No 8: Sheer bliss and no sheep in the Greek Islands

We continue our series of the top 20 destinations of readers. By PETER WOODS


The British summer of '89 was drawing to a close along with my English sheep-shearing season. After two months of mesmerising the Sussex farmers with our shearing speed and honest solid toil, and copious amounts of English tea, it was time for that well-deserved break for my English girlfriend Lucy and myself before heading back Downunder to the call of more woolly sheep.

I found the answer on the posters in the local village's travel shop, offering last-minute deals to the Greek Islands with cheap flights and accommodation packages, starting with Rhodes then an island hop. A chaotic midnight arrival in Rhodes came with assurances that our bags would be at the guesthouse in the morning - and they were.

We enjoyed the white sandy beaches with tepid water, great food, the hysterical laughter of experiencing unstable beds and not a sheep in sight.

This was Nirvana at last.

Romance was in my heart and with the beckoning of the Rhodes jeweller shops, I had a tough call to make with our limited funds. A ring or an island hop?

My emotions and the favourable exchange rate won. I proposed and became engaged on the beautiful beaches of Rhodes - but never did get back to island hop.

The islands of Greece continue to be a dream destination with a special twist on an unfinished journey.

Getting there


Three nights' accommodation at Rhodes with buffet breakfast start from $270 each person, twin-share. Return airfares Auckland to Athens start from $1999 a person. Contact Flight Centre on 0800 24 35 44. Conditions apply.

Getting around

More than 20 buses service the airport each day so getting into the city after landing isn't a problem. The city is well served with public transport which network out to regional areas across the island.

Things to see and do

The largest of the Dodecanese, Rhodes is known as the Isle of the Sun.

The island has many interesting places to visit, such as the Valley of the Butterflies, the village of Trianda, ancient Ialyssos, the ruined temples of Athena and Zeus Poliea in the ancient Acropolis, the ruins of the Dorian city, Kalithea with its thermal baths.

There are splendid beaches all over the island.

Above all, don't miss Lindos and the temple of Athena Lindia.