Lonely Planet gives NZ big tick for our rainbow welcome

Lonely Planet has touted New Zealand as one of the most 'progressive, inclusive and accepting' destinations for gay and lesbian travellers. Photo / NZME.

New Zealand features in five of Lonely Planet's Top Travel Lists for 2015.

The country is touted as one of the most "progressive, inclusive and accepting" destinations for gay and lesbian travellers, coming second in the "most gay-friendly travel places" category.

The travel guide company's Top Travel Lists for next year were released today.

The second-place spot on the book's gay-friendly list - after Denmark's capital Copenhagen - was due to New Zealand's "inclusive and progressive behaviour" towards the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transsexual and queer community, Lonely Planet author Chris Zeiher wrote.

The country's sheep-shearing industry and its accessibility to tourists scored us seventh on the "most sheepish encounters in the Chinese year of the sheep" list.

The glow-worms at the Waitomo Caves were ranked ninth on the "most illuminating experiences in the UN year of light" list.

Auckland's 16km Coast to Coast Walkway rounded out the "top 10 wonderful workouts" list and New Zealand's most well-known movie production The Lord of the Rings propelled us to eighth place on the "special anniversaries of 2015" list, with the Tolkien series due to celebrate its 60th next year.

The legalisation of same-sex marriage last year, which led to National MP Maurice Williamson's "enormous big gay rainbow" speech reaching audiences around the world, as well as the country's adoption of "gay/lesbian friendly" accommodation labels in 1998, was mentioned by Zeiher in his blurb about New Zealand.

"The country offers a brilliant network of gay- and lesbian-friendly homestays which run the length and breadth of the country from the top of the semi-tropical North Island to the depths of the glacial south."

Equal rights campaigner Joseph Habgood - co-chairman of LegaliseLove Wellington - said New Zealand's second-place ranking was fantastic.

"Compared with other nations we have done really well, but it's too soon to pat ourselves on the back."

Publicity over Mr Williamson's speech at the third reading of the Marriage Amendment Bill had helped the country's reputation, he said.