WHERE I’D RATHER BE ...
SHORT HAUL
Staying overnight at the new Wildlife Retreat at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. Five sustainably-designed lodges have been built into native bush, with 62 rooms and suites overlooking the wildlife habitat and beyond to Sydney Harbour. taronga.org.au
EATING AND DRINKING: At Me-Gal restaurant, which is available exclusively for Wildlife Retreat guests. The menu is heavy on native and locally-sourced ingredients.
STAYING: In one of the Retreat’s Treetop Suites, which have panoramic harbour views and open-plan en suites so you can even see the city from your bathtub. Rates start from $851 for two adults, including dinner, breakfast, zoo admission and exclusive animal experiences. Money raised goes towards the not-for-profit Taronga Conservation Society Australia.
MID HAUL
At the Six Senses Con Dao, an eco-resort on Con Son Island, just 45-minutes’ flight from Ho Chi Minh City. The buildings are constructed from reclaimed teak including more than 1000 recycled antique wooden panels. Sustainable initiatives include using only non-toxic biodegradable cleaning products, and a ban on singleuse plastic bottles. sixsenses.com/en/resorts/con-dao
EATING: At the resort’s Vietnamese By the Market restaurant, where Chef No cooks traditional local dishes and daily specials.
DRINKING: At the Elephant Bar, where the best seats in the house are the leather swings at the bar itself.
STAYING: In an Ocean Front Deluxe Pool Villa, which has direct beach access, a private pool and its own terrace.
LONG HAUL
At Ecuador’s Jicaro Island Ecolodge, a National Geographic Unique Lodge, which was built using timber downed by 2007’s Hurricane Felix. The luxury nature resort is on a private island across the lake from Granada, and has only nine luxury “casitas” or suites. jicarolodge.com
EATING: Locally-sourced, globally inspired food, at the lakeside restaurant with an open kitchen. All meals are included in the cost and vegans, vegetarians and special dietary requirements are well catered for.
DRINKING: Fresh fruit juice after a massage at the resort’s wellness centre. Treatment rooms are open-air with views across Lake Nicaragua.
STAYING: In a two-storey casita, made from Rainforest Alliance-certified wood. Guests can request late-afternoon sundowners to be delivered direct to their rooms. Bliss.