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Mt Merapi is an active volcano in Indonesia – with stunning views.
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WATCH THE SUN RISE OVER MT MERAPI Words: Ian Neubauer, travel writer
Its name means ‘Fire Mountain’ – and for good reason. Over an hour’s drive from the city of Yogyakarta on the island of Java, Mt Merapi, Indonesia’s most active volcano, has erupted more than 70 times in the past 468 years, most recently in 2014 when it blew a plume of volcanic material 1,500 metres into the sky. While Merapi can erupt again with little warning, the absence of significant seismic activity in recent years makes 2017 an opportune time to climb the 2,911-metre stratovolcano to witness sunrise. Catch a taxi at midnight from Yogyakarta to the village of Selo for the four-hour slog to the summit.
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Sydney is stunning when seen from above in a private seaplane.
LOSE YOURSELF STROLLING THE STREETS OF TALLINN’S OLD TOWN Words: Tatyana Leonov, editor, Travel ideas magazine
A unique mix of Scandinavian and Eastern European cultures, Estonia’s charming capital is a delight to explore with plenty of modern cafes, galleries and creative spaces attracting the hip crowd. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town is, of course, the highlight. Home to splendid baroque palaces and magnificent merchant dwellings, coiling cobblestone lanes and spiralling church towers, all you need is time and a good pair of shoes to scratch below the surface of this storied city. Interestingly, many of the historic structures that date back to medieval times have been preserved – even with the devastations of wars and fires of centuries past – making it one of the best-kept old towns in the whole of Europe. Tallinn City Hall is one of many historic buildings in the city’s Heritage-listed old town.
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EXPERIENCE SYDNEY BY SEAPLANE Words: Kari Edie, leisure product owner, Flight Centre
How best to see spectacular Sydney? Well, a seat on a private seaplane is a pretty good choice. I flew northwards out from Rose Bay, over the massive rocky outcrop of The Heads, then peered down on to the famous Northern Beaches. Flying westwards towards the Berowra Valley National Park I entered the Hawkesbury River for a James Bond arrival in front of a little restaurant tucked away in bushland. I had a fantastic meal at Cottage Point Inn before stepping back on to the seaplane for the all-too-short return journey that included a swoop over Sydney’s Harbour Bridge and Opera House before our gentle water landing at Rose Bay. Truly breathtaking!
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flightcentre.com.au/travel-news
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EXPLORE MEDIEVAL TOWNS ON A SELF-DRIVE TOUR THROUGH FRANCE Words: Vicki Fletcher, travel writer, Flight Centre
Photos: Brian Jannsen Photography; iStock, Sydney Seaplanes, Visit Estonia
France: a picturesque country of undulating hills and medieval villages, where church spires interrupt the horizon and the most rewarding route is always the one less travelled. France may be
the home of the high-speed TGV train and efficient freeways, but she is also a champion of slow, of history, quality and community. There is no better way to appreciate this than by dictating your own path and pace, weaving from village to village in the comfort of a car. From the rocky outcrop of Mont SaintMichel to the fairytale town of Colmar or the perfectly preserved walled city of Carcassonne, driving through medieval France is both romantic and rustic, pristine yet peeling around the edges – it’s the real France you’ve always dreamed of.
Driving through the country isn’t all about infamous walled cities. In fact, it’s more about the tiny gems you’ll stumble across along the journey. Where the boulanger (breadmaker) is happy to chat and local flavours and friendly hospitality translate across every language. It means pausing to picnic beside the Dordogne, sleeping in a chateau and enjoying a long lunch in the region’s favourite restaurant, tucked away outside of town. The best way to explore medieval France is certainly to slow to the local pace, enjoying where the journey takes you.
Medieval landmarks like Mont Saint-Michel are good markers for a self-drive holiday in France.
Travel ideas
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