With warmer weather on the way, leading travel site Wotif have unveiled the winners of their annual Uniquely Aussie Awards, including the winner of Australia’s Best Surf Club: Henley Surf Life Saving Club. The list also features some fantastic South Australian locations and businesses to inspire trips from local and interstate travellers.
As South Australia’s inaugural surf lifesaving club, Henley Surf Life Saving Club (HSLSC) is set to celebrate 100 years in 2025, continuing their proud history of strong family-first and community values. In 2023, the club added a splash of fine dining by inviting celebrity chef Adam Swanson and his business partner Josh Harkin to open the Italian-inspired Ocean Bar & Kitchen, offering a relaxed coastal menu and spectacular 180-degree views of Henley Beach.
To take home the award, HSLSC received more votes than The Surf Club Mooloolaba (QLD), Darwin Surf Life Saving Club (NT), Mullaloo Surf Life Saving Club (WA), Cudgen Surf Life Saving Club (NSW), Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club (VIC), and Devonport ‘The Bluff’ Surf Life Saving Club (TAS). These popular interstate destinations were awarded the Best Surf Club for their respective state’s, but South Aussies can be proud to call one of their own home-grown establishments the national winner.
South Australia’s other celebrated nominations included Dulwich Bakery for Best Finger Bun, Sol Rooftop at Eso Hotel for Best Hotel Bar, Mount Lofty Summit for Best Lookout Point, Banana Boogie Bakery for Best Sausage Roll, and the National Motor Museum in Birdwood for Best Regional Museum. Despite falling short of the national prize, these locations are sure to attract the attention of South Australia’s eager pundits and sightseers.
With awards ranging from Best Sausage Roll to Best Lookout Point, the Wotif awards have now completed their seventh year of surveying Australia’s travel-hungry citizens to discover the locations that make Australia truly unique. With just under half (47%) of Australians planning getaways over Spring and Summer, Wotif’s Uniquely Aussie Awards is certainly set to influence local and regional travel plans.
To undertake their research, Wotif carried out an online survey with a sample size of 1048 adults in early January. The figures, commissioned in collaboration with YouGov, were then weighted to demonstrate statistics representative of all Australian adults aged 18 and over. Rebecca Hurley, Wotif’s Travel Expert, had this to say about the awards in 2024:
“The Uniquely Aussie Awards are about celebrating and spotlighting some of the country’s unique gems and as Aussies head into the spring and summer travel period, aims to serve as inspiration for local getaways. With thousands of entries across the six categories, the awards show Aussies are eager to share their local travel favourites, however it is the classic sausage roll which caused the most debate, earning the title of the most voted category by Aussies.”
For those looking for the classic Aussie experience close to home, travellers can check out Wotif’s 2024 Uniquely Aussie Awards for the finalists from each state. To discover this year’s Uniquely Aussie Award winners and finalists, click here.
What: Australia’s Best Surf Club – Henley Surf Life Saving Club
Where: 246 Esplanade, Henley Beach SA 5022
For more info, click here.
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