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Over a hundred islands, sunny weather (the locals call it 'The Winterless North'), and a generally relaxed disposition make the Bay of Islands a perfect place to visit.
Reliable winds, safe anchorages, and stunning viewpoints mean that any sailing trip is going to be amazing. There's quite a few old seadogs living in their boats in the Bay, taking people out for a day or a few days - the best way to see the islands.
Melanie Geenty has created an idyllic haven that offers a fantastic taste of French life combined with fantastically expert pilates teaching. She is the most amazing hostess and pilates teacher.
Accommodation is in a beautifully restored French farmhouse that exudes tranquillity and relaxation. The meals are delicious and superbly prepared using local produce. This is a great opportunity to relax, re-energise and unwind. I can't wait to return!
Les Tilleuls
La Roque Haute
24550 Camagnac les Quercy
Dordogne
+33(0) 553 31 97 22
melanie@pilates-en-france.com
www.pilates-en-france
nearest airport is Bergerac or Toulouse
nearest rail station is Gourdon
I never would have believed it, so had to try. Bangkok has some crazy fishing. I went with a UK tour operator and in just five days had four fish over the 100lb mark. The fishing combined with the brilliant food, weather and nightlife. Not to be missed!
In the west of Ireland, a new Irish company whose directors have many years experience in running activity and adventure centres, has launched its series of residential summer camps in Counties Mayo, Westmeath and Cork that will finally give Irish children and teenagers a taste the sorts of camps that their English and American counterparts have enjoyed for over 20 years. Horizon Summer Camps have rolled out a range of residential summer camps for children aged eight to seventeen years of age at Westport and also at their Wilson's Centre in Multyfarnham in Westmeath near Dublin.
For parents, the attraction is that Horizon look after their children 24/7 from once they are picked up at the special pick-up points around the country - parents don't have to worry at all.
Horizon camps include multi-activity holidays where children can throw themselves into a wide range of activities such as kayaking, climbing, dragon-boating, horse-riding, quad-biking, and many other activities.
Or, if they wish, they can concentrate on a specialist camp such as the multi-media programme, or horse-riding for the week. Many teenagers opt for the "surf camp", for example, because the coastline adjacent to Westport offers some of the best surfing in Europe.
Horizon Summer Camps Ireland
River View, North Mall, County Mayo
Ireland
tel: +353 98 50290
email: summer@horizonireland.com
web: www.horizonireland.com
Curacao, a dutch colony in the Caribbean. It has so much to offer, unlike other islands, on Curacao you can spend over two weeks and you will still have lots of activities to do.
Here are some of the activities to do and things the island has to offer: hiking, mountain biking, sailing, scuba diving, museums, historical sites, gambling (casinos), natural parks, botanic gardens, snorkeling, beach parties, nightlife, very good restaurants with excellent food, beaches, hidden beaches, renting a buggy, helicopter sightseeing, colonial buildings, colonial plantation houses, cultural and historical centre, historical floating bridge, island trip to Klein Curacao, fishing trips, jetski renting, shoping, dancing, windsurfing, etc.
I can't believe I actually went through with this but now that it's over with, I feel like I've accomplished something great. Yes, I did go hang gliding in Rio, and yes, it should be on your list of things to do (if you're into adrenaline pumping through your bloodstream, anyway).
At first I was a bit apprehensive, but as you're flying high through the sky overlooking the coastline, it becomes very apparent why this is an activity that is sought by many tourists from all over the world. Plus, its easy to schedule and the price is affordable.
Many activities in Iceland can only be done via coach trip from Reykjavik; if you go to the places where they occur you won't always be able to do them; the only exceptions are the popular places and/or popular things like horse riding.
Go to Tourist Information; there are several official/unofficial ones in "downtown" Reykjavik.
Here in Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan, the sporting obsession is archery. Teams face each other over 100m apart and aim at a target no more than 35cm across. They are surrounded by the opposition archers who heckle and dance, shouting insults as the steel tipped arrows fly in, and leap out of the way as the arrows thud into target or ground.
A series of near misses is celebrated with a dance, and the chance to shoot back at the opposition target, again shrouded in archers. As a spectator it takes time before you can even see the arrows approach, let alone have the eagle eye and agility to leap to safety.
Elsewhere, in isolated monasteries in the hills, young monks improvise the same game with hefty steel tipped wooden darts, likewise defending the target with dancing and heckling.
In Thimpu the archery ground is below the town by the river, and competitions are on most days.
Not far from Kufstein (about 16m) Kitzbuhel is not only famous as a ski resort of Austria, but also for the après-ski activities. Bars, clubs, discos, pubs. For good Austrian wine try Jimmy's bar in Vorderstadt street 31.
I'd just like to point out that you can't really relax in a hammock with cocktail on the southern NZ beaches. They are better suited to sport, BBQ, beachcombing or watching animals. Even in summer you should have windproof clothing to hand, and it is also essential to protect yourself from the high UV levels with long sleeves, hat, suncream etc.
An Olympic-standard bobsleigh track which visitors to Latvia can try out.
This adrenaline rushfest is also available during the summer months care of the new summer bobsleigh.
Riga
www.out-there.eu/en/Riga/show/event/18/Summer+Bobsleigh+Run
What is it? Three guys (Matt, Simon & Jack), who provide an absolutely cracking time edging along boulders and cliffs over the sea, swimming through sea caves, then jumping off ledges and cliffs into the Atlantic.
Great fun, well instructed, good value for money and superb scenery.
Polzeath beach, Cornwall. www.cornishrocktors.com/
A stunning group of coral islands 60 miles off Key West, only accessible by boat or seaplane.
The name comes from “tortugas”, referring to the then abundance of nesting sea turtles on the islands, with the word “Dry” added later to indicate to sailors that there was no water here.
The main island is home to the amazing brick construction of Fort Jefferson, built to protect young America’s shipping routes from the Spanish and then the English. It was later used as a prison for civil war deserters.
The islands have been called “the Galapagos of north America” because of the diversity of wildlife. While snorkeling – in perfectly clear water - you can see sharks, rays, hundreds of types of tropical fish and spectacular coral formations. Many rare birds, including masked boobies, sooty terns and frigate birds, only nest on or visit these islands.
Turtles lay their eggs here too, and you can occasionally see them popping their heads up above the surface.
There are two boat services and a seaplane to choose from.
We went on the Yankee Freedom ferry, which costs $139 per person, and includes breakfast, lunch, cold drinks and all snorkelling gear.
You can also camp on the island.
Yankee Freedom ferries: www.yankeefreedom.com/
Dry Tortugas
www.nps.gov/drto/
The original and oldest Everglades airboat tour is one of the first stops along the Tamiami trail – the road from Miami across to Naples and the Gulf of Mexico coast.
The exhilarating ride lasts for about 40 minutes and goes out through the waterways, which are actually made up of one big grass river.
The driver slows down to point out birds, many alligators and will give you some local natural history.
US 41, 11 miles west of the Florida Turnpike
www.coopertownairboats.com/
A great three-hour trip into the 10,000 Island section of the Everglades, which is made up of islands and inlets of mangroves.
You’re transported on a larger boat right out to the edge of the park where the Everglades meet the Gulf of Mexico, then dismount into kayaks in groups of about eight.
The guide, friendly and knowledgeable Captain Charles, leads you up small creeks, through mangrove areas and stops for a while on a sandy beach on one of the island.
Spring and autumn are said to be the best times to go because of the migrating birds and water levels - which encourage more wildlife - but even in summer we saw brown pelicans, egrets and herons, rosette spoonbills, ospreys, terns and dolphins.
The tours leave from Everglades City and cost $115 per person. The boat drops you off right outside the Seafood Café, where you can get a great lunch of fresh fish and crab.
Everglades Area Tours
P.O. Box 670 ~ Everglades City, Florida 34139
Phone: 239-695-9107
Email: captwright@evergladesareatours.com
www.evergladesareatours.com/kayak_tours.htm
A local guy that will come and pick you and your mates up from London (you can take your own bike) and then take you for a weekend of mountain biking on Dartmoor.
The accommodation provided was good enough but the home cooking is marvellous! He is a very enthusiastic guide - we probably wouldn't have seen half of what we did on Dartmoor had we just pottered around struggling to read maps or following some other prescribed routes.
He drives you back as well - thank God!
Roskilde was once the capital of Denmark, and the beautiful cathedral there (a World Heritage site) contains 38 royal tombs, including that of Harald Bluetooth.
The fjord is a short walk down the hill and has an extensive museum and boatbuilding yard where traditional Viking longships are made and sailed before your very eyes.
When I visited the place it was swarming with tiny children all done up in lifejackets enthusiastically climbing aboard these craft and setting sail, under expert supervision. The Vikings are evidently still keen.
Roskilde town, a short train ride from Copenhagen central station. Then walk to the cathedral and fjord.
A great working ranch so you can get a true hands on feel for the real life of the cowboy.
As a first time rider this was still a great experience - not something we would have considered at first but Ranch Rider spelled out the options that were best suited to us. We wanted a more authentic experience - this really is a true working ranch, the owners raise black angus beef cattle here. It's got a really personal feel to the ranch too as they take only six people at any one time. Catching a local rodeo is a real must!
The ranch is also close to several of the famed attractions - again must sees - including Custer State Park.
www.ranchrider.com
01509 618 811
It's a community ecotourism project off the beaten track. You can going trekking, rafting, horseriding, and other activities too, and it's more interesting than a place like mindo as it feels more like Ecuador!
www.piedrablanca.org
Near San Luis de Pambil
Bolivar Province
It is a mixture of abseiling, swimming, jumping, climbing out in the wilderness.
Next to the Red Cow on the high street.
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