Fiordland National Park has been voted as New Zealand’s best travel experience, according Lonely Planet’s ‘Ultimate Travel List.’

The Lonely Planet List, which was released today (October 8), ranks the top 500 most “thrilling, memorable, and interesting” places to visit in the world.

Scoring 29th out of the top 500 destinations in the world, Lonely Planet described Fiordland National Park as the “landscape of giants,” commonly likened to “stepping back into the Jurassic period”.

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Destination Fiordland manager Madeline Peacock said it was an honour to see New Zealand’s largest National Park continued to be recognised as a spectacular part of the world that’s home to some of the most stunning and preserved landscapes and eco-systems in the world.

“It’s an ancient, ancient place and we’re still bearing the characteristics as Gondwanaland.”

She said due to the largely unmodified habitat, there is still the ability for creatures and plants to grow that existed millions of years ago.

Fiordland National Park has long been recognised as top worldwide travel destination.

The famous Milford Track was opened in the 1880s and was soon promoted in the United Kingdom as “the finest walk in the world,” Ms Peacock said.

Today, it books out in hours each year as hut bookings along the track are eagerly snapped up by keen adventurers. 

British author Rudyard Kipling also famously declared Milford Sound and its fjord is ‘the eighth wonder of the world’. 

Destination Fiordland manager Madeline Peacock. PHOTO: Supplied

“Fiordland is one of only four places in the world where you can find fjords,” said Ms Peacock.

Now visitors can cruise or kayak in Milford Sound to soak up the breath-taking views and maybe spot a dolphin or two.

Ms Peacock said she hoped the recognition encourages Kiwis to come and explore the natural wonder that’s here in our own back yard, while borders remain closed.

“National Parks are special because they belong to us as New Zealanders…it’s our birth right [to visit them].”

She said part of being a New Zealander is that there are these magical places set aside for us to explore and protect for future generations to come.

Twelve other Kiwi travel experiences also made the list. Their rankings are:

#72  Abel Tasman National Park

#80  Aoraki/ Mt Cook National Park

#122 Kaikoura

#151 Waiheke Island

#189 Bay of Islands

#207 Waitomo Caves

#209 Lake Wanaka

#261 Hot Water Beach, Coromandel Peninsula

#327 Whakarewarewa

#355 Great Barrier Island

#419 Stewart Island

#496 Queenstown