Astounding Australia & Asia

Head Down Under to the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia, the one and only Sydney. With a sunny attitude and a climate to match, Sydney is a vibrant place that combines the best of the beach, with the convenience of the city.

Your first stop should be the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Sydney Opera House. Snap a picture of this iconic building that is a prominent feature of Sydney’s famous skyline for the folks back home. Get out and explore the streets to shop, dine, and view spectacular architecture and heritage buildings including Parliament House, Sydney Town Hall, and the Australian Museum.

Head Down Under to the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia, the one and only Sydney. With a sunny attitude and a climate to match, Sydney is a vibrant place that combines the best of the beach, with the convenience of the city.

Your first stop should be the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Sydney Opera House. Snap a picture of this iconic building that is a prominent feature of Sydney’s famous skyline for the folks back home. Get out and explore the streets to shop, dine, and view spectacular architecture and heritage buildings including Parliament House, Sydney Town Hall, and the Australian Museum.

Nestled in the heart of the dreamily named Sunshine Coast, Mooloolaba is a former sleepy surf town that has recently become a popular beach destination. In fact, it was even featured on the popular reality TV series The Amazing Race.

Mooloolaba Beach is one of the most famous and popular beaches on Australia’s east coast, so no visit would be complete without a trip to bury your toes in the powdery-white sand. Take to the water in a cruise on the canals, snorkeling in the sea, or diving with sharks. Head inland to swim in one of the secluded waterfalls in the area, and take in the tranquility that surrounds you.

This sunny port on Australia’s northeast coast is in a perpetual state of vacation, and with the Great Barrier Reef on its doorstep, it’s easy to see why. Small in size but with a beachy, cosmopolitan vibe, Airlie Beach offers excellent shopping, dining, and nightlife, plus a long list of outdoor activities that range from sunbathing to soaring in a seaplane

Cairns is the gateway to many of northern Australia’s natural attractions. Suit up and head offshore to explore the incredible world beneath the waves at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Great Barrier Reef. Filled with incredible beaches, coral reefs, and turquoise blue waters, you can swim, snorkel, dive, and enjoy a living masterpiece that is so big it can be seen from outer space.

Cairns is the gateway to many of northern Australia’s natural attractions. Suit up and head offshore to explore the incredible world beneath the waves at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Great Barrier Reef. Filled with incredible beaches, coral reefs, and turquoise blue waters, you can swim, snorkel, dive, and enjoy a living masterpiece that is so big it can be seen from outer space.

Manila is a city with more sights to see than Imelda Marcos had shoes. There’s the UNESCO World Heritage Site San Augustín Church, the scenic Baywalk , and largest Chinatown in the world, and that’s just the ABCs. But one of the best known, and not to be missed sites is Intramuros—the remnants of the walled settlement founded by the Spanish in 1571. Spanish colonial-style buildings house an eclectic mix of ruins, churches, and some of Manila’s most interesting museums like the Bonsai Library and Museum, the Light and Sound Museum, and the Rizal Shrine Museum just to name a few.

The best way to travel between these sites is to take a ride in the unofficial symbol of the city, the Jeepney. Originally created by enterprising Filipinos out of surplus Jeeps left behind by the US Army, today these elaborately decorated and brightly colored taxi busses jam the streets and lend a certain attitude to the commute.

Manila is a city with more sights to see than Imelda Marcos had shoes. There’s the UNESCO World Heritage Site San Augustín Church, the scenic Baywalk , and largest Chinatown in the world, and that’s just the ABCs. But one of the best known, and not to be missed sites is Intramuros—the remnants of the walled settlement founded by the Spanish in 1571. Spanish colonial-style buildings house an eclectic mix of ruins, churches, and some of Manila’s most interesting museums like the Bonsai Library and Museum, the Light and Sound Museum, and the Rizal Shrine Museum just to name a few.

The best way to travel between these sites is to take a ride in the unofficial symbol of the city, the Jeepney. Originally created by enterprising Filipinos out of surplus Jeeps left behind by the US Army, today these elaborately decorated and brightly colored taxi busses jam the streets and lend a certain attitude to the commute.

Neon signs galore, dim sum, and amazing temples are a few of the favorite experiences in Hong Kong. Take is as much as you can of this thrilling city with its endless shopping and towering skyscrapers. Your agenda for Hong Kong should include Victoria Peak, an Aberdeen Fishing Village, the Man Mo Temple and Sheung Wan Dried Food and Herbal Market. Be certain to have extra room in your suitcase for the bargains you are bound to discover.