Whether a road trip up the coast or an international sojourn to destinations far and wide, Kiwis and Aussies alike have a passion for travel.
It is always reassuring however, when our own backyard makes it into the international lists for must-visit destinations.
The New York Times have released their 2024 Places to Travel list, and there are quite a few Southern Hemisphere destinations included.
First on the list coming in at number 4 is a train trip throughout New Zealand. Their recommendation is a 17-day journey on the Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine trains offered by Great Journeys.
The journey starts in Auckland and explores transcendent sites like the volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park and Te Papa in Wellington. After a ferry across the Cook Strait to the South Island, the Coastal Pacific journeys through world-class vineyards and along the jagged coast, stopping to whale- and dolphin-watch before ending in Christchurch. The last leg on the TranzAlpine starts on the lush Canterbury Plains then climbs over the Southern Alps, with views to white-capped peaks, rushing rivers and alpine lakes.
A real trend for travel in 2024 is active relaxing. And Tasmania, located at the very southern tip of Australia, is the perfect location for intriguing guided walks. The Tasmanian Walking Company, in partnership with the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, offers a three-day trek across rugged Bruny Island to map flora and collect seeds for the garden’s seed bank.
Coming in at number 39 on the list, is Brisbane. Gearing up to host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games, Brisbane is undergrowing a rejuvenation. The development includes the restoration of historic buildings, four new hotels, parks and public spaces, and an 820-foot-long Sky Deck with bars and restaurants overlooking the Brisbane River.
Top 10 New York Times Places to Visit 2024
- The Path of Totality, North America
- Paris, France
- Yamaguchi, Japan
- New Zealand by train
- Maui, Hawaii
- Baaj Nwaavja I’tah Kukveni, Arizona
- Singapore
- O’Higgins, Chile
- Ladkah, India
- Geneva, Switzerland
