What’s hot right now? You! Feel the heat of hot holidays near volcanoes, see fire eaters quench their thirst for flame and see a dance in a trance at a traditional fire dance. So slap on the sunnies and get some degrees of delight! Read more »

With steamy jungles, cool rainforests and harsh volcanic peaks, Indonesia is a dream destination for hikers and nature-lovers. Read more »

Bandung spreads over the foothills of a large plateau just three hours by train from Jakarta. Travellers generally ignore this pleasant city in the rush to get straight to (or straight out of) its bigger, noisier neighbour. But Bandung’s cool climate, tree-lined streets and laid-back attitude mean it definitely deserves a few days of your time.

The city is the perfect place to delve into the rich culture of the Sundanese. Check out some traditional puppetry at a wayang golek show. Put your body on the line (or just watch from ringside) with a spot of pencak silat, a Javanese martial art. For a truly epic battle, check out one of Bandung’s rambunctious ram-butting fights, then take the edge off your sympathy headache with a cocktail in the bar at the Holiday Inn.

Wander the back streets to browse wooden puppets, masks and musical instruments, then hit up the Bandung Supermall for some air-conditioned retail therapy. Score a pair of bargain-priced jeans on Jalan Cihampelas, where each outlet store boasts its own gigantic kitschy plaster superhero. Pick up a few locally designed t-shirts at the funky streetwear boutiques on Jalan Trunojoyo, then head back to the Sukajadi Hotel to model your new wardrobe in front of the mirror.

Outdoor types can stroll past streams, waterfalls and Japanese caves from the WWII era in the lush forests around Bandung. Take a hike (or a taxi!) to the top of Tangkuban Prahu, an impressive volcano crater, making sure you leave time for a dip in the hot springs on your way down. Explore a charming clove or tea plantation, then taste the harvest for yourself with a cuppa on your balcony at the hilltop Jayakarta Suite.

A former Dutch colonial trading post in North Sumatra, Medan is Indonesia’s third largest city, and an exciting mix of old and new.

Visit the 19^th century Maimoon Palace, which still houses the descendants of the former Sultan. Admire the Moroccan-style Mesjid Raya, a unique black-domed mosque with exquisite stained glass and marble carvings. Add to your holiday wardrobe at the gleaming new Sun Plaza, then take a stroll through the old part of town, where stately colonial buildings watch over fast-paced urban life.

Fancy hanging out with some locals? Medan is just a banana peel’s throw from the Gunung Leuser National Park at Bukit Lawang, one of the few places in the world you can see the orangutan in its natural habitat. Trek through the pristine jungle for a day or two, then wrap your opposable thumb around a cold Bintang beer in the lounge bar at Medan’s Sahid Hotel.

An easy day trip from Medan is Berastagi, a bustling market town at the foot of Gunung Sibayak, one of Indonesia’s most accessible volcanoes. It’s about a three-hour hike to the smoking summit for some magnificent views over the valley. After the descent, soothe your aching muscles in the nearby hot springs, or hit the sauna at the Tiara Medan.

If that all sounds a bit too active for you, how about a few days of relaxation at Danau Toba, a stunning volcanic lake? Swim, paddle a boat on the water, cruise the villages on a bike or just chill out and enjoy the unique culture of the region’s Batak people. Back in Medan, check in to the JW Marriott and recover from the stress of it all with a movie on your flat-screen TV.

Like to do more with your holiday break than lounging around at home in your pyjamas, but don’t want an exhausting sight-seeing experience, bouncing from photo-opportunity A to souvenier shop Z and everything in between? Nothing wrong with that. In fact, we love those lazy kind of holidays. 

Sure it’s great to explore a new destination, but sometimes it’s nice to spend time loitering around your hotel.  Forget the sights – buy a postcard -and check out these holidays in your hotel – NZ style.

The Westin Auckland Lighter Quay hotel is a great place to give your body, mind and soul a break. Check in and kick back, go for a jog using a mapped track around Auckland harbour, or use the Westin Workout gym and pool. Have lunch outside at Toast Cafe, then spend the afternoon at their Senses Spa and Wellness Centre for a wide range of spa and beauty treatments. Relaxed and refreshed, enjoy an elegant dinner at Q restaurant followed by a Westin Heavenly Bed experience. Now do you see what we’re talking about?

You can stay in a cottage at Kauri Cliffs Lodge with his and hers walk-in wardrobes, private veranda backing onto native NZ forest and views over the golf course to the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy the entertainment of the main building’s games room, dining room fireplace, spa and heated pool. And when you need a stretch you’ll find walking tracks, three private beaches, tennis courts, and kayaking to work up an appetite for the a la carte dining at the Lodge.

You’ll need an explosion of energy just like the nearby volcano of Mt Ruapehu to get through all the activities and facilities at the Bayview Château Tongariro. Everything from petanque/boules, snooker and tennis to golf on the highest course in NZ with spectacular Mt Ruapehu as a backdrop. Relax with a visit to the bar and restaurant, and finish the evening with a flick at the hotel’s on-site cinema, which shows three recent release movies each night.

A hotel that’s huggable? Well, the complimentary bear provided by The George Hotel in Christchurch is there to welcome you. Within its walls, this hotel is full of entertainment and the one-to-one ratio of staff to guests ensures attentive service. Use the gym or mountain bikes for a ride in nearby Hagley Park, then come back for a cocktail, followed by a special dinner at the award-winning Pescatore restaurant. Head back to your room and curl up with your favourite bear or bearette.