Deal

Shimmering Auckland lies on a narrow isthmus between the sparkling waters of the Waitemata and Manukau harbours. Marvel at the cosmopolitan city’s volcanic landscape in suburbs boasting iconic cones with Māori and English names like Maungawhau/Mount Eden (the city’s highest point), Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill and Maungarei/Mount Wellington. Browse the shops of Queen Street or the Parnell area with their galleries and boutiques in quaintly restored Victorian buildings, or visit the Sky Tower for loftier views. See first-hand why Auckland is called the ‘City of Sails’ on a harbour cruise aboard a ketch-rigged sailing yacht before exploring an enticing array of eclectic restaurants, bars and cafés.

The “Bay of Islands” was how Captain Cook described this area two centuries ago, and the simplicity of his name masks the diversity of its charms. The Bay of Islands is the finest Maritime Park in the country, with 144 islands, secluded bays and an abundance of marine life. It is one of the most popular fishing, sailing and tourist destinations in the country, and has been renowned internationally for its big-game fishing since author Zane Grey publicised it in the 1930s.

Make the most of your time in one of the liveliest, must-see cities of the Pacific Rim. From bustling Circular Quay along the glamorous waterfront, take in the graceful sails of Sydney’s iconic Opera House. Catch a glimpse of the past along the narrow, twisting laneways of the historic Rocks district in the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Head west to the spectacular, untamed beauty of the Blue Mountains for a ride on the world’s steepest perpendicular railway. Get up close with Australia’s charming wildlife at the Koala Park Sanctuary, then end your day with a refreshing stop at a traditional Aussie pub.

Split into competing halves by the Yarra River, this most European of Australian cities is packed with charms both obvious and hidden. The ‘CBD’ is easily explored via trams and tree-lined sidewalks, especially on historic Collins Street, where stately Gothic buildings and glittering skyscrapers cast shadows upon well-dressed Melburnians. Walk the gloriously landscaped Fitzroy Gardens, discover the city’s gold-rush origins at Melbourne Museum, wander the eclectic offerings at Queen Victoria Market, or explore heaps of world-class cafés and shops tucked into cosy, colourful laneways. Melbourne’s diversity abounds in its neighbourhoods, from St. Kilda’s bayside promenade to Carlton’s Italian-bistro-laden Lygon Street to the Vietnamese eateries of Richmond.

This nature lover’s dream boasts spectacular scenery, including bushland, beaches, uninhabited islets, granite headlands, and the bubblegum-hued Pink Lake. Esperance is located in the centre of some of Australia’s most beautiful sights, with some of the country’s most stunning coastline, the best surf, and great fishing options.

Albany is the largest regional city in Western Australia and was once the home of the Menang Noongar people. They called the area “Kinjarling,” meaning “the place of rain.” Albany is also the oldest continuous European settlement in Western Australia, having been founded in 1826, three years before the state capital of Perth. The King George Sound settlement was a hastily dispatched British military outpost, intended to forestall any plans by France for settlements in Western Australia.

Fremantle, the state’s capital, is located in Western Australia at the mouth of the Swan River. The city was named after Charles Fremantle, an English naval officer who established the camp at the site and took possession of Western Australia. During World War II, Fremantle was the second-largest base for Allied submarines operating in the Pacific Theatre. Up to 125 U.S., 31 British, and 11 Free Dutch submarines operated out of Fremantle, until the Americans moved forward to the Philippines.

Indonesia’s isolated Komodo Island is a natural wonder of tropical savanna and scrubland, home to the famed pre-historic Komodo dragon. Komodo National Park is the only place on Earth where they can be found in the wild. The island of Komodo itself is about 60 square miles in area, with dramatic landscapes of 2,000-foot craggy mountains, canyons, savannas, and monsoon rainforests in the valleys. Human habitation is therefore limited to only one settlement in Slawi Bay.

Benoa’s charms are most evident in Nusa Dua, one of the most beautiful beaches in the already-legendary Bali. In this land of rice terraces, spectacular volcanoes, and over 20,000 temples, the main destination is the stunning 17th-century royal temple complex of Pura Taman Ayun in nearby Mengwi, surrounded by a lotus-filled moat, giving it the feel of a garden sanctuary. Another favourite is the Sunset Temple, Tanah Lot, and don’t miss the batik factories for that perfect gift or souvenir.