Paragliding is rated best in the Queenstown area. Photo / Otago Daily Times

Paragliding is rated best in the Queenstown area. Photo / Otago Daily Times

Writers for the travel bible Lonely Planet revealed this week they have picked New Zealand as one of the top 10 countries to visit next year.

New Zealand features frequently in its annual Best in Travel guide, with several activities for some amazing experiences listed among what the writers reckon are the world's best.

But the world-beating sights aren't reserved for overseas tourists, so here are four of the highlights selected by the travel expert from New Zealand's "spine-tingling vistas" and "spectacular landscapes".

OTAGO PENINSULA

Lonely Planet describes the peninsula as a "near-compulsory excursion" with the royal albatross colony and one of the world's rarest penguins, the yellow-eyed penguin, or hoiho.

The peninsula features in the Best in Travel book in the Super Cycling Routes section for having "one of the best day rides in the country" and in the Top 10 for Twitchers section for the bird-watching at Taiaroa Head - "the world's only mainland royal albatross breeding ground, where you can observe the incredible spectacle of soaring albatrosses, with up to 3m wingspans, coming into land like a succession of 747s".

The "photogenic" peninsula gets yet another mention in the Top 10 Places to Walk Your Dog section of dog-friendly walking trails.

* The Royal Albatross Centre at Taiaroa Head is open daily and offers various tours and colony viewing. Bookings are essential.

Contact: (03) 478-0499 or albatross.org.nz

Prices: One-hour tours start from $40 (children $20).The best time to visit is between December and February.

TONGARIRO CROSSING

Writers recommend the crossing as one of New Zealand's life-changing experiences: "Explore the pulsating volcanic landscape of the Tongariro National Park and tackle the Tongariro Crossing, rated as the world's finest day hike.

"Reputedly the best one-day walk in NZ, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing traverses spectacular volcanic geography, from an active crater to steaming vents and beautiful coloured lakes."

It warns the tramp is exhausting and should not be taken lightly because weather can change without warning.

* Trips can vary from one to two hours, to several days in the Tongariro National Park. It's safest over summer and trampers need a Great Walks Pass ( camp sites adult/child $15/$7.50 a night, huts $20/$10)