Australia

Standing alone as a single destination or in conjunction with a visit to New Zealand, Australia deserves more than one visit. The eastern third of the country is the most interesting with Sydney as a starting point.

Stay in the Rocks area of cobbled streets and interesting shops - across from the famed Opera House - cruise the harbor, go to the top of the Sydney Tower to get a perfect view of this beautiful city.

Visit the nearby Hunter Valley wine country and the Blue Mountains by 4x4 vehicles. See kangaroos and koalas. Continue to the cultural city of Melbourne and take the great ocean road to Adelaide with a couple of nights en route.

Adelaide is the stopping off point for the wine country - the Barossa Valley - and The Ghan train to Alice Springs and Ayers Rock.

Take a camel to breakfast at Ayers Rock - Uluru is its Aboriginal name and nearby Olgas.

Fly to Cairns and drive north to Port Douglas for some well-earned relaxation on the Barrier Reef. Cruise the reef for a day or two - or stay at one of the fabulous resorts - Hayman, Heron, Lizard Islands all boast some of the best resorts in the world with an underwater paradise second to none.

From Port Douglas visit Daintree National Parks and Cape Tribulation - a tropical rainforest that comes down to the shore.

And if you have the time - there is more! Kangaroo Island, Tasmania, the Top End with camping adventures.