MORNINGTON Peninsula Regional Tourism is celebrating a remarkable night of recognition at the Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) Tourism Awards, with local operators honoured for excellence, innovation, sustainability, accessibility and leadership across the visitor economy.
Leading this year’s wins is Wild Adventures Melbourne, founded by micro-business owner Nic Cooper. Demonstrating how small operators can create global-standard experiences while protecting the environment, the business took out Gold in the Lord Mayor’s Award, surpassing major Victorian tourism icons such as Melbourne Zoo and Sofitel Melbourne. Mr Cooper also secured Gold in Ecotourism, further confirming his place as a leader in responsible, nature-based travel.
Continuing the momentum, Charles Davidson, the founder of Peninsula Hot Springs, received the Outstanding Contribution by an Individual award. Over more than two decades, Charles has pioneered wellness tourism in Australia, attracted global attention to the Mornington Peninsula and helped establish Victoria as a leader in spa and wellbeing experiences. His lasting impact has shaped how visitors experience wellness and connection across the state through tourism.
The Peninsula’s further success spanned multiple categories, highlighting the diversity and strength of regional tourism experiences:
- Hop It – Silver, Tour & Transport Operators: The hop-on, hop-off service continues to open access to wineries, distilleries, breweries and attractions with a sustainable transport model that supports regional dispersal and encourages visitors to explore responsibly.
- Explore Australia Tours – Silver, Major Tour & Transport Operator: With a significant focus on high-quality regional experiences, Explore Australia Tours connects travellers to the Peninsula’s signature food, wine, nature and attraction highlights.
- Local Way Tours – Bronze, Food Tourism: Ray and his team provide visitors with an authentic taste of the Peninsula’s food and drink culture, guiding travellers to farms, cellar doors and artisan makers while championing local producers.
- The Y Camp Manyung – Gold, 3–3.5 Star Accommodation & Bronze, Excellence in Accessible Tourism: The Y Camp Manyung was recognised for its strong accommodation standards and pioneering approach to inclusion.
- The Dunes Links Lodge – Finalist, 4–4.5 Star Accommodation: The Dunes Links Lodge highlights the region’s growing strength in high-quality golf tourism.
- Jackalope Hotel – Bronze, 5 Star Accommodation: The luxury icon continues to set national accommodation benchmarks, further strengthening the Peninsula’s attraction to high-value travellers.
First published in the Mornington News – 2 December 2025
