Greg McGee is the author of The Open Side, the biography of All Black captain Richie McCaw. He is also a literary gender bender: McGee

Many of London's cemeteries date back to the start of the Victorian era and still capture the melancholy beauty associated with the period of Charles Dickens, says Christoph Driessen.

Oktoberfest draws millions of visitors to Bavaria each year, but there's much more to this quirky German state.

A battle is raging on Rue Du Faubourg Saint-Denis, a shabby Paris street where hip bars are sprouting like mushrooms, and it's part of a wider war in the city pitching sleep-starved residents against nocturnal revellers.

The new season of Downton Abbey sees the Grantham sisters moving with the times.

A secluded country house amid olive groves offers boutique hotel services as well as outstanding views, says Mick Webb.

From ballet on the beach to harvesting a hedgerow, a new company shows Kate Simon how to get the most from a UK holiday.

I'm hoping that cycling twice around Lake Bled in Slovenia will in some way offset the effects of eating one of the regional specialties - a custard slice that will absolutely never get a 'pick the tick' logo.

Cave landforms of Postojna, southern Slovenia. Photo / Jill Worrall

Brian Winer checks into the Castel Monastero in the Tuscan countryside near Sienabusy to reintegrate his mind, body and spirit.

Former NZ diplomat Warren Searell called Damascus home until the Arab spring made life far too dangerous. This is his story.

A two-and-a-half year expedition by the ship on which Sir Peter Blake was murdered continues his work under the oceans.

St Petersburg's main street is one long, fabulous distraction, writes Susan Buckland.

Gnocchi should be feather-light and smothered in a rich sauce, Peta McCartney discovers during a visit to a Venetian restaurant.

Travelling by train with a young family turns the journey into part of the holiday, as Mark Rowe has discovered.

Sports writer Dan Coyle tells Phil Taylor about his long battle to cut through the PR myths surrounding Lance Armstrong and organised doping in cycling.

Bollard bids farewell to his 'cool job.'

Jill Worrall is schooled in the etiquette of Guinness drinking as she absorbs the unparallelled atmosphere of Ireland's pubs.