Latest news with #GlobalOutdoorDestinationsIndex
Time Out
10 hours ago
- Time Out
Get out! Australia is officially the world's best outdoor travel destination
They don't call it the great outdoors for nothing. Being outside really is great – for the body, mind and soul. Lucky for us, spending time outdoors is a breeze in Australia. We're blessed with beautiful beaches, peaceful parks, calming forests and urban green spaces to soak up all the natural beauty on offer. Thus, it's no wonder a new travel index just crowned Australia as the world's top outdoor destination for 2025. The Global Outdoor Destinations Index, created by outdoor apparel brand Kühl, compared 183 of the world's largest countries across 12 key metrics, including the number of outdoor activities, forest coverage, coastline length, weather conditions, nature preservation efforts and how peaceful each place feels. After weighing the scores, Australia came out on top as the number one outdoorsy destination for travellers. Australia thrives in the nature preservation category, boasting 12 UNESCO Natural World Heritage sites and lawfully protecting 45 per cent of its marine and coastal areas alongside 22 per cent of its land. With an average yearly temperature of 22 degrees and less annual rainfall than other top ten countries, the conditions here are practically made for spending time outside. Australia also ranks in the global top 20 for adventure opportunities and landscape richness, offering almost 2,000 different outdoor activities for travellers to dive into. Our perfect outdoorsy day in Australia would start with a sunrise hike along the coast, followed by an underwater safari in the Great Barrier Reef, a Dreamtime Walk in the Daintree Rainforest, a soak in the hot springs at Mornington Peninsula, chasing waterfalls in Litchfield National Park, and a refreshing dip in the Bay of Fires. Of course, we'd have to factor in time to watch the world's most beautiful sunset at Uluru, before falling asleep under the stars. Sounds achievable, right? You can check out the full Global Outdoor Destinations Index here, or see which countries ranked just behind us below. The 10 best outdoor travel destinations in the world Australia United States New Zealand Canada France Mexico China Bhutan Malta Brazil
Time Out
3 days ago
- Time Out
The U.S. is the second-best country for outdoor travel in the world
It's official: The beach chair is out, and the backpack is in. A new global study has ranked the world's best countries for outdoor travel and while Australia clinched the top spot, the United States isn't far behind—coming in hot at number two. The Global Outdoor Destinations Index, which scored 183 countries across adventure options, ecological richness, environmental protections and all-around chill factor (things like weather and safety), confirms what many outdoor lovers already knew: The U.S. is kind of a big deal. Few places cram in this much natural variety: The U.S. hosts 10 distinct ecosystems, second only to Mexico, ranging from alpine peaks to subtropical swamps. It's also home to 12 UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites and protects 12-percent of its land, making room for everything from solitary backcountry hikes to glamping in Zion. More than 2,000 federally managed recreation areas spread across the country mean even first-timers can easily find their way to a trailhead, a ranger station or a breathtaking overlook with an actual bathroom nearby (luxury!). Signage is clear, safety standards are high, and outdoor tourism is supported without feeling overly sanitized. As for accessibility? You could road trip across three time zones and never leave the country or your REI loyalty program. From snow-dusted Rockies to mossy Appalachian trails to the vast, surreal silence of Utah's canyonlands, each region has its own outdoor dialect. Australia may have eked ahead thanks to its massive conservation zones and year-round temperate weather, but for Americans craving nature without the jet lag, staying domestic is far from a compromise. Rounding out the global top five were New Zealand, Canada and—surprise—France, all offering different blends of beauty and biodiversity.
