Press Release

Tasmania Tops the Nation at Gourmet Travel Awards

3 June 2008

Tasmania has outclassed its Australian counterparts by achieving the status of most decorated state as voted by readers of Australian Gourmet Traveller.

The Minister for Economic Development and Tourism, Paula Wriedt, and the Minister for Environment Parks Heritage and the Arts, Michelle O’Byrne today congratulated the four Tasmanian tourism ventures declared Australia’s best at the 2008 Australian Gourmet Traveller Travel Awards held in Sydney last night.

The award winning ventures were:

  • Freycinet Experience Walk - best eco-tourism experience.
  • The Port Arthur Historic Site – best heritage tourism destination.
  • Cradle Mountain Lodge – best lodge accommodation.
  • Maria Island Walk – best adventure tourism award.

Ms Wriedt said the awards were a tremendous accolade for the State, and showed that Tasmania’s tourism experiences ranked as some of the very best in the country.

“These awards highlight how well positioned Tasmania is to build on the strength of its natural assets.

“The result also supports the State Government’s commitment to further strengthening Tasmania’s brand, which will allow the tourism industry to maximise its marketing potential.”

Ms O’Byrne said the Maria Island Walk was also voted by six industry experts as the country's best eco-tourism initiative.

“Private operations such as the Maria Island Walk and the Freycinet Experience are excellent examples of quality visitor experiences provided in partnership with the Parks and Wildlife Service,” Ms O’Byrne said.

Ms O’Byrne praised the professionalism and dedication of the Port Arthur Historic Site staff for achieving its latest award, stamping itself as a nationally-recognised tourist attraction.

“This accolade follows the site recently being named the best cultural experience in Australia by Travelling in Australia magazine.”

“There is a huge commitment to conserve this very special place and to present it and its stories to visitors from all over the world.”

Ms Wriedt said the Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine was arguably the country’s premier travel and food magazine with an overall readership of 300,000.