victoria

Best Hostel

Finalists:
Melbourne Connection Travellers Hostel
Urban Central
Nomads, Melbourne
The Greenhouse Backpacker
Base , Melbourne
Habitat HQ

Winner: Urban Central

Best tour/activity

Finalists:
Bunyip Tours, Great Ocean Road tour
Adventure Tours Australia, Great Ocean Road tour
The Official Neighbours Tour
Autopia Tours, Great Ocean Road tour
Phillip Island, Penguin Tour
Groovy Grape, Great Ocean Road tour

Winner: Bunyip Tours, Great Ocean Road tour

Best Backpacker Night

Finalists:
The Red Eye Bar
Elephant & Wheelbarrow, St Kilda
Nomads Industry Bar
Urban Bar
The Official Neighbours Night
PJ O’Brien’s

Winner: The Official Neighbours Night

QUEENSLAND AWARDS
Sponsored by Backpacking Queensland

Best Hostel

Finalists:
Brisbane Backpackers Resort
Bunk, Brisbane
Scottys Beach House
Calypso
Gilligan’s Backpackers Hotel and Resort
Dingos Resort

Winner: Bunk, Brisbane

Best tour/activity

Finalists:
Raging Thunder
Cool Dingo Tours, Fraser Island
AJ Hackett, Cairns
Pro Dive Cairns
Skydive Cairns
Islandive

Winner: Islandive

Best Backpacker Night

Finalists:
Birdee Num Num
Rhino Bar
Down Under Bar
The Woolshed
Beaches Bar & Bistro, Airlie Beach
Gilligan’s Backpackers Hotel and Resort

Winner: The Woolshed

SOUTH AUSTRALIA AWARDS
Sponsored by South Australia Tourism Commission

Best Hostel

Finalists:
Backpack Oz
Blue Galah Backpackers,
Shakespeare International Backpackers
Annie’s Place
Adelaide Central YHA
Cannon Street Backpackers

Winner: Adelaide Central YHA

Best tour/activity

Finalists:
Adventure Tours Australia, 2-day Kangaroo Island Tour
Sealink, Kangaroo Island Tour
Groovy Grape, Barossa Valley Tour
Surf and Sun
Calypso Star Charters, Shark Cage Diving
Heading Bush

Winner: Groovy Grape, Barossa Valley Tour

Best Backpacker Night

Finalists:
Backpack Oz
Cannon Street Backpackers
Grace Emily Hotel
Adelaide Central YHA
PJ O’Brien’s
Woolshed on Hindley

Winner: Backpack Oz

WESTERN AUSTRALIA AWARDS
Sponsored by Tourism WA

Best Hostel

Finalists:
Underground Backpackers
The Emperor’s Crown
The Witch’s Hat
Perth City YHA
Billabong Backpackers Resort
The Old Swan Barracks

Winner: The Witch’s Hat

Best tour/activity

Finalists:
Planet Perth Tours
Red Earth Safaris
Easyrider Tours
Rottnest Express, Rottnest Experience Tour
Western Xposure, 10-day Perth-Broome Tour
Fremantle Prison Tours

Winner: Western Xposure, 10-day Perth-Broome Tour

Best Backpacker Night

Finalists:
The Emperor’s Crown
Mustang Bar
The Deen
Black Betty’s Nighclub
Billabong Backpackers Resort
The Shed

Winner: Mustang Bar

NEW ZEALAND AWARDS
Sponsored by Sleepmaker

Best Hostel

Finalists:
Nomads, Queenstown
Base Auckland
Base Christchurch
YHA Wellington
Base Queenstown
Base Wanaka

Winner: Base Queenstown

Best tour/activity

Finalists:
Skydive Lake Wanaka
Franz Josef Glacier Guides
Skydive Taupo
AJ Hackett, Queenstown
NZONE The Ultimate Jump
Shotover Canyon Swing

Winner: AJ Hackett, Queenstown

Best Backpacker Night

Finalists:
The World Bar, Queenstown
Globe Bar, Base
Saints & Sinners bar, Base
Altitude Bar, Base
Fusion Bar, Nomads
Basement Bar, Base

Winner: The World Bar, Queenstown

NATIONAL AWARDS
Sponsored by WorldNomads.com

Best Tour Operator – Australia

Finalists:
Contiki Holidays
Oz Experience
Adventure Tours Australia
Intrepid Travel
Groovy Grape
OzXposure

Winner: Adventure Tours Australia

Best Tour Operator – New Zealand

Finalists:
Magic Travellers Network
Flying Kiwi Adventure Tours
NZSki
Kiwi Experience
Stray
Explore NZ

Winner: Kiwi Experience

Best transport company – Australia

Finalists:
Tiger Airways
Greyhound Australia
Travellers Auto Barn
Virgin Blue
Backpacker Campervans
Premier Motor Service

Winner: Greyhound Australia

Best transport company – New Zealand

Finalists:
Jucy Rentals
Escape Rentals
Naked Bus
InterCity
Spaceships
Explore More

Winner: Jucy Rentals

Best hostel booking engine

Finalists:
Stayatbase.com
Wotif.com
Hostelbookers.com
Yha.com.au
Hostelworld.com
Hotels.lonelyplanet.com

Winner: Hostelworld.com

GENERAL AWARDS
Sponsored by St George Bank

Best large travel agency

Finalists:
STA Tarvel
Tribal Travel
Backpackers World Travel
Flight Centre
Peterpans Adventure Travel
Student Flights

Winner: Flight Centre

Best small travel agency

Finalists:
Wicked Travel
Beaches Travel
Cheap AZ Travel
Travel Up!
Wanderers Travel
Adventure Travel Bugs

Winner: Adventure Travel Bugs

Best Recruitment Service

Finalists:
Travellers at Work
Visit OZ
The Job Shop Perth
Geoffrey Nathan
Hays Recruitment
Freespirit

Winner: The Job Shop Perth

Best Training Provider

Finalists:
Work and Travel
Training Course Professionals
PADI
Visit OZ
The Smart Group
TAFE NSW

Winner: Training Course Professionals

INNOVATION AWARD
Sponsored by Backpacker Trade News

Presented to: Ski Magic, New Zealand Website Travel

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Sponsored by Backpacker Trade News

Presented to: Alan Collingwood, Travellers Contact Point



 

profileimage

Ian Jarrett



Most Read

Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know

Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham

Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago

Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research

Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact

Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference

Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role

Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal

Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination

Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness

Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future

Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
TRAINING & COMPETITION
Skip to toolbar
Clearing CSS/JS assets' cache... Please wait until this notice disappears...
Updating... Please wait...