Queenstown flew the flag for New Zealand at the Golden Backpacker Awards last week by scooping for the nation all the major gongs - for adventure, accommodation and nightlife.
The Golden Backpacker Awards is Australia and New Zealand’s only dedicated awards program for the independent travel sector. Run by TNT Magazine and Thumbrella it is an international campaign which gathers votes from consumers in more than 30 categories. This year a total of 19,539 votes were cast with voting conducted exclusively online for the first time.
Shotover Canyon Swing, Nomads Queenstown Backpackers and The World Bar each picked up one of the prestigious consumer-voted awards at the GBA Sydney-hosted gala dinner on 4 November, making Queenstown the star of New Zealand tourism. The only other New Zealand operation to pick up an award was Tamaki Maori Village Rotorua as Best indigenous cultural experience.
Shotover Canyon Swing won Best Activity in New Zealand for the third time in the competition’s four year history, while The World Bar won Best Bar in New Zealand also for the third time. Nomads Queenstown won Best Backpackers as its very first major award since opening just over a year ago.
Destination Queenstown Consumer Marketing Manager Lisa Nilsen who was in Sydney for the Adventure Travel and Backpack Expo, represented Shotover Canyon Swing at the awards ceremony.
“What makes these three wins so special is that they’re awarded by a market sector we work very hard to attract to Queenstown. Peer recommendation is so important in the modern age and particularly in the independent market sector. These awards offer a recommendation and recognition that is highly valuable to Queenstown and to New Zealand and we very much congratulate Shotover Canyon Swing, Nomads Queenstown and The World Bar for their wins.”
Shotover Canyon Swing Sales Manager Claire Stewart said she was “thrilled” that the world’s highest cliff jump had once again been voted the Best Activity in New Zealand.
“This is a fantastic coup for us as the Golden Backpackers Award is all about the consumer. This result is based on genuine feedback from tourists travelling across Australia and NZ,” she said. “It’s customer confirmation that we’re doing things right. The cherry on top is that this the third time we’ve won this award. It’s testament to our hard working crew. We’re delighted to be the best in NZ.”
Nomads Queenstown Backpackers General Manager Aimee Jeffreys says it was the first major award received since the backpackers opened.
“Nomads Queenstown has been open for just over one year and is honored to have won Best Hostel in New Zealand at this year’s Golden Backpack Awards,” she said. “I’m very proud of the staff and hostel for this achievement, especially as it's an award that is voted by the people that matter most to us, our guests."
The World Bar Marketing Manager Gary Livesey said the accolade was the third to be won by the company in the competition’s four year history and continued to recognise the friendly and welcoming nature of the staff at the bar.
“The World Bar has always offered a place for local Queenstowners and visitors to meet and socialize,” he said. “This award is just fantastic for us. It gives great credit to the continued efforts of our team, our fantastic club nights, but most of all the memorable experience we give people on their journey through New Zealand.”
