09 Oct 2015
Leading Australian family holiday, travel and leisure magazine, Out & About with Kids, has unveiled the 2015 Winners in the annual BEST OF FAMILY TRAVEL AWARDS, as voted by families.
“The family travel market is an important and growing one, particularly with the trend to multi-generational holidays and post-babymoons, and our annual Best of Family Travel 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,” says publisher Elisa Elwin.
“Destinations like Queensland, Bali and Fiji are always well-represented in the votes and, of course, Disneyland and other fantastic theme parks in Australia and overseas are real wish-list destinations for families. This year we've canvassed the sentiments of Aussie families across everything from ski resorts and cruise lines, to cities and beaches, camping spots and best holiday resorts for families with babies and toddlers in tow.”
Across Out & About with Kids' vast print and online audience, including digital subscribers and Facebook friends and followers, votes have been tallied for 16 key family holiday categories, both domestic and international, with Fiji emerging as the Winner in the Best International Destination for Families category.
Fiji's Castaway Island takes out Best Hotel or Resort for Babies and Toddlers, with Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort named Best Pacific Islands Hotel or Resort.
Closer to home Queensland's Gold Coast comes up trumps for families, with SeaWorld Resort named the Best Australian Family Attraction, the Gold Coast named Best Beach or Regional Holiday Destination and Paradise Resort scoring top honours for Best Family Hotel or Resort.
Victorians have reason to celebrate with Melbourne voted the Best Australian City for Families with a tie between the Murray River and Wilson's Promontory, both in the southern state, for Best Australian Camping Spot.
Perennial family favourite, the original Disneyland Park in Anaheim California, once again leads the Best International Family Attraction category, with its namesake hotel, The Disneyland Hotel, taking out top spot for the Best Family Hotel or Resort in USA, Africa or Europe.
The full list of Worthy Winners and Fabulous Finalists in Out & About with Kids' The Best of Family Travel Awards 2015 appears in the Spring 2015 issue of the magazine – on saleFriday, 16 October 2015.
Best Australian Family Holiday Park
Winner
NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Park, Gold Coast, QLD
Finalists
NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Park, Umina, NSW
Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort, Yamba, NSW
NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Park, Merimbula, NSW
Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort, Cairns, QLD
BIG4 Easts Beach Kiama, NSW
BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort Airlie Beach, QLD
BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park, SA
Best Australian Camping Spot
Winner
Murray River, VIC &
Wilsons Promontory, VIC
Finalists
Fraser Island, QLD
Grampians, VIC
Byron Bay, NSW
Jervis Bay, NSW
Best Family Hotel or Resort
Winner
Paradise Resort, Gold Coast, QLD
Finalists
Sea World Resort & Water Park, Gold Coast, QLD
Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, FIJI
Daydream Island Resort & Spa, Whitsundays, QLD
Turtle Beach Resort, Gold Coast, QLD
Fairmont Resort, Leura, NSW
Best Australian Family Attraction
Winner
Sea World Resort & Waterpark, Gold Coast, QLD
Finalists
Dreamworld, Gold Coast, QLD
Australia Zoo, Beerwah, QLD
Warner Bros. Movie World, Gold Coast, QLD
Wet n Wild, Gold Coast, QLD
Taronga Zoo, NSW
Melbourne Zoo, VIC
Best Beach or Regional Holiday Destination
Winner
Gold Coast, QLD
Finalists
Noosa, QLD
Bondi, NSW
Byron Bay, NSW
Port Douglas, QLD
Whitsundays, QLD
Hyams Beach, NSW
Port Macquarie, NSW
Torquay, VIC
Best Australian City for Families
Winner
Melbourne, VIC
Finalists
Sydney, NSW
Brisbane, QLD
Canberra, ACT
Adelaide, SA
Best Family Event or Activity
Winner
Sydney Royal Easter Show, NSW
Finalists
Vivid Sydney, NSW
Royal Melbourne Show, VIC
Gold Coast Theme Parks, QLD
Beach
Camping
AFL
Best Australian Animal Attraction
Winner
Australia Zoo, Beerwah, QLD
Finalists
Taronga Zoo, NSW
Melbourne Zoo, VIC
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, NSW
Sea World Resort & Water Park, Gold Coast, QLD
Werribee Zoo, Werribee South, VIC
Healesville Sanctuary, Healesville, VIC
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Gold Coast, QLD
Featherdale Wildlife Park, Blacktown, NSW
Mogo Zoo, Mogo, NSW
Best Family Ski Resort Australia or Overseas
Winner
Thredbo, NSW
Finalists
Perisher, NSW
Mt Buller, VIC
Queenstown, NZ
Mt Hotham, VIC
Whistler, CANADA
Best Family Cruise Line
Winner
Carnival Cruise Line
Finalists
P & O
Royal Caribbean
Disney Cruise Line
Best International Destination for Families
Winner
Fiji
Finalists
Disneyland, Anaheim, USA
USA
Bali, Indonesia
Singapore
Best Hotel or Resort for Babies and Toddlers
Winner
Castaway Island, FIJI
Finalists
Paradise Resort, Gold Coast, QLD
Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, FIJI
Sea World Resort & Water Park, Gold Coast, QLD
Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, FIJI
Sheraton Fiji Resort, FIJI
Bali Dynasty Resort, Bali, INDONESIA
Best Pacific Islands Family Hotel/Resort
Winner
Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, FIJI
Finalists
Castaway Island, FIJI
Rarotongan Beach Resort and Spa, COOK ISLANDS
Malolo Island Resort, FIJI
Plantation Island Resort, FIJI
Warwick Le Lagon, VANUATU
Best Family Hotel/Resort in Asia
Winner
Centara Grand Beach Resort, Phuket, THAILAND
Finalists
Bali Dynasty Resort, Bali, INDONESIA
Disneyland Hotel, HONG KONG
Legoland Hotel, Johor, MALAYSIA
Best Family Hotel/Resort in the USA, Africa or Europe
Winner
Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, USA
Finalists
Outrigger on the Beach Waikiki, Hawaii, USA
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida, USA
Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa, Hawaii, USA
Sun City, North West Province, SOUTH AFRICA
Best International Family Attraction
Winner
Disneyland, Anaheim, USA
Finalists
Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida, USA
Universal Studios, Hollywood, USA
Legoland, Johor, MALAYSIA
Universal Studios, Osaka, JAPAN
Media Contact:
Elisa Elwin
Elwin Media Pty. Ltd.
Publisher | Out & About With Kids
M: 0413 770550
W: outandaboutwithkids.com.au
