Sydney, capital of New South Wales and one of Australia’s largest cities, is best known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, with a distinctive sail-like design. Massive Darling Harbour and the smaller Circular Quay port are hubs of waterside life, with the arched Harbour Bridge and esteemed Royal Botanic Garden nearby.

Moreton Island is just off the coast of southeastern Queensland, Australia. The protected sand island is known for its beaches and steep dunes, like Mount Tempest. On the west coast, a dive site features coral and tropical fish around a group of sunken boats called the Tangalooma Wrecks.

Airlie Beach is the gateway to Australia’s glorious Whitsunday Islands. The township brims with island-bound tourists, yachties and backpackers, who crowd the bars of its jam-packed main drag. Around town, dozens of outlets sell crafts, clothing and souvenirs, and sociable restaurants and watering holes abound.

The picturesque town of Yorkey’s, dominated by its dramatic headland, is your gateway to Cairns, one of Australia’s hottest vacation destinations, which basks in tropical sunshine with balmy breezes that waft in from Trinity Bay.

The quirky outpost of Darwin boasts museums, botanical gardens and the Adelaide River home to the famous jumping crocodiles. It’s a place where memories are born and adventure is a given. Closer to Indonesia than any other Australian city, Darwin is the capital of the region known locally as the “Top End,” the vast Northern Territory. Darwin is home to more than half of the territory’s population, and the city and its people reflect the rugged individualism that comes from living in the harsh Outback.

Komodo lizards quietly thrived in the harsh climate of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years until their existence was discovered about 100 years ago?when Dutch sailors encountered the creatures for the first time, they returned with reports of fire-breathing dragons. Reaching 10 feet in length and weighing over 300 pounds, Komodo dragons are the world’s largest and heaviest lizards. The best place to view these magnificent and endangered creatures is on Komodo Island, the largest island in Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Man and Biosphere Reserve. Although Komodo National Park is famous for its most recognized inhabitant it’s also noted for its diverse marine habitat. 1,000 species of fish, 260 species of reef-building coral, manta rays, sharks, dolphins, whales and sea turtles live in the park’s coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass beds and semi-enclosed bays.

The commercial center of Southeast Asia, this island city-state of four million people is a metropolis of modern high-rises, Chinese shop-houses with red-tiled roofs, Victorian architecture, Buddhist temples and Arab bazaars. It is a melting pot of people and cultures — Malay, Chinese, English and Tamil are official languages; Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity are the major faiths. Ever fascinating, Singapore boasts diverse cultures, luxurious hotels, and some of the finest duty-free shopping in the world.

Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands floating in the Andaman Sea off northwest Malaysia. Steeped in mystery and legend, it offers diverse attractions

Phuket (pronounced poo-keht) is one of the premier travel destinations in Southeast Asia. Travelers from around the world are drawn to this province’s stunning beaches, crystalline waters, and dramatic limestone peaks. Its mountainous interior is densely forested with mahogany, rubber trees, tropical evergreen, royal palm, ficus and bamboo. Located on Thailand’s long, thin southern coast and bordering Malaysia, Phuket island boasts a rich cultural mix of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Western influences. Explore the modern shopping centers, take in a kickboxing match, visit the ancient Buddhist temples or go fishing and catch dinner. Plus, get your fill of snorkeling or scuba diving, as the diving is of world-class caliber.

Sri Lanka conjures up the exotic and the mysterious. Once known as Ceylon, the island boasts a fantastic landscape that ranges from primeval rain forest to the bustling modern streets of Colombo, the capital. A visitor to Sri Lanka has a wealth of options. Relax on some of the world’s finest beaches. Explore the temples, halls and palaces of the last Sinhalese kingdom at Kandy. Or take a guided tour of an elephant orphanage. Colombo also offers an array of charms, from the Royal Botanic Gardens, once a royal pleasure garden, to the Pettah Bazaar, where vendors hawk everything under the sun. Colombo and Sri Lanka were shaped by Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and European influences. Colombo also serves as a gateway for Overland Adventures to India.

Dubai, perched on the Persian Gulf coast, is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the United Arab Emirates, a glittering modern oasis in the harsh Arabian Desert.