From lakeside adventures to family-run cellar doors, Victorian tourism businesses are stepping into the national limelight at the 2026 Australian Tourism Awards, led by Go Adventure Nagambie and Bendigo Guided Tours. Behind the fun, the adventure, and the beautiful landscapes when exploring Victoria, is a small business owner working hard to make it happen.

Go Adventure Nagambie showcasing regional tourism.

‘Running a small tourism business in regional Victoria means wearing every hat: operator, marketer, safety officer, mechanic, bookkeeper, and community advocate.'

‘It’s early mornings, late nights updating business plans, and constant adaptation to seasonal and workforce challenges,’ says Lee Rowland from Go Adventure Nagambie.

With a vision to ‘create fun for everyone’, this family-run business invites visitors to explore the beautiful Nagambie Lakes and Goulburn River by boat, kayak, canoe, paddleboard and more.

The hard work is paying off. Go Adventure Nagambie has been shortlisted in three national categories at the 2026 Australian Tourism Awards.

‘This is our chance to showcase the Goulburn Region on a national stage and highlight the power of regional operators to drive positive economic, cultural, and environmental impact,’ Lee adds.

For us, it’s a celebration of the community that backs us, our customers who choose to explore Nagambie with us, and the belief that regional tourism can be both innovative and deeply connected to place.

‘Customers are looking for authenticity, and regional Victoria — particularly the Goulburn Region — has it in abundance.’

As they head to the national stage, Lee says it’s important to back yourself, stay connected to your community and build partnerships early. Be true to your story and your place, because in regional areas, news of your reputation travels fast.

‘Success in regional Victoria rarely happens solo. Collaboration with local businesses, the tourism board, and community groups helps create momentum that one business alone just can’t generate — and it’s this kind of local support that keeps regional communities thriving.’

Bendigo Guided Tours sharing the city’s stories.

Hot off their Gold win for Best New Business at the 2025 Victorian Tourism Awards, Jamie Roberts of Bendigo Guided Tours is proving an authentic local guide can change everything.

With thoughtfully designed group and private tours that dive into Bendigo’s gold rush heritage, cultural highlights and tastiest secrets, Jamie and team makes exploring the city both enjoyable and full of character.

Heading to the Australian Tourism Awards marks a defining moment for Jamie, who’s poured years of passion into building Bendigo Guided Tours from scratch.

‘To first have won gold for best new business, and then find ourselves a finalist in the Australian Tourism Awards is something I personally am very proud of. Building a small tourism-based business is a lot of hard work. This nomination means we are on the right track to building a viable, sustainable business that showcases the best of Bendigo’s cultural and culinary attractions.’

There is a huge amount of work involved in building a new tourism business like Bendigo Guided Tours. From creating and testing new products to establishing a web presence, joining OTAs (Online Travel Agencies), and building an active social media following, every step takes time and energy. Jamie notes that generating sales on top of this is especially challenging, as a new business that can’t yet afford permanent staff.

‘The reward is in seeing how far we’ve come in such a short time, and the Australian Tourism Awards nomination really is a welcome acknowledgement of what I’m trying to build.’

Reflecting on his own journey, Jamie offers heartfelt advice for others building something from the ground up in regional Victoria.

Don't begin without passion for what you want to build. The kind of passion that has you up at night dreaming about making it real. Be prepared to work hard. There is no shortcut I have found that makes growing a new business easy.

‘What keeps me going is the passion I began with, and the slow but real growth I see every month. Adopt kindness as a value in your business. Treating your customers with kindness is obvious, but it needs to apply to employees, partners, suppliers and yourself. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.’

About the Australian Tourism Awards.

The Australian Tourism Awards recognise the nation’s leading tourism operators across a range of categories. State winners go on to compete at the national level. State winners progress to the national stage to compete for Australia’s top tourism accolades.

Find out more visit Australian Tourism Awards.