The results are in for the Out & About with Kids’ tenth annual Readers’ Choice Awards, with over 80,000 votes cast across 42 family travel categories around Australia and across the world. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists!
The results have delivered some surprises, along with perennial favourites and some newcomers making it onto the list of winners and finalists.
Elisa Elwin, publisher of Out & About with Kids says she is excited by the trends in family travel with multi-generational family holidays proving ever-popular.
“The family travel market is a significant and ever-growing segment, particularly with the trend to multi-generational holidays and immersive adventure,” Ms Elwin says. “Our annual Readers’ Choice Awards provide a valuable opportunity for that market to have their say. Every year we see firm family favourites emerge, but we also gain insight into the shifts and emerging trends in family holidays, which are reflected in readers choices.”
Melbourne emerged as Best Capital City in Australia for Families, Gold Coast came up trumps as Best Holiday Destination in Australia for Families and Dubbo claimed the podium for Best Regional Holiday Destination in Australia for Families. Other Australian winners were Perisher for Best Australian Ski Resort for Families, Warner Bros. Movie World for Best Theme Park or Amusement Park in Australia for Families, Paradise Resort Gold Coast was once again the winner of Best Family Hotel or Resort in Australia for Families while Big4 Holiday Parks won Best Holiday Park Group in Australia.
Perennial family favourite Fiji claimed two wins with Best International Holiday Destination for Families and Best International Holiday Destination for Families with Babies and Toddlers. Staying overseas, other winners were Anaheim for Best Destination in North America for Families, Thailand for Best Destination in Asia for Families, Japan for Best Destination for Immersing in Culture and New Zealand for Best Destination for Adventurous Families.
All of the winners and finalists are featured below.
Best destination
Best holiday destination in Australia for families
Winner
Gold Coast, Queensland
Runners up
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The Whitsundays, Queensland
Best destination in North America for families
Winner
Anaheim, California
Runners up
Orlando, Florida
Los Angeles, California
Best international ski resort for families
Winner
Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU, Japan
Runner up
Big White, Canada
Attractions
Best family attraction in Australia
Winner
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
Runners up
Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, Victoria
Penguin Parade, Phillip Island, Victoria
Best theme park or amusement park in Australia for families
Winner
Warner Bros. Movie World, Queensland
Runner up
SeaWorld, Queensland
Best animal attraction in Australia
Winner
Australia Zoo, Queensland
Runner up
Taronga Zoo Sydney, New South Wales
Best educational attraction for families in Australia
Winner
Questacon, ACT
Runner up
Scienceworks, Victoria
Experiences
Best indigenous experience in Australia for families
Winner
Uluru, Northern Territory
Runner up
Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
Best road trip in Australia for families
Winner
Great Ocean Road, Victoria
Runner up
Sydney to Byron Bay, New South Wales
Accommodation
Best family hotel or resort in Australia for families
Winner
Paradise Resort Gold Coast, Queensland
Runner up
Sea World Resort Gold Coast, Queensland
Best apartment or serviced apartment brand in Australia for families
Winner
Runners up
Best camping spot in Australia for families
Winner
Fraser Island, Queensland
Runners up
Gippsland Lakes, Victoria
Murray River, Victoria/New South Wales
Best luxury property in Australia
Winner
Fairmont Resort and Spa Blue Mountains, New South Wales
Runners up
Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa, Broome, Western Australia
Sheraton Mirage, Port Douglas, Queensland
Holiday parks
Best holiday park group in Australia
Winner
Runners up
Best family holiday parks around Australia – New South Wales
Winner
BIG4 Easts Beach, Kiama
Runners up
NRMA Ocean Beach Resort, Central Coast
North Star Holiday Resort, Hastings Point
Best family holiday parks around Australia – Queensland
Joint winners
BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park and BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort
Runners up
Best family holiday parks around Australia – Victoria
Winner
BIG4 Ballarat Goldfields Holiday Park
Runner up
Best family holiday parks around Australia – Tasmania
Winner
Runner up
Best family holiday parks around Australia – Northern Territory
Winner
BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park
Runner up
Best family holiday parks around Australia – South Australia
Winner
BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park
Runners up
Best family holiday parks around Australia – Western Australia
Winner
Runner up
Best international hotels and resorts – Bali
Winner
Runners up
Best international hotels and resorts – Mainland USA
Winner
Disneyland Resort Hotels, Anaheim, California
Runners up
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Florida
Great Wolf Lodge, Anaheim, California
Best international hotels and resorts – Hawai’ian Islands
Winner
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort
Runners up
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, Kapolei
Ka’anapali Beach Hotel, Maui
Best international hotels and resorts – Fiji (Viti Levu)
Winner
Runners up
Best international hotels and resorts – Fiji (other islands)
Winner
Runners up
Best international hotels and resorts – Pacific Islands
Winner
Pacific Resort Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Runners up
The Rarotongan Beach Resort and Lagoonarium, Cook Islands
Holiday Inn Resort, Vanuatu
Best international hotels and resorts – Europe
Winner
Runners up
LEGOLAND Castles, LEGOLAND Deutschland Resort, Germany
Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol, Cyprus
Best international hotels and resorts – Best luxury property
Winner
Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
Runners up
Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa, Hawai’I
Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, South Africa
