Three Aussie spots among TIME's 'World's greatest places' for 2025
TIME has revealed the seventh instalment of its annual 'World's Greatest Places' list, and Australia has featured not once but three times on the list.
This year's selection highlights 100 destinations worldwide, categorised into places to stay and places to visit.
"For our annual list of the World's Greatest Places, TIME sought out one-of-a-kind spots and experiences around the globe," editors wrote.
Here are the best places in Australia for 2025, according to the list.
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Bluey's World in Queensland was name one of the best places to visit. Supplied
Bluey's World, Brisbane
The Aussie cartoon about a family of Australian Cattle Dogs "has captured the world's imagination", TIME said, featuring the new attraction among the best places to visit.
So you can imagine the hype surrounding Bluey's World, which opened in Queensland in November.
The one-hour immersive experience is set inside the Heeler family home, which has been recreated in vivid detail.
The Ghan, Australia
Australia's iconic train journey continues to make waves around the globe, with The Ghan being named one of the top places to 'stay' in 2025.
The trip, which runs from Adelaide, South Australia, to Darwin, Northern Territory, and back is a bucket list holiday for many.
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Aussie Icon among the best places to stay. Matt Munro / Lonely Planet
The Ghan is considered one of the greatest train journeys in the world. Supplied/JourneyBeyond
This year, Journey Beyond – the company behind The Ghan, as well as the Indian Pacific and Great Southern train journeys – unveiled two new luxury suites that will be introduced to its trains.
The 'Australis' suite and 'Aurora' suite will debut in April 2026, offering an "unparalleled experience".
Guests in the suites will also be treated to a dedicated butler offering personalised service including exclusive unpacking service, pillow menu, a private bar curated according to each traveller's preferences and in-room dining.
The Lodge Wadjemup, Rottnest Island
Also featured as one of the best places to stay in 2025 is The Lodge Wadjemup on Rottnest Island, in Western Australia.
Wadjemup, now better known as Rottnest Island, is still considered a sacred place for Indigenous Australians, and is well-known around the world for its thousands of quokka.
The former Rottnest Island Lodge, now The Lodge Wadjemup reopened in December. The Lodge Wadjemup
Following a $40 million redevelopment of the former Rottnest Island Lodge, The Lodge Wadjemup reopened in December.
It offers 63 newly refurbished guest rooms; with 46 more are slated for mid-2025, some with views of the Indian Ocean and balconies for spotting quokkas.
"The tourism industry rebounded to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, and surged ahead in 2024, setting consumer-spending records and accounting for an estimated 9 per cent to 10 per cent of global GDP, and this year, it looks to pull in even more money," TIME editors said.
Each year, TIME solicits nominations of places – including hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions, museums, parks, and more – from its international network of correspondents and contributors, as well as through an application process, with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences.
"The result: 100 extraordinary destinations to stay and to visit this year."
