Sue: I have not been in Singapore since 1977, so you will have to find your own way. Suffice to say that it is a clean, safe place where people enjoy the best living standards in south east Asia; but the regime there has rendered it utterly sterile. Darwin: If you arrive between October and April, you have probably chosen a bad time! This is the period of the tropical wet season in northern Australia. Anticipate it being very hot and humid. If weather conditions allow, try to do side trips to Kakadu National Park or Katherine Gorge. Sydney: my home town! You will no doubt find your own way to the city sights. But for side trips I suggest the Blue Mountains (100 kilometres west of Sydney); Canberra (three hours drive by freeway); the Illawarra coast south of Sydney (incl. Royal National Park) and possibly a visit to one of the many wineries in the Cessnock area (Hunter Valley) where some of our best wine is grown. A warning - if you go to one of our celebrated ocean beaches; put on plenty of sun block. Our sub-tropical summer sun has a real sting to it! Also, watch your waistline:- we have an immense variety of tempting ethnic dishes cooked, in the main, from some of the best raw ingredients in the world!

I do not know how long you intend to spend in New Zealand. But it would be a pity if you did not spend some of it at least in the North Island while you are there. Out-of-town places I would recommend are: Waitomo Caves; the Roturoa thermal areas; the active volcanos Ruapehu and Ngahoie and possibly (if you can afford to go that far south) Mt Egmont (New Zealand's Mt Fujiyama) on the most westerly shoulder of the North Island. If you possibly can, see the South Island too. In many ways it is even more spectacular than the North! Happy travelling Sue.