Australia's top travel writers and public relations professionals were honoured at the annual ASTW Awards for Excellence gala held at Tanks Art Centre, Cairns, on 19 October, 2019. 

The top writer accolade, Travel Writer of the Year, sponsored by Visit USA Australia, was awarded to Louise Southerden who was judged on three stories published in Sydney Morning Herald's Traveller section.

While not present at the gala awards night, Ms Southerden was delighted to win, saying via a proxy that, “I feel deeply honoured to win this award. Big thanks to the ASTW Committee and this year's judges, to our generous award sponsor Visit USA, to Intrepid Travel and Walk Japan for the amazing trips that inspired my winning stories, and to Traveller for continuing to publish my work and for being one of the best outlets in Australia for thoughtful travel journalism.”

Photographer of the Year – sponsored by Abercrombie and Kent - went to Dan Avila: “I am honoured to receive this award tonight and to be in such prestigious company with the other nominees. Photography is my passion and I am honoured to be recognised for doing something that I love”.

Dan also was one of two winners for the Best Travel Photo sponsored by Thai Airways.

The top PR Accolade, Communicator of the Year, was awarded to Shelley Winkel from Tourism and Events Queensland.

“Thank you to the ASTW for once again putting on such a great event, and thank you to the other nominees. I am humbled to be up against such powerhouses of the industry and it reflects the strength of our profession and its future”.  

These prestigious awards are now in their 26th year and are a highlight of the annual ASTW Convention, with over 150 guests travelling from across Australia to attend. 

Other categories included Best Family Travel Story, Best Australian Story Over and Under 1000 words and Best Food Travel Story. Categories, winners and finalists are detailed below.

“ASTW members represent the leading writers, editors, publishers, content creators and public relations professionals of the Australian travel industry. Over 500 entries – a record breaking number - were received across the 21 Award categories with an exceptional calibre of entrants. Being named a finalist is an absolute honour and I congratulate you all,” said ASTW President Helen Hayes. 

“I would also like to thank each of the sponsors, in particular Tourism Tropical North Queensland, who were the major sponsor of this year's convention. Finally, thank you to our esteemed judges from Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Canada and the USA who gave their time to judge the awards, all commenting on the high quality of work.”

For media information contact ASTW PR representatives:
Mandy Dwyer on 0419 490 521 or Mandy.Dwyer@scenic.com.au

Saskia Baker on 0407 752 813 or saskia@smbcommunciations.com.au

 

For more information on the ASTW or to become a member visit www.astw.org.au

FULL LIST OF FINALISTS

1) ASTW TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by VISITUSA AUSTRALIA 

WINNER: LOUISE SOUTHERDEN

​High hopes in the Himalayas – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age

The call of the high – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age

Kyushu's sacred mountain hike – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age

 

Other finalists:

Andrew Bain

River runs for a raft of reasons – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age

The full Monte Rosa – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age

Top-end Tassie – Outback magazine

Catherine Marshall

On another planet with the apes – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age

Colour by numbers – Weekend Australian

You want to be transformed – Qantas Travel Insider

 

2) ASTW PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by ABERCROMBIE & KENT

WINNER: DAN AVILA

Winter is coming – Signature Luxury Travel and Style magazine
In the belly of the glacier – Signature Luxury Travel and Style magazine
Greenland warmth – Vacations & Travel magazine
The lights are on – Vacations & Travel magazine
Beautiful Lech – Vacations & Travel magazine

 

Other finalists:

Jocelyn Pride
Moose in the mist - Wellbeing
A grand view – The Finer Things in Travel
White thunder – The Road Ahead
Penguin party – Fodor's Travel
Hidden beauty – Wellbeing

Fiona Harper

Humans of Amritsar, India ­­- KarryOn
Amritsar ­- KarryOn
Wagah border ceremonial parade - KarryOn
Street scene in Amritsar - KarryOn
The Golden Temple in Amritsar - KarryOn

3) COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by TRAVMEDIA

WINNER:  SHELLEY WINKEL – Tourism and Events Queensland

Other finalists:

Laura Speirs – Glasgow
Jodi Clark – TFE Hotels/NT Tourism
Kate Parker – Intrepid Travel

4) BEST STORY ABOUT AGM HOST DESTINATION 2018 -
BANGKOK, THAILAND
Sponsored by TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND

WINNER: MARY O'BRIEN - Smooth operator – Australian Financial Review

Other finalists:

Danielle Lancaster - Shades of Thailand – Vacations & Travel magazine
Flip Byrnes - The Sanctuary -   Fernwood magazine

5) BEST FAMILY TRAVEL STORY
Sponsored by JANEECE KELLER

WINNER: FLIP BYRNES – Finding Aladdin – Holidays with Kids magazine

Other finalists:

Aleney de Winter - Sugar & spice and all things nice – Holidays with Kids magazine
Dani Wright - Snowshoe to fondue – Escape/News Ltd

 

6) BEST AUSTRALIAN STORY UNDER 1000 WORDS
Sponsored by TOURISM AUSTRALIA

WINNER: SARAH REID - What's it like to swim into the world's weirdest underwater orgy? – Adventure.com

Other finalists:

John Borthwick - Iron Horse Trek Is One Helluva Ride – The West Australian
Michelle Hespe - All Shook Up – True Blue magazine

7) BEST AUSTRALIAN STORY OVER 1000 WORDS
Sponsored by TOURISM AUSTRALIA 

WINNER: JOHN BORTHWICK - The Indian Pacific: An epic train journey across Australia, from Perth to Sydney – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age

Other finalIsts:
Andrew Bain - Top-End Tassie – Outback magazine
Celeste Mitchell - Walking the Larapinta Trail, NT – Escape/News
Catherine Best – Walk on the dark side – Mahubay (Philippine Airlines)

 

8) BEST FOOD TRAVEL STORY
Sponsored by TOURISM NEW ZEALAND

WINNERS:

PENNY WATSON - Sweet-toothed London – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age
CATHERINE MARSHALL - Palate of Persia – MiNDFOOD magazine

Other finalists:

Aleney de Winter - A taste of Cambodia - Escape
Mark Daffey - Flavour of the Month – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age

9) BEST INSTAGRAM PHOTO
Sponsored by BLUE MOUNTAINS BOTANIC GARDEN

WINNER: LYNN GAIL – Monkey face

Other finalists:

Dan Avila - Sunset Polar Bear
Laura Waters - Mt Taranaki

10) BEST RESPONSIBLE TOURISM STORY
Sponsored by INTREPID TRAVEL

WINNER – CAROLYN BEASLEY -  Into the wild - Luxury Escapes magazine

Other finalists:

Catherine Marshall - A naturally kinder future – The Australian
Kerry van der Jagt - Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe safari: Seeing cheetahs in the wild – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age

11) BEST ADVENTURE STORY
Sponsored by G ADVENTURES

WINNER: CRAIG TANSLEY -  Zimbabwe, Mana Pools: A game park where guests can walk among the wildlife – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age

Other finalists:

Steve Madgwick - The things I learned taking public transport the entire length of Africa – Adventure.com
Tracey Croke   - There's no war in the Wakhan – Adventure.com

12) BEST TOURISM ORGANISATION OR TRAVEL PRODUCT
Sponsored by ASTW

WINNER: TOURISM NEW ZEALAND

Other finalists:

Brand USA
Intrepid Travel

13) BEST CRUISE STORY
Sponsored by CRUISE LINES INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION (CLIA)

WINNER: CATHERINE MARSHALL - Troubled waters – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age

Other finalists:

Kate Armstrong - Natural Selections – The Weekend Australian
Maggy Oehlbeck - Sea Dreaming – World Magazine *no link
Susan Gough Henly - La Belle France – International Traveller magazine

14) BEST INTERNATIONAL STORY OVER 1000 WORDS
Sponsored by ACCORHOTELS

WINNER: CATHERINE MARSHALL - On another planet with the apes – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age

Other finalists:

Craig Tansley - Ladakh, India Himalayas hiking: Sublime loneliness – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age
Roderick Eime - Find your rhythm in Cuba – Vacations & Travel magazine

15) BEST INTERNATIONAL STORY UNDER 1000 WORDS
Sponsored by INSURANCE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

WINNER: CATHERINE MARSHALL -  Sound of silence – Australian Financial Review

Other finalists:
Dan Avila - Going to extremes – Signature Luxury Travel and Lifestyle
John Borthwick - Five pleasures of Patagonia – My Discoveries
Rob McFarland - The chorus from the canopy – Traveller – Sydney Morning Herald/Age

 

16) PR CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by SIGNATURE MEDIA

WINNER: INTREPID TRAVEL - Adventure Travel Index Campaign

Other finalists:

DC&A Worldwide - Destination Canada PR Content Campaign

Tourism New Zealand - #GETNZONTHEMAP campaign

PEPR - Hilton Destination Marketing Campaign – Australia and NZ

 

17) BEST TRADE AND TOURISM NEWS STORY

Sponsored by SCENIC

 

WINNER: HELEN HAYES - The rise of the family safari in Africa – Holidays with Kids magazine

Other finalists:

Christine Retschlag - Beautiful one day, bitcoin the next – Queensland Uncovered
Julie Miller - Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age
Kerry van der Jagt - Zimbabwe wildlife safari: Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe signals a new era of wildlife tourism – Traveller - Sydney Morning Herald/Age

18) BEST TRAVEL BLOG
Sponsored by TRAVEL WITHOUT LIMITS

WINNER: BOYEATSWORLD – Aleney de Winter

Other finalists:

Christine Retschlag - The Global Goddess
Fiona Harper - Travel Boating Lifestyle

19) BEST TRAVEL BLOG POST
Sponsored by TFE HOTELS

WINNER: HELEN HAYES – Aspen guide: Everything you need to know about Colorado's glitziest ski town – 9Honey

Other finalists:

Aleney de Winter - Minneriya National Park – Ethical Elephant Attractions in Sri Lanka
Carrie Hutchinson - What it's like spending the night in a Qashqai homestay on a women's expedition in Iran – Intrepid Travel blog

20) BEST TRAVEL PHOTO
Sponsored by THAI AIRWAYS

WINNERS:

MARK DAFFEY – Dolphin Delight – Australian Wooden Boat Festival
DAN AVILA – Greenland Warmth – Vacations & Travel

Other finalist:

Tracey Croke - The Afghanistan You Never See: Game of "Buzkashi" – Adventure.com

21) BEST TRAVEL BOOK
SPONSORED BY SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS

WINNER: BEN GROUNDWATER - Go Your Own Way: Hacks, Tips and Tricks to Travel the World Solo

Other finalists:

Lee Atkinson - Australia's Best Nature Escapes
Melanie Ball - Top Walks in Tasmania

22) THE AWARD FOR RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL PRACTICES
SPONSORED BY 'TRAVEL TO CHANGE THE WORLD'

WINNER: THE TRAVEL CORPORATION

Other finalists:

Intrepid Travel
World Expeditions