Iconic Aussie 'natural wonder' ranks among the best in the world
Australia's Blue Mountains have ranked among the most iconic natural wonders in the world, according to a new study.
Family travel experts at Kuoni analysed 180+ official UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites to see which are trending most on TikTok, including the number of relevant hashtags.
The research showed which of the world's greatest national parks, famous mountains and protected islands are trending on social media this year.
And Australia's own Greater Blue Mountains Area ranks 18th globally.
The world Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park is the home of the rock formation the Three Sisters in Katoomba, plus iconic lookouts and waterfalls, historic walking tracks, mountain biking, hiking and Aboriginal culture.
With over 60k TikTok videos showcasing the site in NSW just outside of Sydney, it beat global hotspots including the Great Barrier Reef, and the Everglades.
But which stunning destinations cracked the top 10? Read on to find out.
10. iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa
iSmangaliso Wetland Park in South Africa boasts incredible biodiversity across its 330,000 hectares of land.
Along with 137 miles of coastline, travellers here often find themselves in luck – spotting everything from hippos and crocodiles to leopards, black rhinos and hundreds of different bird species.
9. Pantanal Conservation Area, Brazil
The Pantanal Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in western central Brazil, specifically within the Pantanal region.
It's a cluster of four protected areas totalling 187,818 hectares, representing a small fraction of Brazil's Pantanal, one of the world's largest freshwater wetland ecosystems.
7. The Dolomites, Italy
The Dolomites, also known as the Dolomite Mountains, Dolomite Alps or Dolomitic Alps, are a mountain range in northeastern Italy and form part of the Southern Limestone Alps.
The scenery in the Dolomites is absolutely stunning, with activities such as skiing and hiking incredibly popular.
6. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
The Galapagos archipelago is located about 1000 kilometres from continental Ecuador and is composed of 127 islands, islets and rocks.
Not only is the volcanic region incredibly picturesque, it is also considered one of the world's foremost destinations for wildlife-viewing making it incredible popular online.
5. Grand Canyon National Park, USA
With over 200,000 TikTok posts, the Grand Canyon in Arizona rounds out the top five. TikTok users love to share advice and tips for exploring this iconic American landmark, from suggestions for the best viewing spots, to trip agendas and packing lists.
TikTok has thousands of short-form videos of first-time visitors sharing montages of the layered rock formations, hikes along the South Rim and first glimpses of the epic canyon views.
4. Cape Floral Region Protected Areas, South Africa
This South African UNESCO Site includes Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch, Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope, all of which help secure its place as the fourth top trending Natural World Heritage Site.
Table Mountain in Cape Town is one of the world's most popular natural landmarks on social media, with its hiking trails, location on the Atlantic Ocean and 'tablecloth' like cloud formations all playing a massive part in making it such a popular subject in TikTok posts.
3. Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, India
With over a quarter of a million TikTok posts, this Himalayan UNESCO site is a bucket list travel destination for countless explorers all over the globe, with many using TikTok to document and share their journey to one of the world's most famous basecamps.
By sharing videos of traditional Himachali culture, or views of the routes through valleys like Tirthan and Sainj, TikTok users are helping bring to life one of the most famous hiking destinations in history.
2. Japan's Southwest Islands
Officially encompassing the 42,698 hectares that make up the Anami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Iriomote Island and Northern part of Okinawa Island, this Japanese UNESCO site is triumphing on TikTok, with over 265,000 posts showing off the misty mountain, Ghibli-esque landscapes found here.
From hidden waterfalls, tropical birds, and the traditional fishing and farming lifestyle, to pristine beaches, forest shrines and Shisa guardian statues – the variety of landscapes shared on TikTok are inspiring travellers all over to discover this part of the world.
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