Competition for air travel between New Zealand and China is set to intensify with plans by Air China to fly daily direct flights between Auckland and Beijing this year.

Justine Tyerman spends 48 hours exploring Australia's 'Riviera'.

On a hot-air balloon ride, Brett Atkinson gets to look down on Myanmar's temples from the heavens.

All his courage gathered, Nicholas Jones ventures underwater for an eye-opening scuba dive.

Colonial charm and Southeast Asian mystery come together in Myanmar, finds Brett Atkinson.

Football fans of all stripes will enjoy a devilishly smart new Manchester hangout, writes Steve McKenna.

Taking to the mighty Danube River in luxury and style and a bed so comfortable that the memory of it brings a tear to your eye is a marvellous way to travel, writes Sophie Barclay.

Dana Johannsen flies VX413 across the USA.

Megan Singleton suggests a string of California adventures to try.

Belinda Merhab travels to an ashram in Northern India to find herself, but discovers something else entirely.

Ewan McDonald gets in touch with his inner Easy Rider and heads out on the highway in a laid-back area of Queensland.

Immerse yourself in the sacred, inky chaos of the Ganges River in Varanasi, writes Heather Ramsay.

As a way to observe the wilds of Scotland, it's hard to beat the magic of rail travel, writes Anthony Lambert.

Ewan McDonald visits an island where humans come a distant last to wildlife.

For John Simpson, gritty, sunny Johannesburg is South Africa's golden city.

Andrew Stone has the low down on making the most of the island's high times.

Once you've taken in the obligatory baseball match, why not head to one of these Big Apple favourites ...

On a 4WD adventure along the Bloomfield Track in Queensland, Christopher Somerville finds that the tropics of Australia are as spectacular and diverse as they are vast.

In the legendary Yankee Stadium, Andrew Alderson finds fabulous atmosphere - and great chilli dogs - at America's big show.

A remarkably thirsty Daniel Richardson flies NZ992 from New Zealand to Samoa.

Despite its dark past, this visitor-friendly city in former East Germany takes its history very seriously, as Mathew Dearnaley finds out.

The hairs on Jim Eagles' neck prickle at the tomb of a terrifying Uzbek conqueror.

Each week, expat Kiwis tell us what they most love about living by Queensland's beaches. Today we hear from Karen Revell from the Cruise Traveller travel company.

Highways that hug the shoreline can make for spectacular road trips. Here are 10 of the best around the world.

In an azure and cobalt bay, gentle sea creatures welcome Phil Welch to the 'closest island to paradise'.

Home to the original 'rock' hall of fame, the Red Centre's landscape is dramatic; a canvas for indigenous art. Just remember to keep your fly hat on, writes Jenny Tabakoff.

It'll be a return to splendour for Catherine Smith, who had too little time to taste-test all the great eateries on the Gold Coast.

You won't forget a traditional Solomon Islands welcome, writes Richard Moore.

To repent for his misdeeds, Tibetan monks tell Jim Eagles he must do circuits of Labrang Monastery for about two months. He makes a start.

A second honeymoon can be better than the first, writes Penny Lewis.