Pictured: Adelaide Fringe by Samuel Graves
South Australia’s tourism industry is celebrating a strong showing at the 2025 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, with dozens of local businesses and experiences named as national finalists ahead of the March ceremony in Western Australia.
Across the country, 172 tourism operators have been recognised, with 168 holding accreditation through national Quality Tourism programs. Developed by the Australian Tourism Industry Council, the Quality Tourism Framework provides a structured pathway for tourism businesses to continually improve operations, sustainability, accessibility and overall visitor experience. Through independent assessment and nationally consistent standards, the framework supports businesses to remain competitive while delivering trusted, high-quality experiences.
Australian Tourism Industry Council CEO Erin McLeod shared, “When tourism businesses engage with the Quality Tourism Framework, they’re not just meeting standards, they’re building the capability and confidence needed to strive for excellence.
“The Quality Tourism programs are designed to support businesses to strengthen their operations, improve the visitor experience and continually uplift their performance, and it’s incredibly encouraging to see that journey reflected in national awards recognition.”
Programs within the framework include Sustainable Tourism Accreditation, Star Ratings, Accessible Tourism and Tourism Emissions Reduction, each designed to help operators benchmark performance and adapt to evolving visitor expectations.
South Australia is strongly represented across a wide range of categories, from major attractions and festivals through to accommodation, wineries, tours and food tourism. Iconic names like Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Botanic Garden, Seppeltsfield Barossa and Sequoia Lodge are joined by regional experiences and emerging operators, reflecting the breadth of the state’s tourism offering.
New tourism ventures like the Monarto Safari Resort have also been recognised, alongside long-standing favourites such as the Adelaide Convention Centre and the Oval Hotel, highlighting both innovation and established excellence within the state.
Winners will be announced at the 2025 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards ceremony on March 6th, to be held at Fremantle Prison in Western Australia. The awards celebrate the businesses and experiences setting the benchmark for quality, innovation and visitor experience across Australia’s tourism industry.
See the Finalists:
Major Tourist Attractions
Adelaide Botanic Garden SA
Darwin Waterfront NT
GC Aqua Park QLD
Melbourne Cricket Ground VIC
Port Arthur Historic Site TAS
Questacon CBR
Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo NSW
WA Museum Boola Bardip WA
Tourist Attractions
Albany’s Historic Whaling Station WA
Animal Land Children’s Farm VIC
Canberra Reptile Zoo CBR
d’Arenberg SA
Katherine Outback Experience NT
Kuuma Nature Sauna TAS
Northern Rivers Rail Trail NSW
The Crystal Caves QLD
Major Festivals & Events
Adelaide Fringe SA
Australian Wooden Boat Festival TAS
Blues on Broadbeach 2025 QLD
Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash NSW
Darwin Festival NT
Floriade 2024 CBR
FRINGE WORLD WA
Lightscape VIC
Festivals & Events
Abbey Medieval Festival QLD
Bicheno Beams TAS
Crank It Up Festival NSW
Darwin Comedy Festival 2025 NT
Island Whale Festival VIC
Murrumbateman Field Days CBR
Streaky Sounds Music Festival 2025 SA
Subi Blooms X Gather WA
Ecotourism
Aquila Eco Retreat TAS
Fun Over 50 Holidays – Immersive Tours and Adventures QLD
NT TOP ADVENTURES NT
The Big Duck Boat Tours SA
Vision Walks – Eco Tours NSW
Wild Adventures Melbourne VIC
Willie Creek Pearl Farm WA
Cultural Tourism
Albany’s Historic Whaling Station WA
Ayers Rock Resort NT
Cascades Female Factory Historic Site TAS
Flamboyance Tours SA
Fun Over 50 Holidays – Immersive Tours and Adventures QLD
Old Dubbo Gaol – Dubbo Regional Council NSW
Royal Australian Mint CBR
Shrine of Remembrance VIC
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences
Cape York Peninsula Lodge QLD
Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council NSW
Oolin Sunday Island Cultural Tours WA
Wadna SA
wukalina Walk TAS
Tourism Retail, Hire & Services
Aboriginal Bush Traders NT
Better by Bike NSW
Copper Trails Bike Hire SA
Go Adventure Nagambie VIC
POP Canberra CBR
Shute Harbour Marine Terminal QLD
Willie Creek Pearls WA
Younique Stays TAS
Visitor Information Services
Bathurst Visitor Information Centre NSW
Canberra and Region Visitors Centre CBR
City of Melbourne – Visitor Services VIC
Smithton Visitor Centre TAS
St George Region Explore Centre QLD
Swan Valley Visitor Centre WA
Top End Visitor Information Centre NT
Whyalla Visitor Centre SA
Business Event Venues
Adelaide Convention Centre SA
Cairns Convention Centre QLD
Crown Perth – Events & Conferences WA
Darwin Convention Centre NT
Hotel Realm CBR
ICC Sydney NSW
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre VIC
Peppers Silo Hotel TAS
Major Tour & Transport Operators
Fun Over 50 Holidays – Immersive Tours and Adventures QLD
HeliSpirit WA
Intrepid Travel NT
Pennicott Wilderness Journeys TAS
Port Phillip Ferries VIC
ULTIMATE Travel NSW
Tour & Transport Operators
eGuide TAS
Go Adventure Nagambie VIC
Iconic Whitsunday Adventures QLD
Margaret River Discovery Co WA
Spirit of the Coorong SA
Uluru Segway Tours NT
Vision Walks – Eco Tours NSW
Adventure Tourism
Blue Derby Pods Ride TAS
Cape York Motorcycle Adventures QLD
CAPE2CAMP WA
Go Adventure Nagambie VIC
Oz Jet Boating NSW
Uluru Segway Tours NT
Woodhouse Adventure Park SA
Tourism Marketing & Campaigns
Chihuly in the Botanic Garden SA
City of Melbourne, Only in the City VIC
The Lifetime of Greatness Project QLD
The Tweed Tourism Company NSW
Tourism Central Australia – Stories from the Heart NT
Wadjemup / Rottnest Island “A Little Longer” Campaign WA
Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services
Cicada Lodge and Nitmiluk Tours NT
Devon Pixies QLD
Gourmet Camp Oven Experience WA
Grain of the Silos TAS
Monkey Nut Cafe SA
Pipit Restaurant NSW
The Q Train VIC
Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries
Beenleigh Artisan Distillery QLD
Harman Wines VIC
Killara Distillery TAS
Printhie Wines NSW
Seppeltsfield Barossa SA
Singlefile Wines WA
Willing Distillery NT
Caravan & Holiday Parks
Alivio Tourist Park Canberra CBR
All Seasons Holiday Park VIC
Aspen Holidays Darwin FreeSpirit NT
BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park and Motel QLD
BIG4 Launceston Holiday Park TAS
Mandalay Holiday Resort WA
Tathra Beach Eco Camp NSW
West Beach Parks Holiday Park SA
Hosted Accommodation
Athelle Outback Hideaway NT
Henders House at Almerta Station SA
Kangaroo Ridge Retreat VIC
Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat QLD
The Belfry Guesthouse NSW
The Dragonfly Inn TAS
Wooleen Station WA
Unique Accommodation
All Seasons Houseboats VIC
Aquila Eco Retreat TAS
Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm WA
Jamala Wildlife Lodge CBR
Sierra Escape NSW
Whitsunday Escape QLD
Woodhouse Adventure Park SA
Self-Contained Accommodation
Contained In Nimbin Accommodation NSW
Heyscape WA
LPK – LUXURY HOME HOSTING NT
Nook On The Hill VIC
Old Coach Road Estate SA
Pinnacles, Airlie Beach QLD
Red Rock Hut, King Island TAS
3-3.5 Star Accommodation
Broadwater Resort Busselton WA
Freycinet Resort TAS
ibis Adelaide SA
Lazy Lizard Motor Inn QLD
Safari Lodge Motel NT
The Y – Camp Manyung VIC
The Y Leumeah Lodge CBR
4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation
Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific NSW
H on Mitchell Apartment Hotel NT
Midnight Hotel, Autograph Collection CBR
Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort QLD
Oval Hotel SA
Peppers Silo Hotel TAS
Sovereign Park Motor Inn VIC
The Timothée Resort WA
5 Star Luxury Accommodation
Cicada Lodge NT
Hotel Realm CBR
Mount William Station VIC
Mt Hay Retreat NSW
Pullman Bunker Bay Resort WA
Reef House Adults Retreat QLD
Sequoia Lodge SA
The Tasman, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart TAS
New Tourism Business
Bendigo Guided Tours VIC
Evry Drive TAS
Monarto Safari Resort SA
Shaw Estate CBR
The Silos Accommodation NSW
Turtle Sands Nature Resort QLD
Excellence in Food Tourism
CherryHill Orchards VIC
Fleurieu Food and Wine SA
Gourmet Camp Oven Experience WA
Murrumbateman Chocolate Co CBR
Scenic Rim Regional Council – Scenic Rim Eat Local Movement QLD
THE TRUFFLE FARM TAS
Tocumwal Chocolate School NSW
Excellence in Accessible Tourism
Adelaide Fringe SA
Bay Island Lifestyle QLD
Blue Mountains Climbing School NSW
National Zoo and Aquarium CBR
NT TOP ADVENTURES NT
Off The Beaten Track WA WA
Sovereign Hill Museums Association VIC
The Cove Tasmania TAS
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