Why visit? Spotting whales from a boat, seeing a kiwi in the wild, walking on a glacier, bubbling geothermal pools – it's all possible in New Zealand, along with great food and wine, dramatic scenery, Maori culture and cosmopolitan city experiences. What's new? Adventure Tours, which has operated quality budget itineraries around Australia for many years, has now brought its expertise to New Zealand – the new brochure features itineraries to both the North and South islands. My pick: Our 18- day Best of New Zealand self- drive covers the best of both islands and offers accommodationto suit all budgets. Top tip: New Zealand's summer ( October to March) gets very busy, especially in smaller places such as Franz Josef and Fox Glacier. Early booking is essential. May and June ( autumn) is still mild and it's also the best time to get great deals on accommodation, tours and campervans. An 18- day Best of New Zealand self- drive costs from £ 858 per person twin- share. A fully inclusive 17- day New Zealand Wonderland escorted tour costs from £ 2,155 per person. NEW ZEALAND by product manager New Zealand, Amy Bell From a luxury Nile cruise, to dinner with the orang- utans in Borneo, Travelmood's product managers have scoured the globe to help you find a holiday that meets your tastes and budget. Here's their pick of this season'sbrand- new brochures BOOK IT NOW Queenstown Rotorua Karnak Temple, Luxor Oberoi Zahra EGYPTby head of adventures, Ben Mifsud Why visit? Egypt offers the perfect mix of culture, history, excitement and relaxation – all within five hours' flying time from Britain. My visit in February was my fourth, and it didn't disappoint. I was blown away by the on- board service during our Nile cruise. My favourite hotel in Cairo is the Mena House Oberoi with its fantastic view of the pyramids, and I was overwhelmed by the sight of Abu Simbel, whose two temples were moved stone by stone to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. What's new? Egypt excels on history but it has still managed to come up with something new. Oberoi Hotels and Resorts has pulled out all the stops to produce its sleek luxury Nile cruiser, Oberoi Zahra, which glides between Aswan and Luxor. The cruiser has 25 luxury cabins and two palatial suites. My pick: As a new dad myself, I understandhow important family holidays are. Our nine- night Treasures of the Nile family adventure holiday brings those school history lessons alive with visits to the pyramids, Sphinx and Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The children will also have the opportunity to interact with other families on the holiday. If it's your first visit to this amazing destination our Best of Classical Egypt and Red Sea holiday offers a perfect introduction. Top tip: Consider visiting in the winter when temperatures are slightly cooler ( on the Red Sea it rarely dips below 21C). Many Red Sea resorts offer free nights over winter – stay seven nights and get one free at the Ritz- Carlton in Sharm el- Sheikh, from January 10 to February 28. Low- season prices on Oberoi Zahra( May, July, August) start at £ 1,380 per person twin- share, with all meals and excursions. A seven- night Best of Classical Egypt holiday costs from £ 776 on a twin- share basis. BOOK IT NOW 8WINTER2008/ 09 www. travelmood. com Let us take you there

reader offers AUSTRALIA by product manager Australia, Amy Bell FAR EASTby head of land product, Steve Johnson Why visit? The big five and wonderful safari experiences top the bill but don't overlook South Africa's wineries, beaches, diverse scenery and cultural experiences. And remember, there's only a two- hour time difference so there is no jet lag. I was lucky enough to visit an elephant sanctuary in Knysna this year, which was an unforgettable experience. What's new? Lots more choice. All our self- drives now offer standard, superior and boutique accommodation options and we have added a seven- day Best of Kruger tour to our ever- popular small group tours. We have also introduced Botswana, with Hot Deals combining a few days in Chobe with a visit to Victoria Falls. My pick: The Cape and Garden Route twin- centre holiday visits two unmissable destinations, Cape Town and the popular Garden Route town of Knysna. Our partnership with Gatsby International Hotels and Resorts twins boutique accommodation in Cape Town with a luxurious Cape Winelands and safari experience. Top tip: with the pound strong against the rand, there has never been a better time to go, but visit off- peak to get some of the best offers. Winter ( June to October) is mild; game viewing is at its best in the dry season ( May to August). The seven- day Best of Kruger Small Group Tour costs from £ 768. Stay three nights at the Lions Sands Private Game Reserve in Kruger National Park and receive two nights free at the boutique Cape Cadogan in Cape Town. Prices start at £ 844 per person. A three- day Chobe Hot Deal in Botswana costs from £ 364. SOUTHERN AFRICA by products executive, Rebecca Newton BOOK IT NOW Cape Point Borneo Why visit? Where else could you watch orang- utans in their natural habitat, emerge into a jungle clearing and see World Heritage- listed ruins, skim over emerald waters in a long- tail boat, gorge on delicious snacks at a night market and peer over one of dazzling skylines while tucking into a gourmet meal? For all its allure, your lasting memory of the region is likely to be the people. What's new? Experience diverse cuisine, architecture, traditional culture and the ancientcity of Chiang Mai on our six- day Northern Thailand Tour. In Malaysia we have a week- long self- drive itinerary and new destinations include the beach resorts of Phan Thiet, Nha Trang and Danang. My pick: I'd recommend the five- star Anantara Golden Triangle in northern Thailand. It has its own elephant camp where guests can bathe, feed and ride elephants in the jungle. At the Shangri- La Rasa Ria in Borneo, guests can feed the orang- utans. Top tip: make the most of low- season deals ( April/ May to the end of October). During the rainy season, the tropical downpours often occur during the night or only for part of the day, and temperatures rarely drop below 30C. The six- day northern Thailand tour starts at £ 315 per person. Doubles at the Anantara Golden Triangle from £ 131 ( three nights for the price of two from May to Oct). The Shangri- La Rasa Ria leads in at £ 85 ( seven nights for the price of six from May to October). Both are per room per night. BOOK IT NOW Why visit? Fabulous beaches, reef systems, rainforests, indigenous wildlife and the Outback coupled with sunshine, great food and wine and iconic scenery make Australia hard to resist. I was lucky enough to see ' the staircase to the moon' ( a natural phenomenon caused by the moon's reflection on mudflats) in Broome last year. What's new? Our Small Group Sydney Harbour lunch cruise will give you the chance to enjoy views of the harbour – and the great part is there will only be a maximum of 10 people on board. Try the new four- star Portal Hotel in Brisbane, which is just a short walk from the fantastic shops on Queen Street. Drop in on the ' neighbours' in Ramsay Street on our Sports Lovers and Neighbours tour. My pick: Our Dolphins, Rainforest and Eco Experience in southern Queensland includes visits to Tangalooma to spot dolphins, O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat to experience the rainforest and Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island. In Western Australia, our six- day Best of the Southwest self- drive takes in some boutique wineries and little- known coves and beaches. Top tip: Australia is too big to do in one trip. Work your way through it a little at a time and combine a city stay with an island break. Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays offers that quintessential reef experience. A five- day Hamilton Island Hot Deal costs from £ 374 per person twin- share including four nights' bed and breakfast and Great Barrier Reef cruise. The seven- day Dolphins, Rainforest and Eco Experience starts at £ 839 per person twin- share. new brochures Whitsundays BOOK IT NOW www. travelmood. comWINTER2008/ 09 9