Tailor-Made Asia Holidays from New Zealand

Stretching more than 1,600 kilometres along the eastern coast of the Indochina Peninsula, Vietnam rewards travellers with dramatic limestone seascapes, centuries-old imperial citadels, and one of the world’s most celebrated culinary traditions. In the north, Hanoi’s tree-lined boulevards and bustling Old Quarter lead out to the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay and the terraced rice valleys of Sapa and Pu Luong.

Thailand combines golden Buddhist temples, forested northern highlands, and two distinct tropical coastlines along the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Most journeys begin in Bangkok, where royal palaces and quiet canal neighbourhoods sit beside rooftop dining rooms and contemporary galleries.

Japan pairs effortless modern infrastructure with deeply preserved cultural traditions. High-speed Shinkansen trains connect the neon districts and Michelin-starred dining rooms of Tokyo with the cedar temples, Zen rock gardens, and geisha districts of Kyoto in just over two hours.

Compact, lushly landscaped, and culturally diverse, Singapore is both a rewarding standalone destination and the most convenient stopover gateway between New Zealand, Asia, and Europe. Futuristic glass conservatories and Supertree skyways at Gardens by the Bay sit within minutes of conserved Peranakan shophouses in Joo Chiat, Chinatown, and Little India.

Known for its terraced river gorges, volcanic peaks, and living Hindu temple culture, Bali presents far more than its southern resort beaches alone. In the central foothills around Ubud and Sidemen, daily offerings of woven palm and frangipani mark village shrines surrounded by emerald rice paddies.

South Korea blends royal Joseon Dynasty heritage and mountain temples with dynamic contemporary design, cinema, and culinary culture. In Seoul, restored wooden palaces and traditional Bukchon hanok courtyard homes stand against a backdrop of granite peaks and modern architectural landmarks.

Compact and remarkably varied, Taiwan rises from subtropical coral coastlines and historic temple towns to forested mountain peaks approaching 4,000 metres. In Taipei, world-class imperial art collections at the National Palace Museum and bamboo-inspired Taipei 101 sit alongside lively evening night markets and traditional tea houses.

Set around one of the world’s most dramatic natural harbours, Hong Kong contrasts a dense, vertical skyline on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon with surprisingly wild country parks, outlying fishing islands, and sheltered beaches less than an hour from Central.

Malaysia brings together Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous Borneo cultures across two distinct regions separated by the South China Sea. On the peninsula, cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur leads north to the cool tea estates of the Cameron Highlands, the UNESCO-listed streets of George Town in Penang, and the island beaches of Langkawi.

Spanning imperial capitals, dramatic karst river valleys, and modern riverfront cities, China presents monumentality on a scale found nowhere else in Asia. In the north, Beijing’s Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven sit within reach of the stone watchtowers of the Great Wall winding across the Yan Mountains at Mutianyu and Jinshanling.

At the heart of Cambodia lies the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, where the stone temples, causeways, and reservoirs of the Khmer Empire rise from tropical forest. Watching dawn break behind the five lotus towers of Angkor Wat remains one of Southeast Asia’s defining travel moments.

Spanning more than 17,000 islands across the equator, Indonesia features extraordinary cultural and natural diversity beyond Bali. In Central Java, the royal court city of Yogyakarta is flanked by two of Southeast Asia’s greatest ninth-century monuments: the Buddhist mandala of Borobudur and the towering Hindu spires of Prambanan.

A subcontinent of incomparable historical depth, architectural splendour, and sensory vibrancy, India invites travellers on journeys that span Mughal imperial marvels, Himalayan serenity, and lush southern coastlines.

Scattered across the western Pacific, the Philippine archipelago is renowned for some of the world’s most pristine turquoise lagoons, coral gardens, and warm, welcoming hospitality.

Compact yet astoundingly diverse, the teardrop island of Sri Lanka packs UNESCO World Heritage citadels, rolling mist-shrouded Ceylon tea estates, wildlife-rich national parks, and golden Indian Ocean coastlines into effortless driving distances.