Are you looking for a holiday that offers everything – but want to pass on the crowds?
Whether you’re after tropical sunshine, cultural experiences, adventure or even snow – you can have it without the hustle and bustle. Since we launched in the Asia Pacific in 2000, we’ve booked millions of holidays for people just like you.
Here are our top five underrated destinations that should be on your bucket list – places with far less competition that will feel as if they should be much, much more popular.
1. Port Macquarie
Some holidays are just about relaxing and enjoying that beachfront piece of paradise, and Port Macquarie offers that promise without the crowds of the Gold or Sunshine Coasts, or Bondi.
This laidback destination offers kilometres of patrolled beaches, reliable waves for surfers and a beautiful nine-kilometre coastal walk that can be broken down into smaller sections. There are natural wonders aplenty nearby, too, including the renowned Barrington Tops National Park – which is an accessible day trip.
The kids will enjoy the Billabong Zoo and the Koala Hospital – where hurt marsupials are cared for – or a trip to Timbertown Heritage Village, a working recreation of a 1800s-style town made from timber, near the town of Wauchope. You’ll never be short of an excellent café or restaurant in Port Macquarie, either.
What a place for a family getaway!
Stay: Club Wyndham Flynns Beach
2. Nagano
The prefecture of Nagano is a perfect place for skiing and snowboarding in the winter or enjoying awe-inspiring hikes and rides in the summer. The spring cherry blossom season is a sight to behold, while autumn brings with it hues of red and gold across the mountains.
Snow and ski resorts dot the hills while onsens – Japanese hot springs with luxurious bathing waters said to reduce skin conditions like atopic dermatitis – are readily available.
Your ideal base is Club Wyndham Chikumakan Nagano, which is a day trip from the Jigokudani Monkey Park, where the creatures bath in the hot springs all day, the samurai-era town of Narai-juku, and historic Matsumoto Castle, which is one of the nation’s twelve remaining original castles.
Throughout Japan, ryokan resorts or inns are enjoyed by tourists searching for an authentic taste of tradition, offering an all-inclusive experience with tatami flooring, Japanese futon beds, cultivated gardens, onsite onsen, resting places, and meticulously prepared cuisine made from local ingredients. Club Wyndham Chikumakan Nagano is a ryokan resort offering some Western touches – with a choice of bedding – and breakfast and dinner included.
Dōmo arigato!
Stay: Club Wyndham Chikumakan Nagano
3. Hua Hin
Instead of the hustle and bustle of Bangkok or the hordes of tourists at Phuket, Hua Hin and its nearby neighbour, Pranburi, offer a more secluded, rejuvenating option.
There’s a reason an official summer residence of the royal family, the Klai Kangwon Palace, is nearby. The towns are close to a stunning Buddhist temple and a colourful shrine, Wat Khao Takiap, the alluring Skull Beach – where the rock formations look like skulls – and a 16-level waterfall called Pa La-U. Drive along the coast and wander laidback fishing villages, or pull up a chair on the kilometres of free coastline and read a book looking out over the ocean.
Use Wyndham Hua Hin Pranburi Resort & Villas as a base and enjoy a tranquil escape with 20 acres of space surrounded by the Gulf of Thailand’s crystalline waters and a lush forestry planation. Enjoy the 1,250 square metre infinity pool, day spa, fitness centre, tennis courts, basketball court, archery range, skate park, pickleball courts and much more.
Now this is paradise!
Stay: Club Wyndham Hua Hin Pranburi Resort & Villas
4. Surabaya
Don’t write off Indonesia’s second largest city – it’s a destination for the intrepid traveller who loves getting lost in other cultures and societies.
The city’s famous for its foodie scene and you can sample traditional favourites at the extensive Kodam market or Tunjangan Plaza – where there are over 500 street vendors and artisans. Rent a scooter and look for the red and green gates with the dragons and follow the brightly lit lanterns, and you’ll come upon Chinatown, where you can pick up handmade goods or herbal remedies or peruse the fish market.
Inspect the Dutch colonial buildings in the old town of Kota Tua on a horse-drawn carriage or travel across the city’s architectural wonder, the Suramadu Bridge – the longest bridge in Indonesia!
Outside the city, uncover the true history of Java by looking at the ancient ruins of the Majapahit Empire, a Hindu nation that one reached Sumatra and New Guinea. Alternatively, take a four-wheel drive trip across an ash field to the crater of active volcano, Mount Bromo, or a day trip to Mount Ijen where you can see a turquoise-coloured sulfuric lake and electric blue flames rising into the sky.
It’s time to get adventurous!
Stay: Club Wyndham Surabaya City Centre
5. Rotorua
Sometimes passed up for its exciting South Island competitor, Queenstown, Rotorua offers plenty of extreme adventures to try and picturesque landscapes to explore without the crowds.
Get your adrenaline racing white river rafting through rapids, bungee jumping, luging, Zorbing, or the latest heart-pumping craze, Shweebing. Rotorua is considered the thermal capital of New Zealand so make sure you try one of the town’s many hot spring locations or the country’s only mud baths.
If you are into some casual exploration, the awesome Whakarewarewa Forest offers 130 kilometres of mountain bike trails, while the set of Hobbitown, made famous as The Shire in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, is a manageable day trip.
Rotorua also features 15 fishable lakes and crystal clear streams abundant in trout – the perfect place to try fly fishing.
This is living!
Stay: Ramada Resort by Wyndham Rotorua Marama
