Lakes Region in Lonely Planet top 10CHE BAKER IN QUEENSTOWN TOP TEN: The Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2012 book puts Queenstown, Lake Wanaka and Fiordland at No8 on the list. New ZealandLonely Planet has named Queenstown and the Southern Lakes in its top 10 regions to visit in 2012 . The Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2012 book, on sale today, puts Queenstown, Lake Wanaka and Fiordland at No8 on the list. It is the only New Zealand region in the book, which recommends the best destinations, journeys and experiences next year. Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt said the announcement would give the region worldwide recognition. The endorsement was "priceless" and would inspire more tourists to travel to the region, Everitt said. Lonely Planet New Zealand spokeswoman Sarah Bennett said the news was hardly surprising. "Words like breathtaking, jaw-dropping, exhilarating and stunning are grossly overused in the tourism industry but the Southern Lakes region has a right to them all," Bennett said. The region was given the No8 spot because of its activities, such as skiing, golf and water sports, and spectacular scenery. The book also gives credit to the region's "excellent wineries and superb restaurants". Coastal Wales was given the No1 spot, followed by La Ruta Maya, in Central America, and northern Kenya. Destination Fiordland manager Lisa Sadler said the power of the Lonely Planet books should not be underestimated. The books heavily influenced travellers, so the announcement that Fiordland had been named in the top 10 was superb, Sadler said. Lake Wanaka Tourism general manager James Helmore said: "Appearing in Best in Travel 2012 will considerably enhance our profile and allow more international travellers to discover what everyone who lives here is so passionate about." The "ultimate alpine playground" on offer in Queenstown and the Southern Lakes was a perfect fit for the Lonely Planet reader, Helmore said Pounamu Apartments is well situated to provide the ideal accommodation stop to do daily visits to the fantastic places in the region. Credit: - The Southland Times |
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