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The winners of the Golden Backpack Awards, Australia and New Zealand’s only dedicated awards program for the independent travel sector, have been announced at a gala dinner in Sydney. Run by TNT Magazine, the market-leading publisher of backpacker titles, the Golden Backpacks saw a national campaign in print and at www.tntdownunder.com to gather votes from consumers in more than 30 categories. Backpackers voted for their favourite hostel, tour and backpacker night in every State and Territory in Australia and across the Tasman. National awards recognised tour operators, transport providers and hostel booking engines while the general category saw awards for best travel agent, recruitment service and training provider. Awards were also presented for innovation and outstanding achievement in the industry. More than 11,000 votes were cast and the winners revealed on November 13 at a gala dinner hosted by Australian cricket icon Kerry O’Keeffe. The awards were sponsored by Tourism New South Wales, Tourism Tasmania, Tourism Victoria, The South Australian Tourism Commission, World Nomads Insurance, Tiger Airways, Sleepmaker, the Adventure Travel Trade Association, the Adventure Travel & Backpackers Expo, Backpacker Trade News and TNT Magazine.
TNT Magazine Publishing Director Martin Lane said: “Each vote is put through a rigorous checking process to ensure fair play – we only accept votes with verifiable contact details so the Golden Backpacks really do reflect the will of the people.”
BEST RECRUITMENT SERVICE Finalists: Geoffrey Nathan Visit OZ Travellers At Work Hays Recruitment Winner: Geoffrey Nathan
BEST HOSTEL IN NSW
Finalists: Westend Backpackers, Sydney Wake Up! Sydney Arts Factory, Byron Bay Base Backpackers, Sydney Winner: Wake Up! Sydney
BEST TOUR/ACTIVITY IN NSW
Finalists: Route 69 Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb Mojosurf Jim's Alternative Tours, Nimbin Winner: Mojosurf
BEST BACKPACKER NIGHT IN NSW
Finalists: Scubar, Sydney Cheeky Monkeys, Byron Bar Sidebar, Sydney The Gaff, Sydney Winner: Sidebar, Sydney
BEST HOSTEL IN TASMANIA Finalists: Arthouse Hostel, Launceston Central City Backpackers, Hobart YHA Hobart Pickled Frog, Hobart Winner: Central City Backpackers, Hobart
BEST TOUR/ACTIVITY IN TASMANIA Finalists: Bottom Bits Bus Tours Under Down Under Tours Port Arthur Tours Adventure Tours Australia, 6-day Taste of Tasmania Tour Winner: Adventure Tours Australia, 6-day Taste of Tasmania Tour
BEST BACKPACKER NIGHT IN TASMANIA Finalists: Republic Bar & Café, Hobart Irish Murphy’s, Hobart Pickled Frog, Hobart Alley Cat Bar, Hobart Winner: Republic Bar & Café, Hobart
BEST HOSTEL IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY Finalists: Haven Resort, Alice Springs Annie's Place, Alice Springs YHA, Darwin Chilli's Backpacker Hostel, Darwin Winner: Annie's Place, Alice Springs
BEST TOUR/ACTIVITY IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY Finalists: Kakadu Dreams Mulga's Adventures, Alice Springs The Rock Tour Adventure Tours Australia, 3 day 4WD Kakadu Tour Winner: The Rock Tour
BEST BACKPACKER NIGHT IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY Finalists: Annie's Place, Alice Springs Melaleuca on Mitchell, Darwin The Vic Hotel, Darwin Bojangles, Alice Springs Winner: Melaleuca on Mitchell, Darwin
BEST HOSTEL IN VICTORIA Finalists: Urban Central Hostel, Melbourne Nomads Industry, Melbourne Cooee on St Kilda Base Backpackers, St Kilda Winner: Nomads Industry, Melbourne
BEST TOUR/ACTIVITY IN VICTORIA Finalists: Bunyip Tours Phillip Island Penguin Tour The Official Neighbours Tour Groovy Grape, Great Ocean Road Tour Winner: The Official Neighbours Tour
BEST BACKPACKER NIGHT IN VICTORIA Finalists: The Official Neighbours Night Urban Central Bar, Melbourne The Red Eye Bar, Base Backpackers, St Kilda Nomads Bar, Melbourne Winner: The Official Neighbours Night
BEST HOSTEL IN QUEENSLAND Finalists: Beaches, Hervey Bay Gilligan's, Cairns Bunk, Brisbane Calypso Backpackers, Cairns Winner: Bunk, Brisbane
BEST TOUR/ACTIVITY IN QUEENSLAND Finalists: Pro Dive, Cairns Cool Dingo Tour, Fraser Island Down Under Dive Skydive Cairns Winner: Cool Dingo Tour, Fraser Island
BEST BACKPACKER NIGHT IN QUEENSLAND Finalists: Birdee Num Nums, Brisbane Rhinobar, Cairns Gilligan's, Cairns The Woolshed, Cairns Winner: The Woolshed, Cairns
BEST HOSTEL IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA Finalists: Adelaide Central YHA Annie's Place, Adelaide Backpack Oz, Adelaide Shakespeare Backpackers, Adelaide Winner: Adelaide Central YHA
BEST TOUR/ACTIVITY IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA Finalists: Heading Bush Surf and Sun Groovy Grape, Barossa Valley Tour Sealink Kangaroo Island Tour Winner: Groovy Grape, Barossa Valley Tour
BEST BACKPACKER NIGHT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA Finalists: PJ O’Brien’s, Adelaide Backpack Oz, Adelaide Adelaide Central YHA Cannon Street Backpackers, Adelaide Winner: Backpack Oz, Adelaide
BEST HOSTEL IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA Finalists: Swan Barracks, Perth The Witch’s Hat, Perth Perth City YHA Billabong Backpackers Resort, Perth Winner: The Witch’s Hat, Perth
BEST TOUR/ACTIVITY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA Finalists: Easyrider Adventure Travel Ningaloo Blue, Whale & Shark Dive Tours Western Xposure 10 days Perth to Broome Tour Planet Perth Winner: Easyrider Adventure Travel
BEST BACKPACKER NIGHT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA Finalists: The Mustang Bar, Perth Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, Shark Bay The Deen, Perth Cottesloe Hotel, Perth Winner: The Deen, Perth
BEST HOSTEL IN NEW ZEALAND Finalists: Base Backpackers, Auckland ACB Fern Lodge, Nelson Base Backpackers, Christchurch Aspen on Queenstown Winner: Base Backpackers, Christchurch
BEST TOUR/ACTIVITY IN NEW ZEALAND Finalists: AJ Hackett Auckland Bridge Bungy Shotover Canyon Swing AJ Hackett Nevis Bungy, Queenstown Nzone, Skydive Queenstown Winner: Shotover Canyon Swing
BEST BACKPACKER NIGHT IN NEW ZEALAND Finalists: The Lava Bar, Hot Rock Rotorua, Base Backpackers Fat Camel Bar, Auckland The World Bar, Queenstown Altitude Bar, Base Backpackers, Queenstown Winner: Lava Bar, Hot Rock Rotorua, Base Backpackers
BEST TOUR OPERATOR (AUSTRALIA) Finalists: Adventure Tours Australia Contiki Oz Experience Groovy Grape Winner: Groovy Grape
BEST TOUR OPERATOR (NEW ZEALAND) Finalists: Magic Kiwi Experience Awesome Adventures Stray Winner: Kiwi Experience
BEST TRANSPORT COMPANY (AUSTRALIA) Finalists: Travellers Auto Barn Premier Motor Service Wicked Camper Greyhound Winner: Travellers Auto Barn
BEST TRANSPORT COMPANY (NEW ZEALAND) Finalists: Backpacker Campervans Spaceships Jucy Rentals Exploremore Car Rentals Winner: Jucy Rentals
BEST HOSTEL BOOKING ENGINE Finalists: Yha.com.au Hostelbookers.com Statravel.com.au Hostelworld.com Winner: Hostelworld.com
BEST TRAVEL AGENT Finalists: STA Travel Peterpans Adventure Travel Cheap Az Travel Beaches Travel Brisbane Winner: Peterpans Adventure Travel
BEST TRAINING PROVIDER Finalists: Visit OZ Training Course Professionals TAFE NSW PADI Winner: Training Course Professionals
INNOVATION AWARD Winners: Stray World Nomads Insurance
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Winners: John and Sally Bush, Beaches Hervey Bay and Airlie Beach
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