The team at Urunga's Award-Winning Riverside Holiday Resort are incredibly proud of all their achievements during the past few years. Having been recognised again and again for our commitment to inclusive tourism and quality self-contained accommodation, we will continue to strive to provide the best family-friendly, accessible accommodation and facilities so that all our members and guests can enjoy their holidays to the fullest.
Image Description: Riverside Holiday Pool surrounded by architecturally designed apartment buildings being enjoyed by two guests.
Our team is constantly evaluating our performance and facilities in order to enhance our ability to provide a holiday destination to be accessed by everyone. Our spacious, self-contained apartments make it possible for guests to relax comfortably for long stays, and our family-friendly accessible facilities, not to mention stunning waterside location a stone’s throw from the town’s centre, ensure there are plenty of activities to be enjoyed by all.
Image Description: Riverside Holiday Resort on the left bank of the green/blue Kalang River, surrounded by trees as far as the eye can see, all the way towards the looming backdrop of the Dorrigo Mountains.
Riverside Holiday Resort Awards:
2022 - HALL OF FAME - Australian Tourism Awards 'Excellence in Accessible Tourism'
2022 - GOLD - NSW Tourism Awards 'Excellence in Accessible Tourism'
2022 - IAN J COOPER AWARD - Bellingen Shire Council 'Excellence Award for Access & Inclusion'
2022 - IAN J COOPER AWARD - Bellingen Shire Council 'Business Award for Commitment for Access & Inclusion'
2021 - BRONZE - Australian Tourism Awards 'Self Contained Accommodation'
2021 - HALL OF FAME - NSW Tourism Awards 'Self Contained Accommodation'
2021 - GOLD - NSW Tourism Awards 'Self Contained Accommodation'
2021 - GOLD - NSW Tourism Awards 'Excellence in Accessible Tourism'
2020 – WINNER - Australian Enterprise Awards 'Best Family Friendly Holiday Resort in NSW'
2020 – CERTIFICATE OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT - Bellingen Shire Council 'Ongoing Commitment to Inclusion and Access'
2019 - GOLD - Destination North Coast 'Self-Contained Accommodation'
2019 - GOLD - Destination North Coast 'Excellence in Accessible Tourism'
2019 - GOLD - NSW Tourism Awards 'Self-Contained Accommodation'
2019 - GOLD - NSW Tourism Awards 'Excellence in Accessible Tourism'
2019 - FINALIST - Australian Tourism Awards 'Self-Contained Accommodation'
2019 - WINNER - Sunny Business Awards 'Accommodation, Hotels, Clubs & Bars'
2019 - WINNER - Sunny Business Awards 'Excellence in Workplace Inclusion'
2018 - IAN J COOPER AWARD - Bellingen Shire Council 'Commitment to Improving Access'
2018 - GOLD - Destination North Coast 'Self-Contained Accommodation'
2018 - GOLD - NSW Tourism Awards - 'Self-Contained Accommodation'
2018 - FINALIST - Australian Tourism Awards 'Self-Contained Accommodation'
2018 - WINNER - Sunny Business Awards 'Accommodation, Hotels, Clubs & Bars'
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About the Awards:
The NSW Tourism Awards
Riverside Holiday Resort Urunga are over the moon to have won GOLD at the NSW Tourism Awards in the Excellence in Accessible Tourism category three times in a row (2022, 2021 and 2019), earning them their second spot in the Awards' prestigious Hall of Fame.
Riverside have also been three time winners in the Self Contained Accommodation category in 2021, 2019 and 2018, earning the Resort its first spot in the Hall of Fame, and qualifying them as finalists for the Australian Tourism Awards three years in a row.
The NSW Tourism Awards, organised by Destination NSW and Business NSW, are the premier tourism event for the state, recognising excellence and resilience of tourism business operators, and are an incredible nod to the successes achieved by those businesses throughout the year.
Kellon Beard from Business NSW and Riverside Holiday Resort Manager Rebecca Beaton receiving the Gold Award for Self-Contained Accommodation and Excellence in Accessible Tourism, plus Hall of Fame Award from the NSW Tourism Awards 2021
Riverside Holiday Resort Manager Rebecca Beaton beside FCWSC CEO Ken Conway onstage accepting their award at the 2018 NSW Tourism Awards
Riverside Holiday Resort Manager Rebecca Beaton at the 2019 NSW Tourism Awards
The Australian Tourism Awards
In March 2022, Riverside Holiday Resort Manager Rebecca Beaton and Club Holiday Resorts FCSWC CEO Ken Conway headed to the Sunshine Coast for the Australian Tourism Awards to represent NSW, the North Coast, the Coffs Coast, the Bellingen Shire and Urunga in the Self Contained Accommodation category where they proudly took home the Bronze Award.
Riverside Holiday Resort had also been a finalists at the 2019 attending the prestigious 2019 event that was held in Canberra on 6th March in 2020, and 2018 Australian Tourism Awards.
The Australian Tourism Awards are the peak awards event for the country’s tourism industry and recognise the country’s top tourism organisations in 26 different categories, ranging from attractions, events, visitor information services, to various classifications of accommodation providers.
Riverside after winning GOLD and entering the Hall of Fame for 'Self-Contained Accommodation' at the NSW Tourism Awards 2021, went on to represent NSW in the ‘Self-Contained Accommodation’ category at the Australian Tourism Awards 2021 on Friday 18 March 2022, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and won the Bronze Award.
FCWSC CEO Ken Conway and partner Beth with Riverside Holiday Resort Manager Rebecca Beaton and partner Bo accepting the Bronze Award for Self-Contained Accommodation at the 2021 Australian Tourism Awards
Destination North Coast Regional Tourism Awards
Riverside Holiday Resort won GOLD at both the 2019 and 2018 Regional Tourism Awards in the Self Contained Accommodation category, and took home Gold in 2019 for Excellence in Accessible Tourism, the first year in which this category was awarded.
The NSW Regional Tourism Awards provides tourism organisations and individuals the opportunity to gain an insight into their industry, their business, and receive recognition for their successes. The Awards were not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
The Australian Enterprise Award
Riverside Holiday Resort Urunga was extremely proud to take home the Best Family Friendly Holiday Resort Award in 2020.
The Australian Enterprise Award is awarded to various businesses in an array of categories recognising contributions made by business’, their activities and reputations, and their contribution in boosting the Australian economy and status internationally.
The Ian J Cooper Access and Inclusion Awards
Riverside Holiday Resort was incredibly humbled to receive two Ian J Cooper Award's in 2022, both the Award for Business and the top honours, the Excellence Award. Riverside have also been recipients in previous years receiving a 'Certificate of Acknowledgement' in 2020, and 'Commitment to Inclusion and Access' Award in 2018.
The Bellingen Shire Council’s Ian J Cooper Award is named after Ian ‘Mini’ Cooper and his legacy of advocacy in provision of access and inclusion for those living with disabilities, along with greater community awareness and education. Ian grew up in Bellingen, realising his own disability whilst attending the local highschool, and spent much of his later life in a wheelchair. His own disability spurred Ian on to campaign throughout his life on the behalf of all those experiencing life with a disability.
Part of his legacy, after his passing in 2000, is the biannual Ian J Cooper Access and Inclusion Awards held by the Bellingen Shire Council and awarded to individuals, organisations and businesses that actively work towards creating a better understanding of disability and inclusion within the community.
Coffs Coast Business Awards
(formally the Sunny Business Awards)
Riverside Holiday Resort was proud to have won in the Accommodation, Hotels, Clubs & Bars category in 2019 and 2018, and the Excellence in Workplace Inclusion award in 2019. After a hiatus in 2020, Riverside Holiday Resort Urunga were finalists in 2021 in the Accommodation, Hotels, Clubs & Bars and Covid-19 Business Resilience categories.
The Coffs Coast Business Awards are run by the Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce and recognise businesses doing amazing things in the community.
In 2020, Riverside Holiday Resort worked hard to gain the Sustainable Tourism Accreditation, after already receiving the Quality Tourism Accreditation in 2019. The resort also received the Covid Safe and Covid Clean Practicing Business Accreditations to best ensure the health and safety of our guests and staff during these uncertain times.
You can find more information on our Covid Cleaning and Sanitation procedures here.
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Our mission, along with our other two resorts at Seaside Holiday Resort in Fingal Bay, and Haven Holiday Resort in Sussex Inlet, is to create an inclusive environment where our members and guests enjoy life and create memories regardless of their abilities. At Riverside, our goal is to provide self-contained accommodation that is accessible and affordable, in a fun, safe and beautiful setting.
We are extremely proud of our achievements and aim to continue to deliver the very best holiday experiences to all new and returning guests, regardless of their abilities, in an inclusive and sustainable environment.
Book now to enjoy your next holiday at our award-winning resort.
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