20 Oct 2012

Auckland named top tourism destination

8:40 am on 20 October 2012

Auckland has been named the top tourism destination in Australasia.

It beat Sydney, Bora Bora, The Whitsunday Islands and Fiji's Yasawa Islands to take the top spot in the 2012 World Travel awards.

Lonely Planet recently gave the city a number one rating.

Auckland Tourism events manager Jason Hill said the win reflects the city's growing strength as a truly international destination.

He said the 2011 Rugby World Cup helped lift Auckland's profile significantly.

The city will now be in the grand final in New Delhi in December.