Australasia & Oceania

Wildlife and wineries

Of all Australia’s concrete jungles, Melbourne takes the crown for most vibrant. With a thriving arts culture and nightlife that beats Sydney’s, few leave its centre in search of entertainment – they’re missing out though. On a driving tour, the lush Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley throw their twopence in, favouring trekking further afield in search of winelands and iconic animals. First on the agenda is Healesville Sanctuary, where the keepers introduce some of Australia’s endemic species. From there it’s into Yarra’s vineyards, where two prestigious wineries host tastings showcasing produce made from the best grapes in the region.

For the culinarily curious

Vast and thrillingly vivacious, Mother Nature clearly put her heart and soul into conjuring this Kiwi island duo. An environment so precious that it forms an integral part of the Māori culture, it should be experienced in as many ways as possible. One of the best is an indulgent one – sitting down to an authentic farm-to-table lunch at Wharekauhau Lodge estate, where ingredients from the land are crafted into a five-course menu accompanied by the finest regional wines. Served with an aerial aperitif in the form of a helicopter ride from Wellington, of course. 

Paradise found

Where luxury is easy going and the welcomes are legendary, this dreamy collective of archipelagos is the siren of the Southern Hemisphere. It’s easy to while away the hours on Bora Bora’s porcelain sands and snorkelling in the bluest of lagoons, where you're bound to meet countless colourful fish and perhaps even a turtle or two. But hiking into the volcanic landscape introduces the communities who call it home. Looking past the ever-popular Tahiti, Huahine Island is the region’s hidden gem. Laid-back and lovely, it shares its neighbours' good looks with an explorative edge. Think hikes in the rainforest, crystal-clear dive sites and crumbling archaeology.