Major Tourist Attractions

Monarto Safari Park

Supported by Morphettville Racecourse

The Wild is Calling at Monarto Safari Park – one of the world’s largest open-range safari parks. Just an hour from Adelaide, this major tourist attraction offers immersive safari experiences where animals roam expansive natural habitats. It is home to five Asian Elephants and one of Australia’s largest lion prides and giraffe herds.

Silver
Adelaide Oval

Bronze
Adelaide Botanic Garden

Tourist Attractions

Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society

Supported by Flinders University

Established in 1974, Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society is a proudly volunteer-run heritage railway preserving a spectacular section of the original Ghan railway. Visitors experience authentic steam and heritage diesel journeys aboard beautifully restored rollingstock while discovering South Australia’s rich railway history.

Silver
Nilpena Ediacara National Park

Bronze
MOD.

Major Festivals & Events

Illuminate Adelaide

Supported by Festival City Adelaide

Held annually in July, Illuminate Adelaide brings together the best in art, music and technology from around Australia and the world. This major event welcomes people from all walks of life to experience free and ticketed events by local, national and international artists.

Silver
Adelaide Festival

Festivals & Events

Tunarama Festival

Supported by Festival City Adelaide

Tunarama Festival is the flagship celebration of Port Lincoln, Australia’s Seafood Capital, on the Eyre Peninsula. Founded in 1962 as a Blessing of the Fleet and home of the World Championship Tuna Toss, it returned from a three-year hiatus in January 2026, reimagined by the City of Port Lincoln.

Silver
Streaky Sounds 2026 Music Festival

Bronze
The Barossa Council – Barossa Food & Wine Village

Ecotourism

Jurlique Farm

Supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission

Jurlique is a global leader in natural skincare, founded over 40 years ago in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills. At the heart of the brand is its iconic Biodynamic Farm where visitors can experience the farm firsthand, gaining insight into Jurlique’s unique seed to skin journey.

Silver
Coodlie Park Eco Retreat

Cultural Tourism

Flamboyance Tours

Supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission

Flamboyance Tours operates walking tours across Adelaide’s CBD and Port Adelaide, providing a comprehensive perspective of the South Australian capital. Owned and operated by Adelaide-born guide Katina, stories are shared through observance of heritage areas and immersion in local understanding.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences

Wadna

Supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission

Wadna, in the Flinders Ranges, is a 100% Aboriginal-owned family run business deeply rooted in Adnyamathanha Culture and community. Unique, tailored Cultural tours, workshops, and cultural engagements provide meaningful interactions between visitors and one of Australia’s oldest living cultures.

Tourism Retail, Hire & Services

SA eBikes

Supported by TAFE SA

SA eBikes is a premier electric bicycle hire and tour operator, offering a sustainable way to explore the iconic McLaren Vale wine region. Operating 365 days a year from the McLaren Vale Visitor Centre, the business provides a high-tech fleet featuring many styles of e-bikes, accessible e-trikes, and e-TukTuks.

Visitor Information Services

Whyalla Visitor Centre

Supported by the LGA South Australia

The Whyalla Visitor Centre, operated by Whyalla City Council, is the beating heart of Whyalla’s visitor experience. The Centre’s passionate team goes beyond service – they share Whyalla’s history and future with pride and care – guided by values of teamwork, pride and excellence.

Silver
Fleurieu Coast Visitor Centre

Business Event Venues

Adelaide Oval

Supported by Adelaide Airport

While renowned as South Australia’s home of major sporting and cultural events, Adelaide Oval is also the state’s foremost functions, conferencing and business events destination. Spanning 25 indoor and outdoor spaces, the venue offers world-class stadium capabilities, elite inhouse audio-visual, award-winning culinary design and a dedicated functions and events team.

Silver
Crowne Plaza Adelaide Mawson Lakes

Tour & Transport Operators

Discover Adelaide Tours

Supported by Qantas

Discover Adelaide Tours delivers premium small-group and private touring experiences from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island, the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Victor Harbor. Specialising in full-day tours and extended all-inclusive itineraries, the business offers seamless, well-curated journeys for visitors seeking meaningful and memorable South Australian experiences.

Silver
Barossa Bespoke Tours

Bronze
Barossa Helicopters

Adventure Tourism

Woodhouse Adventure Park

Supported by Tourism Australia

Set among 54 hectares of tranquil bushland in the Piccadilly Valley, just 25 minutes from Adelaide is Woodhouse Adventure Park. Immersed in nature and hosting a thrilling mix of outdoor adventures, every stay weaves connection, comfort, and character – creating unforgettable escapes for families, schools, and groups.

Silver
Spencer Gulf Adventures

Tourism Marketing & Campaigns

Follow Your Wanderer

Supported by Tourism Australia

Follow Your Wanderer, created by Caravan & Camping SA and NT, transforms caravan and camping from a product category into a lifestyle experience. The campaign inspires people to experience the unique freedom and connection that self-drive travel offers. 

Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services

Monkey Nut Cafe

Supported by Restaurant & Catering Australia

Nestled among the vines of Barossa Valley’s Kies Family Wines estate, Monkey Nut Café is a premier, family-friendly dining destination bridging a vital regional gap by offering chef-prepared meals with a menu strictly capped at twenty-six dollars. Monkey Nut Café delivers unpretentious, high-quality food, genuine Barossa hospitality, and unforgettable experiences for every single generation.

Silver
Boston Bay Diner

Bronze
Bond Store Wallaroo

Tourism Wineries

Kies Family Wines

Supported by Altitude Advisory

Kies Family Wines is a family-owned winery in Lyndoch, the southern gateway to the Barossa Valley. The Kies family settled in Lyndoch in 1857 and has grown grapes across six generations. In 1985, Ken and Tina Kies opened the Cellar Door with a simple philosophy that still guides the family today: everyone is welcome.

Silver
Kimbolton Wines

Bronze
Gibson Wines

Tourism Distilleries & Breweries

Never Never Distilling Co

Supported by Adelaide University

Never Never’s Distillery Door in McLaren Vale offers visitors a range of experiences that celebrate bold flavours, award-winning gins and the very best of South Australian hospitality. Visitors are invited to ‘Step Into the Never Never‘ for premium masterclasses, guided tastings and cocktail flights – all delivered by a passionate team of local gin experts.

Silver
Twenty Third Street Distillery

Caravan & Holiday Parks

Minlaton Caravan Park

Supported by Gallagher Insurance Brokers

A family-owned gem, Minlaton Caravan Park sits in the scenic township of Minlaton, a short drive from many of the Yorke Peninsula’s picturesque beaches. With an abundance of native trees, open space and local wildlife, the park offers a range of accommodation, including Sites, Cabins, Villa and luxury rooms.

Silver
BIG4 Berri Riverside Holiday Park

Bronze
Marion Bay Caravan Park

Hosted Accommodation

Henders House at Almerta Station

Supported by Airbnb Australia

Henders House at Almerta Station invites guests to step back in time and experience the simplicity, resilience and spirit of early settlers. Set within a beautifully restored, early 1900s cottage, guests are immersed in the warmth of thick stone walls, vast Flinders Ranges landscapes and the rhythms of life on a working sheep station.

Unique Accommodation

Mount Little Station

Supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission

Mount Little Station is a 24,000 acre working sheep property offering unique accommodation in the heart of the Flinders Ranges. Just 15 minutes from historic Hawker, it blends authentic outback adventure with comfort and connection. 

Silver
Woodhouse Adventure Park

Bronze
River Murray Houseboats

Self-Contained Accommodation

Old Coach Road Estate – Hall of Fame

Supported by the Adelady + hello SA

Old Coach Road Estate is a self-contained luxury retreat on a private 201-acre working Black Angus beef cattle farm. Surrounded by rolling farmland with panoramic views to Granite Island and the Southern Ocean, guests reconnect with nature, each other and themselves. 

This is the third consecutive year Old Coach Road Estate has won this category. They have now entered the South Australian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame.

Silver
Riesling Trail and Clare Valley Cottages

3-3.5 Star Accommodation

Toms Court Hotel 

Supported by Catapult Wealth

Proudly South Australian-owned and part of Legacy Hotels & Apartments, Toms Court Hotel brings independent hospitality to a central Adelaide CBD location. Its 71 contemporary rooms and suites include top-floor balcony accommodation with sweeping city and Adelaide Hills views.

Silver
Coodlie Park Eco Retreat

4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation

Oval Hotel – Hall of Fame

Supported by Accommodation Australia SA – a division of AHA|SA

Set at the iconic Adelaide Oval, Oval Hotel is Australia’s first stadium hotel. The Oval Hotel experience is characterised by exceptional local food and wine, personalised service, integrated technology and stylish design – all in an environment that simply cannot be replicated.  

This is the third consecutive year Oval Hotel has won this category. They have now entered the South Australian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame. 

Silver
Crowne Plaza Adelaide Mawson Lakes

Bronze
Atura Adelaide Airport

5 Star Luxury Accommodation

Sequoia Lodge

Supported by Accommodation Australia SA – a division of AHA|SA

Sequoia Lodge is an intimate adults-only luxury lodge, carved into the escarpment of Mount Lofty Estate in the Adelaide Hills. Home to 14 luxury guest suites with 180-degree views of the Piccadilly Valley, guests enjoy artesian spring-fed pools, a day spa, walking trails and the three-hatted Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant

New Tourism Business

The Stay Edit

Supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission

The Stay Edit is South Australia’s first curated tourism discovery platform, connecting travellers with exceptional stays and elevated experiences. By inspiring travel through carefully curated recommendations, storytelling and experience-led discovery, The Stay Edit is helping more travellers discover the places that make South Australia unforgettable.

Excellence in Food Tourism

Anita Robin – Swiss Precision. Fleurieu Flavour

Supported by International College of Hotel Management

Anita Robin – Swiss Precision. Fleurieu Flavour. is a boutique culinary tourism experience in Goolwa, on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Swiss-born chef and educator Anita Robin welcomes guests into her rammed-earth home for intimate, hands-on cooking classes, premium masterclasses and Cook & Stay overnight experiences.

Silver
Flamboyance Tours

Bronze
Fleurieu Food and Wine

Excellence in Accessible Tourism

Illuminate Adelaide

Supported by Office for Autism

Held annually in July, Illuminate Adelaide brings together the best in art, music and technology from around Australia and the world. This major event welcomes people from all walks of life to experience free and ticketed events by local, national and international artists.

Silver
MOD.

Outstanding Contribution

Jane and Ross Fargher

Supported by Tourism Industry Council SA

For over three decades, Jane and Ross Fargher have made an outstanding contribution to tourism in the Flinders Ranges and Outback.

Through vision and an unwavering commitment to their region, they transformed the Prairie Hotel into an internationally recognised destination, helping establish the Flinders Ranges as a compelling tourism destination. Their pioneering approach to native and regional produce, support for major media productions, and generous hospitality have strengthened the region’s profile, economy and community.

Their stewardship of the internationally significant Ediacaran fossil beds at Nilpena demonstrates their extraordinary commitment to tourism, conservation and science for future generations.

Young Achiever

Lauren Schroeder

Supported by Tourism Industry Council SA

A UniSA graduate, nominated by Adelaide University, Lauren Schroeder is now the Tourism Manager at Zoos South Australia. Her career journey so far has taken her from South Australia’s small business tourism sector to the Pacific and the iconic red centre with roles in visitor operations, events and industry development. In her current role she blends a passion for tourism and conservation and is driven to make a meaningful contribution to tourism in South Australia. 

People’s Choice Award – Experience or Service

Monarto Safari Park

Supported by SALIFE

Monarto Safari Park has confirmed its status as a much-loved South Australian destination for Australians with the People’s Choice – Experience or Service Award!

People’s Choice Award – Accommodation

Monarto Safari Resort

Supported by SALIFE

Nestled in the heart of pristine wilderness, Monarto Safari Resort offers premium accommodation, authentic experiences and unique views of native and African wildlife. Conservation is their purpose and a portion of every stay goes to saving threatened species through the Zoos SA Conservation Fund.

Opened in April 2026, Safari Lodge redefined luxury safari experiences in Australia, combining conservation, connection and the comforts of world-class hospitality.