[category]
[title]
January is hands down the best month to find holiday inspiration. All the big players in the travel world are releasing their picks of the best places to visit in 2026, with National Geographic, Condé Nast, Lonely Planet and our very own team at Time Out having spotlighted some seriously unreal destinations. Now, one of the world’s most trusted travel publications, the New York Times (NYT), has unveiled its round-up of the 52 Places to Go in 2026 (one holiday for every week of the year) – and two Aussie gems made the cut.
First up is Australia’s northern paradise, the Top End, which ranked 14th on the global list. This tropical oasis in the Northern Territory – home to Darwin, Arnhem Land, Tiwi Islands and the Katherine region – is Australia’s ultimate outdoor playground. The NYT was quick to highlight the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, which is rich with life: think tiny yellow butterflies, rolling lightning storms, ancient rock art galleries, immense red gorges and deep blue pools. In 2025, the park’s “crown jewel”, Gunlom Falls, reopened after a six-year closure, welcoming visitors to take a dip in its famous 85-metre-high infinity pool. We reckon it'll be a super popular spot to cool off in 2026!
Closer to Darwin, Litchfield National Park is another outdoor oasis, overflowing with Indigenous history, thundering waterfalls, croc-free pools and vivid greenery that has to be seen to be believed. It makes for an easy day trip from Darwin, which is the perfect base for your Top End adventures. In 2026, visitors can look forward to the opening of Larrakia Cultural Centre on the waterfront near the Stokes Hill sacred site, which will house exhibition spaces celebrating the Larrakia people, the area’s traditional inhabitants, along with landscaped gardens, an outdoor auditorium, a signature restaurant, and an arts studio for spear-making, weaving and painting workshops.
The second Australian spot featured on the NYT’s list of the best places to visit in 2026 is Melbourne, coming in at 49. A stark contrast to the Top End, this cultural, culinary and sporting capital earned its place for one standout reason: the Formula 1 Grand Prix (March 5-8). In 2026, three decades after Melbourne first hosted the opening event of the F1 calendar, the city will make history again with the debut of a Cadillac squad – the first new team in ten years. We're revving with excitement!
Beyond the track, Melbourne is a dream for coffee snobs with its charming café-lined laneways. The Victorian capital also has plenty to offer for arts and nature enthusiasts, from the bustling Queen Victoria Market to the world-class National Gallery of Victoria and riverside Royal Botanic Gardens.
You can check out the full list of the New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2026 here.