The Great Eastern Drivers
Each year East Coast Tourism hosts the tourism awards program called the Great Eastern Drivers. These awards encourage, support and celebrate excellence and professionalism in the visitor industry.
Here are the previous winners:
2018 Winners
Accommodation
- Winner: Bay of Fires Bush Retreat
- Certificate of Merit: Freycinet Lodge
- Honorable Mention: Orford Sanda House B&B
- Honorable Mention: Cod Rock Point
Visitor Experience
- * 2 winners / certificate of merit Winner: ALL4Adventure Winner: East Coast Cruises
- Certificate of Merit: Freycinet Air
- Certificate of Merit: St Marys Cranks and Tinkerers
Food, Wine & Retail
- Winner: Freycinet Lodge
- Certificate of Merit: Waubs Bay Gallery
- Certificate of Merit: Craigie Knowe Vineyard
- Honorable Mention: Devils Corner Cellar Door, The Fishers & Tombolo
New Great Eastern Driver
- Winner: Apartments on Fraser Bicheno
- Certificate of Merit: Craigie Knowe Vineyard
- Honorable Mention: Swims East Coast Coffee
- Honorable Mention: Spring Bay Seafood and Wine Bar
- Honorable Mention: Geographe Restaurant and Espresso Bar
Destination Action Plan Initiative
- Winner: Spring Bay Tourism Group
- Certificate of Merit: Bicheno Destination Action Plan Group
Great Eastern Drive Event of the Year
- Winner: Bicheno Food & Wine Festival
- Certificate of Merit: Bay of Fires Winter Arts Festival
- Honorable Mention: Bicheno Lions Club – Rockpool
2018 Great Eastern Driver
- Jenny Logie
2017 Winners
Innovator of the Year
- Winner Bay of Fires Bush Retreat
- Certificate of Merit: Bicheno Penguin Tours
New Great Eastern Driver of the Year
- Winner: The Farm Shed Wine Centre
- Certificate of Merit: Freycinet Adventures Aqua Taxi
- Certificate of Merit: Maria Island Grand Picnic – See Tasmania
Community Initiative
- Winner: Spring Bay Studio and Gallery
- Certificate of Merit: Tasmanian Bushland Garden
Product of the Year
- Winner: Freycinet Adventures
- Certificate of Merit: East Coast Cruises
- Certificate of Merit: Bay of Fires Bush Retreat
Event of the Year
- Winner: Bay of Fires Winter Arts Festival
- Certificate of Merit: Bicheno Food and Wine Festival
Volunteer of the Year
- Winner: Nic Wardlaw
The 2017 Great Eastern Driver
- Ian Johnstone
2016 Winners
- Great Eastern Drive Innovator of the Year: Winner: East Coast Cruises
- Certificate of Merit: White Sands Estate & IronHouse Brewery
- New Great Eastern Driver of the Year Winner: Bay of Fires Eco Tours
- Certificate of Merit: The Fishers
- Certificate of Merit: Twamley Farm
- Great Eastern Drive Community Initiative Winner: Bicheno Community Development Association Inc.
- Great Eastern Drive Product of the Year Winner: Big4 St Helens Holiday Park
- Certificate of Merit: Freycinet Lodge
- Certificate of Merit: Bay of Fires Eco Tours
- Great Eastern Drive Event of the Year Winner: Bicheno Festivals Inc.
- Young Great Eastern Driver of the Year Edward Thompson
- 2016 Great Eastern Driver Carrie Wallis
2015 Winners
- Standard Accommodation Winner: Sandpiper Ocean Cottages
- Self-Contained Accommodation Winner: Dragonfly Lodge
- Caravan Parks Winner: Triabunna Cabin & Caravan Park
- Food and Wine Tourism Winner: Freycinet Marine Farm Pty Ltd
- Tourism Attractions / Experiences / Tour Operators Winner: Freycinet Adventures
- Events and Festivals Winner: Bay of Fires Winter Arts Festival
- Outstanding Contribution by an individual to the Tourism Industry Paul Male
- TICT People’s Choice Awards Winner: Wineglass Bay Cruises
2014 Winners
- Hotel Accommodation Winner: Freycinet Lodge
- Accommodation Winner: Sandpiper Ocean Cottages
- Certificate of Merit: Windows on Bicheno
- Caravan Parks Winner: Big4 St Helens Holiday Park
- Food and Wine Tourism Winner: Freycinet Marine Farm Pty Ltd
- Certificate of Merit:Tombolo Freycinet
- Tourism Attractions / Experiences / Tour Operators Winner: Wineglass Bay Cruises
- Certificate of Merit: Freycinet Adventures
- Visitor Information and Services Winner: View St Helens Pty Ltd
- Events and Festivals Winner: Bicheno Festival Committee Inc
- Certificate of Merit: Bay of Fires Art Market
- Sustainable Tourism Winner: The Ugly Duck Out
- Outstanding Contribution by an individual/s to the Tourism Industry Peter Paulsen
- TICT People’s Choice Awards Winner: Sandpiper Ocean Cottages
2013 Winners
- Accommodation Winner: Sandpiper Ocean Cottages
- Certificate of Merit: Sheoaks on Freycinet
- Caravan Parks Winner Hill Crest Tourist Park, and Mini Market
- Food and Wine Tourism Winner -Purple Possum Wholefoods
- Certificate of Merit Bark Mill Tavern and Bakery, Swansea
- Tourism Attractions / Experiences / Tour Operators Winner: Wineglass Bay Cruises
- Visitor Information and Services Winner: East Coast Visitor Information Network
- Events and Festivals: Winner: Bicheno Festivals Committee Inc.
- Certificate of Merit: Bay of Fires Art Prize
- Sustainable Tourism Winner: The Ugly Duck Out
- Outstanding Contribution by an individual/s to the Tourism Industry Christine Dewar
- TICT People’s Choice Awards Winner: Bed in the Tree Tops