It said Australia has “much to celebrate, securing five of the top ten spots in the South Pacific list” and that Sydney, which was 32nd on the world list, was “the star of the southern hemisphere”.
“If you’re looking for trip inspiration, look no further than the Travellers’ Choice Destinations,” said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. “Our global travellers are the tastemakers for uncovering the best places to visit around the world.”
Travellers’ Choice Destinations honour top travel spots worldwide based on the millions of valuable reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travellers.
Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, attractions and restaurants in destinations worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, was delighted by the news.
“Sydney has so much to offer, from our golden beaches for surfing and world class dining and shopping, to the diverse, scenic regional areas such as the magnificent Blue Mountains and Hunter wineries. New South Wales is blessed with a range of natural wonders and urban attractions which entices 28.5 million international and domestic overnight visitors each year,” he said.
Top 10 Travellers’ Choice South Pacific Destinations:
1. Sydney, Australia
2. Queenstown, New Zealand
3. Melbourne, Australia
4. Brisbane, Australia
5. Rotorua, New Zealand
6. Port Douglas, Australia
7. Taupo, New Zealand
8. Blenheim, New Zealand
9. Nelson, New Zealand
10. Hobart, Australia
Top 10 Travellers’ Choice Australia Destinations:
1. Sydney, NSW
2. Melbourne, VIC
3. Brisbane, QLD
4. Port Douglas, QLD
5. Hobart, TAS
6. Cessnock, NSW
7. Airlie Beach, QLD
8. Byron Bay, NSW
9. Canberra, ACT
10. Darwin, NT
Top 25 Travellers’ Choice World Destinations:
1. Istanbul, Turkey
2. Rome, Italy
3. London, England
4. Beijing, China
5. Prague, Czech Republic
6. Marrakech, Morocco
7. Paris, France
8. Hanoi, Vietnam (New)
9. Siem Reap, Cambodia
10. Shanghai, China
11. Berlin, Germany
12. New York City, New York
13. Florence, Italy
14. Buenos Aires, Argentina
15. Barcelona, Spain
16. St. Petersburg, Russia
17. Dubai, United Arab Emirates (New)
18. Chicago, Illinois
19. Cape Town, South Africa
20. Bangkok, Thailand
21. Budapest, Hungary (New)
22. Sydney, Australia
23. Lisbon, Portugal (New)
24. Chiang Mai, Thailand
25. San Francisco, California
Image via Getty