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Auckland's Waiheke Island has been named as one of the world's top 12 travel destinations in 2009 by an American-based travel guide.
Frommers Travel Guides named Waiheke alongside Cartagena in Columbia, Cape Town in South Africa, Saqqara in Egypt, Washington DC in the US and Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada .
The annual list is said to be "a mix of value picks that'll still wow you, cities that are sprucing up for big events, smart alternatives to overrun spots nearby, and destinations that are justifiably hyped," the Frommer's website says.