Lonely Planet has released its Best in Travel 2023 list and not one, but two, Australian locations have made the cut. A stunning achievement for our island country. 

Trying something new, Lonely Planet has sorted this year’s guide by the type of trip best had at the hand-picked destination. There are five categories: eat, journey, connect, learn and unwind. Western Australia made the coveted ‘journey’ list and Sydney was featured under the ‘connect’ category. 

One of the most sparsely populated places in the world, WA offers plenty of wide-open spaces to be explored including city adventures, amazing reefs, beaches, gorges, lakes and monoliths. The best way to see it all according to Lonely Planet? By car. Adventure from Perth to the Margaret River Region, Pemberton, Manjimup and Bunbury in the state’s South West by road to take in the serene scenery. 

When it comes to feeling connected to the local culture, Sydney will deliver in 2023, according to Lonely Planet. A host of events, like Sydney WorldPride (February 17 – March 5) and SXSW (October 15-22), will see locals and domestic and international travellers descend upon the city to partake in the festivities. 

Other countries and cities that made the coveted eat list (one we feel very passionate about) includes Italy’s Umbria, Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur, Japan’s Fukuoka, Peru’s Lima, South Africa and Uruguay’s Montevideo. 

BRB, booking our 2023 holiday.

To see the full list, visit lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel 

Related story: First look inside new Kangaroo Island Luxury Eco Pods