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Twinkling blue seas, white sails, faraway views, beaches, birds and blossoms! And yes, some palm trees. A stone's throw from good rail and road links, by car or bus, yet Hayling's few miles offer peace and beauty.
Stop at the bridge for two good pubs, the Ship and the Royal Oak, then cross to the island, carry straight on for about five miles to reach the seafront. Or turn left at the bridge for leafy country lanes, and pretty Northney with its ancient church, or West Lane (by the bends) for fields and trees.
The Billy Trail (once a rail track) overlooking Langstone Harbour and distant Portsmouth, can be walked or cycled. The uncrowded western shore, past the wind and kite surfers, offers views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight and a pub and ferry to Southsea. At the eastern end, there's the entrance to Chichester Harbour (AONB) looking across to West Wittering and the South Downs, with sailing clubs, marina, RNLI station and Marina Jaks' restaurant. There are boats everywhere, and seaside delights - holiday camps, beach huts, funfair, ice-cream, a train ride across the common, pubs, fish and chips. Plus, regular sailing events, scarecrow competion (Aug), and artists' trail (May). The weather's often surprisingly benign, and the locals, on perpetual holiday, are friendly!
Hayling Island is next to Portsmouth, in Hampshire. Frequent trains from London and along the south coast to Havant station, very near bus station. Just off A27, linking to M27 & A3(M) Plenty of car parks, but car park charges. www.hayling.co.uk/
Google map: bit.ly/9XaxGT
Sailing around the Whitsunday islands for two days and two nights on board a luxury catamaran.
With a maximum of 10 passengers, the small group meant we had the freedom to try all of the activities. These included windsurfing, stand-up paddle boarding and a clear kayak.
The crew were amazing, providing watersports tuition, fantastic food and interesting information about the region.
We enjoyed a full morning at Whitehaven beach and snorkelled at numerous reefs. On Ice avoids the crowds to get the best experience and the crew cater for all abilities - they even have an air raft for non-swimmers.
Sailing into the sunset, we moored in sheltered bays and marvelled at the stars and milky way.
www.whitsunday-sailing.com
1300 414 419 from within Australia
Destination Whitsundays office, Airlie Beach
This truly is the greatest ferry ever, The mixture of brilliant views and perfect length make this a beautiful journey, in fact one I would do simply for the ride. Starting off in central Vancouver you can take a bus too Horseshoe Bay, a beautiful cove or to Tsawwassen which ferries also go from. From Horseshoe Bay you the views you get are amazing, the contrast and sudden change from city to rural beauty is exquisite. While on Vancouver Island I would recommend exploring the Pacific Rim, a wonderful walking area and surfing beaches. Such a wonderful place.
While there you could WWOOF, which is a voluntarily work scheme in which you work for food and accommodation, usually five hours a day. A brilliant way to meet the locals and save money.
www.bcferries.com/schedules/mainland/
www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/lg/visit/index_e.asp
www.wwoof.ca/
There is no better way to see Croatian coast than sailing. Late spring and early summer is a great time as you get the unspoiled coast with all the summer features such as
warm temperature of the sea and nice weather but without all the summer crowds and season pricing.
I have recently had a great gastronomic cruise there, and without any hesitation I warmly advise you to check www.tajnamora.hr for the friendliest and comfiest gastro cruise around Adriatic!
www.tajnamora.hr
The small islands stretching from Grenada north towards St. Vincent are a must to visit. Some are inhabited, others not, but all are picture book like: with white beaches and turquoise sea.
The best way to get there is with a three-day or one-week cruise on a private yacht. The sailing yachts are operated by the owner couple who handles the boats, prepares the meals and looks after you. It is like sailing with friends.
Every day you sail two or three hours and then drop the anchor in another paradise like bay. This gives you enough time to swim, snorkel and explore the islands. An unforgettable experience…
www.caribbean-sun.com/Yacht/Yachr_cruise_grenada-Grenadines09.htm
A brilliant sailing cruise in Santorini. It makes you feel Greek! I found the price to be cheaper than other cruises on the island.
We payed euro 700.00 for a group of nine people and that included transfers from and to the hotel. We also had pre-arranged what we would like to eat as some of us are vegetarian.
The boat is a beautiful wooden Greek sailboat with plenty of space to relax, enough shaded areas (especially for me that likes the sun but not all day) and the meals are traditional Greek.
I booked via email with them for me and a small group of friends for a half day trip and ended up booking them twice more while in Santorini.
I would recommend this particular boat for small groups or family's that just want to feel the real thing.
If you're a member of a club back in London, check to see if it has a reciprocal with the Royal Bombay Yacht Club - if not, try blagging! Food and bar is very cheap - really nice views of the bay and it's got a 'last days of the Raj' feel to it.
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.
Forget harbour cruises and the ferry to Lamma, hop in a cab to Sai Kung, HK's seaside getaway. Enjoy seafood on the waterfront or ideally hire a sedate sanpan/racy speedboat to ferry you out along the bay, past the country park (HK isn't all urban jungle!) to the beautiful islands off the east coast. Sail back at sunset, so romantic !
Sai Kung. Hong Kong New Territories. East coast. If you don't want to take a taxi, nearest MTR is Hang Hau/Choi Hung plus bus 101/1a) wander along Sai Kung waterfront and the sanpan hawkers will find you!
If you are in a wheelchair, book your trip to the reef on a flat decked catamaran! The ride out is quite smooth and easy for the disabled and if you can't snorkel, the staff may be able to help you into a semi-submersible to view all the wonderful life on the reef. They helped me do it!
Also, the train to the Kuranda rainforest is completely wheelchair friendly, as is the cable car, if you want to try that on the way back!
Cairns travel info, hotels, hostels, or tourist info kiosks.
www.bluechairbook.com
North America's Disabled Adventurer.
Google map: tinyurl.com/l96ynr
Firstly I would recommend to any family with children over eight, a trip to the Norfolk broads. A five-day trip is the perfect opportunity to bond as a family, and being on your own boat gives you the opportunity to stop wherever you like.
While in the area trip to Ranworth's Nature Trail is definetly recommended. It is not only beautiful walk, but there is a very interesting information centre which is floating on the broad. Also an area for birdwatching with binoculars. The swallowtail butterfly is particularly beautiful and the children love them.
01603 270479
Captain Shallo and Sail Kenya run sailing safaris along the Lamu archipelago. Captain Shallo also runs sailing safaris from Kalifi between Mombasa and Malindi.
I went on the four-day Lamu sailing safari last September and would truly say it was one of my best ever holidays. Captain Shallo and the crew really make sure you have a great time - swimming in clear, warm, blue water, walking along the most powdery of white sands, visiting tiny villages along the north-eastern coast and eating great super-fresh food.
It's not a luxury comfort holiday, but a bit of an adventure combined with a lot of pleasure.
Whether you have sailing experience and do this yourself, or have someone sail for you, this is the best way to experience this part of the Dalmatian coast. You can find secluded bays or pull up in towns like Hvar that are bustling playgounds of the rich and famous and their huge gin palaces.
The Circle Line is wonderful for a tour around Manhattan Island. It should not be missed. But much more exciting was our cruise on the Schooner Adirondack. There are some four sailings a day and we chose the sunset one.
You board at Chelsea Piers (on the Hudson near West 23rd). The two-hour cruise goes to the Statue of Liberty and returns, with champagne served by the crew.
The sunset cruise is particularly beautiful because you see the sunset to the west over New Jersey and to the east looms the skyline of lower Manhattan which is lit up brilliantly by the time you turn around and head back.
Unfortunately the cruise only runs from the end of April through the end of October. Cost is around $50, champagne included. We will never forget it!
The old town is a beautiful reminder of the 2000 year history of Lagos. Although most of it was destroyed in the tsunami and earthquake of 1755, there are still old buildings from the 16th century and the governor's castle.
There is a marina for boats from all over the world, dolphin watching by experts, coastal cave exploring in small boats with guides, and some of the best golf courses in Portugal nearby.
Shopping is a delight, with leather goods on every street corner and craft stalls, manned by the friendliest people anywhere.
In the museum you will find artefacts from the 18th century, old weapons and gears from old shipwrecks and historical displays of the harbour's history.
The Clock House Pier Yard Rmasgate Kent
This trip was the highlight of my year travelling around NZ. There are lots of boat companies in the Bay of Islands; I would recommend ignoring the glossy corporate operators and going on this owner-operated trip.
We saw dolphins, hammerhead sharks and visited remote islands off the tourist trail. The skipper truly makes the trip - a true sea captain with tales from afar!
If you just go on one trip in NZ I would recommend the Gungha II.
GUNGHA NEW ZEALAND CRUISES
RD 1, Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Ph +64 9 407 7930 Fax +64 9 407 9794 Mobile +64 25 760 670
E-mail BayOfIslandsSailing@xtra.co.nz
For NZ$130ish you can help sail one of two former America's Cup yachts around Auckland Harbour for a couple of hours with SailNZ.
It is well worth the money, particularly if there is a decent breeze which will show you the kind of speeds the boats are capable of and give you a taste of the thrill of America's Cup racing. You can help work the grinders and even take the helm.
It's also a good way of seeing the harbour and getting a water-side view of the city. More than anything, I found this a rare highlight in an otherwise dull and disappointing city.
SailNZ (www.sailnz.co.nz)
Arriving over the rim of the old volcano from Christchurch, the beautiful town of Akaroa is seen hugging the bay of the inlet.
The French feel of the town is evident in the street names. This is a great place to use as a base for boat trips, walking on the Banks peninsula or enjoying a relaxing time sitting and looking around at the fantastic views all around.
Plenty of places to eat and stay at a reasonable cost to suit all types of tourist.
South of Christchurch on South Island.
While I was recently visiting Croatia on a property buying excursion, I headed out to the island of Hvar for a few days to relax and forget about things for a while. Whilst wandering around the old square, I came across a sign for a company offering adventure tours. I opted for one of their slightly less adventurous options, a sailing trip to the isalnd of Vis. I have to say, I had an absolutely fabulous day - the crew were so friendly, Vis was amazing, and I even had a go at steering the boat! So, if you're on Hvar and fancy something a bit different, be sure to look them up!
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