Articles

Where is it?  Geelong is located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, approximately 75 km south-west of Melbourne. It is Victoria’s second largest city and gateway to the Great Ocean Road.Best Known for ... Part of the area known as the... Learn more...

Where is it? ... Toowoomba is a leisurely 90-minute drive from Brisbane and a pleasant two-hour drive from the Gold Coast, and is located in the heart of South East Queensland. The Garden City is renowned for its magnificent parks and gardens,... Learn more...

Where is it? Ulladulla is a coastal town within the Shoalhaven, NSW. Located about halfway between the larger towns of Batemans Bay (south) and Nowra (north) on the Princes Highway, Ulladulla is under three hours' drive from both Sydney and... Learn more...

Where is it? The Central Coast region stretches from the beautiful Hawkesbury River region up to the shores of Lake Macquarie. Drive time is 90 minutes north from Sydney on the F3, or 90 minutes south from Newcastle. Why go there? ... To... Learn more...

Where is it? The Great Ocean Road stretches from Torquay all the way to the South Australian border and inland across the Western District. The road was born in 1919, when returned soldiers using picks and shovels began the work, which continued... Learn more...

Fantastic beaches, jaw-droppingly beautiful water views, great walks, sophisticated shopping and superb restaurants - it’s little wonder Sydney is regularly voted as the number one city destination in the world in traveller surveys. Cast against... Learn more...

If you’re wondering how to spoil the love of your life and let her know the true depth of your feelings, we have the answer. And, you’ll be pleased to hear, it doesn’t involve any expensive, contrived gifts or potentially embarrassing public... Learn more...

We arrive in Abu Dhabi late at night, going straight to Shangri-la Qaryat Al Beri and to bed, awakening on our first morning to be confronted by the most magical monument- The Sheikh Zayed Mosque, or, as it is referred to colloquially, The Grand... Learn more...

Alongside the island’s transformation from shabby to chic, has been its emergence as the Spa capital of Asia. Almost every hotel, villa or guest house has a spa attached, with massages, scrubs, reflexology and facials all on the menu to help... Learn more...

And then of course there is the Great Wall, where a walk amongst the crumbling bricks whisks you back to a forgotten era of Mongolian nomads and frightening battles. But from within this traditional realm, a flourishing contemporary art scene... Learn more...

The Mae Tang River which tumbles from the mountains, provides exciting white- water rafting opportunities, while elephant trekking, ATV rides, mountain biking and rock climbing are all on offer. For the really adventurous, Flight of the Gibbon... Learn more...

Most of the sights are within easy cycling distance of the centre of Guilin, including the lyrically named Solitary Beauty Peak, with its sweeping views across the city, Mulong Lake Park with its picturesque Song-dynasty pagoda, and the huge Reed... Learn more...

Gleaming skyscrapers soar into the air, street market vendors wrangle for business, suited businessmen board screeching trams and all the while the dramatic mountain peaks loom above, presiding over the chaos. In this intoxicating brew of... Learn more...

The first stop for any food lover should be the Nishiki Market. Affectionately known as ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen’, this 400 metre-long covered arcade is lined with nearly 130 stalls and shops, selling a mind boggling array of the weird and wonderful... Learn more...

Venturing into the jungle-clad hills provides the ultimate back-to-nature experience, where you will find yourself surrounded by the whooping and screeching of hidden creatures, and are likely to stumble across such exotic specimens as Giant Red... Learn more...

El Nido at the north-western tip of Palawan boasts a stunning cluster of 45 islands and islets, its soaring limestone cliffs standing guard over crystal clear turquoise waters, and its forests protecting more than 100 species of birds. There are... Learn more...

Beyond the greens and fairways, numerous world-class dive sites pull the sun-worshippers off the beaches and out into the crystal clear waters of the Andaman sea. Keen divers can opt for a liveaboard cruise to the nearby Similan Islands, home to... Learn more...

MOUNTAIN HIGH At 4,095.2 metres, the mystical Mount Kinabalu is the pride of Sabah. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, Mount Kinabalu is the highest peak between the Himalayas and New Guinea and is a bio-diverse hotspot that... Learn more...

Its two major cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, make the perfect start and end points, both being rich with high-end hotels and restaurants, fascinating museums and cultural diversions. When being on the move loses its appeal, there are the... Learn more...

Here, spirituality and sensuality co-exist in absolute harmony. Consumerism rubs shoulders with poverty. Shantytown-like structures and ancient temples sit amongst glitzy skyscrapers. You can visit Bangkok a hundred times and create a different... Learn more...

While Vietnam’s capital Hanoi is the seat of government, steeped in tradition and history, its southern sister Ho Chi Minh City, formerly and still affectionately known as Saigon, is the country’s commercial hub and most happening city: a... Learn more...

It’s a city that pulsates with an energy all of its own. A city that never sleeps, where everything happens at an accelerated pace, from the highspeed underground subway to the wheeling and dealing that goes on behind the neon-clad skyscrapers.... Learn more...

Cleaner than Bangkok but not as orderly as Singapore, KL is an exceptionally affordable Asian hotspot for luxury hotels, shopping and mouthwatering cuisine. At the time of writing, a room at the five-star Mandarin Oriental costs $160 a night.... Learn more...

Although Macau was handed back to China in 1999, its Portuguese past has left it with a substantial network of heritage buildings, plazas and churches such as the ruins of St Paul’s and Senado Square that placed Macau’s old town on the UNESCO... Learn more...

There’s no doubt Shanghai is China’s hippest city. It’s a place where European culture and architecture has been entwined in the fabric of the city for centuries. The British built their settlement in 1843 and were followed by the Americans... Learn more...

The Integrated Resorts – Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands – have turned Singapore into a magnet for celebrity chefs and glamorous international brands. Resorts World Sentosa is located on Sentosa Island, a former British garrison... Learn more...

You can mix with them while you swim or sunbake, although only on Sundays will there be any other beach-goers in these parts. Bak Bak is the most accessible of the beaches in this area of Sabah, it’s just eleven kilometres from Kudat Town and... Learn more...

Located on Havelock Island, the largest of the islands that comprise Ritchie’s Archipelago in India’s unspoilt Andaman Islands, Radhanagar is a perfect protected bay ideal for year-round swimming, snorkelling and kayaking. A line of palm trees... Learn more...

Best between the months of May and October, China Beach is Vietnam’s most unspoilt beach and has the country’s best surf (they’ve held numerous international surf contests here since 1993). Now ranked alongside South Beach Miami for its... Learn more...

You’ll find waterfalls flowing onto Golden Beach – jungle streams emptying literally onto the beach forming a freshwater beach lake if you’d prefer fresh to salt water. The waters are full of tropical fish, dolphins, dugongs, whales and... Learn more...

Famed for its seafood, this former quiet fishing village is now home to some of Asia’s finest hotels and resorts - but its initial charm and seclusion hasn’t been completely compromised. Once ignored in favour of other Bali locales, word soon... Learn more...

But it’s not difficult to access – flights go daily from Bali and Jakarta to Lombok Airport or you can catch a ferry from Bali, one goes every two hours. The drive south is an experience in itself as you pass through primitive farming... Learn more...

Mae Nam has some excellent five-star accommodation options, but all its resorts are located at the end of long pathways offering beach-goers privacy. It’s also far from the traffic noise of the island’s main coastal road. The most under-rated... Learn more...

With plenty of accommodation options – from five-star beach-side luxury to quaint, ocean-front shacks – it’s ideal for every couple. Salagdoong Beach is Siquijor’s most popular beach, which means on most days you may have to share it with... Learn more...

But that’s not to say it’s pretentious, or its costs are prohibitive. On the contrary, Surin Beach looks like a classic Thai coastal village, set amongst one of the nicest beaches in Thailand with its fine white sands, perfect clear water and... Learn more...

Sheltered on one side by a sweep of palm trees and protected on the other by a double reef and overlooked by a pure white Buddhist stupa where pilgrims gather, Unawatuna offers blissful year-round bathing. You can also find some of the best... Learn more...

At first the suggestion of a romantic wine - tasting weekend in the Barossa Valley didn't appeal to my man. Would a glass of wine taste any better because it's being sipped in the midst of the very vineyards from which it originated?... Learn more...

Turquoise. Sapphire. Aquamarine. Azure. Cerulean. Cobalt. Indigo. Powder-blue. Blues so resonant and intense you almost have to look away. Blues that envelop your every move and unfailingly dispel woes. Blues punctuated by pods of dolphins and... Learn more...

I’ve never been a fan of the bush, preferring instead the feel of hot sand between my toes and cool, salty water on my skin, but the majestic beauty of the surroundings (not to mention the five-star eco-amenities at my fingertips) has made me do... Learn more...

Budapest has all the hallmarks of other great European cities – but without the crowds, the traffic and the cacophony of the masses. It’s a gentle city, a gracious city, one you’ll want to go back to time and again. Considering that just 22... Learn more...

Take heed of the age-old travel adage: ‘Take half as many clothes and twice as much money’. Whatever your destination, there are very few things that you will not be able to pick up along the way should your packing require a little... Learn more...

If food and wine are your thing then hop on the wine trail in central Chile. Here terraced slopes of lush grapes overlook cellar doors where you can indulge your palate with some of the world’s great wines - truly nectar of the gods. Snow... Learn more...

This is a cosmopolitan city split into two - Hong Kong Island and Kowloon (or Tsim Sha Tsui) on the mainland. Stay a few days and you will only manage to scratch the surface - you will leave wanting more. Hotels galore are found on both sides... Learn more...

Add the International Festival of Arts, the Melbourne Comedy Festival, the constant stream of major art exhibitions, vibrant cultural events and the lavish 19th century inner-city architecture, and you have a city that has become well known for... Learn more...

EAT: There’s no shortage of fantastic places to dine in this city but if you want to find a trace of the history that made this city famous in the early 20th century head to Xintiandi, located in the centre of the city south of Huaihai... Learn more...

Just across the straits from China, Taiwan’s capital of Taipei is fast-tracking itself into ‘big fun’ territory with its fabulous food and increasingly cool entertainment and shopping – you’ll find it goes way beyond Made in Taiwan... Learn more...

The all-pervading sights, smells and sounds will leave an indelible memory of a place that’s never far from its colourful and tumultuous past and of a people who embrace their history, even though it’s peppered with dramatic events –... Learn more...

Where else could you see the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Trevi Fountain and Venice all in one day? Where else could you sleep all day and party all night without feeling guilty? Vegas is party town central... Learn more...

Of all the Greek Islands, Santorini stands out for its natural beauty and the natural phenomenon is undoubtedly best seen from a cruise ship, and usually features in most itineraries in this region. The island was created out of a cataclysmic... Learn more...

Cruise lines which offer itineraries from Dubai include Silversea, Costa Cruises and Germany’s Aida, with most offering seven-night voyages including stops at Abu Dhabi and Muscat. Due to the overwhelming success of Brilliance of the Seas’... Learn more...

Few places on earth offer such a diversity of sensory experiences. It’s a blend of exotic cultures, imposing cityscapes, ancient temples and pagodas and bustling markets, all somehow fused together to form a complex and fascinating canvas.... Learn more...

It’s a region that lives up to its tropical clichés and the island groups, and their inhabitants, are inextricably bound by a common culture which is as fascinating as it is enduring. It’s not surprising that this part of the world attracted... Learn more...

It was dusk and we were alone on the forward deck of the Orion, fresh from its season cruising Antarctic waters watching its ice-hardened bow plough through the Coral Sea while 73 other passengers were either playing trivia in the lounge relaxing... Learn more...

Buildings designed and commissioned in Bali and complemented by antique pieces sourced from throughout Indonesia; a private bar of giant proportions stocked with premium tipples plus a chef to create incredible meals with which to enjoy them; 25... Learn more...

BALI Legal Considerations: Marriage of Australian citizens in Indonesia is recognised as legal in Australia. There is no need for (and no option for) registration in Australia, as long as the couple have submitted all documents required by... Learn more...

From high on the Tibetan Plateau,it races eastward,cutting through steep mountain passes and deep ravines, before winding its way past some of China's most spectacular scenery,including the Three Gorges whose dramatic beauty and scenic... Learn more...

EAT Bali's cuisine has evolved to incorporate European and Mediterranean styles but the traditional Indonesian dishes like satay, beef rendang and meatballs are still found in delicious abundance. Rice is a staple and you can also... Learn more...

ECO-CRED The lodge’s forty rooms are all hand built from local clay without a nail in sight. Furniture is carved from local trees, an underwater stream feeds the pool and electricity does not exist. Oil lamps and beeswax candles provide... Learn more...

ECO-CRED The Cacao Pearl Luxury Eco Resort will be 100% carbon neutral and will be the world’s first non-profit luxury resort. All operating profits will be dedicated to environmental protection and social responsibility. ROMANCE FACTOR... Learn more...

ECO-CRED Eco villas are solar powered and guests can monitor their own energy consumption with excess generated energy diverted back into the communal grid for the resort. The boardwalks are made from ‘Eco Decking’, a composite wood decking... Learn more...

ECO-CRED Marine ecology is at the heart of Gayana and the property has its own onsite Marine Ecology Research Centre. Seven of the eight giant clams of the world are found at Gayana where a Giant Clam Restocking Programme is helping prevent... Learn more...

ECO-CRED Nihiwatu’s Sumba Foundation focuses on sustainable education of local staff, the building of medical clinics, clean water wells and schools for the island’s community and has significantly reduced the number of malaria cases on the... Learn more...

ECO-CRED The entire retreat relies on solar power, natural gas and collected rainwater. The Paradise Bay ‘Water Farm’ collects rainwater in thirty six tanks and any waste water is treated and recycled on the resort’s garden. Carbon... Learn more...

ECO-CRED &Beyond’s Africa Foundation works closely with local communities at all of the company’s resort lodges with education, medical and sustainable programs. Ten thousand people a month are treated at the Phinda Mduku clinic and... Learn more...

ECO-CRED The principle here is minimal impact. Tents are open for nature’s air conditioning, all power is solar generated, bathrooms are self composting, soaps are made from native herbs and shampoos are ecologically sound plus the no ‘mod... Learn more...

ECO-CRED Soneva Fushi was the first island resort to prove you can combine minimal environmental impact with luxury accommodation without sacrificing service. It worked as the resort has been awarded the President of Maldives Green Resort Award... Learn more...

ECO-CRED It’s official, the resort is the first carboNZero™ certified hotel and the first carbon neutral resort in the world. Why? Because the resort has planted 175 indigenous plants in the valley and renewable energy sources provide 35%... Learn more...

A short one-hour drive north of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast itself extends from Caloundra through to the gateway of Fraser Island, Cooloola. Over 100 kilometres of magnificent beaches fringe its coastline, including Caloundra, Kawana, Mooloolaba,... Learn more...

YARRA VALLEY Why Wine, wine and more wine - the Yarra Valley is spitting distance from Melbourne and one of the original wine regions of Victoria. Expect mainly chardonnay, pinot noir and sparkling wines with some surprises thrown in.... Learn more...

Aged somewhere between 90 and 100 years, George is a native of Pinta, an isolated northern island of the Galápagos although he now resides at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island. Scientists have been trying to get George to... Learn more...

The immediate drawcard is as clear as the Pacific Ocean which splashes upon this little slice of paradise – 70 kilometres of glittering sands dusted through 40 distinct beaches. Legendary surf breaks, calm coves and an abundance of sea-faring... Learn more...

Enjoy good coffee and breakfast in the hotel’s café, or, weather depending, munch on bacon and egg jaffles at a rooftop table atop Togs Place nearby. Ask the people at Mulberry’s Fine Foods next door to put together a gourmet hamper for two... Learn more...

Let Wursthaus at Olivers pack a picnic hamper to enjoy in the grounds of local vineyards Goaty Hill or Brook Eden where you can savour their wine. Or make up your own picnic with home-made goodies, local smoked trout, cheese and more from chef... Learn more...

Commune with nature in a Falls Pavilion at Spicers Tamarind, sip a Spicers Sunset cocktail and dine in the intimate on-site restaurant of former Darley St Thai and Chilli Jam Café chef Paul Blain’s exemplary Thai cuisine. Book into one of his... Learn more...

Since the UK-born chef has taken over the kitchens at Bannisters, the lovely seaside retreat 220 kms south of Sydney has built an enviable reputation for its pampering weekends and long Sunday lunches. Although only a hamlet, leafy Mollymook is... Learn more...

With one pub, a post office, an apple shed and a spread-out population of just 700, Stanley offers the best of both worlds – quality restaurants, cafes and food outlets in nearby Beechworth, plus the intimacy of small community living. Stay in... Learn more...

Stay in new apartment-style accommodation and dine at the very central and stylish Stirling Hotel – a cross between country classic and city chic. Pick your own cherries on a ‘cherry trail’ of orchards and farm-gates in the hills – plus... Learn more...

1. Alila Villas Hadahaa Maldives Date Opened: August 2009 www.alilahotels.com It’s a big call to make a splash in the already-intoxicating pool of Maldivian resorts but Alila Villas Hadahaa pulls it off in style. The location alone... Learn more...

La Mamounia Built in 1922 when it daringly combined Moroccan architectural tradition with Art Deco, La Mamounia became a legendary haunt of the rich, famous and powerful, including Churchill and de Gaulle, during the 1950s. After Charlie... Learn more...

We’re at Masuwe Lodge, a few clicks from the township of Victoria Falls, near the Zimbabwian/Zambian border. A safari lodge in this part of Africa is no headline news, but Masuwe has a few special attractions that make it very special indeed.... Learn more...

We’re sitting in chest deep warm water, with the jacuzzi jets pummelling our muscles in an impromptu hydro-massage as the ship pulls away from Wharf 8 for the “mini-cruise” from Darling Harbour to Circular Quay in Sydney. One of the deck... Learn more...

The sun is just peeking over the horizon as the day’s first call to prayer issues forth from the local mosque, the beautiful notes filling the air with an almost mystical sound that we’ve grown accustomed to over the years spent travelling to... Learn more...

Arriving in Africa Our luxury Flying Safari with Elewana’s super plush 9-seater Cessna Grand Caravan picked us up from a small airport near the famous Kilimanjaro volcano, so we fi rst transferred to Arusha from Dar Es Salaam. An interesting... Learn more...

Spontaneity is a major component in adventure so I’ve kept the itinerary a secret from Jenny. She’s keen for clues so I tell her that our first activity involves getting mud on her face. Any ideas of visiting a rainforest spa for a facial... Learn more...

We scanned the handwritten signs but nowhere was there one saying ‘O’Connor.’ We would have settled for ‘O’Connell’ or ‘Conner’, or even ‘Smith’ but of the driver and car I had booked in Brisbane there was no sign. So... Learn more...

Abandoning ship? No, it’s cocktail party time for the 26 passengers on board Pandaw II, a splendid glistening timber and brass colonial-style riverboat (think gin and tonics at sunset) and this spot of indulgence is part of a seven-night cruise... Learn more...

The Balinese people are warm and welcoming and have a genuine connection to Australians, in fact they love seeing us in their homeland more than any other nationality and they’re not afraid to let you know with wide smiles and hearty handshakes!... Learn more...

The streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s quaint yet increasingly cosmopolitan capital city and the former ‘Paris of the East’, are packed with fantastic restaurants serving the best in international cuisine and innumerable cocktail bars in... Learn more...

As you sit at a makeshift pavement restaurant, the smells of spices and incense merge in the air, offering an aroma that will be forever India in your mind. The heat, the honking, the haggling – they all come together to provide a vibrant,... Learn more...

Some of the most stunning are located in an archipelago of around ninety-nine islands off the west coast – known as Langkawi. This is ‘holiday central’ and who could ask for more? Langkawi is a duty free island, with bargains aplenty for... Learn more...

Thailand is also culturally rich. From the bustling capital of Bangkok with its Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha, amongst many other cultural sites, to the hill tribes in the north with villages dotted along well established trekking group trails,... Learn more...

Because of the country’s long, narrow shape, the best way to experience everything Vietnam has to offer is to hit the north-south trail between the country’s two main cities: Hanoi, the scenic seat of government in the north comprising... Learn more...

There’s no other island on Earth that conjures up as much tropical, romantic imagery as this one; the very name itself is enough to trigger your very own South Seas fantasies – it’s thought by many to be that very mythical utopia itself -... Learn more...

The Cook Islands are the Pacific’s most under rated, and least populated, islands – there’s 15 of them spread across an ocean the size of Western Europe populated by just 14 000 people. When you consider over 9000 inhabitants can be found on... Learn more...

Escape with the one you love to a South Pacific paradise. The warm Pacific waters just east of Australia are scattered with some of the world’s most glorious beaches and luxurious resorts as well as all the pampering, adventure and delicious... Learn more...

The most beautiful necklace of islands anchored in any ocean. Learn more...

You know an island group must be pristine when it’s granted World- Heritage Listing – Lord Howe Island is just one of four island groups on the planet to earn it. And why not? It has the world’s southern-most coral reef and is actually one... Learn more...

A South Pacific gem with a French accent? Oui, merci! Comprising an idyllic main island and several charming smaller isles, New Caledonia is a seductive blend of Melanesian and French cultures which offers so much for couples who like the finer... Learn more...

Niue may be easily reached, but is a world and time apart, and not easily forgotten. Pure virgin tropical rainforest covers almost a quarter of the island, and at 269 square kilometres Niue is four times the size of Rarotonga, yet you won’t find... Learn more...

Should you wish to start an argument on idyllic Norfolk Island just ask the locals who they think the key player in the mutiny on the Bounty saga was. For this perfect little oasis in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with its craggy coastline,... Learn more...

With a fabulous climate, and sensational natural beauty above and below the fringing ocean and reefs, Samoa is naturally endowed with all the attributes which have made the South Pacific the benchmark for daydreams and daydreamers, for artists,... Learn more...

The word pristine springs to mind when describing the Solomon Islands - a group of nearly a thousand islands, of which the majority are inhabited. Known for fabulous diving, the Solomons is increasingly being recognised as a time capsule which is... Learn more...

For anyone who’s ever been to Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila on a visiting cruise ship, you only need know one thing: you ain’t seen nothing yet! For while Port Vila (and the island of Efate) offers a wide range of ultra-modern resorts for... Learn more...

This Thai paradise is inhabited by peaceloving, largely Buddhist people. Explorers, looters and tourists have been attracted to Phuket since its earliest days with the French, English and Dutch fighting over it as late as the 1700s. But don’t... Learn more...

Too many years later to mention, I finally arrived. Getting there though was another matter. When Taylor and I were first discussing going to Machu Picchu, we knew it would not be our average holiday. For a start there are no direct flights to... Learn more...

A destination wedding is what you want it to be. Some couples whisk their closest off to a private luxury resort on an idyllic tropical island in Fiji or the Maldives, others choose a country style wedding in a town close to their capital city; if... Learn more...

Planning a Surprise. Organising a weekend away 'just because' is a gesture you'll both enjoy (and it will win you serious brownie points!). So if you want to show your beloved what they mean to you, it's time to take control.... Learn more...

Your honeymoon is the first chance that you and your partner will get to truly enjoy and relish being together as husband and wife, away from family and friends and budgets and dress fittings and the whirlwind of your wedding day. It's time... Learn more...

Mornings are a beautiful time at Kamalaya. It is the peaceful silence, punctuated only by the sounds of nature – waves gently lapping at the shore, leaves moving to the rhythm of the wind, birds singing and crickets chirping. We’ve been... Learn more...

More urban resort than business hotel, the Aman has managed to combine the trademark streamlined Aman design with details that promote immediate relaxation – from the luscious poolside day spa to the individual plunge pools found in every room.... Learn more...

THE ROOMS There are a variety of accommodation options to choose from as the hotel comprises 209 resort rooms, 10 resort suites, 71 club rooms and suites, as well as 78 cliff-top and ocean-view villas (complete with butler) and the exclusive... Learn more...

Created a quarter of a century ago by Mrs Dora Economidou, Azia is a family affair with Dora still passionately involved, along with her two daughters who were instrumental in the recent revamp and upgrade that has helped Azia rise from its former... Learn more...

THE ROOMS A room it is not! More like being a guest in someone’s palatial mansion, all suites are a minimum of 110 square metres of luxurious furnishings, artworks and accessories with a full kitchen (as if you’ll be cooking!), separate... Learn more...

It was voted one of the world’s 100 most beautiful small hotels by Klocke’s Hideaway Hotels soon after, and the adage is spot on. An exercise in minimalistic style, laidback luxury and sensory stimulation, the walls of Days at Sea’s communal... Learn more...

We chose to stay at what was always my favourite Bangkok hotel and I am pleased to say that some things don’t change! The Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok is still one of the city’s best hotels. Walking back into the stunning lobby was like stepping... Learn more...

Inspired by Muslim architecture and decor, entry is through a series of courtyards, each with a different theme; it’s a bit like leaving the world you know and entering a heavenly experience of rest and relaxation in a glorious setting. The... Learn more...

In celebration of its favourite sons, the Hard Days Night Boutique Hotel is a unique Beatles-themed hotel in the heart of the city’s brand new retail centre, and a must for fans of the era. It breathes the music, the art and the talents of the... Learn more...

The semi-circular glass doors opened automatically and I walked into an Art Deco wonderland, the result of a recent overhaul. Furniture, fittings, statues, masonry, metalwork and interior decoration have all been faultlessly tailor-made.... Learn more...

Opened just a few months ago in a great position on the Napa waterfront and close to many of Macau’s unique attractions, the Mandarin Oriental, Macau offers guests an exclusive and exceptional home away from home. THE ROOMS Our room... Learn more...

THE ROOMS Guests have the choice of the iconic Sea Villas which sit serenely on stilts above the water, the Beach Villas that are right by the white sandy beach, or the Hill Villas, nestled on the slopes of the rainforest with fabulous views... Learn more...

The inner city area is closed to traffic so there is nothing to stop you gazing to your heart’s content at the divine confectionery shops with their fabulous displays of mouth watering cakes and chocolates - there are museums galore to cater to... Learn more...

THE ROOMS If you have a special occasion looming and want to celebrate with a select group of friends in high style, then I can highly recommend The Albion Villas as a place to party in spectacular fashion. Choose from two, three or four... Learn more...

THE ROOMS Relaxing in a Deluxe Harbour View Suite it dawns on me that I am in a dream I do not wish to wake from. With four rooms at our disposal, it is difficult to know where to sit first. In the beautiful living room with television,... Learn more...

THE ROOMS We stayed in ‘The Residence’, the all-suite tower section of the hotel. Our palatial two bedroom apartment, complete with kitchen, study and lounge offered expansive views over the city and left us feeling completely spoilt.... Learn more...

Some of the coolest bars in KL are at the Westin. Qba is actually so much more than a bar ... the decoration includes a pair of angels (with their eyes closed of course!) and evokes the atmosphere of old Havana in the Cigar Bar, while the Latin... Learn more...

As the scaled down (yet still luxurious) sister brand of the opulent Shangri-La hotels, our expectations were high – but Traders managed to exceed them. The first thing that strikes you is the stunning location, right at the foot of KLCC Park,... Learn more...

shhh! ... our guide indicates to us to stop, putting his finger to his lips to halt our chatter. Furtively, he walks a few steps ahead looking up into the trees and then whispers in a low husky tone, “Orang-utan at ten o’clock!” All eyes... Learn more...

The travel industry as a whole has made massive leaps and bounds when it comes to being more 'green'. From giving guests the opportunity to cut down on resources such as water and electricity, not to mention man hours, to installing... Learn more...

Sometimes a short break requires as much packing as a week-long jaunt and it’s often the most obvious things which get left on the kitchen bench, so check our list before you jump in the car. - Name and contact numbers for your accommodation... Learn more...

DO ... 1. Turn off your mobile phones. 2. Texting at the table or taking non-emergency calls won’t fan the fl ames of romance, guaranteed. 3. Be creative. 4. Dining out is a treat but you don’t have to spend up big at a restaurant for... Learn more...

With the beach and the hinterland close enough to incorporate into either a super-sweet short break or a linger-longer stay, after a day of swimming, hiking, wine tasting, dining or shopping, you can enjoy a Sunshine Coast sleepover at one of the... Learn more...

The scenery reminds me of postcards I brought back from the UK years ago except for the red tin roofs of the homesteads we pass; serene scenes of country life so different to the skyscrapers and dense traffic of our city life. Garlanded with the... Learn more...

Tasmania has always been Australia's favourite holiday playground a place of rugged, ancient beauty and vast tracts of World Heritage wilderness contained in a compact package. Within just a couple of hours drive from Hobart you can... Learn more...

WANAKA, New Zealand The picture-perfect resort town of Wanaka sits on the shores of Lake Wanaka and is nestled amongst a mountain amphitheatre of the Aspiring Ranges. Home to the ski resorts of Treble Cone, Cardrona and Snow Park, Wanaka... Learn more...

Scenically, it’s more like Europe than Australia – it has the dramatic snow-capped mountains and crystal-clear lakes of Switzerland, the thermal spa villages of Austria, the fertile, rolling green valleys of Ireland, the sun-drenched fields of... Learn more...

Tropical haze aside, be prepared to be blown away by a culture so enormous in scale and beauty, that after exploring it you’ll feel suitably entitled to retreat to an intimate sanctuary of luxurious pampering. For Siem Reap is not only... Learn more...

We glide across the deep cobalt-blue waters of the lagoon, which is the caldera – the sunken part of a volcano, now filled with water. There is a sense of mystery and excitement at knowing this, and that the distant landscapes with white-washed... Learn more...

It’s an impossible thing to describe the fear that cripples you as you paddle into the line-up of the world’s most deadly surf break. It’s so shallow here I can clearly see every razor-sharp coral head below, and the flamboyantly colourful... Learn more...

For six days now we’ve camped along the banks of one of the world’s last great rivers. There’s few mod-cons, no king size beds or fluffy pillows, nor much privacy amongst our group as we take shelter from the Franklin River and all its fury;... Learn more...

This limestone island may only be 90km2, but Anguilla is the Caribbean queen of crushed- coral beaches; over 30 of them. Exquisite Meads Bay is home to nesting Leatherback turtles, but coconut tree-lined Shoal Bay East, a necklace of ground... Learn more...

Small birds flit between the trees and plants sipping moisture left in small arboreal pools by afternoon showers. The equatorial sun that climbed so swiftly out of the ocean in the morning is now plummeting down again towards the waves,... Learn more...

Denmark’s most easterly outpost sits in the Baltic Sea, a 15-minute flight from Copenhagen by light plane; a tiny dot beneath Sweden’s long exclamation mark. Bornholm is about as wholesome as an island can get and the sort of place you might... Learn more...

It’s the people, he says. Cook Islanders are what make these islands so unique, they’re chubby, jovial souls always with a guitar handy and a laugh that’ll scare you at first with its sonic boom. While some Cook Islanders can look as big and... Learn more...

But as soon as I looked down and saw that all too familiar tropical set-up; the foreboding highlands of the interior, too mountainous for development, and best of all, perfect white beaches that had no beginning, nor end, and an inky-blue sea that... Learn more...

Just 44 nautical miles from Greece’s Athens, this is the romantic weekender’s getaway. Graced by 17th and 18th-century neoclassical pastel-coloured mansions, Hydra’s charming horseshoe-shaped harbour has long been the magnet for artists,... Learn more...

On this delightfully compact island, the local Kunie people cherish their traditional lifestyle and welcome visitors warmly. Join them as they don sherbet-hued Sunday best and strum guitars for a spine-tingling sing-along at the historic Mission... Learn more...

The northernmost Hawaiian island, Kaua`i is believed to be the first which Captain James Cook stumbled upon while sailing from Tahiti to North America in 1778. This is a place with some of the most dramatic landscapes in the world and top of the... Learn more...

Fast-forward 30 years and Koh Samui has cemented its place as one of Thailand’s top tourist hot-spots, behind only Phuket in numbers. Its development was momentous, and of course, not without its impact. Depending on your preferences, there are... Learn more...

Lazy days on the beach can be alternated with excursions to Pulau Payar Marine Park where snorkelling and scuba diving take you under the surface to another world of colourful fish and coral reefs and warm, clear water. Fishing, sailing and island... Learn more...

The seven fabled Islands of the Winds of Homer’s Odyssey look as if they have been knocked into the Mediterranean by a petulant kick from the toe of Italy. The largest, and also the most populated, is Lipari, an hour’s journey by hydrofoil off... Learn more...

At just 45km wide and 65 long the island is a roundtrip of spotless beaches with a lush interior of waterfalls, lakes, forests and tiny villages. Fancy snorkelling through calm, crystalline waters or a round of golf played against a spectacular... Learn more...

What’s more, you won’t find it crowded with holiday makers desperate for the perfect break- away, in fact about the only thing you might run into on Norfolk Island are the cows who move slowly about the roadways as if they own the place (and... Learn more...

In the northeast, Bai Thom’s coconut husk-strewn, palm frond-brushed beach and azure ocean backdrop provides an idyllic picnic setting. To the northwest, Bai Dai offers the perfect vantage point to enjoy Phu Quoc’s spectacular sunsets. Bai... Learn more...

Whether your idea of heaven is lazy days on the beach or by the pool, diving, snorkelling, fishing, golfing, walking or hiking, Samoa provides the perfect backdrop to these activities and more - or for absolutely no activity at all. For couples of... Learn more...

The island’s epic crater-lakes cower beneath haunting volcanic peaks. Within the 12-kilometre serrated rim surrounding the Sete Cidades caldera, Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul (green and blue lakes) sparkle like a pair of rings. Maimed by volcanic... Learn more...

The in-shore waters and lagoons are crystal clear – snorkelling out from the beach you will see a rainbow of painted fish within a few metres of the shore. Further out, the cooler waters around the reef walls are home to barracuda, wrasse,... Learn more...

It’s not surprising that Tahiti attracted the attention of artists like Paul Gauguin. In addition to France’s greatest Post-Impressionist painter, many other artists, explorers and writers made the arduous journey to French Polynesia,... Learn more...

Depending on the tides there are over 1000 individual coral islands which make up the world’s lowest lying island nation. Bobbing along at an average of 1.5 metres above sea level has its drawbacks (slipping back into the sea being the big one)... Learn more...

Throw in cocktail bars, unreal sunsets, sailing and all manner of water sports and you have the Whitsunday Islands in a nutshell – a 74-island group in North Queensland which epitomises the tropical getaway cliché. From snorkelling and... Learn more...

1. Book a couples massage or spa treatment Oh the heavenly delight of hours spent being massaged with perfumed oils, gently scrubbed with exotic skin treatments, steamed in herbal saunas, soaking together after it all in a bathtub made for two... Learn more...

Lounging on a chaise lounge at a seaside bar, cocktail in hand, while the summer sun slowly sets into the Atlantic Ocean and all the beautiful people around you are alternating between staring at the horizon, and into their partner's eyes ...... Learn more...

A lot has happened to the cute little hippie village by the sea of my childhood. Byron Bay is now an ultra - chic resort town on the radar of everyone from the backpackers who made the town famous in the first place, to the uber - rich. These... Learn more...

Wandering the narrow cobbled laneways of Cadiz, the sea is never far away. Europe's oldest city set on a peninsula on the west coast of Spain, its vibrant Andalucian soul is wrapped in a history and a vitality that makes romantic moments an... Learn more...

Romance may be on a slow simmer at home but a few nights on Rarotonga will definitely bring things to a boil. 'Raro' is the international gateway to the remote Cook Islands, 15 coral atolls scattered over 2.25 million square kilometres... Learn more...

Considered by many to be Australia's premier resort town, Noosa manages to combine chic with nature. Where else in the world could you buy a one-off European designer label, walk out of the stylish store and come face to face with a... Learn more...

It's the place where Melbourne's rich and famous like to spend the weekends, millionaires have mansions here – it's not hard to see why with the inky blue waters of Port Phillip Bay washing up on white sandy beaches,... Learn more...

Is that Cameron Diaz shopping at the Wild Oats farmers market on Arizona and 3rd? Hey, was that Renee Zellwegger heading into the gym on Santa Monica Boulevard? It seems that Santa Monica is to celebrities what a fridge is to magnets - very... Learn more...

The Mornington Peninsula is home to some of the most visually arresting landscape and although only an hour's drive from Melbourne, it seems a world away. With its gorgeous rolling hills of vines, olive groves and historic country house... Learn more...

Three hours drive south-west of Brisbane, high on the spine of the Great Dividing Range, the Granite Belt region is fast emerging as Queensland’s wine capital. Radiating from the main town of Stanthorpe, the region’s cool climate, elevated... Learn more...

Looking for a destination which is literally overrun with natural wonders and packed full of awesome adventures, yet still so relaxed you can ignore the lot and bliss out in a world-class spa? Then Tropical North Queensland is your go-to... Learn more...

PORT DOUGLAS became a bona-fide celebrity hang-out not long after Christopher Skase came to town in 1986, liked what he saw and turned the sleepy fishing village into the kind of place Bill Clinton chose to stop on his President’s tour of... Learn more...

There it is: that oh - so - familiar waft of frangipani on the breeze. It's what the South Pacific smells like; so warm it feels like a sweater round your shoulders. But there's something else on the wind that makes my skin heat up more:... Learn more...

All along the river, couples emerged from a maze of cobbled streets to stroll the promenade, pausing to ponder menus and settling at alfresco tables with glasses of ice-cold Bia Hoi. As the first irresistible scents of lemongrass and garlic... Learn more...

We are sipping Champagne on the aft deck of the Orion, trying to come to grips with the great adventure that lies to the south, having just set sail from the tiny maritime port of Bluff at the bottom of New Zealand. Over the coming 18 days, we... Learn more...

Perhaps it’s the laid-back vibe of the place - whatever the reason, Cairns is worth visiting just for itself ... and to experience the particular feel of the city. Surrounded by tree clad mountains which reach green fingers down to the outskirts... Learn more...

Gold Coast Beaches Along a coastline that stretches from Southport to Coolangatta, the Gold Coast boasts 30 different beaches each with its own unique personality. Wide expanses of sand are ideal for walking, while the more secluded enclaves... Learn more...

Gold Coast Beaches Things to Do Island Life: The Broadwater caters to every on-water activity imaginable, where thrill seekers can choose from jetboating, parasailing, kite surfing, diving, jet-ski safaris, snorkeling, tall-ship... Learn more...

Things to Do: If you’re feeling active try hang-gliding, horse riding, 4WD tours, hot air ballooning, ATV adventures or canopy walks. Bed-and-breakfast outlets, wineries, boutique distilleries, breweries, restaurants, rustic homesteads, plus... Learn more...

The Sunshine Coast itself extends from Caloundra through to the gateway of Fraser Island, Cooloola and is only an hour’s drive north of Brisbane. For the discerning coast connoisseur, there is a beach for everyone with over 100 kilometres of... Learn more...

The drive threading across the top of the Blackall Range from Maleny to Mapleton, through Montville and Flaxton, is one of the most scenic on the Sunshine Coast with jaw-dropping views of the coastline. You can stroll through any of the charming,... Learn more...

The gateway to this magnificent area is the town of Airlie Beach, part of a picturesque peninsula that has recently undergone some startling development, turning it from backpacker haven into a millionaires hideaway, although backpackers still... Learn more...

Name and contact numbers for your accommodation Print out of booking confirmation Map and directions or GPS Vehicle documentation eg. RACQ card, licence, insurance details Cash and credit card for emergencies Camera and battery charger... Learn more...

Between these extremes the cycle of life and renewal is constant. Water lilies invade slow moving creeks with purple and white blooms. Gum trees burst open with the sweetness of flowers and fruit. Native grasses flourish, camouflaging the red... Learn more...

Flanked by bountiful, green rice plantations and fronted by coconut trees and the warm, clear waters of the Arabian Sea, Alila Diwa Goa epitomises Goa, one of India’s richest and most picturesque provinces. The Portuguese invaded and controlled... Learn more...

Alila Hotels and Resorts already grace Thailand, India, Indonesia and the Maldives, and the brand scores major points for the location of its latest property: Laos, one of the most intriguing and unspoilt countries in south-east Asia. In the north... Learn more...

What shall it be today? Private infinity pool, resort pool or beach? Best ask the butler. Such are life’s pressures at Alila Villas Soori in a quiet south-west coast rice field corner of Bali, far far far from the madding crowds of Seminyak and... Learn more...

The Amans excel at harmonising their properties and their environments so accurately and intricately that guests are really not staying at a hotel at all but luxuriating in exquisitely furnished and impeccably serviced accommodation. The perfect... Learn more...

The clever designers at the über cool Aman Resorts have done it again, this time in the Utah desert. Picture a boutique resort in desert hues that blends into the dramatic rock canyon surroundings so well it’s hard to tell where the mountains... Learn more...

Maybe it’s an ancient Neander thal gene in me but I find something highly attractive about the thought of living in a cave, at least temporarily. It’s the security of the stone surrounding you, the solid silence inside, and the graceful curve... Learn more...

Two words. Giorgio Armani. The doyenne of super sleek minimalist style has turned his fashion hands to hotels with his first launched in Dubai. The 160-room luxe hotel occupies the first eight floors and the 38th and 39th mega luxury floors of the... Learn more...

The first Stateside venture by Brit hoteliers Tim and Kit Kemp, the über-cool Crosby Street Hotel has delivered hip British style to downtown New York. Celebrated for their kitsch-meets-classic boutique hotels in London (including the Covent... Learn more...

There’s nothing quite like being on a private island to inspire a feeling of exclusivity, and the luxury Laucala Island is one of those places that typifies the tropical South Seas idyll. With just 25 luxurious villas spread out over the 12... Learn more...

Las Vegas is sexy. There’s a sense of youthful abandon in the desert air and the omnipresent sparkling pulse of light and life is mesmerising and, in a way, romantic. Forget gambling; the real Vegas is about hiring a limo to cruise the Strip,... Learn more...

You wake up and throw back the cur tains, to be greeted with panoramic views of the South China Sea, and down below the city of Macau begins its day as the enter tainment capital of Asia. The Mandarin Oriental Macau reflects the ver y essence of... Learn more...

From our private terrace looking down on Barcelona, we nibble on local tapas and admire the haphazard skyline of one of Europe’s classiest cities. Below us, Gaudi’s Casa Mila sits proudly on one of Spain’s swankiest streets – Passeig de... Learn more...

As I arrive at Matakauri the sun is setting across Lake Wakatipu turning the Remarkables – the towering shell-shaped mountain range that dwarfs Queenstown – a shade of burnt mauve so vivid that I push by the welcome committee and stand... Learn more...

This is possibly the most stylish European hotel to open in 2010. It’s in sun-kissed and über-fabulous St Tropez yet it has escaped the Euro-bling and flamboyancy that often accompanies hotels here. Instead it has adopted a low-key... Learn more...

A 16th-century former aristocrat’s residence was the blank canvas for Philippe Starck’s first foray into Italian hotel design. Emanuele Garosci, former rally driver and creator of Palazzina Grassi, chose the legendary French designer to create... Learn more...

A clear-cut winner across all categories, this five-star hideaway is the sort of place that features in most honeymoon dreams. It’s the first property in the Ritz- Carlton’s new Reserve label: ‘a collection of exotic, oneof-a-kind boutique... Learn more...

The Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort sneaks up on the uninitiated just like a mirage, somehow appearing between the towering golden-red sand dunes in the middle of the world’s largest stretch of uninterrupted desert. Dubbed the Mirage Palace, the... Learn more...

Eschewing a traditional palace or ‘Days of the Raj’ sensibility in favour of pared back, contemporary European styling, this superb new hotel is a true oasis amidst the chaos of Jodhpur’s labyrinthine streets. Combining 18th-century... Learn more...

Panoramic ocean views backed by a stunning mountain range that changes colour throughout the day, a pristine national park, and a beach that’s regularly voted as the best in the world, Australia’s newest luxury resort has all the ingredients... Learn more...

You’d be forgiven for thinking you were in Asia at Banyan Tree, Cabo Marques. The resort’s individual hilltop bungalows with absolute ocean views along the Punte Diamante near Acapulco are inspired by the Banyan Tree’s Asian destinations... Learn more...

Enter the Fullerton Bay Hotel and prepare to pick your jaw up from the floor. A look-at-me sixteen foot cylindrical chandelier suspends thirty three feet above the ground in all its elegant glory. There is no doubt the new kid on the waterfront... Learn more...

You’re sitting out on a deck as the sun drops low against the desert landscape and within minutes, the sky turns a bright yellow against the sand. For the next half hour the palette moves from yellow, to orange, red and purple, with some... Learn more...

Honeymoons don’t have to involve tropical islands; in fact, one of the world’s most innovative romantic retreats is actually tucked away a few hundred metres above one of Asia’s most hectic business and shopping districts. Obviously to... Learn more...