Readers of travel blog Travel Lemming have voted McLaren Vale in the top five emerging travel destinations for 2020.

Blogger Nate Hake has been travelling the world since 2016 and says Travel Lemming’s annual Emerging Destination Awards involve tourism boards, bloggers, and readers in an effort to promote the best hidden travel gems on the planet.

“With over tourism ravaging many of the world's most popular places to travel, we at Travel Lemming want to encourage you to make 2020 your year to be an ‘undertourist’ instead.

“More than just another random listicle of places to travel in 2020, the Emerging Destination Awards aim to bring together local stakeholders, content creators, and travellers to help encourage travellers to spread out and appreciate every corner of this stunning planet.” 

In November Travel Lemming put out its annual list of the Top 30 emerging travel destinations for 2020. 

It included Launceston in Tasmania at number 11, the Northern Territory at number 15 and McLaren Vale at number 26, among a raft of lesser-visited spots in Europe and North America.

Each was accompanied by a video and a blurb showcasing the region’s visitor highlights.

Readers were asked to narrow down the list to the top five, by voting for their favourites.

More than 3000 people voted for the following top five.

1. Lausanne, Switzerland Tweet This

2. Prince Edward Island, Canada

3. Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, USA

4. McLaren Vale, South Australia

5. Nova Scotia, Canada

McLaren Vale was described as a secret once known only to insiders and locals.

McLaren Vale has been quietly gaining acclaim among oenophiles as one of the most underrated wine destinations on the planet. 

Visitors looking for unique experiences definitely won't want to miss the family-run d’Arenberg winery, where you can blend your own wine after soaring above the stunning vineyards in

a 1930s open-cockpit biplane. 

Visit to see why Travel + Leisure said this region is home to, "some of the most beautiful vineyards on Earth." 

Oh, and if you somehow tire of all that wine, did we mention that McLaren Vale is situated on the doorstep of some of Australia's best kilometres of coastline? 

Travel Lemming plans to highlight the top five in its travel coverage during 2020.