Inghams Instagram analysis shows Australia ranks second and New Zealand seventh for unspoilt landscapes

Walking holiday provider, Inghams, has revealed the results of its analysis on Instagram hashtags to reveal the landscapes around the world most commonly described as ‘unspoilt’.

Over 104,000 Instagram posts were analysed in different countries around the world, to reveal the places which are posted about as being ‘unspoilt’ more than in any other context. 

Topping the list of the top 20 countries with the most unspoilt landscapes is Iceland followed by Australia in second place and New Zealand in seventh place.

Iceland received an unspoilt post rate of 13.15. The country is famed for its natural, glacial beauty, being home to a number of ice glaciers, hot spring lagoons, and the world-renowned aurora borealis, which can regularly be viewed in the country under a pitch black night sky, uninterrupted by city lights.

Following Iceland as the most unspoilt country is Australia, which has an unspoilt rate of 10.90. The country offers visitors a range of natural landscapes to enjoy - from desert cliffs and national parks, to sandy beaches and turquoise seas.

New South Wales boasts the highest percentage of #unspoilt posts. The most popular areas in New South Wales for #unspoilt photos are Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Kiama, with its Bombo Headland basalt columns creating a stunning setting for oceanside sunrises, sunsets and stargazing.

After New South Wales, Queensland ranks as Australia’s next most unspoilt location, with its beaches in Noosa National Park and the dense lush Daintree Rainforest. Western Australia is also highly represented in Instagram’s #unspoilt posts, with users sharing the white tropical sands of Lucky Bay, and the dramatic red desert cliffs and turquoise seas of Francois Peron National Park.

New Zealand ranked as seventh with the areas having the highest rate of #unspoilt photos including Canterbury, Southland and the Otago Region. Canterbury Region includes snowy mountain peaks, golden prairies and moody translucent lakes – untouched natural scenes that some will recognise from the Lord of The Rings films. While in Southland explorers will find famous fjords and a network of caves home to glowworms and picturesque waterfalls.

The analysis revealed that rounding off the top five is Ireland (home to stormy seas and unblemished emerald cliff-side hills), Cyprus (known for its salt lakes and golden beaches) and Costa Rica, with its pristine waterfalls and lagoons.

European countries dominate the top 20 rankings, with 11 of the top countries being located in the continent. Greece ranks in 9th spot, with an unspoilt post rate of 3.19, boasting hundreds of pictures of blue turquoise coves and quiet island landscapes, while Romania (ranking in 16th spot) shows stunning images of its famous mountain road Transfăgărășan, and National Park Cheile Nerei-Beușnița.

Anne Williams, Director of Marketing at Inghams shared “Anyone who loves spending time in nature knows how disappointing it can be when your favourite natural spots get tarnished by tourists or other human interference. One of the best things about a walking holiday is being able to explore the world’s most beautiful unspoilt landscapes - from quiet rolling green hills, to sparkling blue lakes.

“If we can all treat the outdoors as if it were our own homes, we’ll be able to leave behind some beautiful, untouched landscapes for future generations to enjoy too.”

Williams offers the following advice to keep some of the world’s best landscapes as unspoilt as possible:

1. Leave No Trace. The one rule to remember is to try and leave no trace when visiting natural trails or environments - this means taking everything you bring in back out with you, including food, wrappers, bottles and other waste.

2. Stay On Designated Trails. In order to minimise soil erosion and damaging the environment surrounding trails, ensure you stick to established trails and paths - and avoid creating shortcuts or new trails.

3. Don’t Take Souvenirs from Your Walk. In order to maintain environments and ecosystems as much as possible, never take souvenirs - including plants, flowers, berries, shells, rocks or animal parts. If you believe you’ve come across something of significance, leave it where you found it and report to the local authorities.

4. Avoid Crowded Areas. While it can sometimes be tempting to visit popular walking trails or natural points of interest, why not consider visiting less-travelled terrain. There are plenty of undiscovered walking trails and natural landscapes where you’ll be less likely to encounter people traffic - and more able to get that perfect, unspoilt view.

To read the full research revealing the top unspoilt locations around the world, please visit www.inghams.co.uk/walking-holidays/insider-guides/most-unspoilt-natural-places

Image top: Daintree Rainforest Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland; image above: New Zealand landscape Credit: Inghams