North Coast Shines at NSW Tourism Awards

Tourism operators from across the North Coast took home six Gold Awards, six Silver, eight Bronze and one Highly Commended at the NSW Tourism Awards Gala Presentation in Sydney last night.

Restaurants and cafes from across the region dominated the Restaurant and Catering Services category with Port Macquarie’s The Corner Restaurant taking home the Gold, The Byron Bay Beach Café taking home the Silver and Wingham’s Bent on Food the Bronze.

The Honeycomb Valley Farm in Nabiac won Gold in the Hosted Accommodation category and also took home Silver for New Tourism Development.

Finalists from throughout the North Coast Destination Network represented one of the strongest regional groups among the state-wide finalists in the awards.

“We are so proud of the many winners across the North Coast and the quality and variety of our finalists in 2013,” said North Coast Destination Network Executive Officer, Ms Belinda Novicky.

The North Coast Winners on the night were:

• Major Festival and Events: Gold winner status for the Byron Bay Bluesfest
• Major Tour and/or Transport Operations: Gold to Port Stephen’s Moonshadow Cruises
• New Tourism Development: Silver to the Manning Valley’s Honeycomb Valley Farm
• Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries: Bronze to Bago Vineyards, Greater Port Macquarie
• Destination Marketing: Silver for The Legendary Pacific Coast self-drive touring route
• Festivals and Events: Bronze for Port Macquarie Hastings Council’s Tastings on Hastings food and wine festival
• Unique Accommodation: Silver to Byron Bay Cottages
• Business Tourism: Bronze for Shoal Bay Resort & Spa
• A Trifecta for North Coast Tourism in the Tourism Restaurant and Catering Services:
  • Gold to The Corner Restaurant, Port Macquarie
  • Silver to Byron Beach Café
  • Bronze to Wingham’s Bent on Food\
• Visitor Information and Services: Silver to Clarence River Tourism, Bronze to Lismore and Nimbin Visitor Information Centre
• Heritage and Cultural Tourism: Silver to the Glasshouse, Port Macquarie
• Local Government Award for Tourism: Gold Port Macquarie Hastings Council
• Tourist and Caravan Parks: Gold to Nambucca River Tourist Park, Highly Commended to Suffolk Beach Holiday Park
• Indigenous Tourism: Bronze to Arakawai Dolphin Dreaming Cape Byron Sate Conservation Area
• Deluxe Accommodation: Bronze to Shoal Bay Resort & Spa Farm, Manning Valley
• Hosted Accommodation: Gold to Honeycomb Valley Farm – Farmstay
• Tourist Attractions: Bronze to Dolphin Marine Magic – Pet Porpoise Pool