Travel adventures

While travel can be a stepping stone to relaxation, it is also the pathway to adventure for many Kiwis. We love to travel and more people are looking for special ways to enhance those experiences. Speciality trips from food and wine trails to sporting events, historical tours and music conventions have their devotees. The breadth of choice and trends is blossoming.

We have ‘gramping’, which allows grandparents to take their grandchildren with them on holiday providing both vintages with an array of new experiences to raise their pulse levels.

People whose jobs involve travel and hectic business schedules around the world are tacking on a few extra days for some often much-needed downtime, while solo travellers like the freedom of being able to choose their own itineraries and travel at their own pace.

Here are my top five destinations for 2020:
Zambia, Africa – Avoid the crowds in the Okavango Delta and find the ‘elusive five’ in Zambia. Once a trip to Africa was a chance to see the Big Five then it became a check on the small five and now those visits have morphed into finding the elusive five.

Japan – A country of striking contrasts and remarkable beauty. Walk hand-in-hand beneath cherry blossom trees in the spring, or slalom down the alps in the winter. Dance until dawn in Tokyo’s rollicking clubs or bask in a hot-spring spa. Immerse yourself in history at Kyoto’s 17th century Katsura Imperial Villa and gardens, and tour the Jishu Shrine, dedicated to the god of love. For an unforgettable experience, scale Mount Fuji by night (July-August) to watch the sunrise from Japan’s tallest peak.

Jodhpur India – This blue city, with the charm of a bygone era in Rajasthan’s boundless desert landscape, transports you instantly back to India’s rich history.

Silk Road – Still mercifully unspoiled by mass tourism, the five ‘stans’ – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan – will amaze with their piercing blue skies and stunning architecture. There are exciting shopping, art and cultural opportunities and the people are both welcoming and curious about visitors to their countries.

Antarctica – The best way to see pristine nature on the coldest, driest continent on Earth, with the highest average elevation, is on an adventure cruise. Antarctica is home to some of the most breathtaking scenery and wildlife you will ever see.