The ‘Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2025’ list has ranked a Tasmanian region as the only Australian entry in its global top five must-visit destinations of the year.
Launceston and the Tamar Valley found itself at number 4 in esteemed list, placing just below South Carolina’s Lowcountry and Coastal Georgia in the US, Nepal’s Terai and Panama’s Chiriquí.
Lonely Planet’s Senior Director of Global Trade Sales and Marketing, Chris Zeiher, praised the region’s culinary offerings, describing it as “all about food glorious food”.
“We love leafy Launnie … it offers this lovely blend of old and new and I’m especially taken with its gorgeous 19th-century industrial architecture,” he said.
Zeiher suggested an itinerary that includes a morning brew from Sweetbrew, a stroll through the city’s historic streets, a lunch at Josef Chromy Wines and an exploration of Cataract Gorge in the afternoon.
“Launceston and the Tamar Valley’s inclusion in this year’s Top Regions list underlines why domestic travelers should reconsider the obvious Aussie holiday hotspots,” he said.
Tasmania’s Premier and Minister for Tourism, Jeremy Rockliff, said the listing is an “incredible achievement” for Tasmania.
“While Tasmania’s stunning and diverse regions set us apart as a travel destination, it’s the tourism and hospitality industry and our communities who provide unforgettable experiences, produce and beverages that showcase the best of what our regions have to offer,” he said.
“I encourage Tasmanians, Australians and people from across the globe to head out into our regions to explore our world-class tourism and hospitality offerings in the coming months.”
Lonely Planet has previously ranked Hobart in the cities category for Best in Travel 2013, and Tasmania in the regions category for Best in Travel 2015.
