Australia has again beaten New Zealand in a poll of British backpackers and independent travellers on the destination they most want to visit next.

Australia topped the poll, with New Zealand in fifth place.

The United States came second in guidebook company Lonely Planet's poll, soaring in popularity after having failed to make the top 10 in a similar survey last year, Britain's Press Association reported.

The third most popular destination this year is Thailand, followed by Spain, New Zealand, India and Italy.

In a Lonely Planet poll last year, Brazil and Chile were second and third behind Australia, with New Zealand fourth and India fifth.

But no South American country made the top 10 this year.

"There has definitely been a surge in people travelling to the `old favourites', countries such as the United States, Spain, Italy and Greece," said Lonely Planet travel information manager Tom Hall.

"These destinations have always been popular with Brits, but factors such as cheaper air travel and the accessibility of long-haul destinations has meant that people have been travelling further afield. Fashionable destinations come and go, but the classics remain."

India was the sixth most popular destination, with Italy seventh, Greece eigth, Canada ninth and Egypt 10th.

Last year a similar poll of independent travellers from across the globe rated New Zealand as one of the best places they've been and one of the most desired places to go next. New Zealand was in the top five of favourite destinations travellers had already visited, along with Australia, Italy, Thailand and France.