DECEMBER/JANUARY ISSUE ON SALE: 4 DECEMBER 2014

• Queensland takes out the most awards
• “Best road trip” is the Great Ocean Road in VIC
• NSW's Hunter Valley voted “Best wine region”
• Over 2,500 Australian travellers surveyed

Over 2,500 Australian travellers participated in the Australian Traveller's Annual People's Choice Awards survey, which has been published in the December/January edition of Australian Traveller magazine. And the results are in:

... MELBOURNE STILL HOLDS THE TITLE FOR 'BEST CITY'
Melbourne, Victoria was voted Australia's Best City
“Melbourne has come out on top again this year, which tells us that when it comes to a city holiday the Australian traveller favours the sophistication of great food and culture with the chance of getting lost in a laneway and discovering something new”, says Georgia Rickard, editor.

… NSW HAS THE COUNTRY'S BEST-KEPT SECRETS
“It's a tie, Mudgee and Orange have proven to be Australia's favourite hidden gems”, says Rickard.

.... AUSTRALIA'S MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND GOES TO QLD's HAMILTON ISLAND
“Showing off the 'Best beach' and world-class driving and snorkel sites along the Great Barrier Reef on your door step, it's no wonder this was the pick”.

… AND THE DREAM DESTINATION FOR 2015 IS TASMANIA
“Tasmania has been riding the wave of popularity for the better part of a decade and our most southern isle is not showing signs of wavering any time soon”, says Rickard .

… WA'S THE KIMBERLEY IS THE FAVOURITE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE FOR 2014
“Majestic, mysterious, remote, rugged and sincerely beautiful, this region of Western Australia is inarguable one of the world's most spectacular areas and Australia. Sir David Attenborough described it as 'one of the greatest natural wonders of the world'”, says Rickard, “and he was right.”

WINNERS OF THE 2014 PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS

• Best Travel Experience Exploring the Kimberley WA
• Best Luxury Resort Qualia, Hamilton Island QLD
• Best Hotel Park Hyatt NSW
• Best Affordable Resort Pinetrees Lodge, Lord Howe Is NSW
• Best Campsite Lake Argyle Caravan Park WA
• Best Glampsite Paperbark Camp, Jervis Bay NSW
• Best Quirky accommodation QT Sydney NSW
• Best City Melbourne VIC
• Best-kept Secret Mudgee & Orange NSW
• Friendliest Town Cairns QLD
• Cosiest Town Daylesford VIC
• Best Beach Town Byron Bay NSW
• Most Beautiful Island Getaway Hamilton Island QLD
• Best Cruising Experience Bareboating in the Whitsundays
• Best Beach Whitehaven Beach QLD
• Sexiest Hotel Pool One&Only Hayman Island QLD
• Best Wine Region Hunter Valley NSW
• Best Food Region Tamar Valley TAS
• Best Regional Café Culture Sunshine Coast QLD
• Best City Restaurant Quay Restaurant, Sydney NSW
• Best Regional Restaurant Biota, Bowral NSW
• Best Airport Sydney Airport NSW
• Best Major Airline Qantas
• Best Regional Airline REX
• Best Train Journey The Ghan SA-NT
• Best Road Trip Great Ocean Road VIC
• Dream Experience in 2015 Watching the sun set at Uluru
• Dream Destination in 2015 Tasmania

This year's awards were announced on Monday evening at the new InterContinental Sydney Double Bay and were sponsored by TFE Hotels Arajilla, Choice Hotels and Tamron. Wine selection by Wither Hills.

Gift bag contents included: The Awards issue, Leif Body Cleanser, SOAK Skin Booster Body Lotion,Whileaway Guides, Per-fekt Skin Perfection Gel, Corban & Blair voucher, WhiteGlo travel pack, Nude by Nature Paw Paw ointment, Solar D Sunscreen, Lowepro video case, Matso's Broome Brewery Company beer/cider, a Noshu dark chocolate & raspberry donut and Toby's Estate coffee beans.

State-specific information will be shared in state-specific releases.

For further information, full quotes, statistics or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Tobi Cornwell on 02 9698 7072 or 0414 700 409
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.