Europe

Heavyweight that squares up confidently to any other continent on earth. From its Northern Lights to its Southern shores, this drama queen keeps on thrilling, surprising and confusing with her extraordinary wealth of sights, sounds, peoples and parties. Whatever your connection to Europe – whether descendent of one or more of its peoples, a current inhabitant or future visitor – be prepared for sensory overload as your eyes, ears and taste buds take the trip of a lifetime through a part of planet earth that never fails to dazzle.

Of course, for many Europe is all about history, and oh, what a history! Even buffs will be astonished to find the layer cake of ancient and modern that Europe presents visitors with at every turn. As well as the birthplace of democracy in Athens, the Forum of Rome, the renaissance buildings and art of Florence, the graceful canals of Venice and the Napoleonic grandeur of Paris, there’s always the less expected sites such as the Moorish palaces of Andalucía, the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the World in Turkey, the majesty of a second Venice in St Petersburg and the haunting buildings of Auschwitz in Poland.

While Europe revels and takes pride in its extraordinary heritage, it is certainly not one to be limited by it. Indeed, the continent leads the world in fashion, art, music, architecture and design; just see the street styles and music scenes of London and Berlin, the ground-breaking design in Antwerp, Copenhagen and Stockholm or the amazing displays of contemporary art, well, just about everywhere, to confirm that.

Europe today is a continent more united than ever, with the European Union (EU) stretching from the frozen Arctic to the tip of Africa, and a single currency now used in the majority of European states. But don’t let these facts fool you – with centuries of parochial development bringing about unique cultural values and traditions, the globalising sheen of the EU has little day-to-day effect on the continent’s myriad nationalities, all of whom retain their idiosyncrasies and fiercely guard their independence. Indeed, there are few places in the world where you can pass through so many countries in such a short span of time and witness the striking differences between each one so markedly. Beyond the EU, this is even more noticeable of course, whether in old-timer refusenik Switzerland, for whom neutrality remains sacrosanct, or the pariah state of Belarus – ‘Europe’s last dictatorship’ and a place where time has seemingly stood still since the end of communism.

Wherever you go on the continent you’ll find that the subject of the EU comes up again and again – whether from the arch-federalist Benelux countries that passionately support the growth of the union, to your more cautious Brits, Danes and Swedes who, while in the club, still can’t bear to give up their centuries-old currencies and hand over economic decisions to Brussels.

So don’t delay – get planning your own European odyssey as soon as you can. With more than 45 extraordinary destinations offering incredible things to see and do, your only problem should be where to start…

Asia

Asia sticks to you. The joss sticks lit for the household shrines in Thailand impart a sweet perfume to the thick air. The heavenly aroma of Indian spices follows you for days.

This is a spiritual place infused with the gods of past and present: the ancient spirits of the land and the family, the deities of Buddhism and Hinduism and the rules of Islam. Architectural wonders and sacred spaces abound from the Great Wall of China and the temples of Angkor to lesser known marvels in Myanmar, Nepal and Afghanistan.

From sublime coastlines to snow capped mountains, rolling landscapes fed by the monsoon rains and frenetic cities fizzling with energy, Asia’s landscapes are mind-boggling diverse. As are their highlights from trekking Malaysia’s steamy jungles and wildlife spotting in southern India to riding horses through the Mongolian steppes, skiing Japan’s Alps and dodging falling coconuts on of the continents many remote islands. Then there’s the food. Tuck into fiery Indian curries, get adventurous with a local dish from a road side stall and gulp down a hearty bowl of Japanese ramen. With its colours, smells, flavours and personalities, you’ll find Asia is deliciously rewarding.

Africa

Africa’s natural history alone would make a dozen visits worthwhile – where else on earth can you fall asleep to the sound of lions roaring, or watch a million flamingos take off from the waters of a remote soda lake? Parts of Africa boast scenery so spectacular they’ll damn near blow your mind, but the essence of this incredible continent isn’t in any desert, mountain or lake. It’s the spirit of the people – pushing, shoving, sweating, dancing, singing and laughing – that infects so many visitors with a travel bug so powerful they’ll never stop coming back, sometimes against all sense or reason. Debate with venerable merchants among the cool, narrow streets of an Arabic medina, dance to the thumping reggae beats coming from a West African market stall, or shoot the breeze with fishermen under Indian Ocean palm trees, and you’ll be struck more than anything else by the honesty, warm-heartedness and vitality of the African people.

Africa’s not always an easy place to travel in. It can be frustrating and challenging at times. Hardships and logistical disasters can happen. But don’t believe everything you see on TV: Africa’s not a hell hole full of civil war, plague, famine and violent crime. It’s a fantastic, enlightening, surprising and intriguing continent. Try it once, and we guarantee you’ll dream about coming back for the rest of your life.

Middle East

The Middle East is home to some of the world's most significant cities - Jerusalem, Cairo, Damascus, Baghdad and İstanbul. The ruins of the once similarly epic cities of history - Petra, Persepolis, Ephesus, Palmyra, Baalbek, Leptis Magna and the bounty of ancient Egypt - also mark the passage of centuries in a region where the ancient world lives and breathes.The landscapes of the region are equally spellbinding, from the unrivalled seas of sand dunes and palm-fringed lakes in Libya's Sahara desert to the stunning mountains of the north and the underwater world of the Red Sea.Above all else, however, your most enduring memory of the Middle East is likely to be its people. Their gracious welcome, many kindnesses and boundless hospitality speak of an altogether more civilised age. From the gravitas of the Sahara to the blue tiles of Esfahan, this is a region for discerning travellers, for those looking for the story behind the headline, and where the bridges between ancient and modern civilisations are everywhere evident. If you believe what the media tells you and decide not to visit, you'd be missing out on the journey of a lifetime.The Murray River is extremely important. It runs through the Australian Alps and joins the sea at Lake Alexandrina. Due to lack of rainfall the river water is often piped long distances to a number of communities. In total, 90% of the states population depend on the water for general living.

The Middle East is quite simply extraordinary, one of the world's most fascinating and rewarding travel destinations. It was here that some of the most significant civilisations of antiquity rose and fell and where the three great monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - were born. Left behind is an astonishing open-air museum of ancient cities and historic buildings, the stones of which still resonate with the sounds.

North America

Follow the heartbeat of North America through towering forests, undulating fields, high-plain deserts, pulsating metropolises and offbeat oases. Whether you plan to dive headlong into the exhilarating whirlwind of New York City, or schuss down the slopes of the Great White North, this is a continent whose boundless menu of activities and sights allow you to calibrate your itinerary to whatever level of adventure you choose. Venture on a Canadian wilderness trek, buckle up for the legendary road trip along Route 66 or explore ancient rites at mysterious Maya and Aztec ruins in Mexico. Whatever your travel dreams, North America offers a kaleidoscope of cultures, cuisines, landscapes, history and adventures.

South America

Real travelers love South America. It’s as though the continent was built for travel; a place that excites, thrills, challenges and infuriates. Advertisement Sweat yourself dizzy on an Amazon canoe ride before ending the day caiman-watching on a black-water lagoon. Brave a white-knuckle bus ride down Peruvian slopes and be astounded by endless Andean vistas. Endure Patagonia’s wind-driven rain while chasing life-affirming sunsets or simply lose yourself (and possibly your belongings) in the break-neck chaos of Buenos Aires or Salvador.

The real reward, however, is the South American spirit. It seems like the entire continent approaches life with the enthusiasm of an old-fashioned road trip: the windows down and the stereo blaring. There is as much music as there are adventures to be had. Samba spices up the sandy streets of Brazilian beach towns, panpipes liven Andean markets, Argentine folklórica (folk music) trickles out of truck radios in the pampas, and the jolting rhythm of cumbia makes those Andean bus rides even more absurd. South America is a continent that engulfs you and changes you – your state of mind, your outlook on life. As soon as you step foot on South American soil, the transformation begins.

Irland

If the regular polls of departing travellers are to be believed, it's Ireland's timeless traditional side that continues to hold the key to the country’s draw as a tourist destination. At the heart of it all is the often breath¬taking scenery, still gorgeous enough to make your jaw drop despite the best efforts of developers to scar some of the most beautiful bits with round¬abouts, brutal suburbs and summer bungalows. From the lonely, wind-lashed wilderness of the Beara Peninsula to the awe-inspiring landscapes of County Derry, Ireland is one of the world’s most beautiful countries, and worth every effort you make to explore it. The sometimes overwhelming popularity of the scenic superstars like Connemara and Killarney National Park has seen the emergence of quieter idylls as the preferred destination of the discerning traveller, who has discovered the beauty of the lakes of County Roscommon, the villages of County Waterford and the rarely visited County Westmeath. Here you can come into contact with a more genuine Ireland, the kind removed from the slick machinery of the tourist trail. Of course, this does not mean you should miss Dublin: the pulsating capital has a soul and sociability unrivalled by any other European city.

Australia & New Zeeland

Sure it's got deadly spiders, snakes and sharks, but they don't stop people from coming here, never mind living here. And for good reason. From the prehistoric gorges of Kakadu National Park, to the white sails of the Sydney Opera House, Australia is a country as big your imagination. Kick back on a beach as white as your mother's wedding dress in Western Australia; lose yourself in the labyrinthine laneways of culture-rich Melbourne or be humbled by red desert sunsets over Uluru. Turn south to visit hundred year old giants that loom large in the forests of Tasmania or take on Sydney, a heady mix of surf, sun, money and sex, and you'll soon realise Australia is a place to be discovered, not feared.

South Australia

South Australia, with it's huge semi-desert areas in the far Outback, is the driest out of all of the states and also the most urbanised.

Adelaide, the capital, has been called 'the city of churches' and is home to 80% of the regions population of roughly 1.47 million, living in 984,277 sq km. Although the churches are still in Adelaide, times are different now. The main spirit of the city is demonstrated through Adelaide's Festival of Arts. It has a liberal attitude and Maslin Beach was the first nudist beach. The state is well-known for it's wineries. The main wine growing region is in the Barossa Valley, although other valleys include Clare, Coonawarra and McLaren. It also hosts fantastic scenery and bushwalking in the Flinders Ranges, as well as wonderful landscape in the Adelaide Hills. It is possible to watch whales at the Head of Bight along the Great Australian Bight. The wild coast offers plenty for the tourist, as well as the relaxing Kangaroo Island.

New Zealand

There’s a reason the sun shines on New Zealand before anywhere else – every new day in Aotearoa is something to cherish! Small, remote and thinly populated, yes, but NZ punches well above its weight with its outlandish scenery, fabulous festivals, superb food and wine, and magical outdoor experiences. Equally impressive is NZ’s potent, mainstream Maori culture. This is a country that recognises and celebrates its indigenous people – the world is a kinder, gentler, more respectful place down here! And while the fanfare surrounding the Lord of the Rings trilogy is waning, visiting the real-life Middle-earth still has a geeky allure - LOTR director Peter Jackson's filmmaking prowess still holds Wellington (aka ‘Wellywood’) in its thrall.