Where to go in Asia Pacific

THE tastemakers at Lonely Planet have compiled a ranking of the top destinations to visit in the Asia Pacific this year, giving top honours to Margaret River in Australia. Not familiar with the area? Here’s the evocative language Lonely Planet uses to describe it: “Take one look at Meelup Beach and you’ll wonder where it’s been all your life: the West Australian bush parts to reveal ocean the hue of a Bombay Sapphire bottle, which is typical of the coastline stretching from Margaret River to the state’s south. Beyond the sand, some of the country’s slickest wineries, breweries and restaurants lie between tracts of tall-tree forest and kangaroo-dotted farmland.”

Along with nature-based activities like surfing, whale-spotting and coastal hikes, the region also hosts food and culture festivals aplenty, adds Lonely Planet, such as Gourmet Escape, Truffle Kerfuffle and Taste Great Southern.

New direct flight routes connecting London to Perth also make the region more readily accessible (after 17 hours anyway) for Europe-based travellers. This year’s Best in Asia Pacific guide is the fourth edition of the series, and features an edited list of the top 10 destinations to visit over the next 12 months. It’s also the first time the guide has been expanded to include Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

The guide includes sites ranging from primate-filled jungles to “mirage-like” lagoons. – AFP Relaxnews

Here are the picks for 2019:

1. Margaret River

& Southern Western Australia 2. Shikoku, Japan

3. Bay of Islands & Northland, New Zealand

4. Singapore

5. The Cook Islands

6. Central Vietnam

7. Fiji

8. Palawan, Philippines (pic)

9. Beijing, China

10. Cambodia