AUSTRALASIA

Fiordland National Park
(New Zealand)

Mitre Peak and the Milford Sound
Photo © Corel

New Zealand's Fiordland was a classic even before the blockbuster marriage of celluloid and Tolkien's trilogy made it a Kiwi travel agent's poster child. In 1908, the London Spectator described the park's premier spot, the Milford Track, as "the finest walk in the world." Nearly a century later, the writer's statement still resonates: the dramatic scenery is as mind-blowing as the extreme adventures for which the South Island is famous. Te Anau is the region's hub, with buses running to Milford Sound, Lake Manapouri, and Doubtful Sound. Beyond trekking, kayaking through the fiords on the region's lakes and sounds offers access to some of the most intense scenery, including thunderous waterfalls, ancient rainforests, and glowworm-filled caves.

Gateway City: Queenstown
Size/Acreage: 4,600 square miles
When to Go: Mid-October to the end of April—go on the cusp to avoid crowds.
Accessibility: Easy to medium
Prime Activities: Trekking, kayaking, paddling, camping, horseback riding, fishing, mountain biking, and scenic flights
Inside Scoop: Worldwide fame means you have to sign up months ahead of time for the Milford Track, but kayak trips through the Sound are much easier to set up. And the Fiordland region has other treks, such as the popular Routeburn or less-trafficked Kepler tracks.
More on Fiordland:
Trek the Milford Track (from Away.com)
Top New Zealand Trekking (from Away.com)
www.fiordland.org.nz

Great Barrier Reef (Australia)

The living, breathing reef in glorious bloom
Photo © Weststock

Australia's Great Barrier Reef, a 135,000-square-mile behemoth visible from outer space, is not merely a large-scale spectacular; its beauty extends to the billions of microscopic forms of life that nurture this blooming underwater ecosystem. And fortunately, even with the water-sport tourist boom on Queensland's coast, plenty of tranquil areas do still exist for the adventurer to contemplate this marvel. Charter your own boat to ply the 74 Whitsunday Islands on the reef's southern end and avoid human contact for a while. Or further north, beyond Cairns' backpacker-focused hostels, bars, and outfitters, the regions nearing Port Douglas are more serene and less touristy.

Gateway Cities: Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane
Size/Acreage: 135,000 square miles
When to Go: Between May and October, the dry season
Accessibility: Easy
Prime Activities: Diving, snorkeling, sailing, rainforest hiking, swimming
Inside Scoop: Most visitors opt for the dry season, but the wet season has its perks as well: fewer tourists, impressive waterfalls, and raging rivers.
More on the Great Barrier Reef:
Great Barrier Diving (from Away.com)
Whitsunday Sailing (from Away.com)
www.great-barrier-reef.com

Move on to Central American Parks