ULTIMATE bucket list

TRAVEL IS ONE OF LIFE’S GREATEST PLEASURES. THE WEEKLY NAMES 20 SPECTACULAR DESTINATIONS TO VISIT IN PERSON (OR JUST DREAM ABOUT)

PARIS

Paris is the number-two tourist destination in the world, according to the annual Global Destination Cities Index, compiled by a credit card giant. In 2018, the French city hosted 19.1 million overnight visitors, second only to Bangkok, with 22.78 million ( One Night in Bangkok, anyone?) With Paris’ famous Haussmanndesigned boulevards, boutiques and iconic landmarks – the Eiffel Tower, the

Arc de Triomphe and the fire-damaged Notre-Dame – it’s a très chic place to visit.

LONDON

The UK capital is a splendid place to visit and enjoy the pageantry, whether you’re an avid royal watcher or not. For a free activity, see the daily Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace. The city also has the most amazing parks, museums and galleries, and world-famous shopping. So much of it will seem familiar, even if you have never been before.

NEW YORK

Known as the city that never sleeps and the Big Apple, New York has appeared in countless movies and been the subject of numerous songs. Its rich history of immigration has made it one of the most fascinating cities on Earth. You can fly there directly with our national carrier from October 29.

TAJ MAHAL

The UNESCO World Heritage website describes the Taj Mahal as an immense mausoleum of white marble built in Agra, India, between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife. Diana, Princess of Wales was famously photographed there alone in 1992, as her marriage was falling apart.

STEWART ISL AND

As we all know, there are three main islands in Aotearoa, but Stewart Island, the southernmost and smallest, remains off the beaten track for many New Zealanders. Situated 30km from the South Island and separated by Foveaux Strait, 85% of the island’s 1570 sq km is Rakiura National Park. Enjoy tramping, kayaking and wildlife watching a world away from the big smoke. Oban is the only town and is the base for visitors to the island. Prince Harry visited in 2015 so you should really get there too!

JAPAN

The spotlight’s been on Japan with last year’s Rugby World Cup and the upcoming Olympic Games, which kick off on July 24. It’s a fascinating country – a mix of tradition and modernity – and is surprisingly easy to navigate. Every day, more than three million people pass through Tokyo’s Shinjuku train station, yet it all seems to work. If city life is too much, catch a train to somewhere quiet and peaceful, such as the sculpture museum in onsen town of Hakone.

NORTHERN LIGHTS

It’s never possible to predict the solar activity that creates the aurora borealis, or northern lights, in the Arctic sky, but that’s what makes seeing them so special. The lights are collisions of particles, electrically charged by the sun, that enter the earth’s atmosphere. They’re seen above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres. Near the North Pole, the north of Norway is dark from early afternoon until late morning. The Norwegian tourist folk say that this is the most beautiful and interesting place to see the lights, but it’s also worth visiting for the lively cities, great museums and small fishing villages, as well as the vast, tranquil spaces with no light pollution.

ROME

Roman civilisation was founded in the 8th century BC, with the Roman Republic dating back to 509BC. It’s a heady feeling to walk the streets in the footsteps of ancient Romans. Not that Rome is a museum – it’s a vibrant city where modern-day Italians live with pride and panache. When you visit, gaze at the ruins of the Roman Forum and Colosseum, gorge on beautifully simple cacio e pepe (salt and pepper) pasta, stroll along the banks of the Tiber with a gelato, and simply enjoy la dolce vita. That’s amore!

CINQUE TERRE

The Cinque Terre, meaning Five Lands, is a series of five coastal villages in the Liguria region of the northwest of Italy. You can enjoy the picture-perfect views as you walk on a track between them all, or opt to take a train between each one. In some places, the train travels through tunnels carved into the hillside. The busiest village is the first one, Riomaggiore. Vernazza (pictured) is arguably the prettiest village, although locals may disagree!

THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s seven natural wonders. The UNESCO World Heritage site is the only living thing on Earth visible from space. The reef features the world’s largest collection of corals – more than 400 types – as well as abundant sea life. If snorkelling and diving are not your thing, enjoy the reef from a glass-bottom boat.

CAPPADOCIA

Seeing Cappadocia from the air is a very popular bucket-list experience in Turkey. As Al Jazeera reports, 437,516 tourists enjoyed hot air balloon rides there in the first nine months of 2019. Another UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s famous for its distinctive plateau, valleys and “fairy chimney” volcanic cones. If you’re heading there to float in the air at dawn, it pays to book ahead and reserve your balloon ride for the first day of your stay, because if the conditions are too windy you will be bumped to the next day.

PETRA, JORDAN

Petra is a renowned archaeological site dating from 300BC in Jordan’s southwestern desert and was once the capital of the Nabataean kingdom. Access is through a 1km passage in the sandstone called the Siq. Be sure to dress conservatively, wear good walking shoes and take plenty of water.

THE GRAND CANYON

One of the world’s natural wonders, most of the Grand Canyon in Arizona was deemed a US national park in 1919. The canyon, with layered bands of red rock, is 445km long, an average of 16km wide and 1.6km deep. With its exhibits on the park’s natural and human history, The Grand Canyon Visitor Center on the South Rim is a great starting point. From there, you can walk or take a shuttle bus to other landmarks along the rim. Inside the canyon itself, you can enjoy tramping or rafting – or even catch a train!

BUENOS AIRES

Buenos Aires used to be a lot harder to get to, but it’s much easier now with direct flights to Argentina’s capital on Air New Zealand. Enjoy a taste of stunning European-influenced architecture, wine, tango and delicious steak.

Buy leather goods, and watch football, the country’s national sport. Book a guided walking tour through

Boca to see its colourful corrugated buildings.

A N G KO R WAT

Angkor Wat is the most famous temple complex in Cambodia, sitting at the heart of Angkor Archaeological Park. The temple is among the world’s largest religious monuments and is a popular spot to see the sun rise. Spanning 162.2 ha, it was built in the 12th century as a Hindu temple and later transformed into a place of worship for Buddhists. “However, if you think you’re going to get the intricate basrelief carvings to yourself, think again,” says the website Culture Trip, “because tourists flood the complex at all times of the day. It’s worth battling the crowds, especially for the spectacular views when you climb to the top of the central towers.”

MILFORD SOUND

We Kiwis know we live in a beautiful country, but many of us don’t seem to realise just how magnificent the southern part of the South Island is. If you haven’t been there, get yourself down to Milford Sound. See the sights and enjoy a buffet lunch on Southern Discoveries’ catamaran The Spirit of Milford. Fun fact – Milford is actually a fjord rather than a sound because it was carved out by a glacier rather than a river.

QUEENSTOWN

Ask overseas tourists what they know about our country and they will often say “Queenstown”. The scenery in this Central Otago alpine resort town is stunning. Catch the TSS Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipu to picturesque Walter Peak station or, for a jolt of adrenaline, try a jet boat ride in the Shotover River canyon.

MACHU PICCHU

High in the slopes on the Andes in Peru, Machu Picchu is a remnant of the Inca Empire, built in the 15th century. This archaeological site attracts hordes of visitors every year. The citadel is a UNESCO

World Heritage site and getting to it can be tricky but is worth the effort. Travel from the city of Cusco by train to the town nearest Machu Picchu, known colloquially as Aguas Calientes. Allow yourself enough time to adjust to the altitude.

CRUISE AROUND THE WORLD

Fancy sailing away into the sunset – around the world? New Zealand ports recently welcomed the 930-guest Viking Sun on its 245-day Ultimate World Cruise, an attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the “longest continuous passenger cruise”. The epic voyage spans six continents, 51 countries and 111 ports, completing a circumnavigation of the globe and sailing continuously for eight months.

Upon the ship’s return to London on

May 2, an official Guinness World Record adjudicator will confirm the successful attempt with a certificate presentation. Fifty-six people – 12 from Australia and the remainder from the UK, the USA and Canada – signed on for the full 245 days.

Others have joined for two extensive legs of the cruise. Ultimate World Cruise fares started at $122,000 for a veranda stateroom for the entire cruise. The next

Viking World Cruise departs in December, priced from $90,995 for a deluxe veranda stateroom and including business class airfares.

It sails from Miami to

London, departing December 14, and sails for just over five months, visiting 33 countries, with 73 included shore excursions.

PROVENCE

Ah, lavender, sunflowers and beautiful villages – you can see why the province of Provence in southeastern France has inspired so many artists. When you’re there, shop at local markets for fresh produce and flowers and sup on rosé, which comprises more than half the wine produced in Provence.