Australia is one of the world’s best countries, according to half a million travellers

You don’t have to be a true blue Aussie to know that our Great Southern Land is one of the best places on the planet. From turquoise beaches that consistently rank among the world’s finest, to ancient rainforests and flaming deserts harbouring some of the greatest trails to exist, Australia really is a natural wonderland. That’s not to forget our charming accents, our cracking sense of humour and our world-famous landmarks that are recognised across the globe.

The rest of the world has fallen under our spell too. This week, travel publication Condé Nast Traveller revealed the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards and Australia was named as the 11th best country on Earth. A staggering 526,518 travellers voted in this year’s awards, with rankings awarded to the top 19 countries.

If your Instagram feed is looking anything like ours, then you won’t be surprised to see Japan standing on the podium in first place. This visa-free destination has something to amaze every traveller, from its traditional temples and ultra-relaxing onsens to its beautiful cherry blossoms, stand-out street food and incredibly efficient high-speed trains.

Next on the world’s best country list for 2023 was Italy – we’d say White Lotus gave them a little boost – followed by postcard-perfect Greece, jolly old Ireland and wilderness wonderland New Zealand. 

Australia just missed out on the top ten but 11th place is still a ripper ranking, considering there are almost 200 countries in the world. Plus, it does make us feel very smug that the US didn’t even make the list. Condé Nast called out Sydney, Melbourne and the Great Barrier Reef as tourist hot spots, but also gave shout-outs to Australia’s creative-minded cities, Perth and Hobart; Queensland’s oft-ignored capital city, Brisbane; and the ever-beautiful remote Kimberley region in Western Australia.

You can have a look at Condé Nast Traveller's full list of the world's best countries according to the Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 here. 

1. Japan
2. Italy
3. Greece
4. Ireland
5. New Zealand
6. Spain
7. Portugal
8. Norway
9. Switzerland
10. Türkiye
11. Australia
12. Iceland
13. Croatia
14. Germany
15. UK
16. South Africa
17. Austria
18. Sri Lanka
19. France

And if you plan to experience the most incredible places in Australia, then check out our full list here. 

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