Is Milan a good alternative base for exploring Italy?
Drive south to Auckland and stay for three nights to explore the city including the ferry ride to the pretty harbourside village of Devonport. Another ferry takes you to Waiheke Island where you can either hire a car or join a tour to explore the island's wineries and dining scene. Continue south to Rotorua to experience the spurting, steaming sensations of New Zealand's thermal wonderland, as well as its lovely lake and forest scenery.
Next stop is Lake Taupo for a fishing trip on the lake and if you still have time, drive further south to Tongariro National Park where there are amazing walks and dramatic volcanic landscape. From Tongariro, Wellington is a four-hour drive. Your itinerary would benefit from another four days. If you aren't already locked into a 10-day trip, you might consider extending and devoting more time to Rotorua, Lake Taupo/Tongariro and Wellington.
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My daughter and her uni student friends, all in their 20s, wish to travel to Colombia. As they will be travelling on budget, what is a safe itinerary that includes points of interest and what tours are available?
T. Stuart, Coogee, NSW A tour, rather than a DIY itinerary, is the perfect solution for these young people in Colombia. They will travel safely at a fixed cost, mix with other travellers and get to find their feet in what can be a challenging country. G Adventures has several tours of the country, ranging from eight to 17 days. Melbourne-based adventure operator Intrepid also has a variety of tours. They'll probably find some areas in which they want to spend more time and the coastal city of Cartagena is likely to be top of their list.
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