Tasmania cracks Lonely Planet travel guide as one of its top ten destinations for 2015
THEY could pick any place in the world — but Lonely Planet have chosen one part of Australia to complete its Top Ten destinations list for 2015.
IT’S sometimes left off maps of Australia but Tasmania is making its mark in the travel industry.
In what is believed to be a first for the Apple Isle, global travel authority Lonely Planet has named Tasmania as one of the world’s top ten regions to visit in 2015.
The island state ranks fourth on the list behind the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey, Rocky Mountain National Park in the US and the Toledo district in Belize.
Northern Norway follows Tasmania, then Khumbu in Nepal at six, Mexico’s Copper Canyon seventh, and Flores in Indonesia at eight.
Chile’s Atacama Desert and Macau in China round out the top ten.
Chris Zeiher from Lonely Planet said the recommendations were drawn from hundreds of ideas submitted by staff, authors, travellers, bloggers and tweeters.
A panel of in-house travel experts then refine the list based on topicality, excitement, value and that special x-factor, he said.
“Modern Tasmania has adopted a fresh, hip and inclusive attitude sparked by the brilliant revival of its now super cool waterfront capital Hobart,” said Mr Zeiher.
Another reason for Tasmania’s inclusion in the list, was next year’s opening of the second stage of Australia’s premier coastal bushwalking experience the Three Capes Track.
“This stage will link Denmans Cove with Cape Hauy, via 35km of redeveloped walking track which takes in some of the stunning sea cliffs of the Tasman National Park,” Mr Zeiher said. “One of the largest projects of its kind to be undertaken anywhere in the world, once the third stage is completed the track will offer walkers a multi-day bushwalking and boating experience.”
Tasmania’s tourism currency will only be further boosted by next month's international dinner at Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) marking the culmination of the Restaurant Australia campaign.
To be attended by 80 of the world’s most influential food and wine experts, details of the gala dinner are expected to reach close to 400 million people worldwide.
Tourism Australia managing director John O’Sullivan said 16 of the country’s key tourism target markets would be represented with guests including India’s Sanjeev Kapoor, American cookbook queen Alice Waters and acerbic British food critic Adrian Anthony Gill.
Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Regions 2015 are:
1. Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey
2. Rocky Mountain National Park, USA
3. The Toledo District, Belize
4. Tasmania, Australia
5. Northern Norway
6. Khumbu, Nepal
7. Copper Canyon, Mexico
8. Flores, Indonesia
9. Atacama Desert, Chile
10. Macau, China.
Tassie will cover travel costs for this ‘odd’ job
Tasmania has just opened applications for 10 “odd jobs” and there’s a particular one on the list that will have you scratching your head.
Secret Aussie island no one knows about
There’s an undiscovered island in Australia with white sand beaches, rare wildlife and some of the best views imaginable.
Brutal pics of abandoned ‘tourist attraction’
A once-popular Aussie tourist attraction is now “decaying” and sinking into the forest floor, as the site waits for promised federal funding.