Small village on the West Coast 25 mins from Franz Josef. A great place to spend a few days relaxing- local walks along beautiful beaches; to viewpoints over the lagoon and the mountains inland; home to the brown kiwi and the white heron. Kayaking, boat tours, fishing also available. The Franz Josef glacier is an easy 25 minutes drive away.

It was beautifully sunny when we were there, while 15 mins inland there was torrential rain.

On the coast 25 mins from Franz Josef.

www.okarito.net/

Range of accommodation available, recommend this one with its outdoor fire bath.

www.holidayhomes.co.nz/new-zealand/south-island/west-coast/okarito/listing/6889.html

No public transport, and need to bring your own provisions.

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Rotorua's historic Maori village, including the Tamatekapua Meeting House (Marae) and St Faith's Church. Highly recommend the excellent tours- personal, informal and full of local details; the guides are clearly proud of what they are showing you.

On the lakefront in Rotorua.

www.ohinemutuvillage.com/

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Very welcoming B&B located right on the lakeside. Private, quiet with great views across Lake Rotorua from the deck, and a breakfast to match.

At Ngongotaha, 15 mins north of Rotorua.

www.shulaslakehouse.com/

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The best way to explore the Murray. Kayaking through the still billabongs and waterways of the Murray. Surrounded by ancient tree hollows that stick out of the water which teem with birdlife. The drone of Melbourne traffic is miles away and instead your journey is accompanied by the the chatter of the birds and the raucous laughter of Kookaburras.
Moontongue eco-tours will organise an adventure to suit your ability.
The surrounding Mallee district has lots to explore. The town of Mildura with a population of 25,000 is an ideal base to explore from. Activities include wine tasting, bush camping, bush walking, top-class restaurants, Aboriginal art, Aboriginal cultral experiences.

daily direct flights to Mildura from Adelaide and Melbourne.
Moontongue tours arrange the kayaking - ring Ian on 0427 898 317 to organise. A 2 hour kayak trip will cost $35 per person.

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With a name like Razzmatazz, you might expect a menu of '80's fare; maybe some avocado and a prawn cocktail? Well, the only thing this restaurant underneath the Cabana Beach Hotel inspires from the 80's, is a name Wham would be proud of. The food and the setting, unlike the former, are simply timeless.
The calamari is so tender, one's jaw barely works out and the seating on the deck looks straight beyond Umlhanga's busy seafront onto the serene Indian Ocean.
This may be the restaurant that you encountered in the '80's, smart waiters in ironed waistcoats, caraffs of red wine and blue gingham table cloths; but with its specialism in seafood and game, the menu is far from dated. Indeed the food is far more progressive, try the crocodile kebabs or the langoustines, steamed with lemongrass for a signature taste of South Africa.

10 Lagoon Drive
Cabana Beach Hotel
Umhlanga Rocks
4320
Take the M4 from Durban or the M12 from Pietermaritzburg and travel towards Umhlanga.
Take the Lighthouse Road turnoff and proceed into this road. Turn left into Lagoon Drive
and proceed to the Cabana Beach Hotel.

Google map: tinyurl.com/yaxf7x4

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Most people wanting a meal out in South Africa's winelands head to the tourist hotspots of Franschoek and Stellenbosch. But travel a little further down the N1, via the stunning Du Toitskloof Pass (worth a trip in its own right), and you will find this fantastic little place. The Bistro is upstairs, and spills out onto a balcony looking straight over the Slanghoek mountains and the vineyards on the valley floor. There is a wonderful sense of space, and of escaping the crowds on the Cape Town side of the mountains.

The food is wonderful (sandwiches etc or full meals, all beautifully prepared), the service always friendly and attentive, and the wines (by winemaker Ivy Du Toit) are a treat. (You can buy bottles at a fraction of the price of Franschoek vineyards). I can recommend the sparkling Rose!

This was our favourite place when we lived in and travelled around SA - for good food in peaceful, beautiful surroundings, you can't beat it.

Contact: 0027 82 265 4492
Email: bistro@jasonshill.co.za
www.jasonshill.co.za
P.O.BOX 14, RAWSONVILLE 6845 SOUTH AFRICA

Google map: tinyurl.com/ya29gn8

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From the shore of the large Lake Bolsena at Capodimonte hire a small motor boat and venture out onto the lake and to the scenic island of Bisentina. Dive overboard and swim in the crystal clear water and sun bathe on the deck. My kids (14 & 12) loved having a go at driving the boat.

www.lagodibolsena.org/

Google map: tinyurl.com/yf35sn3

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Set-price lunch of gourmet cheese, bread and salads by award winning cheesemaker, set in an elegant farmhouse with a lovely view of green. Everything in your meal is grown and made on the farm.

Off the N2 Highway across from Tsitsikamma Lodge
Calling ahead for reservations and directions is essential
+27 42 280 3879

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First constructed in 1866, the Vue Grand is a superb historic hotel in Queenscliff about 90 mins from Melbourne. With very good accommodation in modernised old rooms, the Vue Grand is the place to stay while looking over the sights of Queenscliff or visiting the Historical Museum or discovering the local area of Bellarine. The Vue Grand has a number of cafes and eating areas as well as bars but the highlight is the Grand Dining room.
Just a nice place to stay in provincial Victoria.

46 Hesse St
Queenscliff VIC 3225
phone 5258 1544
www.vuegrand.com.au/

Google map: tinyurl.com/yd6uhwj

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Monument Valley in the Four Corners area is great for hiking and just taking in the beauty of the west as it must have been! It was also the setting for more Western movies than any other location. You can watch some of the old westerns filmed here online. Start out with "John Ford's American West"

www.utah.com/monumentvalley/
www.westernmania.com

Google map: tinyurl.com/ybep5vv

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A spa hotel, secluded, rural mountain area above the Dead Sea, and still 400m below sea level, overlooking a spectacular hot springs. The perfect place to relax in peaceful and comfortable surroundings. We stayed four nights before Christmas and it was blue skies everyday with temperatures of 25C, perfect spring weather

Evason Ma'In Hot Springs & Six Senses Spa, PO Box 801 Madaba, 11117 Ma'In, Jordan (00 962 5 324 5500; www.sixsenses.com

Google map: tinyurl.com/yd7ybw5

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When I was in Paris for an exhibition recently I took a couple of American customers to this restaurant because it combines a famous landmark with French cuisine. I thought it would be an unforgettable experience for them and I was not disappointed.

It is on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower so at night the views are spectacular especially if you can get a table by the window. It is quite avant garde in the way it is designed with a sort of circular swirling purple light above which sounds strange but it is all done in the best possible taste. The lighting is quite subdued so that people can see the city and there are candles on the tables so the atmosphere is wonderful.

I am not easily impressed in restaurants becuase I do a lot of entertaining all over the world but I thought the food and the service here was excellent. We had the cheaper of the menus (not that any of them are exactly "cheap") but it was just great and as far as I was concerned it was certainly worth it.

You'll skip the queues at the bottom and go straight up to the first floor in a lift. If you are looking to do something in Paris for your partner or customers, you can't beat this.

www.restaurants-toureiffel.com/
Rue du Champ de Mars, 75007 Paris, France
+33(0)825566662
Google map: bit.ly/mm0Py1

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Limon is one of the most amazing and bohemian restaurants in Gumusluk and only about eight minutes walk from the harbour/beach. We booked a few days in advance to reserve our favourite antique sofa in the meadow, from where we sipped cocktails, nibbled on freshly-made stuffed marrow flowers and watched the last few rays of sun. Our food was brought over to the sofa and we stayed there all evening listening to live music and generally feeling at one with nature. It was a 10 minute stroll back to Villa Myndos, a little further on up the hill. Booking essential

www.limongumusluk.com
Yali Mevki no.1, Gumusluk, Bodrum, 48400

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There's a hidden little cafe, located on the riverfront which is frequented by the locals. The coffee is deliciously syrupy and the view of the river is a delight, along with the unusual company of the resident chickens wandering by the tables.

79 Nguyen Cong Tru, Hue

Google map: tinyurl.com/y8b39k6

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If you walking the Welsh Coastal Path or just holidaying near Cardigan, make sure that you visit Aberporth for its safe sandy beaches and hike north round the headland to the cove at Tresaith for a pint and lunch - the food is really excellent

www.shiptresaith.co.uk/index.htm
Tresaith, Cardigan, Dyfed, SA43 2JL
01239 811 816

Google map: tinyurl.com/ycynf2k

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When returning from Olot to Girona take the Teisa bus which goes via Amer as you really get a feel for the green and luscious beauty of the Garroxta region. As the coach passes through the villages bordering the natural park you can marvel at the volcanoes and the ruined castle perched far above Hostoles.

Google map: tinyurl.com/ychyzwy

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This park is at the top of the Volcà de Montascopa and is worth stopping in before climbing back down into Olot. It has a watchtower which children will love and magnificent views of the other major dormant volcanos surrounding Olot.

Top of the Volcà de Montascopa
www.turismeolot.com/en_86_i.htm

Google map: tinyurl.com/ylhmmbk

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This convent stands at the top of the Volcà de Montascopa and even though you can't go inside it it does offer spectacular views of Olot and on a good day the Pyrenees. The convent itself is a simple and rather plain building.

On top of the Volcà de Montascopa

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Es Castellar is a high headland dominating the Llança skyline and towering above the marina. From the top there are superb views of the coast going towards France and down towards Cap de Creus - Spain's easternmost point.

From Llança train station follow the road all way down to the marina and El Port beach. The path up to the top of Es Castellar is just off the marina.

Google map: tinyurl.com/yegg73p

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A fairy tale malga (hut for summer pastures) serving delicious rustic fare of fresh eggs and ham from the chickens and pigs who are lucky enough to live in this idyllic spot. There may even be a weekend barbeque if you are lucky. The stupendous peaks of the Croda Rossa tower immediately in front of you and on the slopes of the sheltered col, there is mountain golf, a tree swing and home built trebuchet. Weissbeer or elderflower cordials refresh and sustain you on a walk through a truly astonshing landscape.

Best accessed on the Northern Dolomites walk at the junction of Trails 28, 3 & 4. Alternatively accessed by bus from Brunico - Monguelo - Villabassa or Lago di Braies to the Hotel Ponticello then trails 18 & No.3. If you don't like steep ascents then getting the shuttle bus up to Prato Piazza might be an alternative.

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