What’s Happening?
SeaLink Marine and Tourism has again been recognised through Tourism and Events Queensland’s 2026 Best of Queensland Experiences Program.
The annual program recognises operators that consistently deliver high-quality visitor experiences across Queensland.
For 2026, several SeaLink products achieved Gold status, including Magnetic Island Ferries, Whitsunday Jetski Tours and Red Cat Adventures products.
Additional SeaLink experiences across K’gari and South East Queensland were also recognised under the program’s new tiered model.
Donna Gauci, Chief Executive Officer of SeaLink Marine and Tourism, said the results reflected the work of local teams.
“We’re incredibly proud to again see our Queensland experiences recognised through the Best of Queensland Experiences Program,” Ms Gauci said.
“These results are a testament to the passion, care and commitment of our brilliant teams, who continue to create memorable experiences across some of Queensland’s most iconic destinations.”
Why It Matters?
Tourism and Events Queensland’s Best of Queensland Experiences Program is a major benchmark for the state’s visitor economy.
It helps travellers identify operators with strong customer reviews, accreditation, online booking systems and guest satisfaction.
For SeaLink, the 2026 results show consistency across ferry services, island tours, resorts and guided experiences.
The recognition also supports Queensland’s broader tourism reputation, especially in destinations tied to reef, island and coastal travel.
By The Numbers
- Five SeaLink products achieved Gold status in 2026, showing strong visitor satisfaction across ferry and tour experiences.
- Three recognition tiers were used this year, with Gold, Silver and Teal status awarded under the new model.
- Twelve SeaLink experiences were recognised across North Queensland, the Whitsundays, K’gari and South East Queensland.
Local Impact
The recognition stretches across several key Queensland tourism regions.
In North Queensland, Magnetic Island Ferries received Gold status, supporting the island’s role as a major Townsville visitor drawcard.
In the Whitsundays, Whitsunday Jetski Tours, Big Island Day Tour, Tongarra Day Sail and Thundercat all achieved Gold status.
Falls to Paradise also received Silver status, adding to the Whitsundays’ strong showing.
On K’gari, Kingfisher Bay Resort, K’gari Beach Resort, K’gari Explorer Tours, K’gari Tours with Kingfisher Bay Resort, Kingfisher Bay Passenger Ferry Services and SeaLink K’gari Ferries received Teal status.
In South East Queensland, Stradbroke Island Ferries also received Teal recognition.
Zoom In
Tourism and Events Queensland introduced a tiered recognition system for the 2026 program.
Operators were assessed against customer satisfaction ratings, online reviews, secure online booking, social media presence, accreditation and overall visitor satisfaction.
The Gold results place several SeaLink experiences among Queensland’s recognised visitor products for 2026.
SeaLink Marine and Tourism said it also continues to invest in sustainable tourism practices across Queensland.
A number of its experiences and products hold eco-certification and sustainability credentials.
Zoom Out
The Best of Queensland Experiences Program gives visitors another way to choose trusted tourism operators.
It also gives local tourism teams clear recognition for service quality and guest experience.
SeaLink’s results show the strength of Queensland’s island and marine tourism sector.
They also point to continued demand for experiences in destinations such as Magnetic Island, the Whitsundays, K’gari and Stradbroke Island.
What To Look For Next?
SeaLink’s recognised products are likely to remain important drawcards for Queensland tourism in 2026.
The new tiered model may also give operators a clearer pathway to strengthen reviews, booking systems and sustainability credentials.
Travellers can view or book the recognised experiences through the following official pages:
