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One Aussie State Made Conde Nast’s List of the 21 Best Places To Travel In 2021

One Aussie State Made Conde Nast’s List of the 21 Best Places To Travel In 2021

We’ve said it before, but ‘tis the season for travel ‘best lists’ and no pandemic will get in the way of our appetite for adventure.

The latest inspo is thanks to Conde Nast Traveler, with their 21 picks for 2021’s best travel spots set to reignite your wanderlust.

Like most 2021 travel lists this year, considerations are a little different due to the pandemic. CN Traveler followed a considered approach in providing a mix of domestic jaunts for US readers “with new reasons to visit”, aspirational destinations for those bursting for a big trip in 2021, as well as locations that were hard-hit by COVID-19 and ripe for a tourism injection.

Sure, we might not get to most of these places in 2021 (fingers crossed though), but did Australia make the list? You betcha. The natural delights of Tasmania are featured.

Here’s a look at CN Traveler’s ‘21 Best Places to Go in 2021’ list. For the full breakdown on each destination click here.

Pacific

Tasmania, Australia

 

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We’re huge fans of Tassie, so aren’t surprised it made this global list. After closing its borders early, the Apple Isle was largely unaffected by the pandemic. It’s already opened its borders to mainlanders and is in a position to welcome international travellers in 2021, too.

This lush southern paradise is a veritable wonderland for everything from scenery and adventure to food, promising travellers total sensory satisfaction. Add to that its petite size, and Tasmania is one hell of a place for a road trip.

Hokianga, New Zealand

We all know of New Zealand’s natural spoils, but Hokianga makes CN Traveler’s list for its focus on Maori and Polynesian culture with the multimillion-dollar Manea opening this December.

Manea tells the story of Kupe – the great Polynesian explorer acknowledged as the first person to happen upon the land – and the 1,000 years of Maori history that followed. Hokianga is near the spot where Kupe is said to have run ashore. All employees at the interactive museum are local Maori who trace their lineage to Kupe himself.

The Maori Tourism Board is also launching three- to five-day itineraries led by local Iwi guides, who can share the land’s significance through Maori folklore and stories.

Africa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ethiopia boasts nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but visitors seem to treat the historic capital city of Addis Ababa as a mere stopover. However, things are changing with developments promoting green spaces and outdoor activities.

In the city, a new museum opened up in 2019, and there’s a new eco-recreational and wellness space set amongst eucalyptus tree forests. Take a 20-minute drive out of the city for hiking, biking, horseback riding, archery, paintball, go kart, and Ethiopia’s first zip line.

Angola

If you want 2021 to be a knockout year for adventure, then oft-overlooked Angola could be the spot. In June, legendary adventurer Richard Bangs will lead his adventure company’s first nine-day trek into one of the world’s most remote biospheres: the Angolan wedge of the UNESCO-listed Okavango Delta. 

Ghana

Following the huge success of Ghana‘s Year of Return initiative in 2019 — which aimed to inspire the diaspora to reconnect with their roots via music and art festivals like Afrochella — a follow-up project called Beyond the Return is launching in 2021. This time the events will be spread over the next 10 years. Yes, we said 10.

No matter where you’re from, Accra is an exciting and vibrant city with white sand beaches, luxury hotels and the world-famous open-air Makola market, selling wares that range from car parts to custom-made dashikis.

UK

Coastal England

 

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The rugged British coastline is a sight to behold, with spectacular locations like the eerie limestone cliffs (think White Cliffs of Dover, Seven Sisters and Beachy Head) and Land’s End in Cornwall, coupled with charming port towns.

Following this windswept coastline is now easier with the almost-complete England Coastal Path, which will be the longest seafront walking trail in the world (4500 kilometres long).

Italy

Yep, the entire country. It feels like a different year that at one point, Italy was at the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.

This adored country is already gearing up to bounce back in 2021, however, CN Traveler urges you to seek out quieter corners, such as Umbria in Italy’s central region with towns like Assisi and Perugia. 

Oslo

 

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Norway’s Oslo has been undergoing a rapid transformation since 2008 with the Snøhetta-designed Oslo Opera House, but 2021 is the year for art development.

The 13-story Munch Museum, opens in spring and will be one of the largest single-artist museums in the world. Further west, you’ll find National Museum — the largest museum in the Nordic world.

Asia

Kyoto

 

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Remember when Japan was hosting the 2020 Olympics? The government expected 40 million travellers this year and so it prepared accordingly.

After the pandemic hit, there were loads of empty new hotel rooms and underused train routes – but all that investment is precisely why travelling there in 2021 is a great idea. You can expect new openings country-wide, but Conde Nast particularly recommend Kyoto.

Southern Vietnam

 

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Vietnam handled the coronavirus outbreak swiftly and sensibly, keeping death rates extremely low. Now, the Southeast Asian nation is slowly reopening to international travellers.

Check out the southern province of Phu Yen, where trendy Belgian hotel brand Zannier opens its Bai San Ho resort in December. The area is fairly untouched by tourism, which is surprising given it’s beautiful waterfronts.

North America

Nova Scotia

 

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The Canadian province of Nova Scotia is making its mythical-feeling coastline more accessible to visitors. That means you can see the world’s biggest tides, sea stacks and volcanic headlands with your own eyes.

As of 2020, the stomping grounds of Mi’kmaq legend Kluscap — a hero who is said to have created Nova Scotia’s rocky coastline (the 164-kilometre-long Cliffs of Fundy) – are now designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark where travellers can explore. 

Winnipeg

 

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Winnipeg Art Gallery in Canada’s Manitobian capital is opening Qaumajuq in February – a gallery holding the world’s largest collection of Innuit art. The hope is to create a bridge between Southern Manitoba and Inuit communities across the Arctic.

Bermuda

 

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The British Overseas Territory of Bermuda is focussing more on its history by celebrating Black Bermuda culture.

New initiatives such as an online hub spotlighting Black entrepreneurs, as well as island-wide itineraries and historic stops along the African Diaspora Heritage Trail promote the island’s Black roots.

The airport has also had an upgrade, with ocean views and its own nature trail (that you don’t need a departure ticket for), all while lowering its environmental impact.

Central & South America

Chiapas

Chiapas in Mexico is a lush, verdant state just over the border from Guatemala and offers travellers so much.

Like significant Mayan archaeological sites (the ancient ruins of Palenque date back to 266 BC); colourful colonial towns like San Cristóbal de la Casas; waterfalls and river rafting; a cloud forest in the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve; coffee farms and even surfing.

Apparently it has a similar vibe to places like Oaxaca or San Miguel de Allende, before tourism boomed.

Riviera Nayarit

 

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Over on Mexico’s pacific coast, the Riviera Nayarit differs from other coastal stretches of Mexico in that it wasn’t developed to be a tourism destination.

Instead, you’ll find a rich indigenous culture that prompted fishing villages, farming and more. Pueblo Mágicos (areas of preserved cultural heritage) like the ancient island of Mexcaltitán and surf town Sayulita should be on your radar, especially considering Sayulita is getting a few new resorts in 2021.

The Pantanal

 

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Over the last year the world became aware of land-clearing fires across the Amazon and The Pantanal. However The Pantanal – which is the world’s largest tropical wetland area and stretches across Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia – is lesser known than the Amazon.

You can spot jaguars in the wild (and more easily than in the Amazon), it’s home to the largest concentration of crocodiles in the world, the world’s largest parrot and over 100 other species of animals. Just stick with sustainable tourism, and you can help protect the region from further destruction. 

(Lead Image: Unsplash / Paul Carmona)

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