TripAdvisor research today reveals that countries and destinations that put travellers in the heart of nature are the world’s top-ranked for travel experiences. The findings also show that, based on ratings from travellers themselves, Australia is #6 in the world’s top 10 countries for travel experiences.
Costa Rica – known for rainforests, volcanos, beaches and surfing – took the top spot on both the country and destination lists. New Zealand, famed for its adventure tourism, ranked second among the best countries and Vietnam, known for its bustling cities, delicious food and beautiful coastline took third place.
Closer to home, Australia’s variety of scenic experiences for travellers, such as the Ayers Rock (Uluru) Sunrise and Segway and a Full-Day Maria Island Scenic Cruise Including Buffet Lunch and Guided Walk, propelled the country into the top 10 country list for experiences.
The lists, announced today by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest provider of bookable tours and activities, recognise the top places (countries and destinations) in the world for travellers to do local tours, activities, and experiences, based on the combined average destination ratings and reviews* for bookable experiences on the site.
Australia’s Iconic Cities Overtaken by Smaller Destinations, like Yulara and Hobart
Travellers are showing appreciation for destinations beyond global favourites, with cities like Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne being outranked by places like Yulara, Hobart and the Gold Coast, which were listed in the top five of best destinations for experiences in Australia and New Zealand.
“These rankings show travellers’ growing appetite and appreciation for nature over cityscapes,” said Janice Lee Fang, Director of Communications, Asia Pacific, TripAdvisor. “With places like Yulara, Hobart and the Gold Coast all ranking amongst Australia’s top destinations for experiences, it’s clear travellers are breaking away from the big cities and thoroughly enjoying it! These destinations are perfect inspiration to start planning your next trip and with over 121,000 experiences available to book on TripAdvisor, you’ll never be stumped with what to do, somewhere new.”
Despite the popularity of Australia’s smaller destinations, overall New Zealand cities came out on top, with Rotorua taking first place as the best destination for experiences in Australia and New Zealand, closely followed by Queenstown.
These are the top 10 destinations in Australia and New Zealand, top 10 countries, and top 10 destinations in the world for experiences, according to travellers’ ratings and reviews.
Best Destinations in Australia and New Zealand for Experiences
|
Rank |
Destination |
Average Destination Rating* |
Top-Rated Experiences |
|
1. |
Rotorua, New Zealand |
4.77 |
|
|
2. |
Queenstown, New Zealand |
4.72 |
|
|
3. |
Gold Coast, Australia |
4.61 |
|
|
4. |
Hobart, Australia |
4.59 |
|
|
5. |
Yulara, Australia |
4.59 |
|
|
6. |
Auckland, New Zealand |
4.58 |
|
|
7. |
Melbourne, Australia |
4.54 |
|
|
8. |
Cairns, Australia |
4.52 |
|
|
9. |
Darwin, Australia |
4.48 |
|
|
10. |
Brisbane, Australia |
4.48 |
|
Best Countries in the World for Experiences
|
Rank |
Country |
Average Country Rating* |
Top-Rated Experiences |
|
1. |
Costa Rica |
4.66 |
|
|
2. |
New Zealand |
4.65 |
|
|
3. |
Vietnam |
4.62 |
|
|
4. |
Ireland |
4.57 |
|
|
5. |
Scotland |
4.57 |
|
|
6. |
Australia |
4.54 |
|
|
7. |
Portugal |
4.52 |
|
|
8. |
Mexico |
4.50 |
|
|
9. |
United States |
4.50 |
|
|
10. |
Iceland |
4.49 |
|
Best Destinations in the World for Experiences
|
Rank |
Destination |
Average Destination Rating* |
Top-Rated Experiences |
|
1. |
La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica |
4.81 |
|
|
2. |
Kauai, Hawaii, USA |
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