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2022 SA Tourism Award Winners

The 2022 South Australian Tourism Award winners have been revealed, including two Hall of Fame inductions and over 30 category winners.

Delivered by the Tourism Industry Council South Australia (TiCSA), the SA Tourism Awards are the pinnacle of excellence within the South Australian tourism industry.  Award winners were announced at a Gala Dinner on Thursday, 3 November at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

The Awards recognise those businesses and individuals who have demonstrated business excellence, innovation, and outstanding achievement in the South Australian tourism industry. Most went on to represent South Australia at the national Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Sydney on 17 March 2023.

Category 1 Major Tourist Attractions

Adelaide Zoo

Supported by Adelaide Economic Development Agency

With over 2,500 animals calling Adelaide Zoo home and a unique range of behind-the-scenes animal experiences, visitors turn adventurers as they journey through our jungle-like botanic gardens, finding themselves within a whisker of our native and exotic animals while learning and growing a passion for nature.

Silver
Seppeltsfield Barossa

Bronze
SkyCity Adelaide

Adelaide Zoo

Category 2 Tourist Attractions

Monarto Safari Park

Supported by South Australian Tourism Commission

Monarto Safari Park is home to more than 500 animals, and has celebrated outstanding conservation and breeding success saving species from extinction. Now, Monarto Safari Park is growing into the largest safari experience outside of Africa. Spanning more than 1,500 hectares and home to more than 50 species of exotic and native mammals, birds and reptiles, no two days at Monarto Safari Park are ever the same.

Silver
The d’Arenberg Cube

Bronze
Barossa Valley Chocolate Company

 

Category 3 Major Festivals & Events

Adelaide Fringe

Supported by Festival City Adelaide

Adelaide Fringe is the biggest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere, with eclectic and vibrant events, including cabaret, theatre, comedy, circus, music, visual arts, workshops and more. Fringe is a not-for-profit, open access festival. Be it a modestly-budgeted, dugong-themed cabaret gig or a sellout show in a Spiegeltent with high flying circus acts, Fringe welcomes everyone.

Silver
Illuminate Adelaide 2021

Category 4 Festivals and Events

Sky Song – Adelaide Fringe

Supported by Adelaide Economic Development Agency

Sky Song was an immersive multi-art light show featuring choreographed drones, large-scale screens, music, poetry and storytelling.   It centered on First Nations culture with Aboriginal artists engaged to bring both ancient and contemporary stories alive through imagery, music and poetry.

Silver
Light Creatures

Silver
Adelaide Guitar Festival

Category 5 Ecotourism

Hall of FameMurray River Trails

Supported by Toyota Australia

Murray River Trails embodies the magic of the Murray River, in a high conservancy landscape interpreted by passionate guides who share stories of its culture and nature along meandering waterways. Guided small group walking, paddling, cruising, and driving enables discovery of a delicate and precious oasis in the outback.

Silver
The Big Duck Boat Tours

Bronze
Camel Treks Australia

Category 6 Cultural Tourism

The Cedars Hahndorf

Supported by South Australian Tourism Commission

Located a few minutes from Hahndorf, The Cedars is the iconic Adelaide Hills estate of renowned Australian artist Sir Hans Heysen and his family, including artist daughter, Nora Heysen. Visitors can tour the beautiful historic house and heritage listed studios and view over 200 original art works, as well as delight in the changing seasons of the expansive Artist’s garden and explore superb vistas of the magnificent gums across 60 hectares of bushland property.

Silver
Adelaide Gaol

Silver
Flamboyance Tours

Category 7 Award for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Tourism Experiences

Kool Tours

Supported by Qantas Airways

Kool Tours is an authentic Aboriginal tourism business operating throughout The Fleurieu Peninsula. Guests get the opportunity to experience Ngarrindjeri culture and history and see Country through the lens of the oldest living culture in the world with quality Aboriginal guides.

Category 8 Tourism Retail & Hire Services

The Dirt Off Road Campers

Supported by Tourism Industry Council SA

The Dirt Off Road Campers has Adelaide’s largest range of Australian-made off-road campers, configured for low-impact camping. In addition to the economic retail contribution, the sale of these Recreational Vehicles leads to other tourism activities such as station stays, staying at caravan parks, cruises, art galleries, indigenous experiences, and more.

Silver
Gardner Knives

Category 9 Visitor Information Services

Ardrossan Museum and Visitor Information Centre

Supported by Local Government Association of South Australia

The Ardrossan Museum and Information Centre aims to provide well informed friendly assistance to all our visitors. The Information Centre is open 7 days a week ensuring there is always a friendly face to welcome and assist anyone coming to Ardrossan for assistance or information about the town or the Yorke Peninsula.

Category 10 Business Event Venues

SkyCity Adelaide

Supported by Adelaide Airport

SkyCity Adelaide officially opened its magnificent new $330 million world-class integrated entertainment establishment late 2020, with Events at SkyCity opening in February 2021. Offering a breathtaking dedicated Level Two Conference and Events space, these versatile facilities cater for all occasions, from glamorous gala dinners to conferences, corporate meetings and personal celebrations.

 

Category 11 Major Tour and Transport Operators

The Ghan

Supported by RAA Travel

For more than 90 years, The Ghan has traversed the rugged countryside between Adelaide and Darwin to deliver an authentically Australian experience. Regarded as one of the world’s greatest rail journeys, this multi-day journey is all-inclusive, from gourmet meals with a focus on regional ingredients and premium beverages to Off Train Experiences that connect guests with the landscapes they travel through.

Category 12 Tour and Transport Operators

Juggle House Experiences

Supported by Gallagher

Juggle House Experiences is an innovative personalised tour and transport business specialising in packaging cross-regional tours and travel adventures.  Offerings also include accommodation transfers to houseboats, weddings, and special event charters, sharing the best of regional South Australia to help create memories that last a lifetime.

Silver
Carriage of Occasion

Bronze
EXPERIENCE SA

Category 13 Adventure Tourism

Bendleby Ranges

Supported by South Australian Tourism Commission

Bendleby Ranges is the home of adventure, set in the mesmerising Southern Flinders Ranges. Fifteen thousand hectares of rock-hopping, jaw-dropping, heart-stopping exhilaration to challenge all levels of four-wheel-drivers, hikers and mountain bikers.

Silver
Woodhouse Activity Centre

Bronze
Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari

Category 14 Tourism Marketing & Campaigns

Destination Riverland

Supported by Tourism Australia

Home to the magnificent Murray River, the Riverland is a place where good times flow. In 2021 a new brand for the Riverland was created, and with a team of experts, Destination Riverland launched a campaign to change the visitor perception and introduce the world to the ‘New Riverland.’

Silver
Murray River Lakes & Coorong Tourism Alliance

Bronze
Adelady

Category 15 Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services

Watervale Hotel

Supported by Restaurant & Catering Association

The Watervale Hotel offers ethical, epicurean experiences to visitors to the Clare Valley. It is a fresh farm produce to plate restaurant in a casual country pub. The team of international chefs enrich and enhance natural produce to create genuine flavoursome meals.

Silver
The Lane Vineyard

Bronze
The Currant Shed

Category 16 Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries

Kimbolton Wines

Supported by Hood Sweeney

Kimbolton Wines is a unique and architecturally designed cellar door, nestled amongst the gum trees with a rooftop viewing deck that takes in the sweeping views of the vineyard and the region. Kimbolton prides itself on offering, distinct, regional experiences in a relaxed and interactive environment.

Silver
Kies Family Wines

Bronze
Kangaroo Island Distillery

Category 17 Caravan & Holiday Parks

Ardrossan Caravan Park

Supported by Caravan and Camping Industry Association SA

The Ardrossan Caravan Park is a community owned, 4-star caravan park that has been providing quality, affordable accommodation to visitors for over 60 years. A short walk from the main street, the park offers a mix of luxury and cost effective cabins, powered, unpowered and annual sites; all uniquely positioned on either side of a gully leading to the jetty and the town’s iconic red cliffs.

Silver
Wallaroo Holiday Park

Category 18 Hosted Accommodation

Hall of Fame – Redwing Farm

Supported by Nova Entertainment

Redwing Farm is a hosted farm stay experience offering deluxe self-contained accommodation, function centre, animal interactions and Agri-education. Located on a working farm on the South Australian Yorke Peninsula, Redwing Farm offers the perfect taste of life on the land. Guests can enjoy space, fresh air and the opportunity to relax, recharge and reconnect with family and friends, as well as learn about the business of broad acre farming.

Silver
Le Mas Barossa

Bronze
Sage at Streaky Bay

Category 19 Unique Accommodation

Woodhouse Activity Centre

Supported by RAA Travel

Nestled in lush Piccadilly in the Adelaide Hills, Woodhouse Activity Centre specialises in experience-based accommodation, offering quality time and screen-free family fun in the great outdoors on a 54-hectare bushland property. Diverse accommodation options range from rustic chalets, bunkhouses and a two-storey heritage-listed mansion, to camping or caravan adventures in the expansive camping fields. All overnight stays include unlimited access to a suite of onsite adventurous outdoor activities.

Silver
Almerta Station

Category 20 Self Contained Accommodation

Naiko Retreat

Supported by Pitcher Partners

Naiko Retreat is a luxury, self-contained eco retreat located on the Fleurieu Peninsula coastline.  Time at Naiko allows you to disconnect from your busy world, turn down the volume, declutter your mind and let what truly matters come into focus. Situated on a cliff overlooking a pristine and secluded beach the self-sustainable Retreat was constructed in harmony with the environment keeping wildlife and nature front and centre.

Category 21 3-3.5 Star Accommodation

Under the Mount

Supported by Australian Hotels Association South Australia

Located in the heart of picturesque Melrose, South Australia, Under the Mount is a comfortable and convenient 3.5-star accommodation offering for tourists visiting the Southern Flinders Ranges. Run by two passionate mountain bikers, the ensuite cabins, family rooms and dorm offerings are ideal for tourists hoping to hit the local trails, or those visiting this incredible area to explore the other adventures on offer.

Category 22 4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation

Novotel Barossa Valley Resort

Supported by Flow Power

Novotel Barossa Valley Resort is a premium accommodation facility, restaurant and conference centre situated in the Barossa Valley.  All that the Barossa has to offer is on the doorstep, coupled with exceptional facilities, guests can enjoy the best of both worlds, a fantastic base whilst exploring the region or a secluded luxury getaway.

Silver
Beach Huts Middleton

Bronze
Old Coach Road Estate

Category 23 5 Star Luxury Accommodation

Eos by SkyCity

Supported by RAA Travel

A destination hotel where your every need is considered, Eos by SkyCity encompasses the finest in modern hospitality and offers a new realm of luxury to South Australia. A stay at Eos steps beyond the everyday and delivers an unrivalled distinctive luxury hotel experience. From signature restaurants and entertainment, to opulent suites and spa experiences, Eos by SkyCity feels like a hotel where you ‘live, extraordinary’.

Category 24 New Tourism Business

Sequoia Lodge

Supported by Tourism Australia 

Located in the Adelaide Hills in the grounds of Mount Lofty Estate, Sequoia’s 14 luxury sustainably-designed suites boast panoramic views over the majestic valley, an intimate sunken lounge centred around social connection, stone-clad gas fireplace, king sized bed with views over the valley and moon window for star gazing. Sequoia Lodge have created an entirely new level of opulence, every detail has been carefully planned to take guests on a journey that will touch the senses, connect with the soul and create a pure sense of delight

Silver
Cuttys Tours

Bronze
Poonawatta

Category 25 Excellence in Food Tourism

Watervale Hotel

Supported by Adelady

The Watervale Hotel offers ethical, epicurean experiences to visitors to the Clare Valley. It is a fresh farm produce to plate restaurant in a casual country pub. The team of international chefs enrich and enhance natural produce to create genuine flavoursome meals.

Silver
Weber Grill Academy – Adelaide

Bronze
de Groot Coffee Co

Category 26 EXCELLENCE IN ACCESSIBLE TOURISM

Monarto Safari Park

Supported by Toyota Australia

Monarto Safari Park is expanding to become the largest safari experience outside of Africa. Their new visitors centre organically sweeps around a central outdoor ‘heart’ space designed as a place to gather, interact, play and relax after a day of exploring. Thorough consultation was undertaken to ensure accessibility was a key consideration in both design and construction of the new facility as they continually strive to connect more people with nature and save species from extinction.

Category 27 Outstanding Contribution by an Individual

Rex Ellis

Rex is a tourism pioneer, commencing outback safaris in 1965. Rex has a number of firsts in Australia including tours to the Nullarbor, Cape Yorke, Simpson Desert and Lake Eyre in vehicles, boats and camels. Rex built the first feral-proof property in Australia at Douglas Scrub in McLaren Vale, has written 11 books, printed a desert map and walked across numerous Salt Lakes raising money for Birdlife Australia. Rex did Adventure Tourism before it was even a term and has trained and launched numerous careers in tourism over the decades.

 

Category 28 South Australian Tourism Student of the Year

Skyla Schmid

Supported by SeaLink

Skyla is in her second year of studying a Bachelor of Business (Tourism and Event Management) at the University of South Australia. Skyla has gained exposure and experience in both the tourism and events industries, through volunteering with the Adelaide Fringe, Feast Festival and OzAsia, and is currently interning at the South Australian Tourism Commission. She has also travelled to Sydney to work at the Sydney Film Festival.

Category 29 South Australian Taxi Driver of the Year 

Brett Carson

Supported by Taxi Council of South Australia

Brett drives for 13 Cabs where he plays a leadership role on mentoring new drivers to the fleet.

For 15 years he has been immaculately presented each day in both car and uniform from his 6am start till the end of his shift, he emphasizes the importance of giving courteous service to all his passengers, including patience and tact with the occasional difficult one. He values all of his customers but is especially fond of the aged or frail who really appreciate the extra attention he gives them, always with a smile.

First Runner Up
Jayant Jain

Second Runner Up
Graham Deller

Category 30 VOTERS’ CHOICE AWARD (EXPERIENCE AND / OR SERVICE)

Monarto Safari Park

Supported by South Australian Tourism Commission

Monarto Safari Park is home to more than 500 animals, and has celebrated outstanding conservation and breeding success saving species from extinction. Now, Monarto Safari Park is growing into the largest safari experience outside of Africa. Spanning more than 1,500 hectares and home to more than 50 species of exotic and native mammals, birds and reptiles, no two days at Monarto Safari Park are ever the same.

Category 31 Voters’ Choice Award (Accommodation)

Woodhouse Activity Centre

Supported by South Australian Tourism Commission

Nestled in lush Piccadilly in the Adelaide Hills, Woodhouse Activity Centre specialises in experience-based accommodation, offering quality time and screen-free family fun in the great outdoors on a 54-hectare bushland property. Diverse accommodation options range from rustic chalets, bunkhouses and a two-storey heritage-listed mansion, to camping or caravan adventures in the expansive camping fields. All overnight stays include unlimited access to a suite of onsite adventurous outdoor activities.

 

Category 32 Premier’s Award for Service Excellence

Murray River Trails

Supported by South Australian Tourism Commission

Murray River Trails embodies the magic of the Murray River, in a high conservancy landscape interpreted by passionate guides who share stories of its culture and nature along meandering waterways. Guided small group walking, paddling, cruising, and driving enables discovery of a delicate and precious oasis in the outback.

The entrant with the highest overall score in each category is declared the winner. This year, medals (silver and bronze) were awarded to the second-highest and third-highest scoring entrants provided they scored 67.5% or higher. ‘Hall of Fame’ recognition is awarded to entrants who win the same category three years in a row.