Tasmania hooks global acclaim… and Gordon Ramsay!
Tasmania named second in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards’ ‘Best Islands in Australasia and South Pacific’ category.
Tasmania has once again made waves on the world stage, claiming the No. 2 spot in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Islands in Australasia and the South Pacific, and it has a big fan in one of the planet’s most recognisable chefs.
In a newly released Condé Nast Traveler video, Gordon Ramsay shared a jaw-dropping moment while diving for massive spiny lobsters off the Apple Isle’s rugged coastline. The celebrity chef, who calls Tasmania one of his favourite food destinations worldwide, came face to face with what he estimated to be a 12-to-14-foot great white shark.
“I’m bending down amongst all this kelp, with my hand on this huge spiny lobster, when I spot my first great white shark,” Ramsay said. “I just stayed calm … waited for it to pass by. When I got back on the boat, my dive buddy said, ‘Are you talking about the juvenile?’ and I’m like, ‘Oh my god – that was the baby one?’”
Ramsay praised Tasmania’s world-class produce, giant seafood and thriving whisky scene, noting the island “boasts more whisky distilleries per mile than anywhere else in the world.” He summed up his verdict simply: “Tasmania – all day long!”
A rising global star
The accolade cements Tasmania’s status as one of the world’s must-visit destinations. The island was the only Australian location named in Signature Travel Network’s prestigious Where to Go in 2026 list and has climbed two places in the Condé Nast Traveler rankings—from fourth to second.
Tourism Tasmania CEO Sarah Kingston Clark said international recognition from both readers and Ramsay reinforces what locals already know.
“Tasmania is renowned for its stunning, untouched natural beauty, world-class food and drink, unique arts and culture, and some of the world’s freshest air, produce, seafood — and of course breathtaking marine life,” she said. “We’re delighted that Condé Nast Traveler readers – and visitors like Gordon Ramsay – are embracing what makes Tasmania so special. We look forward to welcoming more visitors in 2026 and beyond.”
With more than 750,000 travellers voting in this year’s awards, Tasmania’s climb in the rankings reflects its growing pull for adventure seekers, food lovers and luxury travellers alike. Between its wild coastline, whisky distilleries, pristine beaches and rare wildlife encounters — sometimes even with a great white shark — the Apple Isle’s appeal is clearly going from strength to strength.
More from Tasmania on AccomNews HERE
