A Rough Guide to: visiting Australia's Great Barrier Reef

It’s hard to believe now, but Perth was dubbed ‘Dullsville’ back in 2000. The city has spent the last two decades flipping the script.

With its dense tapestry of cultures and landscapes, India feels like dozens of countries rolled into one, but a single visa will cover you for travel across more than three million square kilometers of territory, taking in everything from steamy jungles to the high passes of the Himalayas.

Seasoned American travelers often look to the Department of State for advisories about everything from natural disasters to labor strikes in unfamiliar places. But what hazards are foreign governments warning their own travelers about when it comes to visiting the States?

Following months of apocalyptic images—billowing smoke, suffering animals, orange flames licking at a blood-red sky—the Australia fires that made headlines around the globe are finally under control. Though bushfires are a natural part of Australia’s ecosystem, this year’s summer fire season was particularly hot and dry, with grim consequences: More than 30 people died and some 27 million acres burned across the country.

Croatia is an endlessly appealing destination with sun-drenched beaches, picturesque hilltop towns and atmospheric streets.

The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most iconic tourist routes, stretching along the south-eastern coast of Victoria from Torquay to Allansford. Stretching for 151 miles, it offers spectacular ocean views and some breathtaking scenery. Along the way, visitors can explore a range of attractions including beaches, surfing spots, wildlife viewing areas, and stunning rainforest walks. There are also numerous great restaurants and cafes, galleries and museums to discover in the small towns along the route.

Australia enacted some of the most strict lockdown restrictions in 2020, which kept any and all tourists out. Then, in February, the country once again opened back up to Americans — just in time for the more comfortable Australian winter temperatures.

Colourful Australian slang, or strine, has its origins in the archaic cockney and Irish of the colony’s early convicts as well as the adoption of words from the many Aboriginal languages. And for such a vast country, the accent barely varies to the untutored ear; from Tasmania (“Tassie”) to the northwest you’ll find little variation in the national drawl, with a curious, interrogative ending to sentences fairly common – although Queenslanders are noted for their slow delivery.

With more than thirty other namesakes around the world – from New South Wales in Australia to South Africa's Eastern Cape – Scotland's Aberdeen remains the original and best, wearing its history well.

Fundamental to wild camping – or freedom camping – is self-reliance. Pitching a tent or throwing down a bivvy bag anywhere you like is a romantic concept, but intrepid travellers beware: sleeping under the stars comes with different rules and legal restrictions wherever you are. It also comes with responsibility for the environment and for your own safety.

He has met cannibals in Papua New Guinea, played with mountain gorillas in Rwanda and has several flower and animal species named after him. In a career of more than sixty years, naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough’s name is synonymous with utterly absorbing wildlife documentaries, including 1979’s Life on Earth, which became a yardstick for quality wildlife show production.

From historic bars pouring the finest whiskies to gastropubs serving up gourmet burgers, when it comes to Edinburgh nightlife, there's has a drinking den to satisfy every craving. There are some world-class establishments in the city – but also plenty of duds. Follow our guide (and steer clear of the Grassmarket) for the best night out the Scottish capital has to offer.