Kiama has proudly represented New South Wales at the Australian Top Tourism Town Awards in Canberra today, winning bronze in our category after being crowned NSW's Top Tourism Town earlier this year.
While the national title of Top Tourism Town went to Fremantle, Western Australia, Kiama's place among the finalists is a remarkable achievement, showcasing the town's enduring appeal and recognition as one of Australia's premier visitor destinations.
Australia's Top Tourism Town finalists (and State winners) were:
- Kiama, NSW
- Bowen, QLD
- City of Victor Harbour, SA
- Devonport, TAS (last year's winners)
- Fremantle, WA
- Warrnambool, VIC
Mayor Cameron McDonald said: "Reaching the national finals is a proud moment for Kiama and a reflection of our community's hard work and passion for welcoming visitors. We may not have taken home the top prize this time, but we've shown that Kiama belongs on the national stage. Congratulations to Fremantle and also to the winners of the Small Tourism Town, Bungendore near the ACT border, and Tiny Tourism Town, Town of 1770 in Queensland."
"I also congratulate our southern neighbour Huskisson, which won silver in the Tiny Tourism Town," Cr McDonald said.
Councillor Matt Brown, Chair of Destination Kiama, added: "A huge hats off to Fremantle. Being recognised as NSW's Top Tourism Town and going on to represent our state at the national awards is an outstanding achievement. This honour belongs to our local businesses, tourism operators and community, who together make Kiama a place visitors want to return to again and again."
Kiama's journey through the awards has reinforced its strengths as a leading visitor destination:
- Unmatched natural beauty, from the world-famous Kiama Blowhole to pristine beaches, coastal walks, and the green rolling hinterland.
- Record-breaking visitor economy results, including $362 million in visitor expenditure and a 29% rise in overnight stays in the year ending September 2024.
- A strong, community-led tourism strategy, designed to balance visitor growth with the wellbeing of locals, focusing on quality experiences, longer stays and sustainable visitation.
The Mayor also thanked Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips for her support: "We greatly appreciate the support of Ms Phillips in helping us ensure Kiama's spotlight shines across Australia and beyond. Being part of these awards provides a golden opportunity to elevate our region, inspire tourism operators, and celebrate the very best of community-led destination development."
With the awards now behind us Council's Destination Kiama is looking ahead to build on this momentum – continuing to elevate the region as a must-visit destination for both domestic and international travellers.
About Kiama
Kiama is a scenic coastal town located approximately 120 km south of Sydney in the Illawarra region. Celebrated for its majestic Blowhole, vibrant beaches, charming heritage precincts, coastal walking trails, and thriving arts and food scene, Kiama offers an inviting blend of natural wonder and regional hospitality Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3.
About the Top Tourism Town Awards
The Australian Top Tourism Town Awards recognise towns with populations over 5,000 that deliver exceptional visitor experiences, embrace community collaboration, and showcase strong tourism storytelling and strategy. Finalists are selected via a multi-faceted process that includes consumer votes, review analysis, and industry judging panels
