28Feb, 2023

Sydney, Australia

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.

Time in Sydney:

Sydney

22°

Clear

Feels like: 22°C
Wind: 14km/h W
Humidity: 19%
Pressure: 1006.77mbar
UV index: 0

FriSatSun

23/11°C
24/11°C
24/11°C

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. Sydney Tower’s outdoor platform, the Skywalk, offers 360-degree views of the city and suburbs.

Sydney Aquarium, Taronga Zoo and Wildlife Sydney Zoo shelter animals like koalas, kangaroos, sharks and snakes. Pyrmont’s Sydney Fish Market has a working seafood auction and restaurants serving the day’s catch. There are multicultural dining opportunities all over the city, including in Haymarket’s Chinatown and the restaurants serving the Italian community in Leichhardt. A ferry ride through the

harbour is part of the experience in visiting outer Sydney destinations such as Bondi and Manly Beaches – both popular for surfing.

When to visit

Sydney is temperate and sunny all year, and crowds are highest during summer (Dec–Feb) and during school holidays.

Major events that increase hotel demand are the performing-arts–focused Sydney Festival (Jan),
The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras (Feb–Mar),
The Sydney Royal Easter Show (dates vary),
The Sydney Film Festival (Jun).
Severe thunderstorms are most likely Oct–Mar.

28Feb, 2023

Wellington, New Zealand

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, sits near the North Island’s southernmost point on the Cook Strait. A compact city, it encompasses a waterfront promenade, sandy beaches, a working harbour and colourful timber houses on surrounding hills.

Time in Wellington:

Wellington

14°

Fair

Feels like: 12°C
Wind: 23km/h N
Humidity: 73%
Pressure: 996.95mbar
UV index: 0

FriSatSun

14/7°C
15/11°C
15/11°C

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, sits near the North Island’s southernmost point on the Cook Strait. A compact city, it encompasses a waterfront promenade, sandy beaches, a working harbour and colourful timber houses on surrounding hills. From Lambton Quay, the iconic red Wellington Cable Car heads to the Wellington Botanic Gardens. Strong winds through the Cook Strait give it the nickname “Windy Wellington”.

On the waterfront, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (commonly shortened to Te Papa) is the national centre focusing on the country’s natural history, cultures and art. From the city centre, a promenade lined with restaurants, parkland and heritage buildings leads to Oriental Bay. The Mt. Victoria Lookout has panoramic views of the city and harbour. Also reached by the Wellington

Cable Car is the Carter Observatory, which houses the Space Place planetarium. A national arts hub, the city is home to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (in the Michael Fowler Centre) and the Royal New Zealand Ballet (in St James Theatre).

When to visit

Famed for its strong winds, the city is breezy year-round with particularly strong gusts in the winter. Otherwise, the climate is moderate. Peak travel coincides with the warmer months of Dec–Apr.

The Wellington Sevens (Jan/Feb) is a popular rugby gathering.
The month-long biennial New Zealand Festival (Feb–Mar, even-numbered years) features diverse cultural events around town.
Wellington on a Plate (Aug) features pop-up bars, night markets and more.

28Feb, 2023

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is the coastal capital of the southeastern Australian state of Victoria. At the city's centre is the modern Federation Square development, with plazas, bars, and restaurants by the Yarra River. In the Southbank area, the Melbourne Arts Precinct is the site of Arts Centre Melbourne – a performing arts complex.

Time in Melbourne:

Melbourne

12°

Partly Cloudy

Feels like: 9°C
Wind: 21km/h W
Humidity: 78%
Pressure: 1009.48mbar
UV index: 0

FriSatSun

16/10°C
17/11°C
18/11°C

Melbourne is the coastal capital of the southeastern Australian state of Victoria. At the city’s centre is the modern Federation Square development, with plazas, bars, and restaurants by the Yarra River. In the Southbank area, the Melbourne Arts Precinct is the site of Arts Centre Melbourne – a performing arts complex – and the National Gallery of Victoria, with Australian and indigenous art.

Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building explore city history and culture. The Immigration Museum and the Chinese Museum provide differing cultural perspectives on local settlement, while Old Melbourne Gaol offers insight into 19th-century prison life. A major shopping destination is Queen Victoria Market, a Victorian-era building with food stalls. The city’s 19th-century “laneways” and shopping arcades are lined with cafes, galleries and

boutiques. The riverside Royal Botanic Gardens shelter 10,000-plus plant species, and Yarra Park is home to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

When to visit

Most visitors arrive during summer (Dec–Mar).

Popular events include the Australian Open tennis finals (Jan),
The LBGT-focused Midsumma Festival (Jan–Feb).
Also drawing crowds are the Moomba arts festival (Mar), known for its parade and carnival;
The Royal Melbourne Show (Sep), an agricultural fair;
The Melbourne Festival (Oct), with many free performances. Melbourne’s climate is temperate but quite variable, with cool temperatures during winter (Jun–Aug).

28Feb, 2023

Gold Coast, Australia

The Gold Coast is a metropolitan region south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast. It's famed for its long sandy beaches, surfing spots and elaborate system of inland canals and waterways. It’s also home to theme parks such as Dreamworld, Sea World and Wet’n’Wild.

Time in Gold Coast:

Gold Coast

21°

Mostly Cloudy

Feels like: 21°C
Wind: 14km/h NNW
Humidity: 81%
Pressure: 1010.5mbar
UV index: 0

FriSatSun

27/17°C
25/16°C
24/16°C

The Gold Coast is a metropolitan region south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast. It’s famed for its long sandy beaches, surfing spots and elaborate system of inland canals and waterways. It’s also home to theme parks such as Dreamworld, Sea World and Wet’n’Wild. Inland, hiking trails crisscross Lamington National Park’s mountain ridges and valleys, home to rare birds and rainforest.

The Q1 building with its SkyPoint observation deck towers over Surfers Paradise beach, which has a vibrant nightlife scene, a beachfront market and casinos. Main Beach’s shops and restaurants lie along Tedder Avenue. Hotels line the canal system, which has its own inland beaches, such as Budds Beach. Surf breaks such as Snapper Rocks and Burleigh Heads are among the most popular in the country. The David Fleay Wildlife Park protects emus,

kangaroos and koalas. Other natural areas include Tamborine National Park, with waterfalls and trails, and Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, an eco-park with an elevated boardwalk through the trees.

When to visit

The Gold Coast is a year-round destination with mild to warm weather. It’s famous for its sunshine,

Tropical cyclones are possible Jan–Mar.
Beaches are popular during school holidays, especially mid-Dec–late Jan.
Deals abound at other times of the year. Apr–Oct is peak visibility time for divers.
Key events include the Quiksilver Pro & Roxy Pro surf contests (Feb/Mar)
Coolangatta Gold (Nov),
an Ironman endurance race combining swimming, running, board paddling and surf skiing.

28Feb, 2023

Brisbane, Australia

Brisbane, capital of Queensland, is a large city on the Brisbane River. Clustered in its South Bank cultural precinct are the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre, with noted interactive exhibitions. Another South Bank cultural institution is Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, among Australia's major contemporary art museums.

Time in Brisbane:

Brisbane

23°

Fair

Feels like: 23°C
Wind: 8km/h N
Humidity: 61%
Pressure: 1010.5mbar
UV index: 0

FriSatSun

30/15°C
26/13°C
26/13°C

Brisbane, capital of Queensland, is a large city on the Brisbane River. Clustered in its South Bank cultural precinct are the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre, with noted interactive exhibitions. Another South Bank cultural institution is Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, among Australia’s major contemporary art museums. Looming over the city is Mt. Coot-tha, site of Brisbane Botanic Gardens.

Ferries cruise the winding river. At one bend, modern skyscrapers crowd around the restored 1920s City Hall.

Nearby, the Roma Street Parkland is a subtropical garden that’s home to native and endangered plants. For shopping, the Queen Street Mall is also in the central business district, and James Street in Fortitude Valley has restaurants and cafes. Further upriver, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary offers visitors the chance to hold koalas and hand-feed

kangaroos. Out in Moreton Bay, North Stradbroke Island is home to an Aboriginal settlement, a former convict station and shipwrecks.

When to visit

Many people travel to Brisbane in winter (Jun–Aug) and the Dec–Jan school holiday break.

Key events include Ekka (Aug), an annual agricultural event also called the Royal Queensland Show.
The popular Brisbane Festival (Sep) draws crowds to music, theater, dance and circus performances.
The rainy season (Nov–May) begins late in the spring and runs through fall, with tropical cyclones possible Jan–Mar.

27Feb, 2023

Rio de Janerio, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro is a huge seaside city in Brazil, famed for its Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, 38m Christ the Redeemer statue atop Mount Corcovado and for Sugarloaf Mountain, a granite peak with cable cars to its summit. The city is also known for its sprawling favelas (shanty towns).

Time in Rio de Janeiro:

Rio de Janeiro

20°

Fair

Feels like: 20°C
Wind: 8km/h NNE
Humidity: 79%
Pressure: 1017.27mbar
UV index: 0

FriSatSun

30/22°C
26/22°C
27/22°C

Rio de Janeiro is a huge seaside city in Brazil, famed for its Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, 38m Christ the Redeemer statue atop Mount Corcovado and for Sugarloaf Mountain, a granite peak with cable cars to its summit. The city is also known for its sprawling favelas (shanty towns). Its raucous Carnaval festival, featuring parade floats, flamboyant costumes and samba dancers, is considered the world’s largest.

Sporting pursuits include volleyball on Ipanema Beach, surfing at Arpoador and paragliding from the lofty Pedra Bonita viewpoint. Sandy beaches stretch from Guanabara Bay to Barra in the west, all of them with cycle tracks and kiosks selling coconut water. Tijuca National Park features rainforest- covered mountains filled with waterfalls, hiking trails and toucans. Samba, forró and bossa nova bands

perform in the bars of the Lapa area. Modern art is exhibited at Museu de Arte Moderna and Museu de Arte do Rio. Host of the 2016 Olympics, Rio is also home to iconic Maracanã Stadium.

When to visit

Rio’s climate is subtropical, and the weather is warm year-round, getting particularly hot and humid from Nov–Mar. Peak travel season is summer (Dec–Jan) as well as during Carnaval (Feb/Mar, varies by year).

27Feb, 2023

Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

Foz do Iguaçu, a city in the Brazilian state of Paraná, is the main base for visiting famed Iguaçu Falls, one of the world's largest waterfalls. Stretching for 2.7km, and straddling the border with Argentina, the falls comprise hundreds of cascades, including the 80m-tall Devil’s Throat.

Time in Foz do Iguaçu:

Foz do Iguaçu

20°

Fair

Feels like: 20°C
Wind: 23km/h E
Humidity: 80%
Pressure: 1010.16mbar
UV index: 0

FriSatSun

23/18°C
30/20°C
34/22°C

Arara vermelha - Parque das aves - Foz do Iguacu / Brasil

Foz do Iguaçu, a city in the Brazilian state of Paraná, is the main base for visiting famed Iguaçu Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls. Stretching for 2.7km, and straddling the border with Argentina, the falls comprise hundreds of cascades, including the 80m-tall Devil’s Throat. Drenching rides on rubber boats are a popular way to take in the thundering spectacle.

Surrounding the falls is Iguaçu National Park, a subtropical rainforest with diverse wildlife. Near its visitors center is the Bird Park, home to around 150 species, including toucans and macaws. North of Foz do Iguaçu, the massive Itaipu Dam, which supplies a large portion of Brazil’s energy, offers tours. Nearby is the Chinese-style Buddhist Temple, with over 100 statues, including a 7m-tall Buddha. In town are hotels, restaurants and tour operators that cater to the falls’

visitors. Across the Iguaçu River is Puerto Iguazú, the hub for Argentina’s side of the falls.

When to visit

Peak travel period is summer (Nov–Feb). The climate is humid and subtropical, with the hottest days and rainy season Oct–Mar.

27Feb, 2023

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is Argentina’s big, cosmopolitan capital city. Its center is the Plaza de Mayo, lined with stately 19th-century buildings including Casa Rosada, the iconic, balconied presidential palace. Other major attractions include Teatro Colón.

Time in Buenos Aires:

Buenos Aires

18°

Fair

Feels like: 17°C
Wind: 16km/h NNE
Humidity: 83%
Pressure: 1007.11mbar
UV index: 0

FriSatSun

23/16°C
25/19°C
22/16°C

Buenos Aires is Argentina’s big, cosmopolitan capital city. Its center is the Plaza de Mayo, lined with stately 19th-century buildings including Casa Rosada, the iconic, balconied presidential palace. Other major attractions include Teatro Colón, a grand 1908 opera house with nearly 2,500 seats, and the modern MALBA museum, displaying Latin American art.

In Microcentro, the business district, shopping thoroughfare Florida Street leads to Plaza San Martín, a busy park. Elegant Recoleta is home to upscale shops and La Recoleta Cemetery, with the ornate graves of Eva Perón (a famous former First Lady) and other Argentine luminaries. San Telmo has cobblestone streets and a popular antique fair. La Boca, the Italian quarter, offers colorful Caminito alley and La Bombonera football stadium.

Palermo’s leafy streets are lined with hip boutiques, restaurants and bars. Classic Buenos Aires experiences include shopping for leather, dining at a parilla (steakhouse) and dancing the tango.

When to visit

Peak periods for visitors include the mild months of fall (Mar–May) and spring (Oct–Dec). Many locals leave the city during the hot, humid summer months of Jan–Feb for vacations, and businesses may be closed or have limited hours then.

Winter (Jun–Aug) is chilly and rainy.
The Tango Buenos Aires Festival (Aug)
El Día Nacional de Tango (Dec 11) celebrate the tango dancing and music with live performances and concerts.

27Feb, 2023

Santiago, Chile

Santiago, Chile’s capital and largest city, sits in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped Andes and the Chilean Coast Range. Plaza de Armas, the grand heart of the city’s old colonial core, is home to 2 neoclassical landmarks: the 1808 Palacio de la Real Audiencia, housing the National History Museum, and the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral.

Time in Santiago:

Santiago

9°

Partly Cloudy

Feels like: 9°C
Wind: 5km/h WSW
Humidity: 79%
Pressure: 1016.26mbar
UV index: 0

FriSatSun

19/7°C
20/8°C
16/8°C

Santiago, Chile’s capital and largest city, sits in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped Andes and the Chilean Coast Range. Plaza de Armas, the grand heart of the city’s old colonial core, is home to 2 neoclassical landmarks: the 1808 Palacio de la Real Audiencia, housing the National History Museum, and the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral. La Chascona is the home-turned-museum of poet Pablo Neruda.

Nearby is San Cristóbal Hill, hosting the massive Parque Metropolitano, with swimming pools, trails, a botanical garden, a zoo and a funicular to its summit. A smaller hill, Santa Lucía, features extravagant landscaping, fountains and promenades. The luxury boutiques of Avenida Alonso de Córdova and the Museo de La Moda fashion museum are highlights of the upscale Vitacura neighborhood.

Mock colonial village Pueblito Los Dominicos specializes in crafts. Bustling Mercado Central sells seafood, fruits and vegetables. The Barrio Brasil and bohemian Barrio Bellavista neighborhoods offer lively nightlife.

When to visit

Peak season is summer (Nov–Apr). Temperatures are mild year-round, but winter (May–Sep) sees frequent rain (snow in the Andes).

The Santiago a Mil international theater festival takes place in Jan, as well as the Festival Nacional del Folklore, a days-long festival of traditional Chilean music and dance in the suburb of San Bernardo.
The Fiesta del Vino (Apr) celebrates the fall grape harvest in the nearby wine capital of Pirque.
The Fiestas Patrias (Sep) mark Chile’s freedom from Spanish rule.

27Feb, 2023

Lima, Peru

Lima, the capital of Peru, lies on the country's arid Pacific coast. Though its colonial center is preserved, it's a bustling metropolis and one of South America’s largest cities. It's home to the Museo Larco collection of pre-Columbian art and the Museo de la Nación, tracing the history of Peru’s ancient civilizations.

Time in Lima:

Lima

FriSatSun

18/14°C
19/14°C
19/15°C

Basilica and Convent of San Francisco - Lima Peru

Lima, the capital of Peru, lies on the country’s arid Pacific coast. Though its colonial center is preserved, it’s a bustling metropolis and one of South America’s largest cities. It’s home to the Museo Larco collection of pre-Columbian art and the Museo de la Nación, tracing the history of Peru’s ancient civilizations. The Plaza de Armas and the 16th-century cathedral are the heart of old Lima Centro.

Other Lima Centro landmarks include the baroque Convent of San Francisco and Torre Tagle Palace. Downtown, the Parque de la Reserva’s Magic Water Circuit features 13 interactive fountains choreographed to music and light. Lima’s barrios include Miraflores, where many of the bars and restaurants are, as well as the Malecón clifftop promenade overlooking the Pacific. San Isidro is a barrio with upscale shopping. The hip, seaside Barranco

neighborhood is known for nightlife. Lima is also renowned for its vibrant food scene, encompassing specialties from ceviche to refined global fare.

When to visit

Peak travel is Dec–May, when temperatures are warm and the weather is dry. Low, dense cloud cover known as the garúa descends frequently May–Nov.

There are fireworks and parades to celebrate the anniversary of Lima’s founding (Jan 18).
The Lord of Miracles festival (Oct) involves religious veneration of an image of the Black Christ, as well as bullfighting.
Creole Song Day (Oct 31) centers on performances of traditional Peruvian music.