Queen of the desert

It might not look promising, but the bush has some incredible birds, writes Vanessa Wright

This week’s dream: the romance of the night train ...

Winding through the Southern Alps in New Zealand, the TranzAlpine is lauded as one of the world’s greatest rail journeys, but few know that its well-worn tracks also trace the path of an ancestral Māori trade route

Take the train for a laid-back tour of the Côte d’Azur’s glitzy cities and lesser-known towns, jumping off to buy a slice of pissaladière, visit a museum or dip your toes in the sea.

RIDE THE RAILS

Seasoned bikepacker and route guide Markus Stitz shares the six cycling destinations he rates as the very best in the world