Destinations

The international spa scene is booming so lie back, relax, and let your cares float away ... The only thing to concern yourself with is which of the world’s 10 best retreats – from Bali to the Baltic Coast – to visit first.

Underwater spa? Check. Personal butler? Check. Azure vistas, fine dining and absolute privacy? Check. Welcome to Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives. Is this the world’s most exclusive resort?

Beckoning visitors away from the beaches, Kerala’s backwaters unfurl like a scroll revealing an impossibly lush landscape and rich cultural make-up.

Want to avoid the tourist traps and eat like a Fiorentino? We asked Sydney restaurateur Giovanni ‘Johnny’ Paradiso for the inside scoop on where to find the best gelati, panini, aperitivi... Bellissimo!

Bamurru Plains, in the Northern Territory’s Mary River wetlands, is offering a luxury wildlife experience like no other. Just be sure to watch out for the crocs. And the bush pigs, brumbies, buffalo...

From rugged mountainside retreats to cosy country cottages, take a mid-winter break with our favourite weekend escapes.

Forget what you know about capital cities. This New Zealand hub is gaining a reputation as a city of great style, and great fun. Plus, it’s only four hours away. Go on, ‘jump the ditch’ as the locals say.

Head to the heel of the boot and succumb to Puglia’s simple charms, from its dream-like landscape and rustic cuisine to rolling olive groves and distinctive conical trulli.

From its landscape shaped by desert and river, to its rich cultural mix and gourmet appeal, Mildura in far north-west Victoria is a place of contrasts.

They're Italy's best-kept secret. Eight tiny islands scattered off the north-east coast of Sicily; the Aeolians. From party-central Panarea to the therapeutic charms of Vulcano's steaming mud pools.