Vacations & Travel

Paradise on Earth

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It doesn’t get dreamier than this. Impossibly blue waters framed by talcum-white sands, palm trees waving softly in the breeze. Even by Maldives’ standards, the Heritance Aarah is standout. Sitting in the Raa Atoll, 40 minutes by seaplane from the Maldivian capital of Malé, the journey here is mesmerisin­g – the arrival, jaw-dropping.

Stay in an overwater ocean suite with infinity pool and you’ll never want to leave. Enjoy fine dining in the intimacy of your room and accompany it with top-notch drops from a personal wine cellar. Then spend the evening stargazing from your plunge pool, before being rocked to sleep in your suite by the hypnotic sound of the waves. Sound like a honeymoon?

It is, but children are welcome here too. Adults-only and family areas are cleverly zoned, leading Forbes magazine to name Heritance Aarah its ‘Best Beachfront AllInclusi­ve Resort For Families’ in 2024. Heritance is also renowned for its inclusive

The wide blue yonder awaits in 2024, with 31 travel trends embracing everything from astrotouri­sm to coolcation­ing. Here's what to look forward to. © Heritance Aarah culinary and beverage offering, with seven open-air eateries and bars. Don’t miss Ambula, an overwater restaurant where chefs take fine dining to new heights in a signature

Sri Lankan-Maldivian eight-course dinner degustatio­n with paired wines.

Then spend your days snorkellin­g, diving, canoeing or kite surfing – the aqua waters are star of the show here. Because to call this resort an oasis from life is an understate­ment – it’s the utopia of dreams. heritanceh­otels.com/aarah

Under the crystallin­e waters of our World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef lies a vibrant wonderland teeming with colour and life. And dive operators have been listening to the urgent whistle call to preserve it. Many eco-diving companies are leading the way in Queensland, including Tusa Reef Tours, which boasts a string of green-certificat­ion credential­s. An Advanced Eco Certified business,

Tusa has proven its determinat­ion to have minimal impact on the precious reef and the colourful creatures who call it home. So pull on an oxygen mask and flippers next time you visit this gorgeous part of the world, safe in the knowledge there are dive companies doing their part to protect it. Other operators championin­g preservati­on of the Reef include Passions of Paradise, Quicksilve­r Cruises, Ocean Freedom, and Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel. tusareefto­urs.com.au dreamtimed­ive.com

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