Lonely Planet has done it again. Not long after Where To Go When Hiking gave us plenty of reasons to start thinking about another trip, Best in Travel 2027 arrives with a very different collection of possibilities.
The premise is simple: 25 destinations and 25 experiences Lonely Planet believes deserve a closer look in the year ahead. Yet the appeal is less about ticking off a list than discovering what makes each selection worth considering in the first place.
That is where the book works particularly well.
Rather than attempting to cover every last detail, each entry captures the flavour of a place. You get a sense of the landscape, people, culture and experiences that define it, then enough practical information to decide whether it deserves further investigation.
The photography is outstanding and central to that feeling. Large images carry much of the atmosphere, whether it is a sweeping landscape, wildlife encounter, busy street, local meal or quiet moment. At its best, the book gives you the impression of briefly stepping into a region rather than simply reading about it.
First-person contributions from Lonely Planet writers add another layer, explaining what stayed with them and why a particular place or experience has made the 2027 selection.
I also particularly liked the ‘Don’t leave without…’ breakout boxes tucked into each destination. These highlight a small handful of things worth seeking out during a visit and are the sort of detail that can quickly turn general interest into a much more specific travel idea.
For Australian readers, there are two major inclusions.
The Tweed in northern New South Wales is one of Lonely Planet’s 25 destinations for 2027, putting an Australian region firmly among the international selections.
The book also gives significant attention to the Northern Territory’s Red Centre, where immersing yourself in its art scene has been selected as one of the 25 top experiences for the year. It is a different way of approaching a region already renowned for its landscapes, with art, culture and storytelling providing another reason to spend time there.
Both are important inclusions and give this edition immediate relevance for Australian travellers. One shines the light on a northern New South Wales region that can easily sit in the shadow of better-known neighbours, while the other presents a fresh perspective on one of Australia’s most recognisable destinations.
Across the Tasman, Dunedin and the Waitaki are also among the selected destinations. For Australians looking toward New Zealand, that adds another nearby option and draws attention to a part of the South Island with its own distinctive mix of scenery, wildlife, history and character.
The international spread is just as interesting.
Okinawa, Oman, New Caledonia, California’s coastal redwoods, Tsavo East and West National Parks in Kenya and Bariloche and the lakes of Argentina are among the destinations, while the experiences range from flightseeing in Alaska and riding the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway to exploring Costa Rica’s Monteverde cloud forest and travelling by longboat into orangutan territory in Malaysia.
That combination of places and experiences gives the book plenty of movement. A destination might introduce you to an entire region, while the next section can revolve around a single journey, walk, wildlife encounter or cultural activity.
It also makes Best in Travel 2027 an enjoyable book simply to browse. You can follow the selections in order or open it almost anywhere and see where it takes you.
The accompanying Best in Travel website then takes things a considerable step further.
It is excellent – highly visual, fully interactive and particularly useful once one of the book’s selections has caught your attention. The online material lets you explore destinations in greater depth, move through additional information and imagery and start narrowing down what a real trip might look like.
That becomes even more useful when planning moves beyond the daydreaming stage. Lonely Planet links its recommendations with its broader digital offering, including its app and Journeys platform, where some itineraries can be explored, customised and booked.
The print and digital sides complement each other nicely. The book is the inspiration – something to pick up, browse and discover. The website provides the next layer when a destination starts looking like somewhere you might genuinely go.
That combination was one of my favourite aspects of Best in Travel 2027.
It is beautifully photographed, full of variety and gives each selection enough personality to make you curious about what lies beyond the pages. The Tweed and Red Centre ensure Australia is well represented, Dunedin and the Waitaki provide a tempting option just across the Tasman, and the remaining selections stretch across almost every corner of the globe.
Some will immediately appeal more than others, which is exactly the point.
The fun is finding out which ones.
Best in Travel 2027
Lonely Planet
320 pages
Flexibound
RRP $32.99
Available from Lonely Planet
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