New Zealand dominates Traveller’s Choice Awards
New Zealand has beaten Australia in TripAdvisor’s annual Traveller’s Choice list across several adventurous categories, with Queenstown taking out the top spot for the Pacific.
The annual list is compiled using reviews and ratings on the TripAdvisor website, and 2021’s results showed it was the year for short getaways and outdoor destinations.
Auckland ranked as the third most popular destination in the Pacific, following behind scenic balloon tours by Lake Wakatipu and jet skiing in Bora Bora in first and second place.
As for the best overall experiences, Rotorua came in first and fourth for white water rafting and ziplining respectively, followed by quad bike tours on Kangaroo Island in second place, and a discovery tour on Queensland’s Magnetic Island coming in third.
Though New Zealand took out the top spots, Australia had six “best destinations” in the top 10 over their Kiwi neighbour’s three.
Top 10 Popular Destinations in the South Pacific
1. Queenstown – New Zealand
2. Bora Bora – French Polynesia
3. Auckland – New Zealand
4. Gold Coast – Australia
5. Hobart – Australia
6. Sydney – Australia
7. Port Douglas – Australia
8. Cairns – Australia
9. Melbourne – Australia
10. Rotorua – New Zealand
Image: @queenstownnz (Instagram)