5 UNESCO Heritage Sites

You may have heard of, studied or even visited some fantastic heritage sites when traveling. From Edinburgh Castle to Uluru in Australia, there are over 1092 UNESCO heritage sites globally. They get split into different categories; natural, cultural or mixed.

Many of these UNESCO sites are incredibly popular, attracting millions of visitors a year. Other sights gather fewer visitors as they might be a little off the beaten track. 

Here are some spectacular UNESCO heritage sites that aren’t visited quite as much but deserve just as much credit. 

Forth Bridge

Many tourists visit the key UNESCO sites in Edinburgh like the Old Town and New Town, Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood House. Though these heritage pieces are real works of art, they aren’t the only sites that deserve praise.

The Forth Bridge is a masterpiece that is across the Firth of Forth in Queensferry, Scotland. The 8,296ft structure acts as a connector of North-East and South-East Scotland. It is the main way to travel from Edinburgh to Fife . The easily spottable red and detailed construction is iconic. It has become a famous spot for people to cross on their ways around Scotland. The Forth Bridge is a stop on the fantastic Shetland Midsummer Solstice tour over at Haggis Adventures - make sure you check it out!

Te Wahipounamu

Te Anau, a place lovingly known as the ‘gateway to the Fiords’ is our introduction to the beautiful world heritage site of Te Wahipounamu - New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park.

The natural carved wonderful Fiords at Te Wahipounamu are frequented by many tourists for the beauty, peace and fantastic views. If you love your wildlife, you can find several species that are native here, such as the Kakapo and other birds. The Fiordland National Park certainly deserves it’s UNESCO title.

Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement

Over in the North of Scotland in Shetland stands one of Scotland’s most valued heritage sites - the Jarlshof settlement. Representing over 4,000 years of history, the structures here are entirely remarkable - ironstone villages with ruins of houses, settlements and the view of Sumburgh Head in the nearby distance. The excavation of these mysterious buildings has revealed many stories about the native Scots’ way of life throughout the ages. This is one for real history buffs to enjoy.

Kakadu National Park

Australia’s largest National Park is a multi-dimensional space that boasts stunning landscapes of land and water. The aboriginal history is very prevalent here, with spectacular archaeological sites, some of which go all the back to 50,000 years. It’s a great one for nature lovers, too. On the Yellow Water Billabong, there is plenty of wildlife to meet, from Saltwater Crocodiles to Sea Eagles.

Historic City of Ayutthaya

The history of Thailand is mysterious and fascinating. This beautiful heritage site is the epitome of these aspects, representing one of the world’s largest cosmopolitan areas of the 14th to 18th centuries. Today, the incredible buildings that made up the Historic City of Ayutthaya are a treasure trove for anyone interested in the country’s history. If architecture is more your thing, then you’ll have plenty of chances to snap up amazing shots for your Instagram, too.

To explore more incredible sites around New Zealand and Australia, take a look at AAT Kings’ fantastic range of day tours across the continent.