The Bocas del Toro region is part of the larger La Amistad area, which holds Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site statuses for its rich ecosystems, including the reefs of Panama’s Bastimentos National Marine Park. The waters are inhabited by a wonderful variety of tropical reef creatures including starfish, sting rays, nurse sharks, lobster, angel fish, parrot fish, damsel fish – the list is endless. Dive schools regularly visit up to 15 locations with depth ranges from 2 to 18 meters inside the bay area. Many centers offer try-dives, open water courses and education right through to dive master. Some dive sites include Crawl Cay, The Wreck, Hospital Point, Buoy Line, Playground and many more. The best time of year for diving is April-May and Sept-October but there is good visibility year round.

Timeless Textiles has a growing reputation as a key national centre for fibre arts. This gallery and shop hosts workshop programmes promoting the collectibility of fibre arts. Each year, the gallery hosts four local, four national and four international exhibitions.

Located west of Newcastle, this region is home to many of Australia’s top wineries, most of which are centred around Polkobin, although Cessnock is the area’s main town. The main attraction here is visiting the wineries and tasting the locally-grown fruits. There is no public transport between the wineries in Hunter Valley, so your best bet would be to hire a tour company.

The Secret Buddha Garden was built in 1976 by a fruit farmer called Nim Thongsuk and took around fifteen years to finish. This peaceful place can be found in the hills of Samui Island inside the verdant jungle. The garden is decorated with sculptures portraying both humans and deities in various poses. Getting there quite difficult so booking a tour in advance is highly recommended.