Our national memorial to fallen Australian soldiers also came in the top spot in the list of wider South Pacific landmarks.

The Travellers' Choice Attraction awards were announced on Tuesday, and based on the reviews and opinions contributed to the TripAdvisor website.

The winners were determined using an algorithm accounting for the quantity and quality of reviews, gathered over 12 months, for landmarks worldwide.

The Australian War Memorial was ranked 17th in the list of top world landmarks, with Machu Picchu in Peru in first place, followed by Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and India's Taj Mahal in third.

"TripAdvisor travellers have helped identify some of the best attractions around the globe," TripAdvisor chief marketing officer Barbara Messing said.

"These award-winning landmarks and parks are an ideal starting point for taking in the world's must-see sights."

War Memorial marketing manager Kate Still said the institution was honoured to receive the award.

"It’s not only a great honour for the War Memorial, but something really good for Canberra I think," she said. "To beat the likes of the Opera House is no mean feat."

"[The memorial] definitely is a destination for some people, especially if they’ve got family or connections somehow to something at the War Memorial and in the coming [First World War] centenary year it’s going to be more of a focus for people searching the records."

Australia is home to most of the top tourist attractions in the South Pacific region, claiming all but one of the top 10 landmarks, and 18 of the top 25 spots.

Olveston, an historic home in Dunedin, New Zealand, was the only landmark outside Australia to make the top 10.

Also making the top 10 South Pacific landmarks is Ubirr in Kakadu National Park, Fremantle Prison and Port Arthur Historic Site.