QLD Day celebrates the anniversary of the day Queensland stood on its own, officially separating from New South Wales in 1859.
The Crisafulli Government promotes QLD Day with community-based awards including “BEST TOURIST ATTRACTION.”
Wil Kemp and Mike Lee from our very own Savannahlander travelled to Brisbane today to receive the award for the best tourist attraction in Queensland ahead of Australia Zoo and Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers in the 2026 QLD Day All the Best competition.
David Kempton Member for Cook is ecstatic to share that Savannahlander has won the best tourism attraction award showcasing the iconic and all Queensland unique train journey.
David Kempton said the official announcement took place this morning at the Brisbane Storey Bridge Hotel where he was proud to stand beside Wil Kemp and Mike Lee and pledge his ongoing support.
“It’s been a fantastic morning celebrating this win for Savannahlander with Wil and Mike and the rest of the team cheering on back home,” Mr Kempton said.
“This proves how iconic and popular the Savannahlander is. It is a unique outback four-day rail experience departs Cairns weekly, travels through its way through the Wet Tropics area of the Kuranda range and stops into Mareeba train station brining tourists into the heart of my electorate and continues out through the Savannah country to Forsayth.”
Wil Kemp Driver of Savannahlander said it has been a big and emotional morning.
“It’s been an overwhelming morning for Mike and me. We flew down last night and now there is all the people you see on TV surrounding us here at the Storey Bridge,” Wil said laughing.
“The last couple of years have been extremely hard with floods and fires and the closed sections of track. Just operating from season to season, not knowing whether or not we’re going to be around the next year or even if I would have a job.”
“We fought really hard to get the railway situation out there, into the public to try and gather support and I guess this is the culmination of that,” said a teary Wil.
Operations Manager at Cairns Kuranda Steam Train Mike Lee was beside Wil as they expressed their astonishment of the announcement and love for the Savannahlander.
In January, the wet season flood bent the Copperfield Gorge wooden trestle bridge at Einasleigh, 250 kilometres south-west of Cairns, just weeks after it was fixed.
David Kempton said he will continue to support the Savannahlander and will fight to have the line opened again as soon as possible.
Queenslanders have voted in record numbers to back their favourite local businesses and places to eat, drink and visit, to help decide the 2026 QLD Day All the Best winners.
After almost 75,000 unique votes, the winners in 15 categories – from best butcher and bakery to the most iconic cafe and camping spot – have now earnt the title of ‘the best in Queensland’ in the lead up to QLD Day.
The Crisafulli Government is making QLD Day bigger and better in 2026 with the inaugural Mega Round of sport, featuring two NRL blockbusters, an AFL Q-Clash, Super Netball local derby and QLD Day Stakes at Oaks Day, so Queenslanders can cheer on their favourite sports teams and celebrate what they love about our State.
To see a full list of the 2026 All the Best winners and finalists, visit www.qld.gov.au/qldday.