Victorian tourist attractions and operators were big winners at the Qantas-sponsored Australian Tourism Awards on Friday, scooping 10 of the top prizes.

The 26 award winners for 2015 were announced in Melbourne at an event attended by tourism representatives from across the country.

Victorian sites and operators claimed ten gold awards, with Sovereign Hill in Ballarat winning the major tourist attraction category.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival also took out the top prize for major festivals and events.

Tasmania also fared well, winning seven golds as well as a number of silver and bronze awards.

Federal Minister for Tourism and International Education, Senator Richard Colbeck, paid tribute to the “booming” industry’s efforts to attract more visitors in order to meet the Tourism 2020 goal of surpassing $115 billion in overnight visitor expenditure by 2020.

“Visitors flocked to Australia in record numbers in 2015 and without these industry award winners, Australia couldn’t come close to being the highly desirable and memorable destination it is for visitors,” he said.

“I’d like to thank all winners and finalists for their dedication to producing unforgettable tourism experiences set against what truly is the worlds best backdrop.”

Last year the country welcomed a record one million visitors from China, as spending increased 13 per cent to $34.8 billion – the strongest year of growth since 2001.

Read on for a full list of award winners:

Australian Tourism Legend

Mr Geoff McGeary OAM

Major Tourist Attractions

Gold, Sovereign Hill VIC

Silver, Port Arthur Historic Site TAS

Bronze, Taronga Zoo NSW

Tourist Attractions

Gold, Bruny Island Cruises TAS

Silver, Questacon ACT

Bronze, Daintree Discovery Centre QLD

Major Festivals and Events

Gold, 2014 Melbourne Cup Carnival VIC

Silver, Floriade 2014 ACT

Bronze, MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival 2015 TAS

Festivals and Events

Gold, Fun4Kids Festival VIC

Silver, Boggabri Drovers Campfire NSW

Bronze, 2015 National Folk Festival ACT

Ecotourism

Gold, The Tasmanian Walking Company TAS

Silver, Sail Ningaloo – Overnight Sailing Tours WA

Bronze, Sea Darwin Eco Cruises NT

Cultural Tourism

Gold, Venture North Australia NT

Silver, Port Arthur Historic Site TAS

Bronze, Bendigo Tramways VIC

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism

Gold, Voyages Ayers Rock Resort NT

Silver, Arakwal Dolphin Dreaming Cape Byron State Conservation Area NSW

Bronze, Koomal Dreaming WA

Specialised Tourism Services

Gold, Canberra Airport ACT

Silver, Cruisin’ Motorhomes TAS

Bronze, Leisure Options VIC

Visitor Information Services

Gold, Alice Springs Visitor Information Centre NT

Silver, Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre TAS

Bronze, Barossa Visitor Centre SA

Business Event Venue

Gold, The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel TAS

Silver, Alice Springs Convention Centre NT

Bronze, Chateau Elan at The Vintage NSW

Major Tour and Transport Operators

Gold, Searoad Ferries VIC

Silver, Reef Magic Cruises QLD

Bronze, ADAMS Pinnacle Tours WA

Tour and Transport Operators

Gold, Top Drop Tours WA

Silver, Ocean Safari QLD

Bronze, Uluru Camel Tours NT

Adventure Tourism

Gold, Enchanted Adventure Garden and Tree Surfing VIC

Silver, Uluru Camel Tours NT

Bronze, Calypso Star Charters SA

Destination Marketing

Gold, Wine Food Farmgate VIC

Silver, Australia’s Nature Coast QLD

Bronze, #RideNorthTas TAS

Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services

Gold, Stillwater at Crittenden VIC

Silver, AAT Kings Uluru BBQ Dinner NT

Bronze, Josef Chromy Wines TAS

Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries

Gold, Pizzini Wines Cellar Door VIC

Silver, Sandalford Wines WA

Bronze, Margan Wines NSW

Caravan and Holiday Parks

Gold, BIG4 Deniliquin Holiday Park NSW

Silver, BIG4 Beacon Resort VIC

Bronze, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort QLD

Hosted Accommodation

Gold, Curringa Farm Tours and Accommodation TAS

Silver, HideAway Haven WA

Bronze, Eldee Station NSW

Unique Accommodation

Gold Taronga Western Plains Zoo NSW

Silver Avalon City Retreat TAS

Bronze Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures – The Horizontal Hotel WA

Self Contained Accommodation

Gold, Avalon Coastal Retreat TAS

Silver, The Frames SA

Bronze, Aquabelle Apartments VIC

Standard Accommodation

Gold, Moama on Murray Resort NSW

Silver, Sandpiper Ocean Cottages TAS

Bronze, Cottesloe Beach Hotel WA

Deluxe Accommodation

Gold, The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel TAS

Silver, The Observatory Port Macquarie NSW

Bronze, Yondah Beach House SA

Luxury Accommodation

Gold, Drift House VIC

Silver, Saffire Freycinet TAS

Bronze, The Playford SA

New Tourism Business 

Gold, Pumphouse Point TAS

Silver, National Anzac Centre WA

Bronze, Halcyon House NSW

Excellence in Food Tourism 

Gold, Green Olive at Red Hill VIC

Silver, Farm Gate Market TAS

Bronze, The Lake House Denmark – Vinofoods WA

Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism

Gold, The Observatory Port Macquarie, NSW

Silver, The Tasmanian Walking Company, TAS

Bronze, Fun Over 50, QLD

Image credit: iStock