Golden Backpack Awards: All the winners
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.â€
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
Ian Jarrett
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