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It sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Relaxing in a place where you can enjoy a culture-rich, worry-free break? That’s how holidays should be: the antidote to the world’s issues, the chance to get away from it all rather than sink yourself deeper into it.
There are certain countries – and parts of Australia – that have always excelled in this area. Peace is what they do, it’s what they bring.
Whether that is a sense of inner peace, or the tranquillity of your immediate surroundings, these are calm places where your stress levels dip and your enjoyment of the world dramatically increases.
Picture Bhutan, a famously peaceful country that measures its gross national happiness; or New Zealand, where your biggest worry is being misunderstood when you say “six”.
Or try Western Australia, a vast and sparsely populated land where a sense of time slowing down is unavoidable. If it’s peace you seek on your next holiday, choose one of the following destinations.
Iceland
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Why here Only 400,000 people live on this small outcrop of land – about the size of New Zealand’s North Island – deep in the Arctic Circle, where trouble rarely flares. Iceland is consistently ranked at the top of lists of the world’s safest and most peaceful countries, with a stable government, low crime rate, and a high level of social cohesion. Oh, and it’s gorgeous.
Calm down Iceland is all about the natural world, getting outside and slowly, calmly appreciating the Arctic wonder. Begin at Jokulsarlon Lagoon, where you can boat through icebergs calved from Vatnajokull glacier. Enjoy views of the Northern Lights during winter. Hike to the top of the Kerid volcanic crater. And explore the black-sand beaches of Reynisfjara.
Don’t miss When it comes to peace and relaxation in Iceland, it’s hard to beat a soak in the warm waters of Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa in the island’s south-west.
Make it happen Thai Airways flies from Sydney and Melbourne to Reykjavik via Bangkok and Oslo. Iceland is best in summer, though you can visit from September to March for the Northern Lights. See thaiairways.com; visiticeland.com
Bhutan
Why here Want to know how fast life moves in Bhutan? The highest speed limit anywhere in the country is 80 kilometres an hour. On most highways, it’s 60km/h. This is a nation in the slow lane, a peaceful, overwhelmingly safe place where you can immerse yourself in Buddhist culture and enjoy the Himalayan views.
Calm down Bhutan is best known for Paro Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest, a clifftop monastery that, to be honest, doesn’t offer the country’s most relaxed experience – it’s a long climb, surrounded by the largest crowds you’ll see here. Instead, explore the dzongs, or ancient fortresses, in the quieter likes of Punakha and Trongsa, and drive over the spectacular Dochula Pass.
Don’t miss The Trans-Bhutan Trail is an ancient, 403-kilometre path that once served as the lifeline between many of the country’s mountain villages. There are few more peaceful experiences than walking through the Himalayas on this historic pathway. See gadventures.com
Make it happen Thai Airways, with Druk Air, flies from Sydney and Melbourne to Paro, via Bangkok. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit. You will need to pay a daily “Sustainable Development Fee” in Bhutan. See thaiairways.com; bhutan.travel
Byron Bay hinterland
Why here You can see why so many people escaped to the Byron Hinterland in the 1970s, why hippies chose to tap out of modern life and hide in the hills to the west of Byron Bay. This area has a deep sense of peace to it, of physical beauty and spiritual harmony.
Calm down Jump in the car and point it west, into the hills, and explore the little towns you come across: Newrybar is first, or maybe Bangalow, but then you get into Federal, The Channon, Nimbin, Mullumbimby, Main Arm and more. These are places where the hippie spirit lives, set among natural beauty, with the chance to hike through national parks, explore waterfalls, climb mountains, and soak up the unique culture.
Don’t miss There are some truly great places to eat in the hinterland now. Try Frida’s Field in Nashua, Doma in Federal, You Beauty and Ciao Mate in Bangalow, the Eltham Hotel in Eltham, and Bistro Livi in Murwillumbah.
Make it happen The Byron hinterland is a one-hour drive from Gold Coast Airport, or 30 minutes from Lismore. The area is beautiful year-round. See visitnsw.com
The Maldives
Why here If you do the right thing by the Maldives, the Maldives will do the right thing by you. That is: it’s illegal to consume alcohol away from tourist resorts and “floating bars”, and drug laws are extremely strict. Obey those, and you will find the Maldives an idyllic place where it’s easy to tap out from the world’s problems and enjoy some time by (or in) the sea. Civil unrest has tended to occur in its capital Male.
Calm down What to do in the Maldives? How about nothing? This is the ideal place to sit back with a book on the deck of your overwater bungalow and let the world go by. If, however, you would like to actually do something, why not try a sunset cruise, or stand-up paddleboarding, a sunrise yoga session, or even a fishing trip?
Don’t miss Probably the key activity in the Maldives is exploring the underwater world. If you have a scuba-diving qualification already, great; if you don’t, this is the place to get it. The feeling of floating deep beneath the surface, watching as sea life moves around you, is as peaceful as you can get.
Make it happen Malaysia Airlines flies from Melbourne and Sydney to Male, via Kuala Lumpur. Dry season in the Maldives is from December to April. See malaysiaairlines.com; visitmaldives.com
Shikoku, Japan
Why here You know you’re safe anywhere in Japan. This country has a famously low crime rate, and a sense of duty among locals to make visitors comfortable. Still, if big cities can feel overwhelming, look to Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s main islands, a lush, mountainous place packed with culture and life in the slow lane.
Calm down No need to drive in Shikoku. In the island’s four prefectures – Kagawa, Ehime, Tokushima and Kochi – there are ample opportunities to get around by bike, from the 70-kilometre Shimanami Kaido route, connecting the mainland with the islands, to the roads running along the Shimanto River, to the quieter, 50-kilometre Tobishima Kaido. Shikoku also features many pleasant, relatively quiet cities, the likes of Matsuyama, Takamatsu and Kochi, with temples, castles and more.
Don’t miss In Matsuyama, Dogo Onsen is one of Japan’s oldest hot-spring baths, and has recently reopened after renovations. This onsen will be immediately recognisable to Studio Ghibli fans, as it was the inspiration for the bathhouse in Spirited Away.
Make it happen Shikoku is accessible from Tokyo via train or plane for fares to Tokyo. The island is best in spring or autumn, though it’s pleasant all year round. See qantas.com; japan.travel
Western Australia
Why here If Western Australia was a country it would be the world’s 10th largest, and yet only 3 million people live here (with more than 2 million in greater Perth), which gives you an idea of the empty spaces. Whether we’re talking the Kimberley or Karijini, Purnululu or Ningaloo, if you take a sense of peace from isolation, Western Australia is your state.
Calm down What keeps you calm? For some it’s the open road, and Western Australia has plenty of that: try driving the Nullarbor Plain, or Perth to Albany, or all the way up the coast to Broome. Or perhaps it’s underwater, with whale sharks, at Ningaloo. Or maybe it’s sitting at a winery sampling the product in Margaret River. Or perhaps it’s on a beach at sunset, watching the sun dip below the ocean.
Don’t miss There’s a sense of wild seclusion on Dirk Hartog Island, accessible by ferry from Steep Point, near coastal Denham, in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, about 850 kilometres north of Perth. This place is spectacularly beautiful, but with limited accommodation options, it remains peaceful.
Make it happen West Australian ports such as Perth, Busselton and Broome are accessible from the east coast with Qantas. The state is a year-round destination, though stick to winter if you’re heading far north. See qantas.com; westernaustralia.com
The Cook Islands
Why here Rarotonga, the Cooks’ largest island, is known for its bus service that has two routes: clockwise, and anti-clockwise. That tells you all you need to know about how hectic life is in this Pacific island nation. On the likes of Aitutaki and Atiu, meanwhile, there’s no bus at all because there are few roads and few people.
Calm down No one ever has to say “calm down” in the Cooks – it comes with the territory. In Aitutaki, take a cruise on the lagoon, go snorkelling or just laze on the beach. On Atiu, explore the limestone caves, go birdwatching, or get to know local villages. In Rarotonga, you can hire a scooter to make your way leisurely around the island, stopping for a swim when you see fit.
Don’t miss For underwater exploration suitable for almost all ages, check out Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve, a calm, secluded spot filled with marine life in shallow water just off the south-western coast of Rarotonga.
Make it happen Jetstar flies direct from Sydney to Rarotonga, with connecting flights from Melbourne. The Cooks are best from May to October. See jetstar.com; cookislands.travel
Patagonia, Argentina and Chile
Why here Connection with nature, for many people, is the key to a sense of peace. And so where better to find this than Patagonia, an area covering more than a million square kilometres across southern Chile and Argentina, where only 2 million people live, making it one of the most sparsely populated places on the planet.
Calm down Given the size of Patagonia, it’s no surprise to discover the plethora of experiences on offer. These range from gazing at ice sheets in Argentina’s Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, to hitting the open road on Chile’s Carretera Austral, to cruising the fjords, to hiking around Torres del Paine, to fly-fishing, mountain-biking, horse-riding and more. And all in almost perfect solitude.
Don’t miss If you have the money to spend, there are some truly gorgeous, luxurious hotels and resorts in Patagonia. Check out Awasi Patagonia (awasi.com), with its 14 standalone villas with views of Torres del Paine; Tierra Patagonia (tierrapatagonia.com), on the shores of Lago Sarmiento; and Las Balsas (lasbalsas.com), in Argentinian ski country.
Make it happen LATAM flies from Sydney and Melbourne to Santiago, with connections to Puerto Natales. Summer is high season, though autumn and spring are pleasant. See latamairlines.com; chile.travel; argentina.travel
Zambia
Why here Look at the map of Africa on Smartraveller.gov.au, and you’ll see a lot of red countries in the middle, some yellow on the outsides, but precious few nations shaded green. That makes Zambia an outlier: this is a safe, stable nation that offers those key southern African experiences, the luxury safari lodges, the wildlife, the seclusion.
Calm down Check in to your safari lodge, and check out of modern life for a while. At properties such as Sausage Tree Camp on the Lower Zambezi, and Tena Tena in South Luangwa National Park, there’s little to do but wake up for your morning game drive, enjoy lunch in the shade, head out for an afternoon game drive, and then take dinner with a few drinks. Rinse and repeat.
Don’t miss Some may not call it relaxing, exactly, but there’s something elemental and beautiful about a walking safari in Zambia. Many camps in South Luangwa offer these walks as part of their product, giving you the chance to see the African bush in a uniquely uninhibited way.
Make it happen Qantas flies from Sydney to Lusaka, in codeshare with South African Airways, via Johannesburg. Best time to visit Zambia is June to November. See qantas.com; classicsafaricompany.com.au
Antarctica
Why here You want peace? Solitude? A complete lack of disturbances and zero chance of being caught in global conflict? Then Antarctica is your destination. You will barely even see another ship down here – it will be just you and your expedition crew, exploring what is surely the world’s largest untouched wilderness.
Calm down You will explore Antarctica aboard an expedition cruise, which means your day-to-day will be dictated by your crew. Sometimes you will jump in Zodiacs and explore fields of icebergs; other times you will land on shore and see huge colonies of penguins. There will be times when you will just stand on deck or stare out of windows and watch whales, orcas, seabirds and more.
Don’t miss Though all the above experiences will be memorable, there’s nothing quite like that first sight of land when you travel to Antarctica. Waking up in the morning, gazing out of your window and seeing the world’s southernmost landmass? Incredible.
Make it happen The only way to see Antarctica is aboard an expedition vessel, departing from Ushuaia in Argentina. The cruise season runs from November to March. See aurora-expeditions.com
Tasmania
Why here “Come down for air” is a smart slogan. Well played, Tassie marketing people. Because it really does sum up the experience of travelling to Tasmania: you feel refreshed, reinvigorated, ready to believe once again in the good of the world. That might be the wilderness experiences, or it might be all the whisky and wine. Whatever, it does the job.
Calm down Tasmania’s waterways are underrated: try a floating sauna (with cold dip afterwards) on Lake Derby; go on a multi-day kayaking expedition with Roaring 40s; stay in an old pumphouse on Lake St Clair; experience the rivers and lakes of Southwest National Park on a multi-day adventure with On Board. And that’s before you’ve tried the beaches, which range from the beauty of Wineglass Bay, to the Bay of Fires in the north-east, to Seven Mile Beach near Hobart.
Don’t miss For more than 15 years, Saffire Freycinet (saffire-freycinet.com.au) has been a standout on the Australian luxury scene, a boutique property with only 20 suites that each look over Coles Bay to the Hazard Mountains. The feeling of seclusion and relaxation here is total.
Make it happen Qantas flies from Australian ports direct to Hobart. Tasmania is great year-round, though most popular in summer. See qantas.com; discovertasmania.com
The Coromandel, New Zealand
Why here To the east of Auckland lies a small peninsula dotted with villages and modest baches (holiday homes), a place Kiwis visit to unwind and relax. There are few crowds on the Coromandel, no traffic jams, no sense of hurry or stress.
Calm down You could rent a bach in the Coromandel, somewhere with a coastal view, take a suitcase full of books and just hang out in a cosy nook and plough through them. If you’re after a little more action, this area is big on boating, fishing, swimming and snorkelling, though you could also dig a thermal pool at Hot Water Beach, do the invigorating Pinnacles Walk, or explore Karangahake Gorge on foot.
Don’t miss The Coromandel’s best-known site is surely Cathedral Cove, where a large arch of rock separates two white-sand beaches. Best way to explore is in a sea kayak, which can also take you into the nearby marine reserve.
Make it happen The Coromandel is about a 1.5-hour drive from Auckland; Air New Zealand flies from Sydney and Melbourne to Auckland The warmer months are best here, including spring and autumn. See airnewzealand.com; newzealand.com
Five places where chaos absolutely reigns
Cairo, Egypt
There’s never a dull moment in Cairo, for better or worse. To exist in this city is to be often overwhelmed by traffic snarls and busy pavements, by honking horns and shouts, by the cacophony of an ancient place that is forced to also deal with the modern world. It’s invigorating, but ultimately tiring. See experienceegypt.eg
Mexico City, Mexico
More than 22 million people live in Mexico City, and it can sometimes feel like they’re all trying to get where you’re going at the same time. The city is like that, it’s big and brash, it moves fast, it has an unpredictable air that can put visitors off initially. This is an exciting place, but it’s not what you would call relaxing. See visitmexico.com
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Let’s not sugar-coat this: Rio can be dangerous. Petty theft and even violent crime is not unheard of, and tourists are often impacted. This is also a highly enjoyable city, a beautiful city, but it’s never exactly laidback. You’re always on your game in Rio, always weighing up your moves. Even when they’re dance moves. See visitbrasil.com
Beijing, China
The Chinese capital is one of those cities that hums with life, a metropolis barrelling headlong into the future, even while its past is so obviously a hindrance. You will see world-famous sights in Beijing, you will eat incredible food, and you will exist in a place like no other. But it won’t be relaxed. See cnto.org.au
Mumbai, India
“Just had a really peaceful holiday in Mumbai,” said no one ever. There are more than 22 million people living here; most of them are trying to talk to you. Almost any activity in Mumbai will require effort, stamina, a moment to steel yourself before you get out there and get it done. Great city, though. See incredibleindia.gov.in
