By Michael Burt
Bellingen’s own Belfry Guesthouse has been inducted into a prestigious tourism Hall of Fame after a third consecutive gold award at the North Coast Tourism Awards.
Belfry was voted the best again in the Hosted Accommodation category at an Awards event at the Pacific Bay Resort in Coffs Harbour.
It now sits alongside Byron Bay Bluesfest (Inducted 2025), Potager – A Kitchen Garden (Inducted 2025), Sealy Lookout, Orara East State Forest (Inducted 2019) and Byron Bay Eco Cruises (Inducted 2019) in the North Coast Tourism Hall of Fame.
“It’s always a surprise to get an award, given the competition that we are up against,” said Manager Rowan Simon.
“The team works really hard to ensure that all the guests have a great stay and have the best time while they are in Bellingen shire, so it is nice to be recognised for that.”
“The last few months have been pretty tough. Fuel prices and general cost of living have had a huge impact on people’s travel plans. And we had the Waterfall Way closure on top of that.”
The Belfry team is comprised of Deb, Beth, Ingrid, Dale and Rowan.
Due to entry into the Hall of Fame, Belfry cannot enter the North Coast Tourism Awards for the next two years. The business could win a second consecutive gold at the NSW Tourism Awards this year and be eligible for a national award.
Belfry was the shire’s only business to garner gold this year. Yarrila Arts and Museum led the charge for Coffs Harbour, winning gold in Cultural Tourism off the back of its blockbuster RELICS: A New World Rises exhibition. Hoey Moey’s Tidal Sounds festival claimed gold in Festivals and Events, and Spare Chef Catering took gold in Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services.
The annual awards recognise excellence across 17 categories, highlighting operators who are delivering exceptional visitor experiences, embracing innovation and contributing to the continued growth and success of the North Coast visitor economy.
Natalie Godward, Chief Executive Officer of NSW Tourism Association, said the awards recognise far more than success on the night.
“These awards are so much more than a trophy – they’re a business development program that gives operators the opportunity to benchmark themselves, receive independent expert feedback and continue building stronger businesses, which is especially important in these tough economic times.”