The past three months have seen more than 120,000 votes cast across 44 categories for the annual awards.

“The family travel market is a significant and growing segment, particularly with the trend to multi-generational holidays and immersive adventure,” publisher Elisa Elwin says. “Our annual Readers' Choice Awards provide a valuable opportunity for that market to have their say.  Every year we see firm family favourites emerge, but we also gain insight into the shifts and emerging trends in family holidays, reflected in the voting,”.

Across Out & About with Kids' vast print and online audience, including digital subscribers and Facebook friends and followers, votes have been tallied for 44 key family holiday categories, both domestic and international, with Hawai'i emerging as the winner in the Best International Destination for Families category. Fiji won the Best International Destination for Families with Babies and Toddlers category.

Closer to home, Queensland's Gold Coast came up trumps for families, voted as the Best Regional Holiday Destination, while Paradise Resort Gold Coast took out Best Hotel or Resort for Families.

NSW scores big this year, with Vivid Sydney winning for Best Family Event and Sydney takes out the gong for Best Capital City in Australia for Families.

Perennial family favourite, the original Disneyland Resort in Anaheim California, once again leads the Best International Family Attraction category, with its namesake resort, The Disneyland Resort, taking out top spot for the Best Family Hotel or Resort in USA.

The full list of worthy winners and fabulous finalists in Out & About with Kids' Readers Choice Awards 2019 appears on the OAWK website http://www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au

and in the Spring 2019 issue of the magazine, on-sale Friday October 4th.

Out & About with Kids Readers' Choice Awards 2019

CATEGORY: Best Capital City in Australia for Families

WINNER: Sydney

https://www.sydney.com/

FINALISTS:

1. Melbourne
2. Brisbane
3. Perth
4. Canberra

CATEGORY: Best Regional Destination in Australia for Families

WINNER: Gold Coast

https://www.destinationgoldcoast.com/

FINALISTS:

1. Cairns
2. Dubbo
3. Sunshine Coast
4. Ballarat

CATEGORY: Best Theme or Amusement Park in Australia for Families

WINNER: Warner Bros. Movie World

https://movieworld.com.au/

FINALISTS:

1. SeaWorld
2. Dream World
3. Adventure World
4. Gumbaya World

CATEGORY: Best Animal Attraction in Australia

WINNER: Australia Zoo

https://www.australiazoo.com.au/

FINALISTS:

1. Taronga Park Zoo
2. Melbourne Zoo
3. Taronga Western Plains Zoo
4. Werribee Open Range Zoo

CATEGORY: Best Educational Attraction for Families in Australia

WINNER: Questacon

https://www.questacon.edu.au/

FINALISTS:

1. Australian National Museum
2. Scienceworks
3. Scitech
4. Australia Zoo

CATEGORY: Best Family Attraction in Australia

WINNER: Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

http://www.greatbarrierreef.org/

FINALISTS:

1. Penguin Parade , Phillip Island, Victoria
2. Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, Victoria
3. Scenic World, Blue Mountains, NSW
4. Fitzroy Island day trip, Queensland

CATEGORY: Best Family Event in Australia

WINNER: Vivid Sydney

https://www.vividsydney.com

FINALISTS:

1. AFL Game
2. Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks
3. Ekka
4. Melbourne Show

CATEGORY: Best Indigenous Experience in Australia for Families

WINNER: Uluru

https://parksaustralia.gov.au/uluru/

FINALISTS:

1. Tjapukai
2. Naidoc Week
3. Kakadu
4. AFL Indigenous Round

CATEGORY: Best Camping Spot in Australia

WINNER: Fraser Island, QLD

https://www.visitfrasercoast.com/destinations/fraser-island

FINALISTS:

1. Grampians - VIC
2. Wilson's Promontory - VIC
3. Flinders Ranges - SA
4. Jervis Bay, NSW

CATEGORY: Best Family Holiday Park in NSW

WINNER: BIG4 Easts Beach Kiama

https://eastsbeach.com.au/

FINALISTS:

1. NRMA Ocean Beach Resort, Central Coast
2. North Star Holiday Resort, Hastings Point
3. Blue Dolphin Holidasy Resort, Yamba
4. NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort

CATEGORY: Best Family Holiday Park in QLD

WINNER: NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort

https://www.nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/treasure-island/

FINALISTS:

1. BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut
2. BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort
3. BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park
4. Nobby Beach Holiday Village, Gold Coast

CATEGORY: Best Family Holiday Park in VIC

WINNER: BIG4 Phillip Island Caravan Park

https://www.big4.com.au/caravan-parks/vic/phillip-island/philip-island-caravan-park

FINALISTS:

1. BIG4 Anglesea Holiday Park
2. BIG4 Bellarine Holiday Park
3. NRMA Echuca Holiday Park
4. RACV Inverloch Resort

CATEGORY: Best Family Holiday Park in TAS

WINNER: BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park

https://www.big4sthelens.com.au/

FINALISTS:

1. Discovery Parks - Hobart
2. NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park
3. Discovery Parks - Devonport
4. BIG4 Launceston Holiday Park

CATEGORY: Best Family Holiday Park in NT

WINNER: BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park

https://big4howardsprings.com.au/

FINALISTS:

1. BIG4 MacDonnell Range Holiday Park
2. Darwin FreeSpirit Resort
3. Cooinda Lodge Kakadu
4. Tumbling Waters Holiday Park

CATEGORY: Best Family Holiday Park in SA

WINNER: BIG4 West Beach Parks

https://www.westbeachparks.com.au/

FINALISTS:

1. BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park
2. NRMA Victor Harbor Beachfront Holiday Park
3. Marion Holiday Park
4. Adelaide Shores

CATEGORY: Best Family Holiday Park in WA

WINNER: BIG4 Beachlands Holiday Park

https://www.beachlands.com.au/

FINALISTS:

1. Mandalay Holiday Resort, Busselton
2. RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort
3. BIG4 Taunton Farm Holiday Park Margaret River
4. Discovery Rottnest Island

CATEGORY: Best Holiday Park Group in Australia

WINNER: BIG4

https://www.big4.com.au

FINALISTS:

1. NRMA Parks and Resorts
2. Discovery Parks
3. RACV
4. Reflections

CATEGORY: Best Family Hotel or Resort in Australia

WINNER: Paradise Resort Gold Coast

https://www.paradiseresort.com.au/

FINALISTS:

1. Sea World, Gold Coast QLD
2. Fairmont Resort, Blue Mountains NSW
3. Fitzroy Island Resort, QLD
4. Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa, QLD

CATEGORY: Best Apartment Serviced Apartment Brand for Families in Australia

WINNER: OAKS

https://www.oakshotels.com/en

FINALISTS:

1. Quest
2. Mantra
3. Meriton Suites
4. Fraser Suites

CATEGORY: Best Australian Ski Resort for Families

WINNER: Thredbo

https://www.thredbo.com.au/

FINALISTS:

1. Perisher
2. Mt Buller
3. Hotham Alpine Resort
4. Falls Creek

CATEGORY: Best Family Tour Company

WINNER: Intrepid

https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au

FINALISTS:

1. G Adventures
2. Trafalgar
3. World Expeditions
4. AAT Kings

CATEGORY: Best Family Cruise Line

WINNER: Carnival Cruise Line

https://www.carnival.com.au

FINALISTS:

1. Disney Cruise Line
2. P & O Cruises
3. Royal Caribbean
4. Captain Cook Cruises Fiji

CATEGORY: Best Airline for Families

WINNER: Qantas

https://www.qantas.com

FINALISTS:

1. Virgin
2. Jetstar
3. Air New Zealand
4. Singapore Airlines

CATEGORY: Best Family Travel Influencer

WINNER: The Blonde Nomads

https://www.theblondenomads.com.au

 

CATEGORY: Best Family Hotel or Resort in Thailand

WINNER: Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket

https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cpbr/

FINALISTS:

1. JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
2. Club Med Phuket
3. Holiday Inn Resort Phuket
4. Intercontinental Koh Samui Resort

CATEGORY: Best Family Hotel or Resort in Bali

WINNER: Bali Dynasty Resort

https://bdr.pphotels.com/

FINALISTS:

1. Hard Rock Hotel Bali
2. Grand Mirage Resort & Thalasso Bali
3. Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort
4. Holiday Inn Resort Bali Benoa

CATEGORY: Best Fiji Mainland Family Hotel or Resort

WINNER: Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort

https://www.outrigger.com/hotels-resorts/fiji/viti-levu/outrigger-fiji-beach-resort

FINALISTS:

1. Radisson Blu Resort Fiji Denarau Island
2. InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa
3. Nanuku Auberge Fiji
4. Naviti Resort

CATEGORY: Best Fiji Island Family Hotel or Resort

WINNER: Plantation Island Resort

https://www.plantationisland.com

FINALISTS:

1. Castaway Island
2. Malolo Island Resort
3. Jean Michel Cousteau Resort
4. Octopus Resort

CATEGORY: Best Family Hotel or Resort in Hawaii

WINNER: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

https://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/hawaii/hilton-hawaiian-village-waikiki-beach-resort-HNLHVHH/index.html

FINALISTS:

1. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, Kapolei
2. Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort – Waikiki
3. Hilton Waikoloa Village - Hawai'i - The Big Island
4. Ka'anapali Beach Hotel – Maui

CATEGORY: Best Family Hotel or Resort in Mainland USA

WINNER: Disneyland Resort

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/

FINALISTS:

1. Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance, California
2. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Florida
3. Great Wolf Lodge, Anaheim, California
4. The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado
5. LEGOLAND California Hotel, Carlsbad, California

CATEGORY: Best Family Hotel or Resort in the Pacific Islands

WINNER: The Rarotongan Beach Resort and Lagoonarium

https://www.therarotongan.com/en-gb

FINALISTS:

1. Holiday Inn Resort - Vanuatu
2. Pacific Resort Rarotonga
3. Iririki Island Resort – Vanuatu
4. Warwick Le Lagon – Vanuatu

CATEGORY: Best Family Hotel or Resort in Asia

WINNER: Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, Malaysia

https://www.fourseasons.com/langkawi/

FINALISTS:

1. Shangri La Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore
2. Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, Thailand
3. Legoland Hotel Malaysia
4. Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel

CATEGORY: Best Family Hotel or Resort in Europe

WINNER: Cavallino Bianco Family Spa Grand Hotel Oritsei, Italy

https://www.cavallino-bianco.com/en/family-holidays-italy/

FINALISTS:

1. Legoland Feriendorf Gunzburg, Germany
2. Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol, Cyprus
3. Minoa Palace Resort, Platanias, Greece

CATEGORY: Best International Family Ski Resort

WINNER: Whistler Blackcomb

https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/

FINALISTS:

1. The Remarkables, Queenstown New Zealand
2. Hokkaido, Japan
3. Apsen, Colorado, USA
4. Lake Tahoe, California, USA

CATEGORY: Best International Family Attraction

WINNER: Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/

FINALISTS:

1. Walt Disney World Florida
2. Universal Studios Hollywood
3. Legoland Malaysia
4. Tokyo Disney Resort

CATEGORY: Best Family Destination in Asia

WINNER: Singapore

https://www.visitsingapore.com/en_au/

FINALISTS:

1. Thailand
2. Japan
3. Vietnam
4. Malaysia

CATEGORY: Best Family Destination in Europe or Scandinavia

WINNER: Italy

http://www.visitaly.com.au/

FINALISTS:

1. England
2. France
3. Switzerland
4. Greece

CATEGORY: Best Family Destination in North America

WINNER: Anaheim

https://visitanaheim.org/

FINALISTS:

1. Orlando, Florida
2. Los Angeles, California
3. New York, New York
4. San Diego, California

CATEGORY: Best International Holiday Destination for Families with Babies & Toddlers

WINNER: Fiji

https://www.fiji.travel/

 

CATEGORY: Best International Holiday Destination for Families

WINNER: Hawai'i

https://www.gohawaii.com/

 

CATEGORY: Best Family Roadtrip in Australia

WINNER: Great Ocean Road Victoria

https://www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/

FINALISTS:

1. East Coast of NSW, Sydney to Byron Bay
2. Perth to Margaret River – WA
3. Anywhere in Tasmania
4. Uluru -Kings Canyon- Alice Springs, NT

CATEGORY: Best Holiday Destination for Adventurous Families

WINNER: New Zealand

https://www.newzealand.com/au/

 

CATEGORY: Best Luxury Family Holiday Destination or Property

WINNER: Bush Lodge, Sabi Sabi, South Africa

https://www.sabisabi.com/lodges/bushlodge/

FINALISTS:

1. Atlantis The Palms, Dubai
2. Aulani - A Disney Resort and Spa Hawai'i
3. Hayman Island by Intercontinental
4. Six Senses Fiji

CATEGORY: Best Destination for Immersing In Culture

WINNER: Japan

https://www.jnto.org.au/

 

Media contact:

Elisa Elwin

Elwin Media Pty. Ltd.

Publisher | Out & About with Kids

W: outandaboutwithkids.com.au

M: +61 413 770 550

E: elisa@oawk.com.au 

 

Angela Saurine

Editor

M: +61 422 171 232

E: angela.saurine@oawk.com.au

Elwin Media publishes Out & About with Kids - Australia's premiere travel magazine, which is distributed to both consumers and travel agents with a circulation of 20,000 printed. We have a growing OAWK e-Magazine with a readership of over 27,000 online.