With more than 32 kilometres of beautiful winding coastline, you will not have to look hard to find a good surfing spot. The calm sandy beaches and rising swells are perfect for getting your surf on. Ballina Surf School offers tailored packages for personalised session. They specialise in private classes with small numbers but also do group sessions.

Voted by Parents Magazine as the best zoo in the nation for families, the Lowry Park Zoo is home to over a thousand animals that live in lush natural habitats. There are eight habitat areas and plenty of interactive experiences for the little ones.

On an east-facing bay, Alykes is midway along the northeast coast of the island. It features a long sandy beach, plenty of water sports facilities and a good choice of tavernas and bars where to sample traditional specialties as well as a handful of small discos.

Used a backdrop for weddings, the Loretto Chapel is one of Santa Fe's oldest and most dear attractions. Formerly a Roman Catholic church, it now serves as a museum and wedding venue. Perhaps beyond its grand beauty and elegance, Loretto Chapel's continued allure lies in its mysterious spiral staircase. Both the identity of its builder and the stunning physics of its construction - there were no supports holding it as it spirals into the choir loft - remain a mystery. Legend says that St. Joseph himself made it, as the man who did build the staircase disappeared before the nuns were able to pay him, and the wood used was not native to the area. It is a stunning salute to the science of physics and the hearts of believers.