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best contemporary art, there’s no need to step foot in a gallery or museum—right there, splashed across brick and mortar on nearly every corner and street and tucked away in alleys, a vibrant world of burgeoning street art is begging to be discovered. PRO TIP: Of all the colorfully graffitied nooks and crannies in the city, Holster Lane is by far the most impressive. Take in its kaleidoscope of murals in the early morning to have it all to yourself.

GREAT BARRIER REEF: A WHALE OF AN ADVENTURE

The most famous resident of the Great Barrier Reef may also be the loneliest. Migaloo, a pure white adult humpback whale, is considered to be one of just a few of this species alive today—some even say the giant marine mammal is the only of his kind—but his rarity makes him even more beloved. Sail with the Regent on one of its 2021 Australia-bound itineraries and you might give Migaloo some much-needed company, along with the other incredible marine life that call the world’s largest coral reef system home. Catch a glimpse of it all with a ride on an aqua bus, skirting palm-lined beaches and lush rainforests in your pursuit of Migaloo. Or take to the skies for an aerial safari where you’ll soar over stunning reef compositions. Those who want a deeper immersion can travel by catamaran to an exclusive pontoon floating atop the Outer Reef, where they can snorkel, scuba, or go way down in a submersible among colorful fish. Whether you’re whirling above or water bound, the Coral Sea is so clear you’ll have a good chance of seeing all of the Great Barrier Reef’s underwater inhabitants. PRO TIP: For a romantic, high-flying sojourn, ask your helicopter pilot to swing over Heart Reef, a coral isle shaped like—you guessed it—a heart.

Ready. Set.

Cruise. To unlock Regent’s worldclass journeys, enter OFFER M21719 on the website found on the back cover.

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Dream Cruise

Paul Gauguin Cruises’ exploration of French Polynesia will satisfy most any adventurist. BY JEN MURPHY

SECRET WHITE-SAND BEACHES AND GLASSY, TROPICAL WATERS MAKE THE SOUTH PACIFIC AN ADVENTURER’S DREAM. The natural beauty of French Polynesia’s 118 islands and atolls has inspired many artists, from Henri Matisse and Paul Gauguin to writers including Robert Louis Stevenson and Mark Twain. Paul Gauguin Cruises retraces their island-hopping in true luxury aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin. Designed specifically for the shallow waters of the South Pacific, the ship delivers guests to intimate ports inaccessible to larger cruise ships, which means you’ll never disembark in a busy cruise terminal.

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

The ship’s itineraries truly set it apart. At the heart of all Paul Gauguin Cruises’ trademark sailings lies a seven-night voyage to Tahiti, Huahine, Taha’a (Motu Mahana), Bora Bora, and Moorea. No other cruise company offers the opportunity to explore Tahiti’s wild coastline, ancient petroglyphs, marae (temples), and pockets of authentic Polynesian culture. One-of-akind stops include a five-star castaway experience at Motu Mahana—Paul Gauguin Cruises’ very own private islet.

Longer itineraries take guests further off-the-beaten path, including island-hopping to Rarotonga, Aitutaki, and other little-known patches of paradises in the Society Islands, Cook Islands, Tuamotus, Marquesas, Fiji, and Tonga. A 13-night sailing of the Society Islands, Cook Islands, Tonga and Fiji, stops at the tiny island of Beqa, which boasts one of the largest barrier reefs in the world. On a 14-night sailing of the Marquesas, Tuamotus, and Society Islands, guests visit the remote island

of Fakarava, a sanctuary for rare birds, plants, and crustaceans, as well as a stop on Hiva Oa, home to large stone sculptures linked to the famous tikis of Easter Island.

CULTURE GPS

A troupe of Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines— local Tahitians who serve as cruise staff—immerse you in the native culture through lectures, music, and dances like the ote’a—a complex line dance accompanied by drums. And the ship’s resident anthropologist and archeologist accompany guests on shore excursions to important archeological sites such as Maeva Village, home to the largest prehistoric habitation site in Polynesia. You’ll also have a chance to visit one of the region’s famous black pearl farms and vanilla plantations.

But there’s much more on offer than sightseeing. The ship has its own dive team, providing PADIcertification scuba diving programs and dive excursions to explore sparkling lagoons and colorful coral reefs. Watersports, including complimentary kayaking and paddleboarding, are available from the ship’s own marina or destination beaches. In addition to snorkeling and diving, guests can explore the depths of the ocean on a unique aquabike adventure—essentially an underwater scooter with dive tanks. On land, trek to waterfalls in Nakawaga, ATV through the jungles of Bora Bora, or explore the volcanic crater, from which Moorea was created, on an off-road safari. During summer and December holiday sailings, the ship’s Moana Explorer program, offered in partnership with Te mana o te moana, a South Pacific marine education and conservation foundation, offers daily educational adventures like naturalistled beach excursions, treasure hunts, and stargazing. Days are action-packed, but the ship’s team of butlers, sommeliers, and spa therapists guarantee instant relaxation the minute you’re back onboard.

Paul Gauguin Cruises’ Aquamarine

seascapes await. Enter OFFER M21720 on the website found on the back cover for more inspiration.

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A N E P I C T A R C T I C A

Lindblad Expeditions takes passengers on a true explorer’s journey via incredible Antarctic voyages.

BY CLARA WOODBRIDGE

Opposite: Zodiacs take explorers to Instagram-worthy landscapes. Clockwise from top: A playful penguin parade; sunset calls for cocktails and cameras; the beauty of vast ice sheets and open ocean.

SVEN LINDBLAD WAS PRACTICALLY BORN AN EXPLORER. The CEO of Lindblad Expeditions is the son of Lars-Eric Lindblad, the Swedish-American pioneer who led the first non-scientific expeditions to Antarctica and the Galápagos Islands— and the younger Lindblad has been following in his father’s fabled footsteps since his earliest days. He spent six years as a photographer and filmmaker in East Africa. He’s pioneered responsible travel in far-flung places like the South Pacific. He’s even had an insect named after him, the moth Undulambia lindbladi.

Lindblad Expeditions has partnered with National Geographic on several initiatives, including building the National Geographic Endurance, the world’s preeminent polar expedition vessel, for which Lindblad (the CEO) has created some of the most immersive Antarctic expeditions ever. Guests can experience the continent with the same amazement he did on his very first expedition decades ago. “I didn’t sleep for two days, I was so mesmerized as our ship crunched through sea ice,” he recalls of that trip.

Passengers aboard Lindblad Expeditions’ 2021 and 2022 Antarctic itineraries will no doubt understand that sentiment as they ply the least traveled waters in the world. Every itinerary includes the built-in bragging rights that come with crossing the Drake Passage, a legendary stretch of sea considered a milestone in any explorer’s journal, with endless opportunities to photograph albatrosses and other wild birds. As the landscapes grow icier with each nautical mile, the Southern Continent and its islands slowly emerge, from South Georgia Island and its millions of resident penguins, all the way down to the Ross Ice Shelf, a rarely visited part of the continent accessible on the 32-night Epic Antarctica: The Peninsula to the Ross Sea itinerary. Along the way, Lindblad promises close-up encounters with majestic glaciers and breathtaking mountains that surge for thousands of feet and breathtaking moments in the presence of wonderous creatures like orcas and blue whales.

These experiences, the explorer says, make Lindblad Expeditions’ Antarctica sailings true journeys, akin to his, and his father’s, own adventures. “Genuine encounters with beauty and wildness are the difference between wonderful and extraordinary,” he says. “My advice is to get out and explore. Inhabit the wildness. Hear the silence.”

Sea Me. Explore untrammeled wilderness by visiting the website found on the back cover and entering OFFER M21721.

Click Bait

Every Antarctic cruise with Lindblad Expeditions includes an onboard

National Geographic

photographer to help passengers capture their singular surrounds like a pro. Here, three tips for aspiring shutterbugs on their next icy adventure.

GO LONG…AND WIDE: To capture the crevasses of an iceberg or the details of a penguin’s black-and-white coat, you’ll need a zoom lens, but don’t forget the power of a wide-angle lens. Landscapes in Antarctica are vast, and shooting with a 24-mm lens or wider allows you to capture foreground, middle ground, and background—all breathtaking elements in one photo.

FILTER YOURSELF: Every moment promises a new perspective, thanks to the ever-changing light during Antarctic summers. To combat direct sunlight— not to mention all that sun bouncing off white, snowy surfaces—invest in a

polarizing filter for clarity

and sharpness. It will also bring out the intense blue tones of icebergs.

HAVE PATIENCE: With so much to capture, most novice photographers snap away with abandon. Instead, think quality over quantity—ponder your photo before hitting the shutter. If you are able to, view your subject from alternate angles. And consider perspective: A photo of a whale, for instance, is much more impressive with an iceberg in the background for scale. Once you’ve found your shot, click away.

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ISLE CHECK!

The British Virgin Islands are naturally designed for secluded escapes. BY JEN MURPHY

IT’S EASY TO ESCAPE THE CROWDS ON AN ISLANDHOPPING ADVENTURE IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. A boat charter makes it a breeze to explore the natural beauty of the four main islands and 50-plus islands and cays. You set the pace. Spend a lazy morning snorkeling, then sail to a secluded white sand cay for a picnic lunch, and when the sun starts to set, drop anchor at a beach bar to toast the day. Let these experiences navigate your journey.

COOPER ISLAND

Newly renovated after Hurricane Irma, the Cooper Island Beach Club is the ideal place to enjoy a leisurely lunch just steps from the sand. Conch fritters and cassava fries are island staples, while a rum bar boasts the largest selection in the Virgin Islands. Beer lovers should try the Turtle IPA, crafted onsite at the solar-powered brewery.

SCRUB ISLAND

When you dock at Scrub Island, you’re a guest of the entire island, which means you can take advantage of the incredible amenities. Book an afternoon at the Ixora Spa, perched high above the Caribbean Sea. And with three on-island restaurants, your palate will be pampered, too.