The North Queensland Tourism and Events Awards recognise and foster excellence in our region’s tourism industry. This celebration provides the industry with a platform to acknowledge the people, places, organisations and events that have gone above and beyond to offer superior tourism experiences to visitors in the Townsville North Queensland region. 

This event occurs annually, and combines application submission for individual award categories, as well as a public vote process to award People's Choice categories.

Congratulations to the past winners

2024

People's Choice Awards

Accommodation - Hotel
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino
*Hall of Fame

Accommodation – Caravan and Holiday Parks
Winner: Charters Towers Tourist Park

Dining: Restaurant
Winner: Shorehouse

Dining: Café and Casual Dining
Winner: Hervey's Range Heritage Rooms

Tours, Attractions and Experiences
Winner: Billabong Sanctuary

Bars, Breweries and Distilleries
Winner: Ardo Rooftop

Business Conferencing Venue
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino

Transport and Hire Services
Winner: SeaLink North Queensland
*Hall of Fame

Best Major Event
Winner: Queensland Country Bank Stadium - P!nk Summer Carnival

Best Destination Event
Winner: Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week

New Tourism Business or Experience
Winner: Ardo

Excellence Awards

Excellence in Accessible Tourism
Winner: Aquascene Magnetic Island
Highly Commended: Magnetic Island Tours

Excellence in Sustainability
Winner: Pilgrim Magnetic Island
Highly Commended: Billabong Sanctuary

Best of Queensland

100% Best of Queensland Score

  • Aquascene Magnetic Island 
  • Big Mama Sailing
  • BIG4 Townsville Gateway Holiday Park 
  • BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks - Rowes Bay
  • BIG4 Eco Resort Townsville
  • Beachside Magnetic Harbour Apartments
  • Billabong Sanctuary
  • Charters Towers Tourist Park (G'Day Park)
  • Orpheus Island Lodge
  • SeaLink North Queensland
  • Tasman Holiday Parks - Rollingstone
  • Yongala Dive 
Individual Awards

Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer
Winner: Robyn Edwards, Townsville Visitor Information Centre

Young Achiever Award
Winner: Kyle Morris

Richard Power Award for Outstanding Contribution
Winner: Chris Morris and Michael Jones

2023

People's Choice Awards

Accommodation - Hotel
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino

Accommodation - Motel
Winner: Kernow Charters Towers

Accommodation – Caravan and Holiday Parks
Winner: Townsville Eco Resort

Dining: Restaurant
Winner: Shorehouse

Dining: Café and Casual Dining
Winner: Hervey's Range Heritage Rooms

Tours, Attractions and Experiences
Winner: Texas Longhorns Tours

Bars, Breweries and Distilleries
Winner: Townsville Brewing Co.

Business Conferencing Venue
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino

Transport and Hire Services
Winner: SeaLink

Best Major Event
Winner: Women's State of Origin (Townsville 2023)

Best Destination Event
Winner: Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week

New Tourism Business or Experience
Winner: Pilgrim Adventures - Pilgrim Magnetic Island

Excellence Awards

Excellence in Accessible Tourism
Winner: North Australian Festival of Arts

Excellence in Sustainability
Winner: Aquascene Magnetic Island

Best of Queensland

100% Best of Queensland Score

  • Big Mama Sailing
  • BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks - Rowes Bay
  • Billabong Sanctuary
  • Discovery Parks - Townsville
  • Orpheus Island Lodge
  • SeaLink
  • Tasman Holiday Parks - Rollingstone
  • The Ville Resort-Casino
  • Townsville Eco Resort
Individual Awards

Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer
Winner: Rini Dallavanzi, Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre

Young Achiever Award
Winner: Georgie Arnold

Richard Power Award for Outstanding Contribution
Winner: Mick and Lynda Bethel, Texas Longhorn Tours

Lifetime Achievement Award
Steve 'Pricey’ Price

2022

Accommodation
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino
Runner Up: Kernow Charters Towers

Dining
Winner: Cowboys Leagues Club
Runner Up: A Touch Of Salt

Tours and Attraction
Winner: Texas Longhorns Tours
Runner Up: Pilgrim Sailing

Transport
Winner: SeaLink North Queensland
Runner Up: Magnetic Island Ferries

Best Major Event
Winner: North Queensland Toyota Cowboys (Cowboys v Broncos)
Runner Up: North Australia Festival of Arts

Best Destination Event
Winner: North Queensland Toyota Cowboys – Laurie Spina Shield
Runner Up: SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week

 Most Voted
The Ville Resort-Casino

 100% Best of Queensland Score

  • Aquascene Magnetic Island
  • Orpheus Island Lodge
  • Big Mama Sailing
  • Billabong Sanctuary
  • The Ville Resort-Casino

Highest Review Score – Tours
Winner: Jetski Hire Magnetic Island
Runner Up: Pilgrim Sailing
Third: Magnetic Islands Best Bus Tour

Highest Review Score – Accommodation
Winner: Orpheus Island Lodge
Runner Up: Kernow Charters Towers
Third: Townsville Tourist and Lifestyle Village

Young Achiever Award
Winner: Izzy Bee

Richard Power Award for Outstanding Contribution
Winner: Laurie Murphy

2021

Best Major Event 
Winner: Townsville Eats Origin Edition
Runner-up: Professional Bull Riding Townsville

Best Destination Event 
Winner: Magnetic Island Race Week 2019
Runner-up: Beats and Eats

Accommodation
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino
Runner-up: Orpheus Island Lodge

Dining
Winner: A Touch of Salt
Runner-up: Miss Songs

Transport
Winner: Magnetic Island Ferries
Runner-up: Sealink Queensland 

Tours and Attractions
Winner: Texas Longhorn Tours
Runner-up: Pilgrim Sailing & Billabong Sanctuary 

Industry Collaborator Award – Mark & Judy Evans, Paronella Park

Young Achiever Award – Ashleigh and Andrew Eslick, Magnetic Island Jet Ski Hire

Richard Power Award for Outstanding Contribution – Steph & Adam Hinks, Aquascene Charters Magnetic Island

2019

New Tourism Business
Winner: Aquascene Magnetic Island
Runner-up: Sealink Cape Cleveland Tours

Excellence in Customer Experience - Hotel and Resort Accommodation 
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino
Runner-up: Grand Hotel Townsville

Excellence in Customer Experience - Motels, Caravan Parks and Bed and Breakfasts
Winner: Secura Lifestyle Magnetic Gateway
Runner-up: Banjo Patterson Motor Inn

Excellence in Customer Experience - Tours and Attractions 
Winner: Aquascene Magnetic Island
Runner-up: Big Mama Sailing

Excellence in Customer Experience - Restaurants 
Winner: A Touch of Salt
Runner-up: Miss Songs Asian Kitchen

Excellence in Customer Experience - Pubs, Clubs and Casual Dining 
Winner: Cowboys Leagues Club
Runner-up: Grill'd Healthy Burgers Townsville

Major Festivals and Events – WATPAC Townsville 400

Festivals and Events
Winner: Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Runner-up: Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week

Travel Associates People's Choice – Sealink Queensland

Richard Power Award - Ross McLennan

Young Achiever Award - Alicia Masters

2018

New Tourism Business - Raven Tours

Excellence in Customer Experience - Tours and Attractions 
Winner: Adrenalin Snorkel & Dive and Tour Townsville 

Excellence in Customer Experience - Accommodation 
Winner: Grand Hotel and Apartments Townsville

Excellence in Customer Experience - Restaurants and Cafes 
Winner: JAME

Major Festivals and Events – WATPAC Townsville 400

Festivals and Events
Winner: Deadly Didge N Dance Festival

Richard Power Award
Winner: Johnathan Thurston
Runner-up: Daina Clark

Young Achiever Award
Winner: Alison Crook
Runner-up: Erin Corrigan

2017

New Tourism Business
Winner: Big Mama Sailing

Excellence in Customer Experience - Accommodation 
Winner: Grand Hotel and Apartments Townsville

Excellence in Customer Experience - Tours and Attractions 
Winner: Aquascene Magnetic Island

Excellence in Marketing 
Winner: Sealink Queensland

Festivals and Events
Winner: Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Runner-up: North Queensland Elite Rodeo

Richard Power Award
Winner: Paul Victory
Runner-up: Ben Christie-Johnson

2016

Excellence in Customer Experience
Winner: Grand Hotel and Apartments
Runner-up: Aquascene Charters Magnetic Island

Excellence in Marketing
Winner: The Ville Resort-Casino

Festivals and Events
Winner: Australian Festival of Chamber Music

New Tourism Business
Winner: Townsville Watersports

Richard Power Award
Winner: Madonna Simmons