Tourists are risking their lives to get close to the spectacular Filipino volcano of Mayon.

Herald reporter James Ihaka ventures into the depths of the Waitomo Caves.

Herald reporter Beck Vass explores Tongariro National Park, a World Heritage site.

Bizarre things go through your head when you are ascending to 4500 metres and about to jump out of a small plane over Lake Taupo with an American strapped to your back.

Thrill-seeking great-great-grandmother Violet Maskell celebrated her 90th birthday earlier this month by jumping out of a plane.

Tim Roxborogh explores the amazing legacy of the Mayans.

San Ignacio offers close encounters with a long-departed civilisation, writes Tim Roxborogh.

Dazzling colours and a will to fight make the mahimahi a worthy opponent.

Graham Reid drives into the deserts and ancient mountains of central Australia.

Follow the beautiful game with a host of unforgettable and diverse experiences in South Africa.

When Belgian-born Wouter Van Wezemael learned his partner was pregnant, he assumed his dream holiday was off.

Greg Dixon walks... and walks... and discovers the landscape of Australia's Larapinta trail is not the empty canvas it first appears.

Monique Balvert O'Connor learns why thousands put cave rafting in their top 10.

NZ's world-beating sights aren't reserved for overseas tourists, so here are four highlights selected by Lonely Planet.

Australia's Northern Territory is a land of harsh beauty, writes Pamela Wade.

Heather McCracken finds the sand gets everywhere north of Perth.

Visitors flock to the Galapagos to experience its intriguing and diverse wildlife. But at what cost to these fragile isles, asks Alice Neville.

Intrepid explorer David Farrier finds there's more to Mongolia than the dreaded Death Worm.

Paul Rush explores the up, down and around of Taranaki's Surf Highway.

Like most budding McLeod's Daughters, Robyn Rosenfeldt has dreamed of escaping the city, sliding on a pair of chaps and mustering cattle in the High Country.

Wanaka has exciting boarding and a special ambience, writes Isaac Davison.

The altitude in the Ecuadorean capital of Quito takes your breath away, as does its historic centre, writes Alice Neville.

Three days' hard labour may not sound like much of a holiday. But for Jenifer Dagg it was the highlight of a trip to Nepal.

Self-confessed daredevil Beck Vass meets her match at Rotorua.

Go bush right at the foot of the Southern Flinders Ranges, writes Larine Statham.

Isaac Davison tries out a floodlit night course at Snow Park.

David Potts goes in search of the shy Aussie platypus.