Tourism operators across the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Murraylands have been recognised at this year’s South Australian Tourism Awards, with several taking home top honours.
The awards, hosted by the Tourism Industry Council South Australia (TiCSA) at Morphettville Racecourse on Friday, celebrate excellence across the state’s tourism industry.
Monarto Safari Park was named the state’s best major tourist attraction.
The 1,550 hectare open-range zoo also won the People’s Choice award for Experience or Service for the fourth consecutive year, while the Monarto Safari Resort, which opened last year, took out the People’s Choice award for accommodation.
Zoos SA Tourism Manager Lauren Schroeder was also named the industry’s Young Achiever of the Year for her work creating meaningful connections between people and nature, and helping to inspire visitors to appreciate wildlife and conservation.
During the 2025-26 financial year, Monarto Safari Park welcomed more than 253,000 visitors, an increase of almost 12 per cent on the previous year, with eight record-high months of visitation. It has also been a significant year for the visitor experience, with five Asian Elephants now calling Monarto Safari Park home.
In the Adelaide Hills, Jurlique Farm at Biggs Flat was named the state’s best ecotourism operator, recognising its biodynamic farm and visitor experiences showcasing the journey from botanical growing to skincare production.
Woodhouse Adventure Park at Piccadilly won Gold for Adventure Tourism, while Sequoia Lodge at Mount Lofty Estate took out the top award for five-star luxury accommodation.
The Fleurieu Peninsula also featured prominently, with Goolwa-based culinary business Anita Robin – Swiss Precision. Fleurieu Flavour winning Gold for Excellence in Food Tourism.
Victor Harbor’s Old Coach Road Estate was inducted into the Tourism Awards Hall of Fame after winning its self-contained accommodation category for the third consecutive year.
Other Fleurieu businesses recognised included the Fleurieu Coast Visitor Centre at Yankalilla, which received silver for Visitor Information Services, and Fleurieu Food and Wine at Normanville, which took bronze in the food tourism category.
McLaren Vale-based SA eBikes and Never Never Distilling Co. also secured Gold, in Tourism Retail, Hire and Services and Tourism Distilleries and Breweries respectively, while Kimbolton Wines at Langhorne Creek received silver in the Tourism Wineries category.
The winners of categories one to 26 will now represent South Australia at the 2026 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Geelong on the 19th of February 2027.
The full list of winners and medallists is available through TiCSA.
