Red earth, blue skies and the golden eyes of watchful crocodiles in the flower-tangled waterways of Kakadu National Park have won the Northern Territory the only Australian mention on a list of the best tourist destinations in the world, according to National Geographic.

The NT is listed in its 2014 top 20 Best of the World.

“This is fantastic news for the Territory,” Tourism Minister Matt Conlan said in a statement on Friday.

“It means now the whole world knows the Territory is the place to visit if you want an unforgettable holiday like no other.”

The list says that apart from the NT’s undeniable physical beauty, the people make the place come alive.

National Geographic Traveller Magazine claims to be the most widely read travel magazine in the world, with 7.6 million readers, and it is published in 12 languages in 21 countries.

The Best of the World list reflects what is authentic, culturally rich, sustainable and superlative in the world of travel.