A half a kilometer off the west coast of O'ahu, Matthew Solomona is in the midst of an esoteric explanation of why the water is so blue. It has something to do with the Pacific Ocean being a prism that captures and concentrates the wavelengths of all the azure in the visible light spectrum. It's very informative. But really, all we want to do is su...

​ Iconic Pacific swims, rap jumping, cycling and kayaking all part of father-son trip to Melbourne. With the sun blazing and the temperature soaring to 37C, it's time for a refreshing dip in the Pacific. But, this is no ordinary ocean swim. My son, Alex, and I plunge is framed by the Twelve Apostles, the magnificent limestone stacks towering 70 met...

As self-imposed exiles go, this one is exquisite, sexy, opulent and indulgent. My wife, Kerry, and I are holed up in one of the new, sumptuous over-the-water bungalow at Sandals South Coast Resort in Jamaica, and, we don't want to leave. So, we don't. We sequester ourselves in a four-day cocoon of over-water coupledom to celebrate our 25th wedding ...

​ There's no reason you can't stay in luxury while being a mangrove rehabilitation voluntourist in Miami. Feeling virtuous, my wife and I tuck into the elaborate tasting menu at KYU. The wine-and-dine extravaganza at the Asian-inspired barbecue hotspot in Miami's warehouse-turned-hipster Wynwood neighbourhood is justified after our stint of volunto...

Staying on a classic houseboat while in Amsterdam is the very Dutch thing to do. Channelling my inner Amsterdammer, I sleep in a canal boat and then cycle in the rain. It's all part of making my visit to the Dutch capital as authentic, and unique, as possible. I've been to Amsterdam before and stayed at DoubleTree, which is a very nice chain hotel ...

The Happiest Place on Earth goes all out for Halloween, and then Christmas. Shortly after we're startled by the Headless Horseman galloping by, we enter The Haunted Mansion. Then we hurl ourselves through a mostly-dark galaxy, get in an elevator with dodgy wiring, perilously hang upside down and ride a railway with sketchy tracks. But, it's all goo...