Australia & Pacific Islands

• 1 Houses to take your breath away
  The German publishing house Taschen specialise in lavish, but affordable original editions with exceptional photos on a range of topics particularly design, architecture and lifestyle. This time, with...

• 2 French Polynesia: a paradise that caused a mutiny
  They'd travelled half way across the world to Polynesia to find breadfruit plants for the British empire which were to be planted in the Caribbean to help feed the slaves there, but the long and dangerous...

• 3 Opera and so much more in Sydney
  If there is a single image that identifies Sydney, it must be the bright, photogenic silhouette of the city looking out over the harbour. The great arch of the Harbour Bridge and the unfurled 'sails' of...

• 4 Australia: the epic world Down Under
  In November 2008 People magazine chose Hugh Jackman as the sexiest man on the planet. We can't be sure whether they'd taken a peek at the trailer for Australia, which was to debut a month later, but if...

• 5 In the land of the hobbits
  When Peter Jackson was 18, he took a train ride across New Zealand's North Island – one of the two islands that comprise the country. On the trip he read The Lord of the Rings, the great J R R Tolkien...

• 6 The natural wonders of the world
  The idea of listing the wonders of the world is hardly a new thing. The historian Herodotus compiled his own list way back in the fifth century BC, and from then on many have been unable to resist the...

• 7 Huka Lodge, riverside elegance in New Zealand
  Located in an unmatchable setting on the banks of the Waikato River, whose forceful waters flow towards the amazing Huka Falls, perhaps it would be more surprising if Huka Lodge had not become a magnet...

• 8 Meet the orang-utans in the jungle of Borneo
  Your first encounter with an orang-utan in the jungle is an unforgettable experience. Your attention is caught by a rustle of leaves or the movement of a branch, then a reddish shadow appears. Perhaps...

• 9 Hawaii: islands and marvels
  Leave your work clothes behind. Just pack a bag with bikinis, sandals and pareos, and head west. Way out west. Hawaii may be the 50th American state, but the archipelago is actually the northernmost island...

• 10 The world's best sunsets
  Serengeti, Tanzania People who have had the good fortune to visit the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania say that until you've seen the sun set over the great orange plains you haven't lived. The image...

• 11 The most romantic destinations for lovers

  It's that time of year again, when Valentine's Day looms and love is on everyone's lips. Maybe you think February 14th is just another date on the calendar, but there are plenty who will be using it as...

• 12 Wolgan Valley: eco-chic down under
  Set in the stunning natural landscape of the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Area less than three hours drive from Sydney, the Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa is proud of its status as Australia's...

• 13 Wolgan Valley: eco-chic down under
  Set in the stunning natural landscape of the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Area less than three hours drive from Sydney, the Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa is proud of its status as Australia's...

• 14 Around the planet in the wake of the whales
  Click on the photo for more spectacular images of these marine marvels

• 15 The glitz list: destinations with glamour
  From the Swiss mountains to the South Seas: exclusive beaches and ski resorts, chic cities and island paradises, these are the places with star quality, where elegance and sophistication reign. Lonely...

• 16 The glitz list: destinations with glamour
  From the Swiss mountains to the South Seas: exclusive beaches and ski resorts, chic cities and island paradises, these are the places with star quality, where elegance and sophistication reign. Lonely...

• 17 Staying with the stars
  Maybe it's their own tendency to demand the little – and sometimes not so little – luxuries when they themselves travel; maybe it's just a whim, or another outlet for their creative talents;...

• 18 The New Seven Wonders of the World in a spectacular set of images
  A global poll conducted three years ago set out to choose a new set of modern world wonders. The idea originated from Swiss filmmaker Bernard Weber, who launched the proposal in 1999 with the intent of...

• 19 Underwater luxury: a deep sea experience
  

• 20 A paradisiacal cruise around French Polynesia