Sydney By Kayak’s Laura Stone will represent New South Wales at the Australian Top Tour Guide Awards after taking the state’s highest honour for 2026.

Stone received gold at the NSW Top Tour Guide Awards, announced during An Evening at Taronga at Taronga Zoo Sydney.

Rebecca Dunning of Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour received silver, while Alkira Aldridge of Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council took bronze. Elena Babozogli of Showtime Kayaking was highly commended.

NSW Tourism Association CEO Natalie Godward said the awards recognised the knowledge, storytelling and connection to place that professional guides bring to visitor experiences.

“This year’s finalists represented an exceptional standard of professional guiding across NSW, so to be recognised among this group is a significant achievement,” Godward said.

“Congratulations to our 2026 NSW Top Tour Guide and to each award recipient and finalist. They are incredible ambassadors for our industry and for New South Wales.”

Tour Guides Australia President Greg Esnouf said guides gave travellers a level of human connection and local understanding that could not be replicated by a map, app or itinerary.

“The standard represented by this year’s finalists demonstrates the depth of talent within the professional guiding sector in NSW,” Esnouf said.

Adrian Clayton of Sydney Kayak Experience and Peta Alexopoulos of Positive Energy Adventures & Retreats were also named as finalists.

Delivered by the NSW Tourism Association in partnership with Tour Guides Australia, the awards support the development, recognition and professionalism of the state’s tour guiding sector.

Stone will represent NSW at the Australian Top Tour Guide Awards in Canberra in September.