2018 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE Winners and Finalists
The Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW) Awards for Excellence is an annual celebration of outstanding travel writing, photography, and tourism communications.
Established in 1992, this is a closely contested competition among peers, focusing on the very best published work of the year. Recognition of talent, a coveted trophy and prizes are the rewards for the winners.
There are 20 categories in the ASTW awards. Seventeen awards are open to ASTW writer members and three for ASTW PR members.
1. ASTW TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by VISIT USA AUSTRALIA
Winner: Catherine Marshall
- A budding romance – Traveller/Fairfax Media
- Down to earth – The Weekend Australian
- A town called Marfa – Qantas magazine
Other Finalists
Kerry van der Jagt
- Day of the Dead – Vacations & Travel magazine
- Memories are made of this – Traveller/Fairfax Media
- Jordan history tour – Traveller/Fairfax Media
John Borthwick
- Into the wilds – The Weekend Australian
- A sandy road to Qld beachside adventure – The West Australian
- Turn and face the strain – Adventure.com
2. ASTW PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by ABERCROMBIE & KENT
Winner: Dan Avila
- Cable Beach Camels – Holidays with Kids
- Abu Dhabi Sunset – Signature Luxury Travel & Style Magazine
- The Road to Hana – Signature Luxury Travel & Style Magazine
- Pre-dawn Patagonia – Vacations & Travel Magazine
- Ningaloo Nature – Vacations & Travel Magazine
Other Finalists:
Jocelyn Pride
- Walking on thin ice – Vacations & Travel
- Midnight sun – Vacations & Travel
- Crystal clear – Vacations & Travel
- Concordia – Vacations & Trave
- Bad breath – Vacations & Travel
Kara Murphy
- Speckled humpback – Dockwalk
- Manta parade – Southern Boating
- Turtle trio – Southern Boating
- Molokini crater convergence –Escape/News Ltd
- Finding Nemo in the Similans – International Traveller
3. COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by TRAVMEDIA
Winner: Pip Macken
DC&A Worldwide – Destination Canada
Other Finalists:
Peter Hook
Hook Communications
Donna Parkin
Parkin PR
Shelley Winkel
Tourism & Events Queensland
4. BEST STORY ABOUT AGM HOST DESTINATION 2017 – SUNSHINE COAST, QUEENSLAND
Sponsored by VISIT SUNSHINE COAST
Winners:
Julie Miller
Sand dunes and sunsets – Nat Geo Australia
John Borthwick
A sandy road to Qld Beachside adventures – The West Australian
Other Finalists:
Christine Retschlag
Sunshine Coasting – The Global Goddess
Celeste Mitchell
Everybody loves the Sunshine – Australian Traveller
5. BEST FAMILY TRAVEL STORY
Sponsored by FAMILY TRAVEL
Winner: Sheriden Rhodes
A million-star experience on a floating hotel – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Other Finalists:
Jac Taylor
No work and all play – International Traveller magazine
Mark Daffey
Wet ‘n Wild – Traveller/Fairfax Media
6. BEST AUSTRALIAN STORY UNDER 1000 WORDS
Sponsored by TOURISM AUSTRALIA
Winners:
Belinda Jackson
Luxury to bank on – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Andrew Bain
Australia’s most unusual natural wonder – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Other Finalists:
Roderick Eime
Adventures in the Kimberley – Courier Mail
Jennifer Ennion
Snorkel with seals off Tasmania’s southeast shores – Weekend Australian *no link
Catherine Best
Branching out – The Australian
7. BEST AUSTRALIAN STORY OVER 1000 WORDS
Sponsored by TOURISM AUSTRALIA
Winner: Brad Crouch
Only in S.A. – Escape/News Ltd
Other Finalists:
Tracey Croke
Mountain biking in Far North Qld – Rad Season
Christine Retschlag
You’ll discover a bounty of beauty – Australian Senior
Celeste Mitchell
Everybody loves the Sunshine – Australian Traveller
8. BEST FOOD STORY
Sponsored by UNITED AIRLINES
Winner: Catherine Marshall
Wildlife on the move –The Weekend Australian
Other finalists:
Craig Tansley
Taste of Kakadu – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Penny Watson
Taste of Victoria – DestinAsian Magazine
9. BEST INSTAGRAM PHOTO
Sponsored by TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND
Winner: Dan Avila
Other finalists:
Aleney de Winter
Tracey Croke
Lauren Bath
Kara Murphy
10. BEST RESPONSIBLE TOURISM STORY
Sponsored by INTREPID TRAVEL
Winner: Louise Southerden
Feynan Ecolodge, Jordan: A sustainable hotel in the Dana Biosphere Reserve – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Other finalists:
Angela Saurine
Creatures Great and Small – MindFood
Kara Murphy
How to choose an ethical elephant encounter in Thailand – International Traveller Magazine
Krysia Bonkowski
Small but mighty – Jetstar magazine *no link
11. BEST ADVENTURE STORY
Sponsored by G ADVENTURES
Winner: Roderick Eime
Riding the Revolution – Australian Road Rider
Other Finalists:
Jim Darby
From ski pole to South Pole – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Andrew Bain
Wild Finnish Winter – Outdoor
12. BEST TOURISM ORGANISATION or TRAVEL PRODUCT
Sponsored by ASTW
Winner: Laura Speirs
Glasgow Life
Other Finalists:
Aiofe Finnegan
Tourism Ireland
Alison Roberts Brown/Leah Froelich
Visit Monaco
13. BEST CRUISE STORY
Sponsored by CRUISE LINES INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION (CLIA)
Winner: Craig Tansley
Tears of Joy – The Financial review
Other Finalists:
Jocelyn Pride
Antarctic dreaming – Cruise Passenger
Maggy Oehlbeck
Living the dream – The Australian
14. BEST INTERNATIONAL STORY OVER 1000 WORDS
Sponsored by ACCORHOTELS
Winner: Kerry van der Jagt
Day of the Dead – Vacations & Travel magazine
Other Finalists:
Rob McFarland
Seeing the gorillas in Africa’s safest nation – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Craig Tansley
Canada’s First and Last Great Ski Town – Traveller/Fairfax Media
15. BEST INTERNATIONAL STORY UNDER 1000 WORDS
Sponsored by INSURANCE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA
Winner: Catherine Marshall
On the Fragrance trail in Oman – Financial Review
Other Finalists:
John Borthwick
A Taste of the Royal Life – The West Australian
Mark Daffey
Tracking Hunter – Traveller/Fairfax Media
16. PR CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by ASTW
Winner: Donna Campbell/Pip Macken
DC&A Worldwide – Visiting Journalist Program
Other Finalists:
Karena Noble
Voyages – Field of Light Season 2 launch
Kim McKay
Mudgee Let’s Skip Town – Klick
Caitlin Georghiou
Doggie Degustation by TFE Hotels & Frank PR
17. BEST TOURISM AND TRAVEL NEWS STORY
Sponsored by PEREGRINE ADVENTURES IN HONOUR OF KRIS MADDEN
Winner: Aleney de Winter
The Capital of Cool –Vacations & Travel magazine
Other Finalists:
Roderick Eime
Voyages of Discovery – The Australian
Jocelyn Pride
Poles Apart – Vacations & Travel magazine
18. BEST TRAVEL BLOG
Sponsored by OUT AND ABOUT WITH KIDS
Winner: Christine Retschlag
Other Finalists:
Julie Jones
Aleney de Winter
19. BEST TRAVEL BLOG POST
Sponsored by Family Travel
Winner: BoyEatsWorld
Other Finalists:
Together We Roam
Phuket’s only ethical elephant tour
The Global Goddess
20. BEST TRAVEL PHOTO
Sponsored by THAI AIRWAYS
Winner: Dan Avila
Pre-dawn Patagonia – Vacations & Travel
Other Finalists:
Rob Dunlop
Clouds cling to mountaintop – Vacations & Travel
Kara Murphy
Molokini Crater Convergence – Escape/News Ltd
*NB: Not all stories provided have links.
Read the news item announcing the winners.
Read about the judges.
