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| Best Vanilla Slice: Bridgewater Bakehouse, |
Celebrating quintessential Aussie travel experiences across six categories, the awards highlight the unique joys synonymous with local travel – hot chips on the beach, regional bakeries serving up nostalgic baked goods, country pubs full of colourful characters, and stunning hotel pools in iconic Aussie settings. In addition, this year’s awards also set out to profile the many local legends, businesses and attractions that make communities tick and represent what travelling in Australia is all about.
Now in their fourth year, the awards aim to encourage Aussies to explore their own backyard and support their favourite businesses – more relevant than ever following the continued challenges faced by the tourism and hospitality industries over the past 18 months.
For the nearly four in 10 Aussies (38%)* who feel that they have only touched the surface when it comes to Australian travel, the promise of eased travel restrictions this summer means that, whether you’re looking to taste test the country’s best hot chips, or relax in a cabana beside a hotel pool, it’s a great time to get out and explore the underrated gems that Australia does best.
Raking in thousands of nominations from all over the country, it’s clear the little things in life often stir the greatest debate. Whether you prefer chicken salt or gravy on your chips, call it a snot block over a vanilla slice, or demand a savoury rather than sweet jaffle, this year’s awards continue to uncover some of Australia’s best kept local secrets.
Wotif 2021 Uniquely Aussie Award National Winners –
- Best Jaffle: Miss Jaffles, Cronulla, NSW – With 15 different jaffles on the menu, there’s one for every occasion, like the Miss Pizzeria or the decadent dessert jaffle Miss Biscoff – think caramilk, biscoff, strawberries and ice cream with the crimped toasted bread we all know and love.
- Best Vanilla Slice: Bridgewater Bakehouse, Bridgewater & Bendigo, VIC – Melt in your mouth goodness can be found at Bridgewater Bakehouse, with their famous vanilla slice offering the perfect ratio of silky-smooth custard and crisp (never soggy) pastry, topped with a “can’t help yourself” layer of icing.
- Best Country Pub: Beechwood Hotel, Beechwood, NSW – It’s all about the people you meet when visiting a country pub, and Beechwood Hotel is said to be at the heart of its community. With friendly service, great food and a true-blue history (if you feel like ditching the car, there’s a spot out front for your horse), this humble pub offers some of Australia’s best country hospitality.
- Best Hot Chips: Chicken Chef, Blair Athol, SA – Said to have mastered the crispy on the outside, soft on the inside requirement of any good hot chip, Chicken Chef’s “mouthwatering” hot chips and famous salt are beloved by locals. The secret to their winning recipe? No short cuts. Hand-made with the freshest potatoes and double cooked for that signature crunch.
- Best Hotel Pool: JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa, Gold Coast, QLD – The “magical lagoon” at this Gold Coast resort is anything but your average hotel swimming pool. Whether it’s snorkeling with tropical fish, gliding down the waterslide or cocktails in your cabana, everyone’s a winner here.Best National Park: Kakadu National Park, Jabiru, NT – Australia’s largest national park is also the best according to Aussies, thanks to its historical and cultural significance, beautiful scenery and incredible wildlife. A “truly spectacular experience” that every Aussie needs to do.
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| Best Jaffle: Miss Jaffles, Cronulla, NSW |
While everyone thinks their favourite haunt is the best, there are a few things it seems all Aussies can agree on:
- Move over vegemite: vanilla slices are the unofficial delicacy of Australia, and perhaps most contentious, generating the largest number of nominations.
- If the vanilla slice doesn’t “melt in your mouth” from the first bite, you’re not doing it right. The “creaminess of the custard” and the “flakiness of the pastry” needs to be spot on. Size really does matter, with Aussies wanting a slice that’s “big enough to share” (not that you'd want to).
- The humble Aussie jaffle has sure come a long way. These days, it’s all about variety, with “cool flavour combos” and “fancy fillings” the deciding factor between amateur and gold-tier status.
- When it comes to country pubs, “country characters” and “solid vibes” are mandatory. Good, cold beer on tap and a schnitty certainly don’t hurt either, along with flat screens to show the footy.
- The best hot chips have got to have that crunch factor while remaining fluffy on the inside, of course. As for size? While thin chips were slightly more popular, what Aussies are really after is the goldilocks of chips, “Not too thin, but not too fat”.
- As for national parks, this is where Aussies really showed their pride, appreciative of the country’s incredible natural spaces, sometimes scary wildlife, and rich cultural history.
Finch continues: “With an increased appetite for domestic exploration, and to satisfy Australia’s ongoing (friendly) state rivalries, this year Wotif is again revealing each state’s finalists. For those wanting to take their time exploring or unable to travel interstate right now, we’re excited to recognise the top contenders from around Australia, proving that no matter where you are in Australia, there’s a local gem worthy of the support.”
As Aussies gear up for an epic summer, the awards are a reminder that often the best holiday memories are made by taking your time and enjoying the underrated travel experiences. Over four in 10 (42%) Aussies agree that doing so, allows you to get a better feel for the area, discover new things and connect with locals, while 40% of Aussies also say the laid-back, friendly nature of Australia makes travelling domestically a refreshing experience*.
To discover this year’s best Uniquely Aussie experiences head to www.wotif.com/aussieawards.
Wotif Uniquely Aussie Awards – National Finalists
Best Jaffle | Best Vanilla Slice |
1. Miss Jaffles, Cronulla, NSW 2. Foxtrot Unicorn, Perth, WA 3. TINY of Beechworth, Beechworth, VIC 4. Union Kiosk, Melbourne, VIC 5. Bad Frankie, Fitzroy, VIC 6. Jaffle Shack, Geraldton, WA 7. Jaffelato, Rockingham, WA 8. Hendrik’s Cognac and Wine Bar, Crows Nest, NSW 9. Stairwell Coffee, Surfers Paradise, QLD 10. Waffles and Jaffles, Coonalpyn, SA | 1. Bridgewater Bakehouse, Bridgewater & Bendigo, VIC 2. Ross Bakery Inn, Ross, TAS 3. Banana Boogie Bakery, Belair, SA 4. Vanilla Slice Café, Sorrento, VIC 5. The French Lettuce, Carlton, VIC 6. Flinders Vanilla Slice, Cheltenham, VIC 7. Gumnut Patisserie, Mittagong, Bowral & Berrima, NSW 8. Preece’s at the Jetty, Redcliffe, QLD 9. Café Bear & Scoobs, Geelong, VIC 10. Bourkies Bake House, Woodend, VIC |
Best Country Pub | Best Hot Chips |
1. Beechwood Hotel, Beechwood, NSW 2. Royal Hotel, Mendooran, NSW 3. Daly Waters Pub, Daly Waters, NT 4. Victoria Hotel, Bathurst, NSW 5. Settlers Tavern, Margaret River, WA 6. Mount Warning Hotel, Uki, NSW 7. Nindigully Pub, Nindigully, QLD 8. Meringandan Pub, Toowoomba, QLD 9. Northcliffe Hotel & Motor Inn, Northcliffe, WA 10. Noojee Hotel, Noojee, VIC | 1. Chicken Chef, Blair Athol, SA 2. Pelican Rocks Seafood Restaurant & Café, Greenwell Point, NSW 3. Kingsley’s Chicken, Canberra, ACT 4. Jesters, WA 5. Cripps Bakehouse, Bellerive, TAS 6. Sotos Fish Shop, Semaphore, SA 7. Chicken Cave, Fulham Gardens, SA 8. Super Rooster, Toowoomba, QLD 9. The Yeeros Shop, Marrickville, NSW 10. Parkdale Free Range Charcoal Chicken, VIC |
Best Hotel Pool | Best National Park |
1. JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa, Gold Coast, QLD 2. Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, Port Douglas, QLD 3. Riley, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort, Cairns, QLD 4. Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW 5. Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, an IHG Resort, Hope Island, QLD 6. Emporium South Bank, Brisbane, QLD 7. Intercontinental Hayman Island, QLD 8. Palazzo Versace Gold Coast, QLD | 1. Kakadu National Park, NT 2. Litchfield National Park, NT 3. Royal National Park, NSW 4. Karijini National Park, WA 5. Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, TAS 6. Grampians National Park, VIC 7. Daintree National Park, QLD 8. Noosa National Park, QLD 9. Wilsons Promontory National Park, VIC 10. Francine National Park, TAS |
Wotif Uniquely Aussie Awards – State Finalists
New South Wales | Victoria |
Best Jaffle: Miss Jaffles, Cronulla Best Vanilla Slice: Gumnut Patisserie, Mittagong, Bowral & Berrima Best Country Pub: Beechwood Hotel, Beechwood Best Hot Chips: Pelican Rocks Seafood Restaurant & Café, Greenwell Point Best Hotel Pool: Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, Sydney Best National Park: Royal National Park | Best Jaffle: TINY of Beechworth, Beechworth Best Vanilla Slice: Bridgewater Bakehouse, Bridgewater & Bendigo Best Country Pub: Noojee Hotel, Noojee Best Hot Chips: Parkdale Free Range Charcoal Chicken, Parkdale Best Hotel Pool: Art Series – The Chen, Box Hill Best National Park: Wilsons Promontory National Park |
Queensland | Northern Territory |
Best Jaffle: Stairwell Coffee, Surfers Paradise Best Vanilla Slice: Preece’s at the Jetty, Redcliffe Best Country Pub: Nindigully Pub, Nindigully Best Hot Chips: Super Rooster, Toowoomba Best Hotel Pool: JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa Best National Park: Daintree National Park | Best Jaffle: The Black Russian Caravan Bar, Katherine Best Vanilla Slice: Kurt’s Cakes, Darwin Best Country Pub: Daly Waters Pub, Daly Waters Best Hot Chips: Adelaide River Inn Pub & Bistro Best Hotel Pool: Mindil Beach Casino Resort, Darwin Best National Park: Kakadu National Park |
Western Australia | Australian Capital Territory |
Best Jaffle: Foxtrot Unicorn, Perth Best Vanilla Slice: The Shearing Shed, Northhampton Best Country Pub: Settlers Tavern, Margaret River Best Hot Chips: Jesters, WA Best Hotel Pool: Cable Beach Resort, Broome Best National Park: Karijini National Park | Best Jaffle: Intra Café, Campbell Best Vanilla Slice: Dobinsons Bakery, Belconnen Best Country Pub: The Tradies, Dickson Best Hot Chips: Kingsley’s Chicken, Canberra Best Hotel Pool: Knightsbridge, Kingston Best National Park: Booderee National Park |
South Australia | Tasmania |
Best Jaffle: Waffles and Jaffles, Coonalpyn Best Vanilla Slice: Banana Boogie Bakery, Belair Best Country Pub: Overland Corner Hotel, Overland Corner Best Hot Chips: Chicken Chef, Blair Athol Best Hotel Pool: Hilton Hotel, Adelaide Best National Park: Belair National Park | Best Jaffle: St J's Deli, Hobart Best Vanilla Slice: Ross Bakery Inn, Ross Best Country Pub: Derwent Bridge Wilderness Hotel Best Hot Chips: Cripps Bakehouse Bellerive Best Hotel Pool: Aspect Tamar Valley Resort Best National Park: Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park |
For further information or for Wotif and local business interview requests, please contact team-Wotif@Ogivly.com.au
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