Romantic
Hole yourself up in a private beachfront bungalow at Kim's Beach Hideaway, just one hour north of Sydney. Kim's has a strict no under-10s policy, so there's no chance of having a romantic evening spoilt by tearaway children, or of paddling alongside screaming tots. Did we mention the baths are designed for two? Kim's Beach Hideaway has bungalows starting from £93pp per night.

Or for a romantic, decadent getaway a little closer to home, The Witchery, Edinburgh is not particularly child-friendly. It has been described by Danni Minogue as "the perfect lust den": a fairly accurate description when you consider the gothic décor, four-poster beds and complimentary bottle of champagne. Suites cost from £295 per night.

Active
Throwing yourself off a cliff may sound like a bit of a drastic solution, but attached to a hang-glider you might actually enjoy the experience. Airways has two a day hang-gliding taster course in Derbyshire from £299. Or contact the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association for details of courses in your area.

Glacier climbing, not really one for the kids. Negotiate shifting glaciers, deep crevices and vertical cliff faces, all against the dramatic backdrop of Mt Blanc. Black Tomato can arrange a seven-night trip glacier climbing in Chamonix starting at £999pp including flights, accommodation and instruction.

Driving
Jump into a 4x4 and head for the Devonshire countryside. Only for those old enough to hold a driving licence. Experience West has one day's off-road driving in Devon for two, with prices starting at £356.

Cycling
Or, opt for two wheels and plunge 3,600 metres on a 64km road through the Andes. Black Tomato offers a six-night cycling trip to 'The Road of Death' in Bolivia from £1299, including flights, accommodation and guides.

Walking
Head for the hills, and get some peace in the quiet English countryside. Inntravel has a four-night walking break in the North York Moors from £375pp, including accommodation and meals, but not travel to and from the moors.

Or, to ensure your stroll is child-free, you could always climb Europe's largest active volcano. Headwater has a seven-night 'Best of Sicily' walking tour that includes a trip to the summit of Mt Etna. Unsurprisingly the trip is classified 'unsuitable for children'.

Drinking
Indulge in what the kids can't. Where better to spend a weekend sipping champers than in the Champagne region of France. Grape Escapes has a range of champagne weekends in Reims. Prices start at £219, based on two sharing, and include two nights' accommodation, a return Dover to Calais ferry crossing, all tastings and a gourmet meal.

For the more down-to-earth drinker, the Great British Beer Festival is due to return to London's Olympia Grand and National Halls this summer. The festival has more than 400 British real ales alongside 300 foreign brews and lasts from the August 1 to 5, so you've got five whole days to try them all. Pack paracetamol.

Golfing
Learn the gentleman's game on the sunny Costa del Sol. The Costa Golf Clinic separates juniors from adults, and offers a five-day beginners golf clinic from £265, including tuition and equipment but not accommodation.

Visit 'the home of golf'. St Andrews is the oldest and arguably most prestigious golf course in the world. Scotland for Golf offers a two-night package to St Andrews from £799pp, and includes accommodation at the five-star St Andrews Bay Hotel along with two rounds of golf.

Shopping
For anyone who's ever tried to drag a child around the shops, taking one on a shopping holiday would be unthinkable. The Channings hotel offers a luxury weekend shopping break from £240pp, including accommodation, a three-course evening meal, a £50 voucher and free taxi to Jenners, the world's oldest independent department store.

Or treat yourself to a fashion and shopping tour of the fashion capital. The World Travel Guide can recommend tours in Milan where a personal shopper will guide you to the best shops and design houses, offering a few style tips along the way. Tour prices from £47.

Gambling
A complimentary bedroom at the Sun Casino, Monte Carlo can be yours. On the condition you spend at least four hours at the gambling tables and hand over a deposit of a mere £2,765. A trifle, surely, for a guaranteed child-free environment.

Have a flutter in the land of luck. Ireland on Course have racing breaks to Ireland from £220, including return flights to Dublin, B&B accommodation, car hire and admission to a racing fixture.

Calming
Seek refuge and inner peace in a convent. In Italy lists examples of various convents and monasteries that take guests in and around the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. The Convento Madonna della Quercia (+39 0733 221 419) is a convent located in peaceful countryside near Macerata has facilities for 50 guests, and participation in religious activities is not compulsory.

Enjoy some 'me' time at a luxury spa in the UK. Brooklands Health Farm in Lancashire has three-day spa packages from £335, including all treatments, meals and accommodation. Contact Spa Seekers for a recommended Spa or health farm in your area.

Tour operators
Tour operators are starting to cotton onto the adult-only market. Family favourite Mark Warner has recently introduced adult-only resorts to its collection. Its Palm Beach Resort in Turkey is completely child-free outside main school holiday periods, and offers sailing, wind-surfing and waterskiing without the danger of being shown up by a cocky 14-year-old.

Likewise, Thomson is due to offer cruises around the Black Sea on its new adult-only ship The Calypso in time for summer 2007. Prices start from £624pp for seven nights.