The yellow-eyed penguins of the Otago Peninsula are only found in New Zealand and are the rarest ones in the world, with just 4,000-5,000 penguins currently in existence. You can get up close and personal with these delightful creatures along with the thriving New Zealand fur seals and sea lions on an eco-tour that combines all three.

The Whirlpool Aero Car, designed by Spanish engineer Leonardo Torres Quevedo, has been transporting passengers across the Niagara River since 1916. Suspended from six sturdy cables, the antique red cable car offers a unique perspective of the Niagara Whirlpool, a mesmerizing natural phenomenon formed where the river abruptly changes direction. Far below, witness the torrent of water as it escapes through the narrowest channel in the gorge, creating a swirling spectacle that is both captivating and awe-inspiring.

Numerous Advent markets during the run-up to Christmas draw visitors from near and far to the City of Mozart. The most famous of these include the Christkindlmarkt on Cathedral and Residenzplatz squares, along with Advent Magic at Hellbrunn, which is particularly popular with families, and the Advent Market on Mirabellplatz.

A square steeped in folklore. Whether you visit during the Ghent Festivities in the summer or come to the weekly flea market, there is always something going on here. It is a real hotspot for bargain hunters at the weekend. And in mid-July, it is the epicentre of the Festivities with a capital F. The main stage at St James’ Church gets the whole city rocking! Ghent Festivities Sint-Jacobs, the popular square around the stately St James’ Church, has been the centre of the Ghent Festivities for decades. This was where the festivities were given a new lease of life in 1969 at Café Trefpunt, by the folk singer Walter De Buck. An old Ghent tradition was reborn. What started out as a small affair among artists around St James’ has grown into an event that takes over the entire city centre, thanks to support from Ghent city council. The ten-day, non-stop party is packed with folklore, street theatre, puppet shows, and music, and has now grown into one of the biggest street parties in Europe! Before and after the Ghent Festivities, the local atmosphere is never far away at Bij Sint-Jacobs. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning, this lively square is taken over by trinkets, baubles, small antiques and old junk. The flea market is a real Ghent tradition. And the market is so firmly rooted in Ghent culture that a whole host of vintage and curiosity shops have moved into the streets around the Romanesque church of St James, beside the famous antiques gallery, Gallery St-John. Bij Sint-Jacobs is the absolute place to be for collectors! The mighty St James’ Church stands in the middle of the square. A rough, Romanesque fortress of God. Its imposing architecture, dating back to the 12th century, may be the reason that this old church is still standing. It has survived desecrations and an iconoclasm. It has been damaged, scarred and then repaired, restored and extended time and again. That has led to an interesting mixture of styles. The architecture is Romanesque with Gothic and Baroque elements. It is a genuinely remarkable piece of religious architecture.