London Tilbury to Auckland

With more bicycles than permanent residents, the Dutch capital is both charming and quirky. Aesthetically little has changed in the centre since its 17th century Golden Age. Beautiful gabled houses and merchants’ mansions line serene, tree-lined canals, which are laid out in five concentric circles and crossed by numerous bridges. The Royal Palace, originally built as a Town Hall in the 17th century, stands on a large square in the centre of the city. Considered one of Europe’s major art capitals, Amsterdam is home to a number of superb galleries and museums including the famous Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum.

The capital of Barbados, and UNESCO World Heritage site, Bridgetown has a distinctly British atmosphere - you’ll even find a Trafalgar Square with a statue of Nelson. Barbados typifies our idea of a classic West Indian island like no other. The island has a beautiful interior dotted with gardens and English country churches, and is rimmed with wonderful breaches.

Miles of the best beaches and a compact main town makes Aruba a favourite. Boutiques, upscale chain stores and street vendors, as well as casinos and a wide range of restaurants and bars, leave you no end of options to fill your day.

Located at the eastern entrance of the Panama Canal where it meets the Atlantic Ocean, Cristóbal is your gateway to the locks and lakes that make up this engineering wonder. But while this is arguably the port’s main draw, it’s not all about modern marvels as Panama’s turbulent past has left a legacy of colonial treasures to explore, amid a swathe of virgin rainforest that stretches through the region.

Once the playground for the rich and famous, and dubbed the ‘Pearl of the Pacific’ in its heyday, Acapulco remains gorgeous. Visit romantic cliff-side restaurants, the impressive 17th century fort, a world-class botanical garden or the old town’s charming shady zócalo (plaza).

Nuku Hiva is situated on the north-western tip of Marquesas in French Polynesia. A huge island with dramatic landscapes; deep bays blessed with Robinson Crusoe–like beaches, dramatic waterfalls and timeless valleys.

A modern and bustling town, Papeete is the capital of Tahiti (often called the ‘Island of Love’), and largest of the French Polynesian islands. Visit the Point Venus, the Botanical Gardens and Maraa Fern Grotto.

A dreamlike setting, Bora Bora is a ring of sand-edged motu (islets) encircling a glinting turquoise lagoon surrounded by rainforest-covered peaks. Diving, snorkelling, lagoon tours, hiking and parasailing are readily available, but it’s the iconic over-the-water bungalows with piers reaching out like tentacles into the lagoon that Bora Bora is world-famous for.

Auckland is an archaeological wonder with two ancient rain forest covered mountain ranges. A blend of Polynesian culture and modern city environment has created a lifestyle ranked amongst the best in the world.