South Australia has reached a "must-see" status for global travellers according to Lonely Planet travel experts - it has been ranked fifth on the Top Ten regions for the guidebook's 2017 list.
The iconic travel guidebook's writers and experts spend time on the road in every corner of the planet, and each year they report which destinations will offer travellers the best experience available.
This year's nod to Australia makes no mention of Sydney’s beaches, Melbourne’s life style or Northern Territory's outback... instead in the Top Ten regions we find South Australia. They explain:
“Its climate may be hot, but South Australia offers the coolest mix of brilliant wine country, abundant produce festivals, stark and stunning tracts of picturesque Aussie outback and crowd-free beaches that could make even the Bahamas jealous.” - Lonely Planet
An interesting surprise for the old continent was to find the Italian city of Pistoia in the Top Ten cities list. Often referred to as ‘Little Florence’ - Pistoia's hallmark aesthetic is similar to the more famous Tuscan city, yet is often overlooked as a travel destination.
That’s set to change in 2017, when the city will take the title of Italy’s Capital of Culture. "Pistoia earned the title in recognition of its impressive cultural credentials and devotion to grass-roots ideas and local entrepreneurship," writes Lonely Planet.
"In return, the award offers the city an opportunity to showcase an alternative side to Tuscany: one that eschews grand-slam sights in favour of thriving small towns full of personality and dynamic, living culture"
Here's the full break down of all the top destinations.
Top 10 countries
- Canada
- Colombia
- Finland
- Dominica
- Nepal
- Bermuda
- Mongolia
- Oman
- Myanmar
- Ethiopia
Top 10 cities
- Bordeaux, France
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Los Angeles, USA
- Merida, Mexico
- Ohrid, Macedonia
- Pistoia, Italy - The Tuscan city was chosen out of nine finalists to be the Italian culture capital in 2017. Here you can find 7 reasons to visit Pistoia in 2017 by Lonely Planet's editor Paula Hardy.
Source: Filippo Maria Bianchi / Getty Images
- Seoul, South Korea
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Moscow, Russia
- Portland, Oregon
Top 10 regions
- Choquequirao, Peru
- Taranaki, New Zealand
- The Azores, Portugal
- North Wales, UK
- South Australia
Source: flickr/Les Haines CC BY 2.0
- Aisen, Chile
- The Tuamotus, French Polynesia
- Coastal Georgia, USA
- Perak, Malaysia
- Skellig Ring, Irland
