Regional NSW won 19 of 30 Gold honors at the 2026 Tourism Awards

By Tom Whitfield

Regional NSW operators won 19 of the 30 Gold awards at the 2026 NSW Tourism Awards, including 10 on the North Coast, as the NSW Tourism Association named 73 winners across Gold, Silver and Bronze placings in 30 categories. The association hosted the ceremony at ICC Sydney.

The results give travel sellers a larger set of recognized attractions, operators, festivals and accommodation properties to feature, although the announcement contains no booking or revenue data for any winner.

What did the Gold awards establish?

• Northern Rivers Rail Trail won Gold in Major Tourist Attractions. Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens won Gold in Tourist Attractions and Excellence in Accessible Tourism. Vision Walks – Eco Tours won Gold in Ecotourism, Tour & Transport Operators and the Take 3 For The Sea Award for Visitor Litter Prevention.
• Other Gold winners included Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash in Major Festivals & Events; Groovin the Moo Lismore in Festivals & Events; Old Dubbo Gaol – Dubbo Regional Council in Cultural Tourism; and Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experience.
• Brighton Coach & Tours won Major Tour & Transport Operators; Sydney Kayak Experience won Adventure Tourism; Newy Food Adventures won New Tourism Business; Mt Hay Retreat won 5 Star Accommodation; and Sierra Escape won Unique Accommodation.

For sellers, the designations can function as third-party sales credentials that support itinerary placement and retailer campaigns. No operator revenue, occupancy, visitor-volume, commission or market-share data accompany the results, so a Gold win does not establish financial outperformance.

The awards broaden the range of sellable regional products, but not the evidence on their commercial value.

What does recognition in accessible tourism change?

Accessible tourism had seven finalists, the highest number in recent years, while ecotourism also drew a strong field. For travel sellers, those categories can improve product matching and campaign messaging, but the announcement gives no accessibility features, prices, capacity or service data to validate performance.

Recognition strengthens the sales story, not the operating data.

Which operators earned repeat recognition?

Sierra Escape and Mt Hay Retreat entered the NSW Tourism Awards Hall of Fame after winning Gold in their categories for three consecutive years, from 2024 through 2026. They join three businesses inducted in 2025.

Steve Hinks, director at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, received the Outstanding Contribution by an Individual award. The judging panel also named three Tourism Stars for outstanding potential and commitment: Kestrel Nest EcoHut, Nundle Woollen Mill and Tarragon Lodge Holiday Park.

Repeat awards give sellers an established promotional hook, while a Tourism Star designation identifies a prospect rather than a proven performer. The latter reflects potential and commitment, without measured bookings, visitor spending or revenue.

Repeat recognition carries more weight, while Tourism Stars remain prospects rather than proven performers.

How were the winners judged and supported?

Submissions went to a panel of 50 judges alongside a consumer review score. The process was also subject to internal verification and an independent external audit by BYRONS.

This year, the association expanded its entrant support program. One quarter of entrants used a new personalised mentoring service, and more than 50 per cent joined support webinars and regional programs.

NSW Tourism Association CEO Natalie Godward said: “It’s been a challenging year for our industry however the passion and commitment across our operators hasn’t wavered.” She added: “These businesses have earned their place among the state’s leading tourism businesses through a rigorous assessment process. That is a significant achievement and one they should be immensely proud of.”

The awards document judging, review and audit outcomes. The mentoring program measures participation, not the resulting sales, occupancy or product performance.

The selection process is documented, but its effect on bookings and revenue is not.

What does the $91 billion target mean for sellers?

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said the winners reflected the quality and ambition driving the state’s visitor economy. He added that the government was backing the sector as it works toward a $91 billion tourism target by 2035.

That figure is a government objective, not a measured forecast, and the announcement gives no baseline, annual path or operator-level contribution. For sellers, the awards can aid discovery and product credibility, but they do not show how much visitor spending will reach each business.

Eligible Gold winners will represent NSW at the Australian Tourism Awards at the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre in Victoria on 19 February 2027. Separately, Fun Over 50 Holidays, Eumundi Markets and O’Reilly’s were among Queensland Tourism Awards winners; no categories or performance figures were provided.

The next fixed distribution milestone is 19 February 2027, when eligible Gold winners will take the NSW designation to the Australian Tourism Awards in Geelong.