World's best places to visit: NZ scores 9 spots in Lonely Planet's list

Our number one site, Fiordland National Park, is ranked number 17. Photo / Getty Images

Nine New Zealand destinations have made travel guide Lonely Planet's list of the "500 best places in the world".

Abel Tasman National Park is ranked number 35. Photo / Getty Images

Our number one site, Fiordland National Park, is ranked number 17.

Franz Josef glacier is ranked number 81. Photo / Getty Images

Lonely Planet's "ultimate travel list" comes out today and is billed as "the 500 most thrilling, memorable and interesting places in the world - ranked in order of brilliance."

Lake Wanaka is ranked number 94. Photo / Getty Images

Other New Zealand sights are: Abel Tasman National Park, number 35; Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, 81; Lake Wanaka, 94; Stewart Island, 125; Bay of Islands, 130; Whakarewarewa, 276; Waitomo Caves, 280; and Te Papa, 285.

Stewart Island is ranked number 125. Photo / Getty Images

The list was compiled from listings in Lonely Planet's guidebooks, which have been around since 1973.

Bay of Islands is ranked number 130. Photo / Getty Images

The Cambodian temples at Angkor top the bill, with Australia's Great Barrier Reef and Peru's Machu Picchu rounding out the top three.

Whakarewarewa is ranked number 276. Photo / Getty Images

The Great Wall of China is number four and India's Taj Mahal number five.

Waitomo Caves is ranked number 280. Photo / Getty Images

Te Papa is ranked number 285. Photo / Getty Images