Charlotte Foster
Food & Wine

Winners of the Wotif Uniquely Aussie Awards crowned

With every small Aussie town claiming to have the best pubs, bakeries and hot chips, the Wotif.com Uniquely Aussie Awards have made the definitive decisions. 

The travel site announced the winners of the six prestigious awards, as an annual guide to Australia’s quintessential experiences in both food and culture. 

The awards were designed to highlight some of the nation’s best kept secrets in small towns, beachside communities and occasionally, the big cities. 

The awards are Best Jaffle, Best Vanilla Slice, Best Country Pub, Best Hot Chips, Best Hotel Pool and Best National Park. 

This year, New South Wales took home the crown for the Best Jaffle, with the award going to Miss Jaffles in Cronulla, and Best Country Pub going to the Beechwood Hotel in Beechwood (just half an hour drive from Port Macquarie).

Queensland’s JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa claimed the title of Best Hotel Pool, while the iconic Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory was named Best National Park. 

The elite foodie awards went to the Bridgewater Bakehouse in Victoria for the Best Vanilla Slice, and Chicken Chef in Blair Athol, South Australia took home the Best Hot Chips title. 

Wotif managing director Daniel Finch said the awards are an opportunity for locals to nominate the unsung heroes of their community for national recognition. 

“Country charm, cheesy jaffles and creamy vanilla slices - no one does them quite like Australia, and the thousands of nominations we received this year shows Aussies are a passionate bunch,” he said.

“There's so much to love and discover about Australia, and with a really exciting summer period ahead, we hope to inspire and encourage Aussies to plan their next adventure and support local businesses.”

With the awards in their fourth year, Daniel said the 2021 awards have showcased an outpouring of community spirit, especially as local businesses have had a tough 18 months due to the pandemic.

With thousands of votes from all over the country, it's clear to see that Aussies are passionate about their homegrown customs, and supporting their local communities along the way. 

Image credit: Getty Images

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Food & wine, Wotif, Uniquely Aussie Awards, pub, vanilla slice