Travel advice, ideas & expert tips

The Cube Houses in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Rotterdam architecture guide: modern skyline, cube houses and market hall highlights

Rotterdam is a city that looks forward rather than back, with bold architecture replacing what was lost in wartime bombing. This guide explores its most striking buildings, waterfront developments and creative urban spaces. Arrival at Rotterdam Centraal and first impressions of the city Stepping out…

Three Dutch cities worth visiting beyond Amsterdam and Rotterdam

Spread your wings beyond the biggest two cities in the Netherlands, and there are some pleasant surprises in store. Utrecht This bike-mad city has a homogenously pretty medieval heart. The 112m Domtoren tower is worth the 465-step climb, both for the views and the somewhat…

Art nouveau details in Riga's architecture.

Riga’s art nouveau architecture: Eisenstein, national romanticism and the Quiet Centre

Lions on rooftops, dragons around doorways and entire façades dripping with theatrical flair — Riga’s art nouveau district is one of Europe’s most extraordinary architectural showcases. Mikhail Eisenstein and Alberta iela 4 Mikhail Eisenstein, it is fair to say, didn’t believe in keeping it simple.…

A water taxi on Lake Te Anau, New Zealand.

Lake Te Anau and the glowworm caves: Wilderness walks and underground magic in Fiordland

From forest-lined lake walks and rare birds to silent boat journeys beneath glowing cave ceilings, Lake Te Anau offers one of the most atmospheric introductions to Fiordland National Park. Crossing Lake Te Anau into Fiordland National Park It doesn’t take long to go from civilisation…

Kayaking Indian Arm, Vancouver: Fjord wildlife, harbour seals and a floating salmon lunch

From harbour seals and river otters to towering fjord walls and a kayak-access picnic, this tour review explores Indian Arm, one of Vancouver’s fjords, just half an hour from downtown. Kayaking Indian Arm from Vancouver From the end of the jetty, it looks like there’s…

The Chapman's Peak Drive in Cape Town, South Africa.

10 great cities for outdoorsy people

For many, exploring a big city is all about the culture and food scene – after all, why go to a city if you’re wanting rural pursuits? But there are some cities that offer the best of both worlds – they’ve got the museums and…

Florence Falls in the Northern Territory's Litchfield National Park.

The best places in Australia to visit during the Northern Hemisphere summer

Broome, Exmouth, Cairns, Airlie Beach, Darwin and Uluru are the best bases for an Australian adventure during the British summer holidays. The seasons in Australia For many British travellers, the prime time to visit Australia is during the British winter – after all, the idea…

Seeing the nocturnal wildlife of the Margaret River region.

Margaret River wildlife and adventure experiences: Night tours, caves, forests and stingrays

From twilight wildlife encounters and towering karri forests to stingrays at Hamelin Bay and underground cave adventures, this guide explores a very different side of Margaret River, far beyond vineyards and cellar doors. Margaret River wildlife encounters after dark A little fella hops onto a…

Hot air balloons over Cappadocia, Turkey.

Cappadocia hot air balloons and rock-carved wonders: A sensory journey through Turkey’s surreal landscape

Floating over Cappadocia in a hot air balloon is one of the world’s most iconic experiences, but the region’s fairy chimneys, rock-cut chapels and underground cities tell an equally remarkable story from ground level. Up in the air above Cappadocia From 800 metres up, the…

The Inscription Point Lighthouse on Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia.

Inscription Point and Dirk Hartog Island, WA: Historic Dutch landings & rugged outback adventure

Explore the fascinating history of Inscription Point on Dirk Hartog Island — where early Dutch explorers left their mark — and discover how this remote part of Shark Bay, Western Australia combines heritage, landscape and wildlife restoration. Inscription Point and the scratched plate On a…