The Outback Queensland Muster wrapped up its third successful year in Brisbane last night, where the Outback Queensland Tourism Association officially launched the 2023 tourism season with the all-new Traveller’s Guide boasting 29 exciting new Outback Queensland experiences and events, and announced the OQTA Excellence Award winners.
The evening saw travel trade and media network with operators from far and wide across Outback Queensland before a special presentation by Outback Queensland Tourism Association CEO, Denise Brown of the Award winners and a haul of prizes from a lucky raffle draw.
Outback Queensland’s 2023 Traveller’s Guide will have Aussies packing their bags and hitting the highway for big skies and bigger adventures as Outback Queensland Tourism Association officially launches this year’s tourism season.
The all-new 2023 Traveller’s Guide is the ultimate holiday pocketbook, showcasing 160 ways to experience Outback Queensland, unparalleled landscapes, indulgent retreats, world-class events and 29 exciting new experiences – from Outback Pioneers’ Pride of the Murray cruise to Cunnamulla Hot Springs and Festival of Outback Skies.
Spanning 932,678km square (two-thirds of the state), Outback Queensland has something to offer everyone, from family-friendly dinosaur escapades and romantic stays to adventures fit for the grey nomad and incredible cultural experiences.
The 118-page Travellers Guide also features a beautiful cover by award-winning photographer, Lisa Alexander.
Speaking at the event, Chair of Outback Queensland Tourism Association, and Mayor of the Blackall-Tambo Regional Council, Andrew Martin, said the roads are open, the land is nourished and looking more beautiful than ever, the sunsets are phenomenal, the birdlife is sensational and we’ve got country hospitality in spades – come now, don’t wait.
“Following the pandemic, we have seen a spike in young Australians eager to get out and explore their own backyard – we welcome you, your vans and your enthusiasm for an adventure to Outback Queensland to see where the real beauty lies,” Andrew Martin added.
Wrapping up the evening was the Outback Queensland Tourism Association’s Excellence Awards, which recognises the outstanding achievements of industry professionals who have driven significant tourism success and contributed to elevating the Outback Queensland tourism offering.
The Outback Queensland Tourism Association Excellence Awards cover four categories including, Best New Visitor Experience Award, Social Media Legend, Young Achiever Award and the Vice Evert Memorial for Outstanding Contribution in Tourism.
The 2023 Award Winners are:
Vince Evert Memorial for Outstanding Contribution in Tourism
Robyn Stephens, Outback Festival Winton
Robyn Stephens receives the prestigious honour for over fifty years of dedication to the Winton Outback Festival, a five-day event hosted bi-annually to celebrate the local community and encourage visitation. Robyn helped launch the first Outback Festival in 1972 to help boost the local economy following years of drought. Today, thousands of visitors travel to Winton to take part in the Festival, which saw over a million dollars injected into the local community in 2021.
Best Visitor Experience
Quilpie Visitor Information Centre, Museum and Gallery
Quilpie Visitor Information Centre receives the award for recently introducing the Quilpeta Night Show, an innovative event where guests can relax and watch a movie under the stars on premium outdoor lounges. The evening event is a wonderful opportunity for guests to gather and appreciate the beauty of the Channel Country under the starry sky and has driven an increase in bookings and extended visitation since launching June 2021.
Young Achiever Award
Corey Richards, Eromanga Natural History Museum
Corey Richards takes home an Outback Queensland Tourism Association Excellence Award for his dedicated and valued representation of the Outback Queensland tourism industry and for the significant contribution he has made at Eromanga Natural History Museum as Operations Manager at such a young age. Recently appointed as a Queensland Young Tourism Leader, Richards has already made strides in the industry, attending several conferences and building partnerships that has already seen growth and investment in the region.
Social Media Legend
Outback Pioneers
Outback Pioneers was celebrated for their four-week social media campaign showcasing the incredible journey of the Pride of the Murray, a 100-tonne paddler that travelled from Echuca, Victoria to its new home in the Thomson River near Longreach. The historic journey reached a total of 3.2 million people and generated over 600,000 views across Outback Pioneer’s social media accounts. Despite the unfortunate news surrounding the Pride of the Murray on Monday morning, Outback Pioneers Founder and Director, Richard Kinnon is optimistic about the future, sharing “we will do whatever is necessary to ensure our guests still have a fantastic cruise experience in Longreach. This is a setback but not the end of the story.”
