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The Two New Aussie Tourist Attractions The World Is Waiting For

No, it's not a revamped Big Banana.
You might see a baby sea lion at Kangaroo Island's new wilderness trail.
Sere C. Photography
You might see a baby sea lion at Kangaroo Island's new wilderness trail.

Between the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, Wineglass Bay, Kakadu and the 12 Apostles, Australia's tourist attractions have been around as long as the continent itself.

So it comes as a refreshing surprise to find two Australian attractions have made it on Lonely Planet's annual New in Travel 2017 Top 10 list.

Among the opening of the Musées Yves Saint Laurent Paris and a volcanic national part in Rwanda is the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail in South Australia and the launch of Pinky's Eco Retreat and Beach Club on Rottnest Island in Western Australia.

So you can teach an old sea dog new tricks.

A sea lion at Kangaroo Island.
Christian Michaels
A sea lion at Kangaroo Island.

The wilderness trail is a five-day hike that takes you around the stark beauty of Kangaroo Island.

Expect to see dramatic cliffs, wildflowers, and of course the resident animal life including the eponymous kangaroos as well as sea lions, goannas and sea eagles.

Pinky's Eco Retreat and Beach Club is set to offer sustainable glamping and a bar by glorious beaches like this one on Rottnest Island.

It's due to open at the end of this year.

The island is already renowned for its most friendly inhabitant, the quokka.

Quokka + me + forehead vein make three!

A photo posted by Bridget Over Troubled Water. (@bridgetmalcolm) on

Lonely Planet's New in Travel 2017 Top 10

Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia – It's not just current American politics that's divided; Philly's new museum will be an unmissable experience about a tumultuous period that shaped a nation.

Lava, Hvolsvöllur, Iceland – This state-of-the-art centre will feature an earthquake simulator and a viewing platform overlooking the volcanoes Eyjafjallajökull, Katla and Hekla.

Seljalandsfoss

Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail, South Australia – The soon-to-be-iconic trail will take you around some of this South Australian island's most spectacular landscapes.

Musées Yves Saint Laurent Paris and Marrakesh, France and Morocco – Two museums are set to open in honour of the iconic fashion designer.

Akagera National Park, Rwanda – Volcanoes National Park is famous for its gorillas in the mist, but Akagerais is the park making headlines for reintroducing black rhinos.

Baby Baboon

American Writers Museum – The new museum in Chicago will offer a look into how US literature has documented and influenced American culture.

Cruise (all over the world) – The Viking Sun, a 141-day journey from Miami to London, will set sail and stop at 66 different locales, including Cuba and Bora Bora.

Pinky's Eco Retreat & Beach Club on Rottnest Island, Western Australia – The glamping retreat will include dozens of luxury, family and backpacker tents.

Belmond Andean Explorer, Perun – South America's first sleeper train will travel one of the world's highest rail routes, through the Peruvian Alps, Lake Titicaca and Cuzco.

Design Society, Shēnzhèn, China – The Shékŏu area will welcome a brand new cultural hub, focusing on 20th and 21st century design in collaboration with London's renowned V&A Museum.

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