Seven tourism experiences have been named as the best in Australia for mature-age visitors on the Sunshine Coast last night.
The Grey Nomad Awards is a niche tourism excellence program that shines a light on the best stays, attractions, tours and events on offer for older travellers throughout regional Australia.
Heading the list of award recipients was the Barramundi Discovery Centre & Hatchery (pictured) Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria. The visitor centre come hatchery is the only place in the world dedicated to sustainable breeding of the Southern Gulf strain of this iconic fish.
It was announced as the Best of the Best Grey Nomad Award winner after taking out the highly coveted Best Grey Nomad Attraction or Tour category last night.
The Best of the Best is handed to the winner that impressed the judges the most, as determined by the highest cumulative score from all category winners.
An outback station known for its sunset artesian baths, a caravan park with an onsite dessert van and a quirky pub with bar stools shaped like horse’s back ends and cowboy’s bottoms also secured top honours.
The Awards are judged by tourism leaders from across the country who offer valuable insights and detailed feedback to each entrant, ensuring nominees have practical tips to improve their tourism offering for the future benefit of their business, their community, the tourism industry and visitors.
Australians aged over 55 represent one of the biggest opportunities in domestic tourism recovery, possessing 32% of Australia’s disposable income* along with the flexibility and motivation to travel.
Despite travel restrictions, 42.4 million nights were spent caravanning or camping in the 12 months up to September 2020, generating $5.7 billion^. Of that total, mature-age Australians contributed $2.508 billion – 44 cents in every dollar spent.
Awards Director, Kim Morgan, said the Awards provide verified information for this important segment, helping guide mature-age Australians’ decisions on where to visit and what to include on a must-see Australian itinerary in 2021.
“Australians have long enjoyed epic road trips, starting in the post-war period when economic prosperity and the launch of the first Holden collided. That love of wide, open spaces has never dimmed, but Australia is a big country so knowing where to visit to experience something extraordinary is valuable,” Ms Morgan said.
Commenting on the Awards, the judges said, “This year’s nominees reflect the extraordinary and exceptional experiences on offer to mature-age travellers across the country”.
“Each nominee is playing a small yet critical role in assisting the Australian tourism sector to recover from the imposed 2020 downturn,” the judges said.
2020 Grey Nomad Award Gold Winners
Best Grey Nomad Attraction or Tour: Barramundi Discovery Centre & Hatchery Karumba QLD
Best Grey Nomad Community Stay: CMCA RV Park Temora NSW, nominated by the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia
Best Grey Nomad Council Free Stay: Kimba Recreation Reserve SA, nominated by the District Council of Kimba
Best Grey Nomad Farm or Station Stay: Charlotte Plains Outback Magic, Cunnamulla QLD
Best Grey Nomad Pub Stay: The Wellshot Hotel, Ilfracombe QLD
Best Grey Nomad Small Caravan Park: Mt Larcom Tourist Park QLD
Best Grey Nomad Large Caravan Park: Riverbend Caravan Park, Renmark SA2020
Grey Nomad Awards Silver Winners:
Best Grey Nomad Attraction or Tour: Paronella Park, Mena Creek QLD
Best Grey Nomad Community Stay: Berri Riverside Holiday Park SA, nominated by the Berri War Memorial Community Centre Inc
Best Grey Nomad Council Free Stay: Nindigully Tourist and Visitor Area QLD, nominated by Balonne Shire Council
Best Grey Nomad Small Caravan Park: Point Turton Caravan Park SA, nominated by Yorke Peninsula Council
2020 Bronze Winners:
Best Grey Nomad Attraction: Busselton Jetty WA
Best Grey Nomad Tour: Mary Valley Rattler, Gympie QLD
Best Grey Nomad Small Caravan Park: Charters Towers Tourist Park Gday park
* Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
^ Tourism Australia ‘Domestic Market Performance Statistics’ Year ending September 2020
