Short overseas holidays
Australia is unfairly maligned as being far from the rest of the world. But whose world, exactly? Not only is Australia closer to many of the globe’s natural and urban delights (South-East Asia and the South Pacific ring a bell?), most of them can be reached jet-lag free with minimal, if not highly favourable, time differences. Traveller has devised this special guide – overseas without the overreach – to illustrate the potential for hassle-free short breaks in our region.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This greatly underrated foodie heaven provides a quintessential South-East Asian city experience at a bargain price.
- by Julie Miller
Singapore
Still consider this city a place in which to merely pause on the way to somewhere else (or somewhere more interesting)? It’s time to catch up.
- by Anthony Dennis
Suva, Fiji
This overlooked gem is home to a third of Fiji’s population, is one of the most cosmopolitan centres in the South Pacific and has a great nightlife.
- by Craig Tansley
Noumea, New Caledonia
Noumea offers a genuine taste of France incredibly close to Australia – closer than Cairns is from Sydney, in fact.
- by Anthony Dennis
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Tiny Port Vila, with a population just over 61,000, has come of age. The capital of Vanuatu is home to chic restaurants, bars and gourmet produce outlets.
- by Craig Tansley
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Vietnam’s frenetic and underrated financial centre offers a rich history and one of the most exciting – and bargainous – food scenes in South-East Asia.
- by Katherine Scott
Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand’s biggest city has been utterly transformed by the dramatic redevelopment of its once no-go waterfront as well as a quality food scene.
- by Anthony Dennis
Christchurch, New Zealand
With a spectacular natural playground on its doorstep, this big small-city has undergone a revitalisation of unimaginable scale since the 2011 earthquake.
- by Katherine Scott
The 19 new must-do highlights of the Pacific and Australasia
Nothing says “holiday” more than an expanse of sparkling water, fine wine and nature in her element.
- by Craig Tansley
Forget Thailand and Vietnam: South-East Asia’s enticing new travel frontier
Forget everything you know about Cambodia: Here are five ways to savour the rich mosaic of this intriguing and ever-evolving kingdom.
- by Julie Miller
Like Bali in the 1970s: This island on our doorstep remains unspoiled
Consistently rated one of the world’s top diving sites, and still unspoiled by mass tourism, Atauro has thankfully avoided becoming a resort destination.
- by Jon Faine