Amanpulo is quite simply an idyllic and secluded private resort.
Situated on the island of Pamalican, 200 km east of Palawan in the Philippines, the 220 acre isle is surrounded by white sand, crystal clear sea and well preserved coral reefs (50-300 m. offshore). Guests arrive from Manila by chartered plane which lands directly on Pamalican.
Expect to see whales, dolphins and a whole range of beautiful sea creatures.
With perfect beaches and deep blue ocean Amanpulo is the perfect place to enjoy watersports, guided eco-walks, cycling, tennis and picnicing.
The island’s weather conditions are tropical, with a dry season from sound November to May and some rain from June to October. The average annual temperature is 27.2oC (81oF). January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 25.5oC (78oF) and May the hottest at 29oC (84oF).
The island comprises a number of luxury cottages or “Casitas” situated either on the beach front or in the slightly cooler hills. All of which are simply stunning.
I genuinely can’t recommend this place highly enough.
Dhoni Mighili really is an offbeat paradise. As far as I’m aware, it’s not widely known about and yet it’s certainly a hidden treasure, worthy of the description “luxury holiday retreat”.
The island is accessed via boat or seaplane from the Maldives capital of Male. If you really want some super luxury moments take the boats or dhonis as they are known. These come with a butler and your very own birth at one of the opulent beach bungalows.
The really dangerous thing is that it’s an all inclusive deal so you can really let your hair down and indulge.
Here’s the real bonus. If you’re a stickler for privacy and peace - this island is the only one in the Maldives that can be hired exclusively for up to 24 people.
The only problem - it’s not cheap. A bungalow can be up to $1,700 per night!
Situated 350 miles north of Cairns - Haggerstone Island is some 100 miles away from civilisation. Great for trips to Great Barrier Reef, snorkelling, diving, fishing and just plain getting away from it.
Haggerstone.com say:
“Even amid the magnificent island resorts of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Haggerstone is an extraordinary island experience offering the ultimate in intimacy and privacy. Accessible only by air to a neighbouring island, it is an incredibly remote and unspoilt Robinson Crusoe retreat approximately 600 kilometres north from Cairns, and a few miles from a wild stretch of the northern Great Barrier Reef mainland coast.
Haggerstone is a truly unique and wonderful place - a small complex of tropical timber buildings, gardens, orchard and dams; set amidst true wilderness country, teeming with fish and bird life and surrounded by some of the most magnificent pristine coral gardens in the world. Catering for a small numbers of guests (6-8) you will live well, eat well and as one guest put it “survive in style”, Haggerstone provides a unique base from which to ramble or explore, or… just to be.
Haggerstone Island GuestHouseThe marine life on Haggerstone is simply unbelievable…. shipwrecks, beach combing for WW2 artefacts, snorkelling, and the fishing… and complemented by a superb yet simple mouth watering cuisine featuring all fresh natural foods. The incredible remoteness of Haggerstone ensures an experience very rare on this planet. If you value absolute simplicity above all else - no maids, TV, mobile phones, computers, mirrors or egos, this is it.
Anna and Roy Turner came to Haggerstone in April 1985 with a 70ton barge loaded with poles, timber, fruit trees, chickens and an old tractor. The island was jungle covered, uninhabited and hundreds of miles from what we know as civilisation. They were not to know they were to spend nearly six years alone on the island, as they set out to create a Robinson Crusoe style abode in the wild. Haggerstone Island is their home and an Island Guesthouse, and they welcome you to their home and hope you enjoy your stay.”
From personal experience you’ll find no better place to get away from it!
Queenstown is the annointed capital of New Zealand adventure activities. Everything an adrenaline junkie could wish for including white knuckle white water rafting.
According to NewZealand.com:
“Queenstown Rafting, New Zealand’s largest rafting operator, runs trips on two local rivers, the Shotover and the Kawarau. Ideal for first time rafters, the Kawarau is a large volume, lake fed river with four exciting rapids, including the 400m Dog Leg.
The Shotover River is renowned for its exciting rapids and the spectacular journey into Skippers Canyon. Two hours on the river culminates in the 170m Oxenbridge Tunnel. Combinations available include jet boats, helicopter, rafting and bungy jumping.”
This is a must do trip for just about anybody visiting this part of the world.
New Zealand is the perfect place in which to travel in the backpacking style. A compact country with dramatically different scenery between the main towns and cities. Getting around is easy, and better still, your choice of routes, activities and accommodation is limitless.
If you’re a keen cyclist New Zealand’s South Island is a great place, with excellent roads and stunning scenery throughout the island.
Other forms of transportation are as flexible as you like. Roads in New Zealand are excellently maintained, it’s hard to get lost, traffic between cities/towns is virtually non existent and there are limitless places to picnic or stop for a break. So travelling by campervan or rental car is probably one of the best ways to get up close to the fantastic New Zealand landscapes. Campervans are great fun and a cost effective option for groups of people travelling together. There are a huge range of excellently maintained caravan parks in truly spectacular locations. Many people pick up a hire vehicle in the North Island and drop it off in the South Island, or vice versa. Don’t forget to book up the ferry between the islands nice and early - it gets very busy during peak periods. Also pack some sea sickness pills as it can get very choppy on the way over.
If you want to skip around the country quickly, hop on a plane - New Zealand has a comprehensive domestic flight service. Domestic air travel is very reasonably priced and booking online makes it even cheaper.
Buses are the traditional backpacker mode of transportation whereby you can use Flexi Passes to buy travel by the hour on the nationwide network of Intercity buses. Or you could try the convenience of a Travelpass to go directly from one location to another.
According to NewZealand.com:
“Magic Travellers Network and Kiwi Experience buses take you off the main routes and also allow you to get on and off as you choose (even taking you to the door of local hostels). With Magic Bus you can even tag on a train journey such as the spectacular TranzAlpine or TranzCoastal. Then there are the smaller bus operators like Bottom Bus in the lower South Island that let you get into some of the wildest scenery in the country.”
