Rockhampton Regional Council has taken home gold in the 2021 Grey Nomads Awards for Best Trail Experience in Australia.
Shining a light on regional Australia, the awards program provides mature-aged and long-journey travellers with verified information that helps with their holiday decision making.
Advance Rockhampton nominated the Explore Rockhampton Self-Guided Audio Tours App and took home the win in their category over two South Australian entries, The Burra Heritage Passport and Roora Nature Trails.
Rockhampton Region Mayor, Tony Williams said winning the prestigious awards program would put the Rockhampton region front of mind amongst senior travellers this year.
“Rockhampton is already a popular holiday destination amongst nomads, especially towards winter as visitors from NSW and Victoria head north to escape the colder months,” Mayor Williams said.
“Grey Nomads are looking for authentic experiences that offer comfort, flexibility and good value for money and the Explore Rockhampton Self-Guided Tours app delivers on that while sharing the fascinating stories our city has to tell.
“This award win will certainly put Rockhampton on the radar amongst nomads as they begin planning their next winter holiday”.
Advance Rockhampton Executive Manager, Greg Bowden said nomads were critically important to Rockhampton’s visitor economy.
“Australian’s aged over 55 represent one of the biggest opportunities in domestic tourism recovery and according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, this market possess 32% of Australia’s disposable income along with the flexibility and motivation to travel,” Mr Bowden said.
“That’s why Advance Rockhampton’s tourism team will soon be rolling out a print and digital marketing campaign driving visitation within this segment with the aim of increasing visitor numbers and spend throughout our region over the coming months.”
Grey Nomads Awards Director, Kim Morgan said the award win will see Rockhampton included on many nomad’s must-see Australian itineraries in 2022.
“The awards program showcases the very best places to stay and play, while supporting positive aging through soft adventure and social inclusion,” Ms Morgan said.
“In ensuring the success of the trails incorporated into the App as must-do experiences for grey nomads, Explore Rockhampton is supporting every business in and around the city while encouraging senior travellers to stay longer in this unique pocket of Australia.”