02 Apr 2014
- Another Aussie reef better than the Great Barrier
- #2 is a bargain!
- Secret road trip 'better' than The Big Lap
- 12,000 nominations, judged by panel of 20 experts
- Biggest piece of editorial on Aussie travel ever published
Australia's best-selling travel magazine, Australian Traveller, reveals Australia's 100 Greatest Holidays Of All Time, in a special collectors' edition of the magazine, on sale April 3.
The list, the result of over 12,000 nominations, a panel of 20 travel experts and hundreds of hours of analysis, is being billed as the most in-depth piece of editorial to ever be published on Australian travel.
It includes some major upsets.
Top 10 Best Holidays in Australia
- Adventure cruise in the Kimberley, WA
- Road trip the East Coast of Tassie, Tas
- The Big Lap
- Explore Kakadu, NT
- Stay at luxe lodge Saffire Freycinet, Tas
- Foodie break in MargaretRiver region, WA
- Beach holiday on Lord Howe Island, NSW
- Road trip the Great Ocean Road, Vic
- Gourmet escape in Barossa, SA
- Stay at luxe lodge qualia, Qld
The number one spot was taken out by relatively little-known experience, 'cruising the Kimberley', in WA.
In fact sixteen WA travel experiences made it onto the list in total, making it the surprise recipient of most popular state/territory for Australia's best holidays.
Traditional holiday favourite, Queensland, came a close second with 15 holidays on the list.
Tasmania is the other big winner, with Australia's most highly rated luxury stay, best walking holidays (four of them in the top 30!) and bizarrely, Australia's best road trip.
Its little-known drive, 'The East Coast Escape', beat iconic road trips such as The Great Ocean Road (#8) and the Big Lap (#3) to take the number two position in the list.
“If you've ever done it, you'd know why,” says Editor of Australian Traveller magazine, Georgia Rickard. “It's absolutely breath taking.” Still, it's a pleasant surprise to see an affordable holiday option come in at number two, she adds. “The best thing about the East Coast Escape road trip is that the luxury is in the environment,” she explains. “Hobart, Maria Island, The Hazards, Wineglass Bay, Bay of Fires… it's one long, continuous reel of six-star surroundings. And you can absolutely do it without blowing the budget, there's plenty of affordable accommodation along the way.”
Tasmania's luxury lodge Saffire Freycinet also caused upset by coming in at #5, nabbing the hotly contested title of best luxury lodge from perennial favourite, HamiltonIsland's qualia (#10).
The list is reflective of Australia's changing travel palate, Rickard explains. “As a nation, we're becoming much more discerning about what we want from our holidays,” she says. “It's not enough to plonk yourself by a pool anymore – we want authentic experiences, unique destinations, and trips that enrich our lives in some way.
“A bit of brag factor doesn't hurt, either.”
Also of note was WA's holiday on Ningaloo Reef which, at #12, just pipped a holiday on the Great Barrier Reef (#13).
Another major surprise – Australia's best island break is to be found in NSW, at Lord Howe Island (#7).
The list was determined by a panel of twenty respected Australian travel experts, including Catriona Rowntree, Suzanne Medway AM, Daniel Scott, Max Anderson, Lee Atkinson, Craig Tansley and Australian Traveller editor, Georgia Rickard.
Over 12,000 nominations were received from the Australian travel industry, which was whittled down to a shortlist of 900 and voted on in full secrecy by each member of the panel.
Scores were rounded to the nearest 0.01 per cent.
April/May Issue: on sale from Thursday 3 April 2014
For the full 100 list, images and media enquiries or interviews please contact:
Tobi Cornwell at Australian Traveller
T (02) 9698 7072 // M 0414 700 409
E tcornwell@australiantraveller.com
Australian Traveller magazine is Australia's premium highest-selling travel magazine, launched in 2005, for Australians travelling Australia. Revealing secrets and giving trusted advice. On sale for RRP$9.95 every other month and available from all good newsagents and supermarkets.
