This is all part of our end-of-the-year Top 25 Things to Do lists, where we announce the most popular tours and activities around the world based on what was most popular with Viator’s globe-trotting travelers in 2008. So far we’ve covered the Top 25 in Central & South America. Now it is time to shine the spotlight on Australia & New Zealand.

Top 25 Things to Do in Australia & New Zealand

This is all part of our end-of-the-year Top 25 Things to Do lists, where we announce the most popular tours and activities around the world based on what was most popular with Viator’s globe-trotting travelers in 2008. So far we’ve covered the Top 25 in Central & South America. Now it is time to shine the spotlight on Australia & New Zealand.

Australia’s Top 25 has a few surprises. And the biggest surprise of all is the sheer diversity of the list. Walking tours of the Opera House in Sydney… sailing on the Great Barrier Reef… Yarra Valley wine tasting… Melbourne dining… penguins, kangaroos, and wildlife…

Viator’s travelers covered a lot of ground in 2008. If you have your own favorite activity or thing to do in Australia or New Zealand, please leave us a comment, we’d love to hear about it. Now, without further ado, here are the top tours an activities in Australia & New Zealand.

Top 25 Things To Do in Australia & New Zealand: 2008

25. Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock) via Kings Canyon, Alice Springs, Australia

24. Sydney Tower Restaurant, Sydney, Australia

Sounds of Silence Dinner, Ayers Rock - Voted #1 in 2006 & 2007, #2 in 2008

23. Phillip Island: Penguins, Koalas and Kangaroos Day Tour, Melbourne, Australia

22. Swan Valley Wine Cruise, Perth, Australia

21. Milford Sound Mariner Overnight Cruise, Milford Sound, New Zealand

20. Waitomo Caves and Rotorua Day Trip, Auckland, New Zealand

19. Yarra Valley Wineries and Puffing Billy Steam Train Day Tour, Melbourne, Australia

18. Great Barrier Reef Scenic Helicopter Flight and Cruise, Cairns, Australia

17. Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise, Sydney, Australia

16. Heli Hiking Franz Josef Glacier, Franz Josef, New Zealand

15. Blue Mountains Nature and Wildlife Day Tour, Sydney, Australia

14. Uluru and Kata Tjuta Helicopter Flight, Ayers Rock, Australia

13. Sydney Harbour Tour by Helicopter, Sydney, Australia

12. Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kings Canyon and Alice Springs 3-Day Tour, Ayers Rock, Australia

11. Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail, Great Barrier Reef Helicopter Flight and Cruise, Cairns, Australia

10. Gordon River Cruise from Strahan, Tasmania, Australia

9. Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise on the MV Sydney 2000, Sydney, Australia

8. Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip, Cairns, Australia

7. Yarra Valley Wine and Winery Tour, Melbourne, Australia

6. Spirit of Melbourne Cruising Restaurant, Melbourne, Australia

5. Blue Mountains Deluxe Eco Day Tour, Sydney, Australia

4. See Sydney and Beyond Smartvisit Card, Sydney, Australia

3. Great Ocean Road Small Group Eco Tour, Melbourne, Australia

2. Sounds of Silence Restaurant, Ayers Rock, Australia

1. Colonial Tramcar Restaurant, Melbourne, Australia

There you have it. Viator’s list of the Top 25 tours and things to do in Australia in 2008. We’d like to extend a special ‘congratulatory’ note to the Sounds of Silence restaurant at Ayers Rock for winning the #1 spot on our list two years in a row (2006 and 2007), even if it dropped to #2 in 2008. Well done, scoring so well three years running is no easy feat. On the flipside, congratulations to the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant in Melbourne for capturing the #1 spot in 2008.

Stay tuned for more lists in the coming days, to help you plan your next trip across the globe. In the meantime, if your curious about the top things to do last year, in 2007, keep on reading…

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The Aria Restaurant & Sydney's Opera House

In case you want to compare notes, or are simply feeling nostalgic for the year that was, here’s the list of 2007 winners in Australia.

Top 25 Things to Do in Australia & New Zealand: 2007

25. Yarra Valley Wineries and Puffing Billy Steam Train Day Tour, Melbourne, Australia

24. 360 Bar and Dining at Sydney Tower Restaurant, Sydney, Australia

23. Great Ocean Road High Adventure Day Tour, Melbourne, Australia

22. Blue Mountains Nature and Wildlife Day Tour, Sydney, Australia

21. Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise, Sydney, Australia

20. Kangaroo Island in a Day Tour, Adelaide, Australia

19. Sunrise Balloon Flight over Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

18. Sydney Opera House and Opera Australia Dinner Package, Sydney, Australia

17. 24 Hour Uluru (Ayers Rock) Eco-Pass plus Sounds of Silence Dinner, Ayers Rock, Australia

16. Green Island Day Trip, Cairns, Australia

15. Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail, Great Barrier Reef Helicopter Flight and Cruise, Cairns, Australia

14. Uluru and Kata Tjuta Helicopter Flight, Ayers Rock, Australia

13. Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip, Cairns, Northern Beaches, Australia

12. Yarra Valley Wine and Winery Tour, Melbourne, Australia

11. Great Barrier Reef Scenic Helicopter Flight and Cruise, Cairns, Australia

10. Phillip Island: Penguins, Koalas and Kangaroos Day Tour, Melbourne, Australia

9. Great Ocean Road Small Group Eco Tour, Melbourne, Australia

8. Sunrise Breakfast Balloon Flight over the Yarra Valley, Melbourne, Australia

7. Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kings Canyon and Alice Springs 3-Day Tour, Ayers Rock, Australia

6. Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise on the MV Sydney 2000, Sydney, Australia

5. See Sydney and Beyond Smartvisit Card, Sydney, Australia

4. Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise, Melbourne, Australia

3. Colonial Tramcar Restaurant, Melbourne, Australia

2. Blue Mountains Deluxe Eco Day Tour, Sydney, Australia

1. Sounds of Silence Restaurant, Ayers Rock, Northern Territory

Let us know what you think, tell us about your own travel experiences, and most important of all - happy travels in 2009!

-The Viator Team

Stay tuned, because this list is just the first of many top 25 lists (no kidding: we’re going list crazy again this year!) we are publishing as 2008 comes to a close. Stay tuned in the coming days for the Top 25 in Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, Australia-Pacific, USA & North America and the Middle East & Africa. And as always, we’ll start the new year with our annual “Top 50 Travel Destinations” list.

Rio de Janiero - Viator's #1 destination in Central & South America in 2008

Top 25 Things to Do in Central & South America in 2008

We hear you asking, so Viator what were the big trends and surprises for Central & South America in 2008? Well the main trend we’ve spotted is a big jump in the popularity of shore excursions in Central & South America (mainly in Brazil) and continued growth in eco-friendly and outdoor tours: fishing, canopy tours, 4×4 safaris, hot springs treks - Viator travelers hit the outdoors in record numbers in 2008.

There’s also one thing that did not change between 2007 and 2008 - the continued popularity of both Argentina and Brazil. These two countries remain the most popular places to visit in Central & South America, among Viator travelers. One last note: in 2008 we welcomed two new South American destinations to Viator. Hola, Ecuador & Quito! Now, without further ado, Viator’s Top 25 Things to Do in Central & South America for 2008:

25. Rio De Janeiro Half-Day Walking Tour, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

24. Manatee Swim & Reef Snorkel Cruise, Belize City, Belize

23. Rio de Janeiro Full Day Tropical Islands Tour and Sepetiba Bay Cruise including Lunch, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

#2 in 2008 - Platforma show in Rio de Janeiro

22. Colchagua Valley Wine Tour, Santiago, Chile

21. Corcovado Mountain and Christ Redeemer Statue Half-Day Tour, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

20. Cousino Macul Winery and Concha y Toro Winery, Santiago, Chile

19. Penguin Sanctuary and Otway Sound, Punta Arenas, Chile

18. Four in One - Best of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica

17. Cave Tubing & Belize Rain Forest Tour, Belize City, Belize

16. Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs Day Trip, San Jose, Costa Rica

15. Soccer Match at Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

14. Tijuca Rain Forest Jeep Tour, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

13. Buenos Aires City Tour, Buenos Aires, Argentina

12. Costa Rican Combo Buena Vista Hot Springs / Canopy Tour and Water Slide, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

11. Otavalo Marketplace, Quito, Ecuador

10. Vina Del Mar and Valparaiso, Santiago, Chile

#1 tour in 2008? Corcovado & Sugar Loaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro

9. Tren de la Costa Rail Tour to Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina

8. Chilean Folklore Show and Dinner, Santiago, Chile

7. Santiago City Tour, Santiago, Chile

6. Argentinean Fiesta Gaucha Day Trip, Buenos Aires, Argentina

5. Opera Pampa Dinner and Show, Buenos Aires, Argentina

4. Buenos Aires by Night - Tango Show, Buenos Aires, Argentina

3. Helicopter Tour, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2. Plataforma Samba Show, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1. Corcovado Mountain, Christ Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain Day Tour, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

There you have it. Viator’s list of the Top 25 tours and things to do in Central & South America in 2008.

Stay tuned for more lists in the coming days, to help you plan your next trip across the globe. In the meantime, if your curious about the top things to do last year, in 2007, keep on reading…

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Viator’s Top 25 Things to Do in Central & South America: 2007

25. Rio De Janeiro Half-Day Walking Tour, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

24. Iguazu Falls Tour, Puerto Iguazu, Argentina

23. Rio de Janeiro Full Day Tropical Islands Tour and Sepetiba Bay Cruise including Lunch, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

22. Colchagua Valley Wine Tour, Santiago, Chile

21. Corcovado Mountain and Christ Redeemer Statue Half-Day Tour, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

20. Cousino Macul Winery and Concha y Toro Winery, Santiago, Chile

19. Penguin Sanctuary and Otway Sound, Punta Arenas, Chile

18. Four in One - Best of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica

17. Buenos Aires Half-Day Bike Tour, Buenos Aires, Argentina

16. Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs Day Trip, San Jose, Costa Rica

15. Soccer Match at Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

14. Tijuca Rain Forest Jeep Tour, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

13. Buenos Aires City Tour, Buenos Aires, Argentina

12. Vina Del Mar and Valparaiso, Santiago, Chile

11. Costa Rican Combo Buena Vista Hot Springs / Canopy Tour and Water Slide, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

10. Panama Canal Transit - Ocean to Ocean, Panama City, Panama

9. Tren de la Costa Rail Tour to Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina

8. Chilean Folklore Show and Dinner, Santiago, Chile

7. Santiago City Tour, Santiago, Chile

6. Argentinean Fiesta Gaucha Day Trip, Buenos Aires, Argentina

5. Opera Pampa Dinner and Show, Buenos Aires, Argentina

4. Buenos Aires by Night - Tango Show, Buenos Aires, Argentina

3. Helicopter Tour, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2. Plataforma Samba Show, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1. Corcovado Mountain, Christ Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain Day Tour, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Happy travels in 2009!

-The Viator Travel Team

Cairo: Coming Through

There are no lane markings on the roads – why bother when nobody is likely to take any notice? It’s more like a mass of angled, battered dodgem cars, ducking and weaving; no indicators, only waving hands and tooting horns which have a language of their own: one toot, three toots, a long blast. I couldn’t work out the translations apart from: ‘Coming through,’ which seemed to apply to most of them.

Motorbikes carrying three people – often one a baby in arms – wove through the heaving mess of cars; buses and vans full of people stopped and started as people jumped on and off through the wide open doors, Combi vans chugged along, suspension shot and their rear bonnets open to keep the engine cool. And in the middle of it all, donkeys pulled carts loaded with carrots, melons, furniture. Flocks of sheep huddled amongst the parked cars, tempting buyers looking to break the family’s Ramadan fast in style.

Not that I was actually behind the wheel. Are you kidding? I left that up to our Egyptian driver. Apart from the high probability of an accident if I were driving in that melee, I saw very few women in the driver’s seat: Egypt is a male-dominated culture.

Cairo is one of the most alive places I have ever been. The sheer mass of people, the noise, the heat, the traffic, the yelling in the market, the foul tempered camels, the squeezing through impossibly narrow streets by wheezing tour buses, insulating their nervous occupants from the reality of it all, the dust, the sweat, the swirling voices calling out: ‘How can I take your money?’

Yes, in the Khan el Khalili market stallholders really do say that. In fact it’s their opening line: “How can I take your money?” So honest; I loved it. Sometimes it was followed by: “I do not want anything from you, I am married. I just want your money.”

Cairo: How can I take your money?

Once it was replaced with an offer of six camels to Steve in exchange for me and Violet – his two wives. Travelling with two women gave him a lot of kudos and us some protection. Selling me some fabulous red pointy, curly toed leather shoes (”smell them: leather”, as they were thrust again and again into my face), I was asked whether Steve was really my husband. I felt it safest to say yes, to discover that my shoe man was heartbroken as “already I love you.”

I got the shoes for a bargain price.

We intended to go to the market for an hour or so; we were there for about three and only went down a few streets. What with the backgammon seller firing up a cigarette lighter to show us the counters were real camel bone not plastic, the shoe man sending his younger brother running all over the market to find my size, and our search for a place to have lunch (everything was closed for Ramadam, stupid Western tourists that we were), it all took some time. I haven’t laughed so much or felt so involved in street theatrics and hardcore commerce for a long time. Then, turning a corner, there would suddenly be a wonderful mosque, or a man carrying a hundred loaves of bread in a basket on his head, or a desperate man carrying a few footstools for sale in an effort to support his family.

Finally, we found our way out of the place, and relocated our patient driver. He was on the phone and explained politely he was calling the hotel to organise another driver because we were so long he had to return to his family to break the Ramadan fast at sundown; his wife had been on the phone. He drove us back to the hotel waving away our embarrassed apologies and explaining it was okay because driving is his business and business is important. We realised we should have been more aware of Ramadan, what it meant and how it worked.

Returning to the hotel well after sundown, we headed for our guidebook and the section on cultural sensitivities. I thought I’d been doing a good job by wearing long skirts, concealing tops – unlike many of the singleted and skimpy sun-frocked tourists I saw – but that was just the beginning.

We discovered that in Egypt it is rude to blow your nose at the dining table – oops, but I blame all that sand; that a woman should not sit next to a man not her husband – luckily they all thought Steve was; and that women should allow men to do the negotiating and arranging – oops again. In the three short days we were there – not nearly long enough but all the time we had – we really only went to tourist places: the Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids & the market (known to be the tourist market), and to our wonderful, ex-royal hunting palace but now very western hotel. I’m sure the people we encountered had endured less sensitive behaviour than ours, but it made me aware of how cloistered a lot of my travel has been, centered mainly in Europe, and the need to read up before going to places like Egypt. It’s not only for politeness, sometimes it can be for safety as well, especially as a woman. I am glad I had no preconceived visions of the market, or the driving – they surprised and delighted me - but I wish I had known more about the cultural etiquette.

Disrupting his life aside, we had a great time with our driver who has been driving visitors around for 25 years. He pointed out the major buildings, the zoo, the universities, the mosques. He took us past the Citadel and showed us where the stone for the pyramids was quarried – miles and miles and across the river from where they were built; it is hard to grasp the sheer work and ingenuity that went into creating them. He also took us past the City of the Dead, the huge cemetery, explaining that some living people actually reside in there, usually the homeless who are taken in by families and given a room to live in by the family crypt in exchange for watching over it.

The pyramids of Giza

Driving out to Giza, where our hotel was, we passed miles upon mile of new apartment buildings, half finished, surrounded by the fertile green agricultural land next to the river and fringed by desert. He explained that many farming families have now built on their land, leaving the apartments without windows and doors to prevent paying taxes; these homes are their children’s inheritance.

Stopping at the side of the freeway to look at this landscape and, inevitably, photograph the distant pyramids, a woman walking on the road below called out to us in Spanish. We replied in English and she waved and called out ‘Welcome.’ Everywhere we went, the Egyptian people were this friendly.

Next day, one of our burning desires was to go down the Nile River on a felucca. But, trap for young players, not all these boats are the romantic sort with sails. We found ourselves offered only a large motor-powered boat. Disappointment seized us but with no other option we slouched on board, settling onto the deep red, quite hard cushions. But once on the water, our spirits lifted. It really is a mighty, mighty river, teeming with history and full of the famous, life-sustaining silt (although it no longer floods; if it did, most of the luxury hotels in Cairo would be in big trouble).

This is certainly a city built for use rather than aesthetics. It’s not pretty, but there are some startling buildings and the spires of the many mosques add beauty. In parts of the river, bulrushes and palm trees survive, taking you back to the Egypt of ancient history and mythology.

When we stepped off the boat at the dock (between a boat doubling as a fish market and another housing TGI Fridays), all was forgiven. We were smiling widely, much to the relief of our driver who had brought us there.

Driving back to our hotel – well before sunset this time - we passed through the area of Giza known as Pyramids. Full of carpet merchants, oil sellers and papyrus factories, it is a messy, dusty, chaotic area. The traffic ducked and weaved as usual and kids of about seven darted between cars to cross the road – clearly they knew what they were doing, had grown up with this traffic and were not so overprotected as to be in mortal danger when out of their parents’ sight. I got the sense of children being raised by a village.

We reached one particularly crazy intersection where battered cars sat at right angles to each other in gridlock. An old man stepped into the middle, waved his arms around, took control. We got moving. And then into the middle of it all rode a man on a donkey. Our driver told us no one walks in Pyramids: ‘if they don’t have a car, they ride - camel, horse, donkey.’

Back at our hotel, we collapsed in its calm oasis. Wrapped ourselves around cool drinks. Tried to process the city we’d just thrown ourselves into. Thanked any god we could for the protective presence of our driver guide.

Then I pulled out my new red shoes and sniffed them: ah, real leather.

-Philippa Burne

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s things to do in Egypt and Cairo tours. Also have a look at traveler photos of Egypt over on the Viator Flickr site.

Melbourne's Yarra River on a hot summer night

Melbourne gets a bad wrap from the rest of Australia for the weather, but this summer is gearing up to be another (climate-change induced) long, hot and dry spell.

The city’s location on a bay means that evenings are often tempered by cooling breezes, so any opportunity to get outside is lapped up by locals and visitors. With weather this pleasant you must go outdoors. You have no choice. And with that in mind here are my top summer picks for things to do in Melbourne.

#1 Australian Open Tennis

Melbourne famously loves its sport, and it also loves to show off on the world stage, so the Australian Open is always popular. The competition plays out at the hottest time of the year (Jan 19 - Feb 1, 2009), making it an endurance event as well as a typical tennis tournament. While last year saw players endure court temperatures in excess of 50C (122F), new rules mean they will be allowed to retreat to the locker rooms if things get fiery. Personally, I think it’s a cop out. I’m all for seeing these people made to earn their millions in tough match conditions.

As long as I can watch from home with the air-con on and a Long Island Iced Tea, I’m fine.

#2 Big Day Out & Laneway Festival

The Big Day Out is a touring music festival that takes place in major cities in Australia and New Zealand. This year, tickets to the Melbourne event (Jan 26) sold out in just minutes, so unless you got lucky, or can scrape together an eBay bid (currently A$200 but rising fast), you might have to set up a folding chair outside the fence of this year’s venue, Flemington Racecourse.

This year’s handy line up includes Neil Young, Arctic Monkeys, The Prodigy, My Morning Jacket, TV on the Radio, and DJs I’ve never heard of. It’s likely to go off like a frog in a sock.

Way smaller and far groovier is the new-ish St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, which also tours a few Australian cities. Taking place in a Melbourne city laneway and assorted nearby venues, the day-long festival (on February 1) features some great acts, including Stereo Lab, Girl Talk, and Jay Retard.

#3 Queen Victoria Night Market

On Wednesday nights through summer, the Queen Victoria Market goes all Asian with the Night Market. Hawker stalls, fresh food, licensed bars, locally made gifts and tacky tourist tat vie for the attention of the tens of thousands of people who visit this weekly event. The live performances and the friendly vibe make this a great summer outing, especially after Christmas when the gift-panic has passed. The market runs from 5.30 – 10pm.

#4 Australia Day

Australia Day (26 January) may be a day of national pride celebrating the ‘discovery’ of Australia by British explorers, but to most of us locals, it’s the laziest day of the year. Flame up the barbeque and chill the drinks. It’s an open invitation, and it goes all day. Bring your own.

While it’s the same right across the country, Melbourne has a couple of unique ways of celebrating. A picnic on the banks of the Yarra River is a great way to do nothing in the great outdoors. Also, with an international cricket match being played in Adelaide, they’re always broadcast on the TV. Sip on a beer from one of Melbourne’s great microbrews (Three Ravens, Emerald Hill or – my favourite – Mountain Goat). Doesn’t get much better than that.

#5 Tai Chi at Fed Square

While it’s not especially – or even exclusive to - summer, and not traditionally ‘Melbourne’, the free Tai Chi sessions at Federation Square every Tuesday morning are still a great highlight of city life. Starting at 7.30am and lasting one hour, these expert-led sessions are a great way to get the mind and body moving in harmony. Set yourself up for a day of sightseeing with this ancient Chinese art, regarded by those in the know as “the physiotherapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine”.

-John Ryan

Planning a trip? Check out more recommendations in Melbourne. And have a look at all of Viator’s tours and things to do in Melbourne, from Colonial Tramcar dinners to Yarra Valley Wine Tasting.

]]> http://travelblog.viator.com/melbourne-top-5-things-to-do-in-summer/feed/ http://travelblog.viator.com/touring-new-zealand-an-insiders-guide/ http://travelblog.viator.com/touring-new-zealand-an-insiders-guide/#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:41:25 +0000 Scott Mc http://travelblog.viator.com/touring-new-zealand-an-insiders-guide/ South Island of New Zealand, for a two-month summer holiday.]]> I’m not originally from the northern hemisphere. But now that I live up here, only now do I realise just how idyllic my native southern hemisphere was. Is.

Growing up in the souther hemisphere, each year my mother sent me to the family dairy farm in Golden Bay, at the top of the South Island of New Zealand, for a two-month summer holiday. Celebrating Christmas with the family, picking juicy blood plums from the tree in the garden, swimming in the crystal-clear river on the property, visiting the milking shed while the cows stared mournfully at me from those deep dark eyes. A simple, innocent life in a small New Zealand country town.

New Zealand: The beauty breaks your heart

Now, 20 years later, New Zealand is a Mecca for national and international tourists driving along the extravagantly beautiful coastline, filling up in one of the many cafes that have sprung up on the main streets, or stocking up on supplies for the trek through Abel Tasman National Park or along the Heaphy Track.

Around the New Year there is steady stream of happy campers making their way to one of the raves further along the coast (travel tip: check out the local music shop and organic store for fliers in places like Farewell Spit, perhaps one day The Gathering will be on again). In fact, if I was showing you my New Zealand, this is where I would take you…

Suggested Itineraries in New Zealand: Christchurch to Wine Country

Start in Christchurch, on New Zealand’s South Island. It’s a very quaint town, birthplace of my grandmother, who then reinvented herself as a quintessential English lady, which I am sure has a lot to do with the mock Tudor architecture and colonial history. There is a lovely botanic garden to wander around in, the Arts Centre on Worcester Boulevard has a lively craft market, and the beaches just out of town stretch for miles with golden sands. The Wunderbar in Lyttleton is nestled over the supermarket on London St, and has a superb kitsch style with board games, open-minded hosts and spectacular views of the still working harbour.

Shop along High St, Colombo and Cashel for fabulous NZ designer clothes and incredibly stylish fashion, made with gorgeous fabrics, beautifully cut and designed to fit real women’s bodies. Drop into the Globe Café at 171 High St for coffee and cake.

Fancy a helicopter tour up Fox & Franz Josef glaciers?

Drive over Arthur’s Pass to the tiny mountain village Otira, which was overrun by artists for ‘Oblique’ in 1999, and has since become a thriving creative haven. Continue on to Greymouth, and turn right for some of the wildest, most rugged and spectacular coastline you will see in your life – The Piano was filmed on a beach up here (ask a local which one), or drive left to the experience the effects of global warming at the rapidly disappearing Fox and Franz Josef glaciers.

The tiny coastal town of Hokitika boasts an intriguing second-hand shop and at the local pub you can find out all about the aviation disaster early last century, which explains the photos of an airplane landing in their field.

Heading back to the east, you now have a gentle drive up more beautiful coastline. There are a range of accommodation options to break the journey, from the caravan park right on the beach, to a glamorous hotel and café scene at Kaikoura where you will want to spend some time swimming with the dolphins. We wandered out to the edge of the rocks, and were amazed to see the seals frolicking and cavorting just a few metres away, although there are very strict health regulations about keeping a respectful distance from their habitat.

New Zealand: The view from Kaikoura

Once you’re ready to hit the road again, the highway drifts gently through rolling hills and blue horizons, until you come to the Marlborough Wine country. Cloudy Bay is my pick but I’m no expert, so you’re best off making your own extensive tasting tour. Find a B&B, and take advantage of the incredible range of excellent New Zealand whites produced here.

At this point you have two options, either to head straight to Picton for the sublime ferry ride through the Marlborough Sounds to Wellington, or drive West again to Nelson, and ‘over the hill’ to Golden Bay. Since this is my itinerary, I’m taking you on all the detours and tangents, as that’s the joy of travel.

Not having to keep going in one direction; you may end up headed somewhere you’ve never even heard of. And if you’re really keen, download the wine trail map before you go!

Suggested Itineraries in New Zealand: Onward to Wellington

The drive across to Nelson is only a few hours, and takes you through lovely countryside until you reach this charming town nestled into the hills. There is a veritable plethora of artisan shops selling the work of local jewelers, potters, artists and designers. The café at the very top of the hill on the main road through town has great burgers, and there is a scenic drive back down to the highway, which curves along the coast here for miles. As you travel West again, headed for Golden Bay, you will drive close to the Abel Tasman National Forest, and over what is laughingly called ‘the hill’ by locals; an incredibly steep and twisty mountain road. I always got car sick on this drive as a child, but seem to have survived unscathed this trip.

Watch the valley unfold before you as the road slowly evens out, and you soon arrive in Takaka. Once home to many an ‘alternative lifestyler’ up in the hills, the farming community now appears to be outnumbered by weekend holiday houses and adventurers. This has brought a new buzz to the main street, along with the funky cafes and shops on Main Street. The local pool on the road out of town is where I learnt to swim, with my great-aunt and some of those triathlete cousins who consider a quick run up one of the nearby hills an excellent morning activity. Not before breakfast for me, and certainly not after!

There are plenty of other options for the less actively inclined, like driving to one of the many gorgeous bays for a swim, or a stroll along the boardwalks – but no swimming in the sacred Te Waikoropupu (Pupu) Springs, just outside Takaka. The waters are some of the purest on earth, and were once used for healing and ceremonial blessings for Maoris at birth, death, arrival and departure of travelers.

The nearby walk up a mountain alongside the abandoned power plant is a fabulous three hour hike, and takes you to a sparkling clear pool at the top. It was too cold for any but the most hardy to swim even at the height of summer, but is a satisfying day trip.

The view from Chocolate Fish Cafe

If dancing is your thing, head out to Farewell Spit or one of the local beaches for the summer party season, and shake your booty to the pulse of the pacific ocean. Here you will be one of the first people in the world to see in the new year.

Retrace your steps annd drive back to Picton where we board the ferry for the three-hour trip to Wellington. This takes you through the Marlborough Sounds, truly some of the most luscious, divine scenery on the planet.

In Wellington, visit Te Papa Musuem, and make sure you stop in to the Chocolate Fish Café out along the Karaka Rd on the white sand beach, where visiting rock stars mingle with families on the colourful wooden chairs overlooking the water of Scorching Bay.

The shopping here is again superb, with the cream of local talent such as Starfish, Zambesi, Ricochet, Karen Walker and more scattered along Lambton Quay, Cuba St and Willis St.

An hour away Titahi Bay offers a stunning walk around the cliffs. Head a little further up north to Pukaha Mt Bruce, for a gorgeous walk through the forest of the magnificent wild life sanctuary, where you can see endangered birds and wildlife (Kiwi, Tuatara, Kokako, Kaka) before they are restored to their natural habitat in the forest.

After all that activity, continue in a leisurely fashion up to Rotorua and sloth around in the hot mud, where I will leave you for now.

-Jodi Rose

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours and things to do in New Zealand, from Christchurch tours to things to do in Auckland to Bay of Island tours and activities.

Let’s face it, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel – holding one of the world’s richest collections of art – is one of the unmissable sights in Rome. That you must visit it is without question. How you do it is another issue, depending on time and resources.

As we stroll the 15-minute walk from St Peter’s Square, or Piazza St Pietro, along Viale Vaticano, around the colossal block that’s home to the St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, to the museum entrance, we can’t help but think how incredibly lucky we are.

Our after-hours tour of the Vatican & Sistine Chapel

Long Lines? Unbearable Queues? Not for us

Just a few hours ago, the pavement-wide line of perspiring tourists stretched over a thousand metres along this very route. Some tourists had come prepared, wearing sun hats or shading themselves under umbrellas, continually splashing on the sunscreen to protect themselves from the scorching summer sun. Others were guzzling down tepid aqua frizzante from their water bottles and munching into sandwiches they’d made from the hotel breakfast buffet earlier that morning, too scared to leave for a second to run to a caffé for a cold drink or fresh panini for fear of losing their place. While others – poor things – obviously hadn’t known about the hours of waiting in the slow-moving queue to get inside, and were wilting, no, frying, in Rome’s sweltering heat.

Around 25,000 people visit the Vatican Museums each day. Yes, that’s right – that’s not a typo – 25,000 E-V-E-R-Y day! But thankfully, for cash-rich time-poor travellers and lovers of art and architecture who want to enjoy the museums without the long sweaty wait in line, and then the constant drone of tour guides barking at their groups once they get inside, there is another alternative. And this is exactly what we’ve come to test out – Viator’s After-Hours Tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.

When we arrive at the entrance, the heavy wooden doors are closed and the small square out front is deserted, as if everyone has gone home. Have our watches stopped? Are we late, we wonder? There are two couples waiting nearby who we discover are the rest of our ‘group’. We’re not fond of big tour groups and we were assured this one would be small, exclusive, intimate. It is, and we’re relieved.

The Vatican welcomes our little group

A few minutes later our guide, Maria Ludovic, arrives and like clockwork the guards open the big doors and we’re invited in. We already feel privileged. Special. Yet we feel positively blessed once Maria leads us inside and through the enormous ticket area, which I remember from my first visit years ago, would ordinarily be heaving with a sea of sticky sunburnt bodies. Instead, we’re still feeling refreshed from our post-flight showers and we can actually feel the cool breeze of the air-conditioning, which is impossible to detect during the day. Tonight the ordinarily crowded area is empty. We can hear our heels click on the floor and the echo of our guide’s voice bouncing off the marble.

First, Maria leads us to the vast Vatican courtyard with its perimeter posted with large explanatory signs used by tour guides to describe to their groups the highlights they should look out for as they make the way through the museum. Whether they’re able to actually see these or not once inside is another thing. There are usually masses of people shuffling through and the discomfort of the experience (definitely not recommended for claustrophobics) is a distraction in itself. But if you’re small like me and you get sandwiched between a group of tall Northern Europeans, you have no hope of noticing anything until you get to the Sistine Chapel where the numbers of visitors entering are controlled.

Tonight, however, we have none of these problems. As Maria leads us through the splendid marble-floored corridors, their ceilings dripping with candelabra and extravagantly decorated with vivid frescoes, everything gilded in gold, there’s nothing to get between us and the exquisite art on the walls and the splendid sculptures that line the halls – the Galleria dei Candelabri, the Galleria degli Arazzi (tapestries), the Galleria delle Carte Geografiche (maps) – my favourite.

Maria is well-versed on the collections and as she guides us through the museum she stops at important pieces, telling us the stories depicted in the paintings and those behind their creation, as well as sharing with us the widely-held interpretations and her own decoding of their meanings. We spend some time in the Raphael Rooms (among others), once the private apartments of Pope Julius II, where Maria admits demonstrates a knowledge of the paintings that’s astonishing. She’s a PhD holder who spent several years researching her thesis here in the Vatican libraries, and it shows. She is so engaging that we agree we’d probably do any tour if she was leading it.

The Sistine Chapel, just to ourselves

From the Raphael Rooms we finally make our way to the splendid Sistine Chapel, the one everyone has been holding their breath for. And we can hear them exhale as we enter.

Our small group in the Sistine Chapel - magical

The experience would have been overwhelming without Maria to take us through each painting and explain its significance. And actually, I did find it so on my first (guide-less) visit years ago, but that was also because of the crowds, and the lack of time. While numbers entering the Chapel are paced (unlike the rest of the Museum), there were still too many people in there for my liking and the time allowed was too short to appreciate the art properly. It was also surprisingly noisy. While speaking is meant to be forbidden, all I remember was the hum of guides talking in hushed voices to their groups.

This time, we’re alone in this dazzling space – just Terry and I, our little group, our guide, and our two guards. No throngs of noisy people to disturb us. And despite visiting before, for the first time I’m truly able to appreciate the splendour of the room and the sublime art painted on every surface of this exquisite place of worship. It’s simply breathtaking.

But what makes it so is that we’re alone. We can walk back and forth across the room, returning time and again to a particular piece of work (a Boticelli or Pinturicchio, a Perugino or Ghirlandaio) for a closer look if we want – something impossible to do during the day. We could lie on the floor on our backs and gaze up at Michelangelo’s marvellous ceiling frescoes. We could even waltz around the marble floors if we wanted to. (Well, maybe not – you better check that with Viator before taking your dancing shoes.) We also have all the time in the world. Well, not quite. But it feels that way, so that when it is time to go, we’re satisfied.

Just as we’re about to leave, we notice that Maria has tears in her eyes. Wiping her eyes, she confides: “I’m sorry, I get very emotional… telling these stories here in the Sistine Chapel. I’m very passionate about this place… this art…”

I look around at the group, and everyone seemed moved. And it wasn’t just the jet lag. The others had arrived just hours before from Australia.

“Was it worth it?” I ask them.

“Absolutely!”

“Definitely! This is a once-in-a-lifetime-experience.”

“Art is beauty is passion”.

-Lara Dunston

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Rome tours including top-rated Vatican tours where you can skip the lines altogether.

Pamela Anderson, in Finland for midsummer, says hello to Fertility!

Elusive as it may be, it’s always nearby and ready to pounce, producing strange glowing green filaments of God’s own noise-hairs across the sky, bringing awe and wonderment to the eye of even the most hardened baby-seal clubber.

Sounds strange? Too bloody right – because if you think that’s a little bit far fetched then you’ve clearly got no idea what goes on when it’s all-day daytime after the winter’s eternal nightclub is shut for the summer! Wobbling about the centre of the sky on a drunken axis all of its very own, the Day of the Midnight Sun is truly a thing to behold – as weeks of darkness with nary a glimpse of the great glowing orb to call itself daylight slowly become weeks (or just day’s depending on how far north you’re lost) of sunlight with only a wink of day to give you rest from the Party Party Party deep-north-style.

Slip on your summer bonnet

Perhaps after you’ve perfected your mid-winter tan and now you might fancy a little all-day summer sun and need to spruce things up with a little colour? Slip, Slop, Slap – the public advertisement saying goes back in Australia come summer (“slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat”) – so the intuitive mob up north have the perfect summer bonnet for you!

Coming in all manner of sizes and hilarity, no solstice celebration is complete without one. And now you’re all dressed up, you’ll be needing a funny dance to go with that hat – and how about a pole to do it around? Its easy to see that once the sunshine comes streaming in, sensible ideas make a beeline for some cosy cave up in the hills so the common folk can get down to some proper partying in the sweltering mid-summer solstice sun Swedish-style!

After you’ve had your much loved pickled herring, beer and schnapps you’ll be all fired up for the bonnet-wearing, pole-dancing, flower-picking, bonfire-burning, traditional-song-enjoying party to end them all, hopefully.

Unhinged bonnet-wearing madness!

No doubt you haven’t slept for weeks, probably because the sun rarely dips from its near-vertical trajectory, and you’ve been out gathering the choicest daisies for the maypole that just screams “Fertility!” to the vast northern meadows.

Once your maypole is erect and your bonnet secured, there’s little more to be done than work your uncalloused winter feet to a frenzy of sober celebration in preparation for the indubitable highlight: the Små Grodorna (small frog) song!

Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se!
Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se!
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de!
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de!
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack!
kou ack ack ack ack kaa!
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack!
kou ack ack ack ack kaa!

But what could it all mean? Something like “Small frogs, small frogs are fun to see!/No ears, no ears, no tails they have!” the last lines of course being obvious examples of a collective unconscious / species memory – so who could doubt the sense of such things?

Seriously, this dance goes off like a bucket of prawns in the midsummer sun! With hands to the side of the head (for no ears) and then to the back (for no tail) with so much jumping around that even the heftiest meal of pickled herring and fresh potato would settle in an instant. See for yourself! Just think of all the examples of famous Swedish frogs and you’ll be wondering why the connection never struck you before - just like a pan in the face on a clear midsummer’s night!

So what with all this dancing, and pickled fish, staying up all night and day and - of course, beer - there’s bound to a moment or two for romance. As the locals will tell you, the salted porridge (dreaming porridge) together with the seven different kinds of flowers carefully picked and stashed under the pillow for the sleep before Midsummer, will have the future husband revealed for the young ladies in their sweet salty dreams. So get with the program, don’t doubt it for a moment – prepare for that Swedish wedding, and book that ticket now!

What about the less-outgoing places?

White Night in St Petersburg, Russia

In less outgoing countries, the midsummer celebrations are made more seriously and quietly. In St Petersburg, Russia - which due to some freak of geographical latitude bending is on the same line as Oslo, Norway, and the southern tip of Greenland and Seward, Alaska - they call it the Beliye Nochi (White Night) and it’s mainly seen as a chance to save valuable Soviet electricity because they don’t need to turn on the street-lights. Forget those cumbersome bonnets and skirts, these crazy folk take their chance to walk along the canals and rivers of the city, write poetry and literature and celebrate the whole mad romantic occasion, with… walking and strolling - or as one guide described it, doing “nothing in particular”. Unbelievable!

Although, after enduring months of bone-numbing northern Russian cold its easy to imagine that heading outside for some sunshine, even if it is midnight, would be an event in itself and worthy of a celebration. As you can see (from the photo) the light does do something to endear itself to a certain romantic nostalgia and perhaps a little fondness could percolate in with enough bridge wandering, canal gazing and heart-warming Russian vodka.

Just a note for the forward thinking people out there – the Arctic circle doesn’t just run a monopoly on the White Night / Midnight Sun specials, but given the fact that there are no permanent settlements south of the Antarctic Circle you’re probably best off heading up north in July for this magic and unruly time of year.

The added bonus for a July sojourn to the endless days is you don’t have to hang around and spend Christmas (as summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere is late December) with a bunch of scientists too… And let’s face it, given the Swedes’ and perhaps even Norwegians’ reputation for knowing how to have too much fun, who would want to spend the most exciting nights and days of the year with the horn-rimmed spectacle brigade in the midst of polar research and on the run from humanity?

-Jack Brown

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours & things to do in Sweden, Arctic Finland, Alaska and, if you’re a Midsummer contrarian, Patagonia in Chile.

A devout snorkeler of many years I didn’t see much reason to try scuba diving. All that equipment and training seemed like a lot of hassle, and for what? Getting a couple of feet closer to some fish? Two things changed my mind: my cousin got certified and couldn’t stop talking about scuba diving and on a trip to New Zealand all the scuba divers talked about how they saw way more super cool marine creatures than the snorkelers did. I might have been missing out on something, and there was one way to find out!

A dozen dives later I can say that scuba diving is way superior to snorkelling in most cases, and I heartily encourage anyone who can to give it a try.

1. More fish! More coral! More of everything pesky and aquatic!

Most animals that live in the ocean have a healthy fear of humans, we often try to eat them or accidentally hit them with boats, stuff like that. Over time our aquatic friends have learned that if they stay down in the water deeper they are way less likely to run into us. If you think you’re seeing quite a few fish snorkelling, I guarantee there’s at least ten times more ten more feet down, you’re just seeing the daring ones. Some sea creatures require a deeper water habitat, so you won’t see them unless you visit. For example, in the Galapagos Islands, we snorkeled every day, and saw plenty of animals all over the place, but it was only scuba diving that anyone was able to spot hammerhead sharks.

2. Scuba diving isn’t difficult and doesn’t always require certification.

Great Barrier Reef Scuba Divers

All the equipment basically works without much effort on the part of the diver. You just breathe and check your gauge to make sure you’re not going to run out of air. A common misconception is that you need to be certified to scuba dive. This is sort of not true. Sometimes yes, you do need an appropriate certification for the dive conditions. Often you can do a discovery course (or resort course) which basically means, after a bit of primer on how to dive, you go on a guided shallow water dive. It is a good test run for more serious scuba diving and you’ll get a good idea if you like scuba or not. These courses are really common in Mexico and the Caribbean (where conditions are calm), and believe it or not, Viator has more 60 dive experiences for people who’ve never been scuba diving. I guarantee you will not miss accidentally inhaling some seawater through your snorkel.

3. Fortress of Solitude.

When you snorkel you hear lots of things, like people, waves, boats, your kicking. And the fish hear all that too, which makes them not so excited to hang out with you. The thing I like the most about scuba diving is that you hear almost nothing. You hear your breathing. The experience is really quite peaceful. Also, the marine life get a lot less worried about you, so they swim right by you, and often don’t mind you swimming right up to them. At times, I give up on swimming all together and just drift lazily with the current.

At the bottom of the sea its a different world, one well worth exploring, so ditch the snorkel and give scuba a try on your next trip!

–Kelly G

Convinced you need to take the plunge and scuba dive on your next trip? Check out all the scuba diving Viator has to offer worldwide.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

A classic, there’s never anything like the first in a series. It is not yet possible to travel back to the 1936 Cairo that myself and many others became enchanted by in this movie, but I dare to dream that someday it might be. Actually, the bulk of the Cairo and desert scenes of Egypt were actually filmed in Tunisia (note that you never see a pyramid in the movie). This is a minor detail that does not stop excited travelers from flocking to Cairo to discover for themselves the archaeological wonders of Egypt. I recently ran across a couple of Cairo traveler photos on Viator, and I have to say that any tour where you see an archaeological dig in Cairo would probably meet with Dr. Jones’ approval.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

My brother and I argue quite a bit over the merits of this movie, I say it has none, he argues that it does. The one thing we both agree on is that India looks beautiful in this movie - the palace, the village, the countryside, the Himalayas are all magical. Again, Hollywood is fooling us, India was actually played by a southern neighbor, Sri Lanka. And Hong Kong was portrayed in an admirable performance by Macau. The otherwise very annoying Kate Capshaw (could she be screaming more in this movie?) serves as a good reminder that even when you’re having a rough travel moment, everything will work out ok, you’ll be clean and dressed to the nines again in no time.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

The Treasury at Petra

The without a doubt number one destination in this installment is Petra in Jordan. I have never read a post-Last Crusade travel article about Petra that fails to mention The Treasury provided the now famous facade for the home of the Holy Grail. It must be mysterious and wonderful to emerge from the Siq (the narrow path that leads to Petra) to such an awesome sight. And, mercifully, Petra was actually filmed in Petra, making it the easiest of the Indiana Jones’ adventures to replicate.

A close runner up for best destination is Venice, and I would be remiss not to mention it. Venice is a city of romance, for travelers and Indiana Jones alike (we all know she’s a Nazi, but he can’t help it). Gondola rides, secret itinerary tours, and names like “the Bridge of Sighs” all evoke a sense of mystery and love lost or found. Like the answers to the clues Indiana Jones is solving there, Venice is hiding its secrets in plain sight.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Until I see the movie I’m not sure what travel inspiration it will provide, but I sincerely hope not too much of it will be computer generated destinations unattainable by travelers. I liked that the first three movies lived out the fantasy of adventuring to far off locales, its become a bit of a hallmark of the series that I think fans expect, and I hope the latest installment does the same.

– Kelly G

Ceci n'est pas Luke's Mum

Editor’s Note: Luke posted this last year for his mum. We thought it nicely captures the spirit of Mother’s Day, so we are re-posting Luke’s original ode today in honor of moms (and mums) everywhere.

Fighting my way to Sydney airport on Easter Thursday evening — along with 20,000 other travellers, dropper-offers and picker-uppers — I wondered whether my mother would enjoy the activities I’d lined up for her over the next couple of days. At 78 she shows no sign of slowing down. And short of a parachute jump there’s not much she wouldn’t try. So here are three totally different things to do in Sydney with your mother, your friends, your lover - or just you.

“Luke, I am your father…”

If you were any higher in Sydney it would be illegal. Sydney Skywalk is purportedly twice the height of the Sydney Harbour Bridge but only a tenth of the effort since you get to the top by elevator. The staff work hard to make your Skywalk a real event and have their jokes - and facts - down pat. The ultimate joke was on me of course, for not even realizing the significance of having the name “Luke” on my “SkyWalker” certificate.

Once kitted out with our overalls and radios and associated ear pieces, beanies, parkas and clipped-on this and double-tied that, were we ready to go outside. Mark my words - even on a sunny day it can be cold and windy up there. In fact it was only when I caught Mum wiping her nose on the beanie (also tethered to her overalls) that I realized I should have smuggled a tissue up for her.

Needless to say, the views from that height are sensational. At almost 900 feet high the glass floor section isn’t for the squeamish but then, neither is my Mum’s beanie after she’s done with it. There’s the added kudos of everyone staring at you as you file through the indoor public spaces toward the lift. (Oh alright - call it showing off).

Ice, Ice baby.

If I carry my Star Wars theme through to our next stop, it would be to note the uncanny resemblance my Mother bears to Yoda once she’s decked out in a fur-trimmed hooded parka that’s two sizes too large. Sydney’s Minus5 Ice Bar is on the Italian-style promenade linking Circular Quay with the Opera House, so if you’re visiting Sydney, you’re bound to be in the area. In a grown-up Willy Wonka kinda’ way you can eat your cocktail glass since it’s made purely out of ice. Steer clear of slurping from the little waterfall because it’s actually anti-freeze. Reindeer skins on big ice thrones lend it a great “Norse God” feeling.

The sun shone, the sea sparkled, the prawns were in abundance.

Sydneysiders can be so damn smug about their harbour and it’s days like these that you understand why. With nothing to do but load your plate with oysters and prawns, settle back at your window side table (if you’re lucky) and watch the harbor slip past and enjoy views that you just won’t get from land. It’s still a working harbor so mega-ton freighters piled high with shiny new cars vie for space with two- man skiffs and luxury yachts.

We joined the Sydney Harbour Magistic lunch cruise at King Street wharf; you can have a good wander around Cockle bay and the nearby Darling Harbour tourist precinct before or after your cruise. You can also join or leave the boat at Circular Quay, and now you know where Minus5 Ice Bar is, too. My secret tip? The little deck in front of the buffet was empty while everyone was chowing down so stake a table and toss a coin for who goes to the bar for the second glass of chardonnay.

The verdict’s in - Mum just called. Her flight’s landed and she’s home safely, tired but happy. I hope she didn’t really put a glass from the Ice Bar in her bag…

-Luke Crosthwaite

Browse Viator’s complete list of Sydney tours and things to do, Melbourne tours, and more things to do in Australia.