16 Days Southern Hemisphere Highlights

About the destination: Located on Port Phillip Bay, astride the Yarra River, Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. With a trendy and lively atmosphere, it is considered the cultural, gastronomic, sporting, fashion and shopping capital of Australia. There're lots of beautiful examples of architecture throughout the city such as its modern and vibrant skyline. Some of Melbourne’s main attractions are the stunning Botanical Gardens, the Royal Exhibition Building, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the magnificent Anglican cathedral of Saint Paul's and one of Melbourne’s most famous landmarks, the Shrine of Remembrance. St Kilda is Melbourne's bohemian neighborhood. Here you’ll find sunny beaches and a great restaurant, bars and nightlife scene. Just outside of Melbourne, we have the spectacular Twelve Apostles, a unique rock formations by the shore. Dynamic and cosmopolitan, Melbourne is Australia’s proud cultural capital. Considered one of the world's most livable cities, the capital of the south-eastern state of Victoria is a pleasant visit and a perfect base to explore the surrounding region.

About the destination: Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains such as The Remarkables, Cecil Peak, Walter Peak and just above the town; Ben Lomond and Queenstown Hill. One of the best views is from the top of Bob's Peak reached by the Skyline Gondola. Breathtaking views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables mountain range and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peaks.

About the destination: New Zealand's Northland region of the North Island begs to be explored on your trip to the Aotearoa (Land of the Long White Cloud). A combination of breath-taking seascapes, golden beaches, secluded coves, ancient forests and oodles of activities to cater to all budgets, makes Northland one of New Zealand's most tourist friendly spots. The Northland region extends north to the tip of the Northland Peninsula, covering an area of 13,940 km2, a little over five per cent of the country's total area. It is bound to the west by the Tasman Sea, and to the east by the Pacific Ocean. The land is predominantly rolling hill country. Farming and forestry occupy over half of the land, and are two of the region's main industries. less Although many of the region's kauri forests were felled during the 19th century, some areas still exist where this rare giant grows tall. New Zealand's largest tree, Tane Mahuta, stands in the Waipoua Forest south of the Hokianga Harbour. The western coast is dominated by several long straight beaches, the most famous of which is the inaccurately named 88 kilometre-long stretch of Ninety Mile Beach in the region's far north. The slightly longer Ripiro Beach lies further south. Two large inlets are also located on this coast, the massive Kaipara Harbour in the south, which Northland shares with the Auckland Region, and the convoluted inlets of the Hokianga Harbour. The east coast is more rugged, and is dotted with bays and peninsulas. Several large natural harbours are found on this coast, from Parengarenga close to the region's northern tip, past the famous Bay of Islands down to Whangarei Harbour, on the shores of which is situated the largest population centre. Numerous islands dot this coast, notably the Cavalli Islands, the Hen and Chickens Islands, Aorangaia Island and the Poor Knights Islands.

About the destination: The city of Port Moresby or Port Moresby (Pot Mosbi in tok pisin) is the capital of Papua New Guinea and the largest agglomeration of the country counting its metropolitan area. It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, southeast of the island of New Guinea. Port Moresby is an exceptional place to get to know in depth the cultural richness and traditions of this country.

About the destination: Nadi (pronounced [ˈnand͡ʒi]) is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. A 2012 estimate showed that the population had grown to over 50,000. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign tourists. Along with sugar cane production, tourism is a mainstay of the local economy.