ABC of Worldwide

All of the attractions in this article can be visited on our tours or can be booked as extra excursions.

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A is for Arthur's Pass, New Zealand

South Island’s first National Park in 1929, home to one of New Zealand’s highest mountain passes. Located within the Kā Tiritiri o Te Moana (Southern Alps), witness glaciers, river gorges, beech forest and the Otira Viaduct.

Take your pick to explore this fabulous terrain in your motorhome on the Great Alpine Highway, by foot or on the TranzAlpine train journey. If you are lucky you might spot a cheeky Kea parrot along the way.

Arthurs Pass is part of our Ultimate New Zealand Escorted Motorhome Tour.

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B is for Butchart Gardens, Canada

Once an old limestone quarry, the beautiful Sunken Garden has been transformed over 9 years into a beautiful oasis. Marvel at the Sunken garden, wander through 30 rose scented arches, take in the tranquillity of the Japanese trees and bubbling streams or enjoy a gelato in the Italian courtyard, formerly the Butchart family’s tennis court.

This National Historic Site can be visited on our Vancouver Island and The Sunshine Coast Escorted Tour.

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C is for Cradle Mountain, Australia

Give yourself a warm hug from nature in this Australian cradle. Walk in this jewel of the Tasmanian World Heritage Wilderness Area. Dazzle at the mirrored lakes and reflect on the beauty in front of you.

Visit on our Tasmania – The Wild State tour.

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D is for Dambulla Cave Temple, Sri Lanka

One of Sri Lanka’s eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, this temple consists of five impressive caves with intricate Buddhist mural paintings and 157 breathtaking statues.

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E is for Everglades National Park, USA

This vast, subtropical wetland, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is home to a fragile ecosystem of plants, birds, reptiles and land and water mammals. Upon visiting, you can expect to see turtles, herons, alligators and crocodiles, manatees and dolphins.

Visit on our Florida & the Keys tour.

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F is for Featherbed Nature Reserve, South Africa

Set along Southern Africa’s picturesque Garden Route, Featherbed is a privately-owned reserve accessible only by boat. Its pristine shores and fertile forests are home to two of the Garden Route’s icons; the Knysna Loerie, a bird with a distinctive emerald green plumage, and the Blue Duiker, one of Africa’s smallest antelope species.

Visit on our Cape Town & The Garden Route tour.

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G is for Glow Worm Caves, New Zealand

This is a truly magical experience and one that must be had if you visit New Zealand. Waitomo caves are 30 million years in the making. The upper caves are filled with unique formations but as you head down to the lower level, gliding gently through the calm waters by boat, Mother Nature really puts on a show to behold.

You can visit these caves on any of our New Zealand tours.

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H is for Hlane Royal National Park, Swaziland

Swaziland (Kingdom of Eswatini’s) largest protected area became a National Park under King Sobhuza II’s ruling in 1967. ‘Hlane’, the siSwati name for ‘wilderness’, is home to lions (the emblem of royal eSwatini), white rhino’s, antelope and more than 300 species of bird including white-backed vultures.

Visit on our Roads of the Rainbow Nation tour.

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I is for Indian Ocean Stilt Fishing, Sri Lanka

This traditional Sri Lankan fishing method started during WW2 when overcrowded fishing spots prompted locals to fish on the water rather than from the shore. Men sit atop hastily-made poles of sticks and twine and cast their fishing rods into the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean.

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J is for Jasper Skytram, Canada

An aerial view of the magnificent Canadian Rockies can be enjoyed from an enclosed tram, whisking you up to 2,263 metres. Learn about the alpine environment whilst ascending, and at the top choose from one of the many hiking trails on Whistlers Mountain, including a 1.4km hiking trail to the summit.

Visit on our Canadian Rockies tour.

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K is for King's Canyon, Australia

Walk the 6km rim circuit or take a helicopter ride for breath-taking views of this magnificent canyon in Australia’s Watarrka National Park.

Visit on our Australia's Northern Territory tour.

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L is for London Bridge, Lake Havasu City, USA

Yes, you heard us right. This is the world’s largest antique! This bridge had each stone numbered and dismantled in London, UK, shipped via the Panama Canal and three years later opened for use again in 1971 in Arizona, USA.

Visit on our California Calling tour.

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M is for Makgadikgadi Pan, Botswana

This ancient lake, spanning 16,000km2, is Africa’s largest salt pan and is home to the biggest zebra population on the continent. During the wet season, flamingos flock here alongside wildebeest and springbok.

Visit on our A Tale of Three Countries tour.

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N is for Nanu Oya, Sri Lanka

Amongst the misty peaks of the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, lies Nanu Oya. The village is small and quaint, home to only a handful of houses, a shop, temple and school but is famed for being the railroad entrance to the city of Nuwara Eliya.

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O is for Oak Alley Plantation, USA

Sitting on the west banks of the Mississippi, this National Historic Landmark was built in 1837 and was, most notably, home to Antoine, a slave of Creole ancestry who was a gardener and master grafter of pecan trees.

Visit on our Rhythms of the South tour.

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P is for Ponto do Ouro, Mozambique

A quaint laid back town in Southern Mozambique. Amazing diving, a Dolphin Research Centre and an idyllic white beach makes this unknown gem a must see.

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Q is for Quokkas, Australia

Native to Australia’s Rottnest Island, these cute nocturnal marsupials are a type of small wallaby. Once described as “a kind of rat as big as a common cat” by a Dutchman, the island was named ‘Rotte nest’, meaning ‘rat’s nest’, which evolved to how we know it today.

Visit on our Western Wanderer tour.

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R is for Rocamadour, France

Clinging to the cliffside, this magical village, with its quaint church steeples and pale stone buildings, will no doubt stick in your mind forever if you visit.

This destination can be visited by Australian and New Zealand customers only.

Visit on our Wonders of France tour.

Visit on our Wonders of France tour.

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S is for Sigiriya Rock, Sri Lanka

Towering 200m above the green tropical forests below, this historic and deeply cultural site was once a stronghold built to protect King Kashyapa over 1,500 years ago.

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T is for Taylor Head Provincial Park, Canada

Jutting out 6km into the Atlantic Ocean on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore is Taylor Head. The park boasts miles of unspoilt, secluded coastline, interesting geological features and natural habitat to many wild animals.

Visit on our Maritimes - Canada's Hidden Gems tour.

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U is for /Ui-//aea , Namibia

More easily known as Twyfelfontein, this #UNESCO World Heritage site is home to over 2,000 rock carvings, thought to date back thousands of years. The hot, dry climate has preserved the ancient art and it is regarded as one of the most important archaeological sites in Africa.

Visit this site on an excursion as part of our Tale of Three Countries tour.

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V is for Valdez Glacier, USA

Although vast in size, this glacier has been retreating for the last 10,000 years or so. First named in 1898 in the midst of the Gold Rush when gold-seekers crossed the glacier en route to Alaska's interior.

Visit Valdez on our Best of Alaska tour.

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W is for Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, New Zealand

According to Māori legend, when Te Hoata and Te Pupu travelled in the form of fire, they created New Zealand’s volcanoes, and geothermal features along their journey. The Māori community in Whakarewarewa is still thriving, co-existing with the geothermal forces beneath their feet.

Visit Whakarewarewa on our New Zealand Discovery tour.

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X is for Aix-en-Provence, France

Pronounced 'Ecks', this medieval, university city is located just south of Avignon in Southern France. Known for its natural springs and fountains, it is, despite its size, a very intimate and quaint city.

This destination can be visited by Australian and New Zealand customers only.

Visit on our Wonders of France tour.

Visit on our Wonders of France tour.

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Y is for York Minster, UK

Seat of the Archbishop of York and standing proud within the famous medieval city walls, York Minster is one of the largest cathedrals of its kind in Northern Europe. The building is 160m long and the tallest of its three towers is 72m high.

This destination can be visited by Australian and New Zealand customers only.

Visit on our Best of Britain tour.

Visit on our Best of Britain tour.

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Z is for Zambezi River, Zambia

The Zambezi is the fourth longest river in Africa at 2,574km (1,599mi) long. From its source in Zambia, it flows east and empties into the Indian Ocean. Its most notable feature is Victoria Falls, often considered to be the world's largest waterfall!

Visit on our Tale of Three Countries tour.

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Ben Tully

Visual Design & Content Creation

Ben deals with all things design, working on the visual design of our annual guides, Destinations magazine, information leaflets, social media and email campaigns, and much more across the Alan Rogers, Rallies and Worldwide brands. He also produces written content for our blogs alongside our other contributors.

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