1 Sossus Dune Lodge, Namibia

Brand spanking new, Sossus Dune Lodge is the flagship of Namibia Wildlife Resorts' lodges. The environmentally matey thatch chalets have dramatic views and unique pre-sunrise/post-sunset access to Sossusvlei dunes.

Seven-day packages to this and other NWR lodges from £1,145 incl flights and car hire; rainbowtours.co.uk.

2 Grövelsjön Mountain Lodge, Sweden

Cross-border views into Norway, organic food and aromatherapy massages for hiking muscles, Grövelsjön in northern Dalarna is a classic Swedish take on wilderness. Loaded with eco awards, it has central rooms and wood cabins.

From £211 for four nights' half- board (YHA or Swedish Tourist association members), not flights; naturetravels.co.uk.

3 Green Point Cottage, Sydney

Just 30m from lovely Camp Cove beach in Watson's Bay, Green Point offers Sydney harbour views usually reserved for multi-millionaires. The six-person weatherboard cottages, built as officers' quarters in 1903, are a mere prawn toss from the seafood at Doyle's restaurant.

From £231 for a weekend, £399 per week; nationalparks.nsw.gov.au.

4 Didima Camp, South Africa

Shaped like shark fins, the huge thatch roofs of Didima Camp's 64 rustic chalets hug the lush KwaZulu-Natal hills with astounding views of Cathedral Peak in the Drakensberg mountains. Wilderness comes with satellite TV, swimming pool and central bar.

A week's package including four nights' Didima B&B and flights £995pp; africacollection.com.

5 Te Kopi, New Zealand

Lovely wooden Kiwi "bach" on rugged Palliser Bay at the southern tip of North Island southeast of Wellington. Light-filled and well equipped, the cottage and two cabins sleep 10 just behind the briny with good fishing and hiking near the Putangirua rock pinnacles.

£24 minimum per night (two adults, two children); doc.govt.nz.