New Zealand

New Zealand's landscapes look almost unreal, with glacial lakes, fjords, volcanic plateaus and rolling green hills packed into two islands. A ten-day trip begins on the North Island in Auckland, the harbour city of sails. From there the route visits the Waitomo Caves, where a boat glides beneath thousands of glowing glowworms, and the Hobbiton movie set near Matamata, where you walk among the hobbit holes from The Lord of the Rings. Rotorua brings bubbling mud pools, geysers and an evening of Māori culture with a traditional hāngi feast.

A short flight takes you to Christchurch on the South Island, from where one of the world's most scenic drives runs inland. Lake Tekapo glows a vivid turquoise beneath the Southern Alps, with the Church of the Good Shepherd on its shore, and Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest peak, rises above the Hooker Valley. The road continues to Queenstown, the adventure capital, set on Lake Wakatipu. Several nights here leave room for the Skyline gondola at sunset, jet-boating, bungee jumping and a day trip to Milford Sound, where a cruise passes waterfalls and sheer cliffs on the way to the Tasman Sea.

New Zealand is very safe, easy to travel and perfect for families, couples and honeymooners. Indian travellers need a visitor visa, applied for online. The southern summer from November to April brings long days and the best weather for sightseeing, while June to August turns Queenstown into a ski destination. Nine or ten nights covers both islands, with a domestic flight saving a long day of driving.