Australia & New Zealand
Adventure Tourism Awards & Conference

Australia and New Zealand’s youth and adventure travel industry’s biggest celebration is back!

Join us for two incredible days as we reconnect, learn, and honour the most outstanding tourism experiences, operators, and individuals across our vibrant sector.

Hosted by Adventure Queensland, the Youth Tourism Conference & Adventure Tourism Awards have become the premier platform for recognising excellence and fostering collaboration across the backpacking and independent travel industries.

Wednesday 5 November – Welcome Networking Night

Ease into the action with a casual evening of networking, drinks, and reconnecting with your industry peers. It’s the perfect opportunity to forge new connections and catch up with familiar faces before the main event.

Thursday 6 November – Youth Tourism Conference

A full-day event featuring panels, keynote presentations, and deep dives into the future of youth and adventure tourism in Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. Learn from leaders and innovators as we explore emerging trends, market data, sustainability, and tech-driven opportunities.

Thursday 6 November – Adventure Tourism Awards

Celebrate the best of the best at the highly anticipated Adventure Tourism Awards gala dinner. Enjoy a night of glitz, glamour, and recognition as we spotlight the incredible people and businesses shaping the future of youth tourism.

Nominations Open July 1st

Think your business or team deserves the spotlight? We’re calling on Adventure Tour Operators, Hostels and Travel Agents across Australia and New Zealand to enter the 2025 Adventure Tourism Awards and share your success story.

Whether you’re a rising star, a sustainability leader, or a long-standing legend—this is your chance to be recognised on a national stage.

Sponsor the Event

Align your brand with innovation, leadership, and the future of youth and adventure tourism. Sponsoring the Youth Tourism Conference and Adventure Tourism Awards is a unique opportunity to:

Gain visibility with key decision-makers and industry leaders
Demonstrate your support for sustainable and youth-focused tourism
Build lasting relationships and brand awareness within the community

Let’s build a stronger future together.

TICKETS ON SALE FROM JULY 1ST

Testimonials

We are thrilled to announce the Adventure Tourism Awards and Youth Tourism Conference in its traditional format again this November. With an incredible lineup of speakers taking shape and a format designed for ample networking, this event promises to be another unforgettable day in the world of tourism. It’s crucial for our industry that we come together as one voice and celebrate our successes as we aim to collaborate on the issues impacting our sector. Join us for an inspiring event created by the industry, for the industry!

2024 ~ Peta Zietsch / Chair of AQ

“Having the opportunity to connect with our industry is always something I welcome and AQ know just how to put on a create event. With Working Holiday arrivals now returning to pre-pandemic figures and seasonality trends returned I look forward to the presentations and discussion this event fosters. Acknowledge our achievements as we leave the past behind and celebrate excellence in our industry.

2023 ~ Wendi Aylward / Chairperson Backpacker & Youth Tourism Advisory Panel (BYTAP)