Hot destinations for 2007

AUSTRALIA is still the world's favourite holiday destination, in the judgment of seasoned international travellers in all age groups.

For the second year running, travellers from around the globe who took part in this year's Lonely Planet "Travellers' Pulse'' survey have voted Australia as their number one getaway.

More than 33,000 people from 170 countries took part in the survey, answering questions about travel behaviour and motivations.

They were also asked to rate their favourite country, with 10 per cent of those surveyed preferring Australia above all others.

Australia was most popular among British and American travellers, and was even rated the best country by Aussies themselves.

Italy came in second with 6.3 per cent of the votes, followed by Thailand with 5.7 per cent.

Travellers in every age group also rated Australia as their first or second choice for their next holiday.

The independent survey was commissioned in March by several companies including Australia's own travel guidebook company, Lonely Planet.

Lonely Planet's survey analysts said Australia most likely took the top spots because of its "iconic nature'' and "its placement as a long haul English speaking sunshine destination for UK and US respondents''.

Tourism Australia chairman Tim Fischer said the survey results may indicate that the controversial "Where The Bloody Hell Are You?'' campaign is starting to see results.

"While it's still early days for our global campaign ... we are starting to see the indications that the campaign is resonating with our global target audience of experience seekers,'' Mr Fischer said.

"This result highlights that Australia delivers the types of experiences that travellers are seeking - from the iconic nature and wildlife to the city lifestyle, and the friendliness of our people.''

The survey showed that travellers from all countries were increasingly shunning Indonesia in the aftermath of the Bali bombings, with Thailand soaking up the majority of these potential Bali visitors.

The survey also revealed short breaks are becoming increasingly popular amongst Australian travellers, with 12.3 per cent ranking cosmopolitan Melbourne as their number one choice.

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Below is a list of available tours in Australia

• 3 Days AYRES ROACK & THE OLGAS
  From $599
  Alice Springs, Ayers Rock
• 4 Days AYRES ROCK & KINGS CANYON
  From $845
  Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs
• 4 Days Kakadu National Park
  From $675
  Darwin, Kakadu
• 4 Days KAKADU NATIONAL PARK
  From $640
  Darwin, Kakadu
• 4 Days Alice Springs & Ayres Rock
  From $765
  Alice Springs, Ayers Rock
• 5 Days Melbourne Mini Stay
  From $665
  Melbourne
• 5 Days SYDNEY & BLUE MOUNTAINS
  From $665
  Sydney, Blue Mountains
• 5 Days MELBOURNE MINI STAY
  From $635
  Melbourne
• 5 Days SYDNEY & HUNTER VALLEY
  From $665
  Sydney
• 5 Days TASMANIA MINI STAY
  From $1235
  Tasmania
• 5 Days TOP END NATIONAL PARK
  From $775
  Darwin, Kakadu, Litchfield National Park
• 5 Days SYDNEY MINI STAY
  From $650
  Sydney
• 5 Days ASMANIA MINI STAY
  From $1175
  Tasmania
• 5 Days ADELAIDE & KANGAROO ISLAND
  From $835
  Adelaide, Kangaroo Island
• 5 Days CAIRNS MINI STAY
  From $725
  Cairns
• 7 Days RAINFOREST & REEF
  From $1465
  Port Douglas, Great Barrier Reef, Daintree, Cape Tribulation, Cairns, Dunk Island, Kuranda
• 8 Days WEST COAST WILDERNESS
  From $1899
  Hobart, Russell Falls, Strahan, Gordon River, Cradle Mountain, Stanley, Launceston, Tasmania
• 8 Days CONTRASTS OF AUSTRALIA
  From $1660
  Melbourne, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney
• 9 Days TROPICAL GETAWAY
  From $1150
  Cairns, Kuranda, Great Barrier Reef, Atherton Tablelands
• 10 Days SYDNEY CAIRNS & BARRIER REEF
  From $999
  Sydney, Blue Mountains, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns
• 11 Days Australian Express
  From $2225
  Sydney, Canberra, Beechworth, Melbourne
• 12 Days DISCOVER AUSTRALIA
  From $2425
  Sydney, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, The Olgas, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns
• 15 Days WONDERS OF AUSTRALIA
  From $2780
  Sydney, Adelaide, The Ghan, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, The Olgas, Cairns
• 15 Days HIGHLIGHTS OF AUSTRALIA
  From $3165
  Melbourne, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock,The Olgas, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney
• 16 Days GREAT AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE
  From $3925
  Melbourne, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs, Darwin, Kakadu, Port Douglas, Great Baffier Reer, Sydney
• 16 Days SOUTH COAST & CENTRE SPECTACUL
  From $3075
  Melbourne, Warrnambool, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Sydney
• 18 Days ONTRASTS OF AUSTRALIA & NZ
  From $3685
  Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Melbourne, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney
• 18 Days TROP RAINFOREST & BARRIER REEF
  From $3899
  Sydney, Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Fraser Island, Rockhampton, Hamilton Island, Townsville, Port Douglas, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns
• 21 Days EST OF AUSTRALIA
  From $3225
  Melbourne, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Ayers Rock, The Olgas, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs, Darwin, Kakadu, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney
• 23 Days HIGHLIGHTS OF AUSTRALIA & NZ
  From $5115
  Melbourne, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, The Olgas, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney, Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Queenstown, Milford Sound
• 24 Days THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN EXPLORER
  From $5025
  Sydney, Griffith, Adelaide, Wilpena Pound, Port Augusta, Coober Pedy, Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Kakadu, Darwin, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef
• 26 Days GREAT AUSTRALIAN & NZ ADVENTURE
  From $5950
  Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Queenstown, Melbourne, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs, Darwin, Kakadu, Port Douglas, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney