{"id":523,"date":"2015-11-21T04:57:45","date_gmt":"2015-11-21T04:57:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/2016s-unforgettable-hot-spots\/"},"modified":"2022-08-08T23:21:05","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T23:21:05","slug":"2016-hot-spots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/2016-hot-spots\/","title":{"rendered":"2016&#8217;s Unforgettable Hot Spots"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Writing that Christmas wish list? Forget about stashing up on stuff this year and instead think about getting out there and seeing more of the world in 2016. We\u2019re not just talking about another trip to Bali or Byron. Go on, get out there! Make 2016 the year you see the world with our must-visit hot spots.<\/p>\n<h2>Monterey, California, USA<\/h2>\n<p>The quaint seaside town of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/Monterey.d180045.Destination-Travel-Guides?brandcid=blog.unforgettables.hotspots_231115\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Monterey<\/a> at the end of the Big Sur, California\u2019s legendary coastal drive, is a great spot to spend a few days eating clam chowder and candied apples, and checking out the famous furry residents. Californian sea otters spend their days curled up in the sea kelp just off the shore and are used to kayakers paddling past. Seeing the sea otters in the wild is obviously one for the bucket list but if you want to see them up close, don\u2019t leave without a visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium. One of the world\u2019s largest aquariums, its sea otters are among thousands of fish, crabs, jellyfish and underwater critters to call the cavernous space home.<\/p>\n<h2>Buenos Aires, Argentina<\/h2>\n<p>Booked your Rio tickets yet? Don\u2019t worry if you missed out because things are going to be hectic over there next year. Instead, head further south to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/Buenos-Aires.d178242.Destination-Travel-Guides?brandcid=blog.unforgettables.hotspots_231115\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Buenos Aires<\/a>, the city that comes to life after dark. The locals don\u2019t eat until well after 10pm and after dinner you\u2019ll find them lining up for the secret speakeasys around town. Make Franks Bar your first stop \u2013 enter via the phone booth out front and get ready for serious cocktail creativity.<\/p>\n<h2>Coral Coast, Western Australia<\/h2>\n<p>How will you escape Winter next year? You don\u2019t need to go too far afield to experience something completely different \u2013\u00a0think about spending a week or two in the heat of Western Australia. Ningaloo Reef\u2019s whale shark season starts in mid April and goes all the way through to August, with tours departing from Exmouth and Coral Bay. Check into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/Exmouth-Hotels-Novotel-Ningaloo-Resort.h1582026.Hotel-Information?brandcid=blog.unforgettables.hotspots_231115\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Novotel Ningaloo Resort<\/a>\u00a0and spend a few days soaking up the sunshine as well as some of the best sunsets in the world.<br \/>\n<img src='https:\/\/images.trvl-media.com\/media\/content\/expaus\/images\/blog-img\/11_2015\/10699_74_IB_1_11_2015' \/><\/p>\n<h2>Jackson Hole, USA<\/h2>\n<p>Serious about skiing? Make this Christmas the season you head over to legendary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/Jackson-Hole.d180006.Destination-Travel-Guides?brandcid=blog.unforgettables.hotspots_231115\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jackson Hole<\/a>, where the runs are steep and the powder dumps are big. The tight-knit community of Teton Village knows how to have fun off the ski fields too \u2013\u202fthe Mangy Moose Saloon\u2019s signature spicy margaritas are the apr\u00e8s drink of choice. If hiking and outdoor sports is your thing, Jackson Hole, which is the Gateway to Yellowstone National Park, also delivers in spades.<\/p>\n<h2>Akureyri, Iceland<\/h2>\n<p>The secret weapon of Hollywood\u2019s best location scouts is out \u2013\u202fIceland\u2019s rugged mountains and dramatic landscapes captured our attention as the icy lands North of the Wall in The Game of Thrones. You won\u2019t find Jon Snow in an ice cave but you will find beauty in the barren lava stacks and steamy lava caves of Dimmuborgir. Head to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/Akureyri.d302.Destination-Travel-Guides?brandcid=blog.unforgettables.hotspots_231115\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Akureyri<\/a>\u00a0to see plenty of other set locations, including the infamous lava cave. If you can, time your visit for April, when the Northern Lights are usually seen on crisp, clear nights in and around town and the days are warmer.<\/p>\n<h2>Bay of Plenty, New Zealand<\/h2>\n<p>Get back to nature with a paddle out on this beautiful part of NZ\u2019s North Island. Just an hour\u2019s drive from Rotorua, or a 30 minute flight from Auckland, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/Bay-Of-Plenty.d6047975.Destination-Travel-Guides?brandcid=blog.unforgettables.hotspots_231115\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bay of Plenty<\/a>\u00a0is lush region centered around 125km of beautiful coastline. Foodies flock to the kiwi fruit farms of Te Puke, beach babes pick spots on the sand at Mount Maunganui beach and adventurous types hop on helicopters out to White Island, to walk up to the active volcano\u2019s smoking crater.<br \/>\n<img src='https:\/\/images.trvl-media.com\/media\/content\/expaus\/images\/blog-img\/11_2015\/10699_61_SS_152066252' \/><\/p>\n<h2>Darwin, Australia<b>\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>The Northern Territory\u2019s winters are the definition of mild \u2013\u202fpull out your t-shirts and flip flops and head north for a few days. Check into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/Darwin-Hotels-Oaks-Elan-Darwin.h7518633.Hotel-Information?brandcid=blog.unforgettables.hotspots_231115\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Oaks Elan Darwin<\/a> \u2013 the upper floors have great views out over the ocean and unforgettable sunsets \u2013\u202fand use the city as a base to explore the National Parks. Hire a car and head to Litchfield for the day to see termite mounds and waterfalls or splurge on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/things-to-do\/kakadu-national-park-helicopter-flight-by-kakadu-air-services.a260415.activity-details??brandcid=blog.unforgettables.hotspots_231115\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">helicopter<\/a> out to Kakadu to see the crocs.<\/p>\n<h2>Da Nang, Vietnam<\/h2>\n<p>Like to be one step ahead of the big crowds? Hop over to this small city halfway between Hanoi and Hoh Chi Minh City but hurry, the five star resorts are already in residence, the beaches are beautiful and the locals are friendly. In close proximity to Hoi An, the crowds will soon follow. Stay at beachside <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/Da-Nang-Hotels-Naman-Retreat.h9713657.Hotel-Information??brandcid=blog.unforgettables.hotspots_231115\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Naman Retreat<\/a> and you won\u2019t worry either way \u2013\u202fyou\u2019ll be tucked into your pool villa without a care in the world.<\/p>\n<h2>Jutland, Denmark<\/h2>\n<p>Generally considered quite expensive, Europe\u2019s Nordic cities are now more affordable due to the Aussie dollar, which means you\u2019ll actually get more bang for your buck over in Denmark. Stone circles, windswept white sandy beaches and World War One history await when you explore the peninsula of Jutland. In Northern Jutland, an island at the top of Denmark, the 1,000-year-old city of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/Aalborg.d6023934.Destination-Travel-Guides?brandcid=blog.unforgettables.hotspots_231115\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Aalborg<\/a> is the perfect place to try some locally produced schnapps in one of the many bars or cafes. Don\u2019t forget to save time to visit the world\u2019s very first LEGOLAND in Southern Jutland\u2013\u202feven if you don\u2019t have the kids along for the ride, it\u2019s bound to bring out the kid in everyone.<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Go on, get out there! Make 2016 the year you see the world with our must-visit hot spots<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,7,19,20],"tags":[],"authors":[],"class_list":["post-523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-destination","category-oceania","category-south-america","category-usa","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>2016&#039;s Unforgettable Hot Spots - Expedia AU Stories<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Go on, get out there! 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