Maria Island is a natural wildlife sanctuary and off-shore retreat with historic ruins, sweeping bays, dramatic cliffs and plenty of stories to tell. Located off Tasmania's east coast and accessible only by ferry, Maria Island contains the most intact example of a convict probation station in Australia. Spend the night and piece together Tasmania’s intriguing convict history, encounter very cute wildlife and explore Maria Island’s pristine beaches and ancient forests. The island offers excellent walking and cycling journeys and a limestone quarry at the Fossil Cliffs provides a fascinating close-up look at the many ancient creatures immortalised as fossils in the rocks. The Painted Cliffs at Hopground Beach are beautifully patterned sandstone shaped by the mineral-rich water and wind.

The Momentary, a contemporary art space in Bentonville, Arkansas, serves as a satellite of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Housed in a repurposed cheese factory, it features visual and performing arts, live music, culinary events, and artist residencies. With free admission, the venue connects visitors to dynamic cultural experiences while honoring the ancestral lands of the Osage, Caddo, and Quapaw peoples. Its focus on modern creativity makes it a standout destination in downtown Bentonville.

Renowned for its flights into the Southwest National Park, a vast and special place of extraordinary natural beauty that forms part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, there’s often more to a scenic flight with Par Avion. Fancy whisking that special someone away to devour oysters and wine on a picnic by the sea?

Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary is a large collection of moth and butterfly species, kept in a lush botanical garden. The artist J.N. Jumalon uses the discarded wings and other everyday objects to create the eye-catching mosaics on display in the attached gallery.