No reason NOT to go! Australia's Red Centre is named one of the top spots to visit in the WORLD - as 10 countries on the 'must travel' list for 2019 are revealed
- Lonely Planet has revealed the world's top 10 regions to visit in 2019
- An Australian location took fourth spot thanks to its rich culture and spirituality
- The area also boasts otherworldly landscapes and incredible natural geography
- The travel giant also shared the 10 countries you should travel to next year
Global travel giant Lonely Planet has revealed the world's top 10 countries, cities and regions to visit in 2019 and one Australian destination has made the cut.
Australia's Red Centre in the Northern Territory came in at number four in the best regions category for the annual 'Best in Travel' series.
The Red Centre was recognised for its otherworldly landscape of desert plains, mountain ranges and rocky gorges, as well as its spiritual connection to some of Aboriginal Australia's most sacred sites.
Lonely Planet named Australia's Red Centre as the fourth hottest region to travel to for 2019 (pictured, travel blogger Elise Cook at Uluru in the Red Centre)
'At the spiritual heart of Australia's Red Centre is the country's most recognised wonder, Uluru,' Lonely Planet said.
'In 2019 this sacred site is finally closing to climbers, almost 150 years after explorers decided to conquer the rock.
'Instead, visitors will find that this World Heritage site, renowned for its outstanding natural and cultural values, conquers them.'
Top attractions in the Red Centre include Uluru-Kata Tjuta (Ayers Rock and the Olgas), Watarrka National Park and nearby Alice Springs.
Given special mention was the Northern Territory's newly opened Litchfield National Park, which is the 'most visited park in Australia's Top End'.
Australia's Red Centre is described as the 'spiritual heart of the country' by Lonely Planet
The Italian province of Piedmont took first place in the regional hot list, thanks to its wealth of historical and cultural offerings including Lake Orta, Museo Egizio and the Borromean Islands.
Piedmont's capital Turin also boasts acclaimed automobile and Egyptian museums, and is known for its sophisticated fusion cuisine inspired by neighbouring France and Switzerland.
The rugged region of the US Catskills came in second while Northern Peru nabbed bronze.
The Red Centre beat off stiff competition from internationally renowned areas including the Scottish Highlands (5th), Russia's Far East (6th), Gujarat in India (7th), the Canadian province of Manitoba (8th) Normandy in north western France (9th) and Chile's Elqui Valley (10th).
The Italian province of Piedmont (pictured) took first place in the regional shortlist
Sri Lanka took the trophy in the Best Country category thanks to its varied attractions, including the ancient ruins of Sigiriya, the sacred Temple of the Tooth, Yala National Park and the famed scenic train from Kandy to Ella.
'Sri Lanka,' says Lonely Planet, 'is decidedly having its moment in the equatorial sun and change is coming swiftly. After decades of civil conflict, this is a country revived.'
In the silver spot on the countries ranking is Germany, which Lonely Planet says 'will plunge you into a stirring alchemy of tradition and vision'.
It says that 'scaling a mountain, holing up in a medieval castle, cycling through wine country or knocking back beers in a cosy pub are all equally worthy pursuits'.
Zimbabwe has been named as the third-best country for 2019, with Lonely Planet lauding it as 'one of Africa's safest destinations… blessed with ultra-friendly locals, Big Five-filled national parks, World Heritage-listed archaeological ruins, forested mountains and the mighty Victoria Falls'.
Sri Lanka took the trophy in the Best Country category (pictured, surfers on Narigama Beach near Hikkaduwa in the south west of the country)
Sri Lanka boasts a wealth of attractions including the ancient city of Sigiriya and the scenic train from Kandy to Ella
Panama came in fourth, with the mystical eastern destinations of Kyrgyzstan and Jordan taking fifth and sixth respectively.
Despite recent natural disasters, Indonesia was awarded seventh spot while eastern Europe received a nod with Belarus taking eighth.
The volcanic island nation of Sao Tome and Principe off the African coast came in ninth thanks to its incredible biodiversity, including rainforests, beaches, striking rock and coral formations.
The tiny coastal nation of Belize in Central America rounded out the top ten.
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