MAKING A SPLASH

Glamorous, versatile and low-impact, seaplanes are the stylish way to go, says

Nigel Tisdall

Wine And Wings

Vineyard visits by seaplane are a fun way to pair a scenic flight with tutored tastings in the acclaimed wineries of Margaret River, Western Australia. Departing from the Perth waterfront in a 12-passenger Cessna 208 Caravan Amphibian, guests aboard Swan River Seaplanes enjoy a low-level, 45-minute flight south to Busselton Jetty to visit two estates and enjoy a lunch with companion wines (swanriverseaplanes.com.au)

Tour Quebec By Air

Seaplanes provide an exhilarating way to admire the lakes and forests of eastern Canada, particularly during the blazing colours of autumn. Entrée Destinations offers a nine-day private tour from Montreal to Quebec that flies into luxury lodges beside Lac Sacacomie and the prestigious La Seigneurie du Triton estate with time for hiking, kayaking and fly-fishing (entreedestinations.com)

Scenic Scotland

Currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, Loch Lomond Seaplanes offers scenic flights over the Scottish Highlands from its base near Balloch, 16 miles northwest of Glasgow. The 10-seater Cessna 208 Caravans fly up to 100 miles, circling west over Loch Lomond and the majestic landscape of the Trossachs National Park, with day trips to the Isle of Jura available from March to October (lochlomondseaplanes.com)

Explore Patagonia

Rodrigo Noriega is an expert pilot whose AeroAlerce Flying Charters uses an amphibious Cessna 206 to take clients into the wilds of Chilean Patagonia. Departing from Puerto Montt, these adventurous trips fly over pristine forests, fjords and volcanoes with the option to fish, hike and camp overnight in the Corcovado National Park (aeroalerce.com)

Bliss In The Bahamas

Launched in 2021, Nassau-based COCO Bahama Seaplanes is the first year-round seaplane charter service to operate in The Bahamas in more than half a century. Its eightpassenger Cessna C208 Caravan comes brightly painted with hummingbirds and a cheeky ‘Love is in the Air’ slogan, and provides a brilliant way to whizz off to ritzy beach escapes in Harbour Island, Eleuthera and the Exumas ( flycocobahama.com)

CASTAWAY ISLAND FIJI TAKES GREAT CARE IN ITS STEWARDSHIP

A founding member of MES Fiji (Mamanuca Environment Society) and a leading advocate of environmental sustainability in tourism development, Castaway’s collective actions include coral planting, beach and underwater clean-up, fish house making and coastal tree planting, in addition to back-of-house goals such as reducing energy, water and waste while working alongside like-minded local non-profit organizations.