Beachcomber: Blissed on Fiji's party island
WHILE Beachcomber Island is known as Fiji's party island – it is a classy party, where making new friends is easy.

Wellington: C'mon over to our place
WELLINGTON'S having a party, and there is so much to be excited about on the other side of the ditch, writes Brad Crouch.

Marlborough: New Zealand's reds centre
IT'S been said that "God created cab sav but the Devil made pinot noir" but that won't stop Phil Tripp indulging in NZ's Marlborough region.

Wellington: C'mon over to our place
WELLINGTON'S having a party, and there is so much to be excited about on the other side of the ditch, writes Brad Crouch.

River retreat: Water luxury escape
GOURMET meals prepared by your own chef and sunset cocktails – lap up the River Murray in style on a floating hotel.

Sweet sleeps: In tents outback opulence
IT'S time to indulge in a little outback opulence and discover lavishly tempting tents with stunning views of Uluru.

Soothing soak: Let's get hot and steamy
FRESH fruit platters, chilled bubbly and soaking away the stress in a steamy natural spa – does it get any better than this?

Paradise Island: Pampered to the max
YOU'LL be seduced by plunge pools and world-class luxury rooms as this Hamilton Island six-star resort casts a spell over you.

Village people: Welcome to the jungle
VISITORS were once gobbled-up by flesh-eating tribes, but Papua New Guinea now serves up an adventure like no other.

Deep fear: Swimming with sharks
DETERMINED to prove that not everything in Australia eats you, Cathy Finch jumps into a pool of deadly looking sharks and immediately wishes she hadn't.

Horse play: Bikini bareback adventure
CATHERINE Best straddles a sweaty mare and races along the Magnetic Island waves, but will beast and bikini become one?

Nepal: Women on top of the world
FEMALE trekking guides are now carrying the weight of expectations on a trek through the Himalayas, writes Maria Rae.

Top End: Cruising the Kimberley Coast
CRUISING across the Top End aboard the first premium superliner to be based in Australia, Barry O'Brien is mesmerised.

Puerto Vallarta: The Mexican iguana affair
A FORMER sleepy fishing village on Mexico's west coast is now a hot spot for the world's "beautiful" people, says Brad Crouch.

Maldives cruiser: Surfing in paradise
LUXURIOUS cabins and sublime surf – Jo Kennett enjoys a surf safari of the Maldives from the comfort of her cruiser.

Fantasea: Cruising the Whitsundays in style
CRUISING the crystal clear waters of the Whitsundays on a luxury cruiser provides the perfect winter getaway, writes Mike O'Connor.

Las Vegas: Going to the chapel
A LAS Vegas wedding need not be a Britney Spears-style late-night drunken affair with an Elvis impersonator at a drive-thru chapel. There are classy alternatives.

Hayman Island: Paradise that's two perfect
JENNY Stevens joins the queue of couples beating a path to the northernmost island in Queensland's Whitsunday Passage: the luxurious and romantic Hayman Island.

Las Vegas: Going to the chapel
A LAS Vegas wedding need not be a Britney Spears-style late-night drunken affair with an Elvis impersonator at a drive-thru chapel. There are classy alternatives.

Best breakfasts: Bed and bagels
FROM fresh pastries in Paris to congee and noodles in Singapore, we serve up a buffet of the world's most enticing breakfasts.

Manhunt: Single girl's guide to the slopes
CAROLINE Ross primes her smile and dusts off her copy of Singles in the Snow for a man-hunting ski weekend with her gal pals.

Perisher challenge: King of the mountain
NEWS.com.au travel reporter and ski novice Lee Taylor reaches new heights during the mountain to mountain challenge through Perisher Valley.

Mt Hotham: Rock star skiing just a flight away
CRAIG Tansley discovers that for a very affordable price, you can fly away on the ultimate ski fantasy.

Downhill dating: Blokes on the slopes
A BLONDE bombshell, two Asian babes and a sexy Sydneysider – Lee Taylor goes looking for love on a single blokes tour of the slopes.

Whitsundays: Splash in aquatic playground
THE Whitsundays hold many treasures, but Whitehaven Beach is the most dazzling, writes Chris Tinkler after a week on Hamilton Island.

Elle's hideaway: Body of evidence favours Fiji
SALLY Macmillan checks out supermodel Elle Macpherson's favourite tropical island escape and quickly succumbs to its charms.

Beach retreat: Luxury in the jungle
IAN Jackson and Jen Kelly discover monkeys are not the only entertainment at Club Med's luxurious Cherating Beach Resort.

Margaret River: Like Byron, but with wineries
THINK of WA's Margaret River region as being like Byron Bay with Hunter Valley wineries, writes a totally mesmerised Bill Rule.

Puerto Vallarta: The Mexican iguana affair
A FORMER sleepy fishing village on Mexico's west coast is now a hot spot for the world's "beautiful" people, says Brad Crouch.

Coronado: Some like it hot in southern California
HAVING a ghost in your hotel and being rich in Hollywood history is good for business, writes Jessica Hurt from south of Los Angeles.

Firey festival: Burning Man fires up the heat
THIS years Burning Man festival in the US received a record attendance, despite many revellers experiencing a bare bum blasting of sand.

Big Easy: Jazz it up New Orleans
THE traditionally upbeat Big Easy spirit is alive and kicking, as John Swords discovers in New Orleans' French Quarter.

Sopranoland hit with tourists
AS the final season of mob drama The Sopranos hits small screens in the US, New Jersey sees a surge in tourists keen for a pilgrimage to "Sopranoland".

Air travel: Best airfares in the world
THERE'S a new generation of discount airlines offering low fares around the world, says Brian Johnston. Don't miss out with our guide to the best bargains.

Airline: Luggage lost just excess baggage
THE Australian airline industry loses up to 200,000 passenger bags a year ? some of which end up being donated to charities when their owners cannot be found.

Global traveller: Tipping can be tricky business
EVERY country has its own specific tipping culture so, before taking off, Mr it's essential to sus out the tipping protocol of your destination from a reliable source.

Opinion: Sorry, but I have to fly
JAMES Norman, a former Greenpeace worker, says claims that the travel industry is to blame for global warming are out of proportion with the facts.

Japan: Ramsay tests Tokyo's tastebuds
BRIAN Johnston considers using the F-word after an "amazing" meal at chef Gordon Ramsay's new Asian venture in Tokyo's Ginza district.

Club Med: Club Med baptism
THE newly chic Club Med on Indonesia's Bintan Island offers "a full happiness immersion", writes Leonie Coombes.

Japan: Tripping Tokyo's light fantastic
FIVE essential experiences will give you a taste of Tokyo – and all but one of them are free, writes Chris Viney.

Affordable Thailand: Koh Samui calling
THE secret of Koh Samui may be out, but the pockets of magic remain on the Thai island.

Greece: Rhapsody in blue on Santorini
WHERE else but Greece's famous blue island would party-hardy tourists abandon the pubs and pools to watch the sunset?

Earlybird discounts: Europe on the cheap
WITH airlines and tour operators offering huge incentives to travel, David Gibbs tells us where to find the best earlybird bargains to Europe in 2009.

London upgrade: End of the East End?
ONCE the heartland of chirpy Cockneys and David Beckham, London's East End prepares to be transformed forever.

Cabaret time: Berlin beat goes on
WITH three opera houses, 170 museums and 150 theatres – life is most definitely still a cabaret in Berlin.

Africa: Voodoo puts a spell on Aussies
BELIEVE it or not: Australian travellers are increasingly taking a chance on voodoo, writes Chris Pritchard from Africa.

Top End: In awe of Kakadu's splendours
SPARKLING waterfalls, shady gorges and fresh barramundi on the barbecue: Ian Haberfield can't get enough of Kakadu's riches.

Well-being: Recharge your body and soul
FROM luxuriant spa escapes to adventure cycles through Vietnam: Jessica Hurt has the breaks that are good for mind, body and soul.

Northern Territory: Bullo, boots 'n' all
A HOLIDAY on a working cattle station in the Northern Territory brings out the cowboy in all of us, writes Linda Smith.

Swell Sculpture: Swell fun at beach sculpture festival
A SCULPTURE festival on the beach proves the Gold Coast is no cultural desert, writes Suzanna Clarke.

Gold Coast: Thrills 'n' spills
IF lazing on the beach these school holidays doesn't quite give you a buzz, Queensland's theme parks will do the trick for you and the kids.

School holidays: Happiness clubs for kids
SCHOOL holidays can be fun, especially when the kids are entertained so the parents can relax!

Yen for fun: Japanese for beginners
CHRIS Maher opted for the low-cost, culture-rich experience of traditional Japanese inns for an Asian adventure that left yen to spare.

Cradle Mountain: Tasmania's height of perfection
TASMANIA'S Cradle Mountain offers plenty of jawdropping beauty on one of Australia's greatest short walks,writes Melanie Ball.

Top End: Cruising the Kimberley Coast
CRUISING across the Top End aboard the first premium superliner to be based in Australia, Barry O'Brien is mesmerised.

Whitsundays: Splash in aquatic playground
THE Whitsundays hold many treasures, but Whitehaven Beach is the most dazzling, writes Chris Tinkler after a week on Hamilton Island.

Tasmania: Gently does it on Bruny Island
TASMANIA'S Bruny Island is one of the most romantic, rugged and remarkable destinations an island-lover could dream of visiting.

Weddings: Passport to love and happiness
WHEN it comes to saying "I do", a rising number of couples are choosing to head overseas to tie the knot.

Anguilla: Caribbean dazzles A-listers
ONCE a colonial backwater, Anguilla is now a playground for A-listers and the seriously cashed-up, says David Whitley.

Blue Mountains: Pink bubbles add to decadence
A DOSE of luxury is a great antidote to the stress of city life, writes Jeanti St Clair after a restorative five-star stay in the Blue Mountains.

Spoilt rotten: Mid North Coast with the most
DELUXE suites, spa baths and a top-storey pool – Sally Macmillan found herself spoilt for choice on the New South Wales Mid North Coast.

Beachcomber: Blissed on Fiji's party island
WHILE Beachcomber Island is known as Fiji's party island – it is a classy party, where making new friends is easy.

Wellington: C'mon over to our place
WELLINGTON'S having a party, and there is so much to be excited about on the other side of the ditch, writes Brad Crouch.

Greece: Rhapsody in blue on Santorini
WHERE else but Greece's famous blue island would party-hardy tourists abandon the pubs and pools to watch the sunset?

Soothing soak: Let's get hot and steamy
FRESH fruit platters, chilled bubbly and soaking away the stress in a steamy natural spa – does it get any better than this?

Nepal: Women on top of the world
FEMALE trekking guides are now carrying the weight of expectations on a trek through the Himalayas, writes Maria Rae.

Money tips: Don't get fleeced on holiday
EVERYONE'S feeling the pinch in these credit-crunched times including pickpockets and the bartender. They all want your holiday money.

Forbes Traveler: Are these dumb travel trends?
FORBES Traveler turns a critical eye on the travel industry and reports on eight dumb trends gaining popularity in the business.

Australia-bound: Sleep it off in business class
STEVE Creedy surveys the state of play with business class sleeper seats aboard airlines flying into Australia.

Packing tips: How to ease the holiday squeeze
KEEP valuables safe and beat the squeeze on luggage limits with our tips on packing properly for a dream holiday.

Super savers: Cheap tricks for a great trip
SUPERANNUATION and savings taken a hit? Donna Coutts shares some money secrets to help you still afford that holiday.

Mind the gap: Art installation a lot of crack
A MASSIVE crack in the 167-metre concrete floor of the Turbine Hall at the London's Tate Modern has been unveiled as the famous gallery's main exhibit.

East London: Cheers to Little Britain
MENTION the English comedy Little Britain and some people start to squirm but there is such a place in London and it's about to get a scrubdown for the 2012 Olympics.

Dublin: Well versed on a pub crawl
WHILE Dublin is unquestionably "new Europe", there is still no escaping that poetry and Guinness still run thick in the veins of this vibrant Irish city.

Wales: Magic happens in land of legend
FEARSOME fire-breathing mother-in-laws aside, the grass really is greener in Wales. Paul Maughan explores a tiny country renowned for its big scenery.