The River Kent at Kendal in England's Lake District. Source: Supplied
Captain Cook Cruises offers a range of boutique trips around the many islands of Fiji. Source: Supplied
DOC Holiday offers advice on England's Lake District, the best Fiji Cruises and an easy way to shuttle the kids from the airport.
Q: I AM visiting the UK in July with my wife, we are both in our 50s. We have four spare days after holidaying in London and I was thinking of visiting the Lake District. Is this a good idea and how and where should we go? We are happy to do some cycling, walking and driving.
DOC: The Lake District is in the northwest corner of England, and is an easy five-hour drive from London. Its location, coupled with its mountainous geography however, also make it the dampest part of the country. October to January are the wettest, while March to June tend to be the driest months. The area's 3000km of Rights of Way are used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and are very well marked. Head to Brockhole first, halfway between Windermere and Ambleside. Here you will find the Visitor Centre where you can shop, eat, stroll round the gardens and gather all the information you need for the rest of your stay.
There are many cycling options for you, for example the Claiffe Heights, Windermere route. The 18km trip is fairly easy and the route passes some beautiful historic places such as Hill Top, the home of Beatrix Potter, and visits the popular village of Hawshead (a good place for an ice cream).
If you wish to hire a boat or kayak, Coniston Boating Centre is a good spot and and if you fancy fishing ask at the Information Centres where they are biting. You could stay in Windermere but Keswick is more popular and has everything from cosy holiday cottages, quirky boutique hotels, friendly bed and breakfasts to luxury hotels. Pay a visit to the Cars of the Stars Museum whose collection includes vehicles from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the James Bond movies. Keswick also has a superb choice of eateries.
The National Park has a website (www.lakedistrict.gov.uk), and if you book through them the commission goes back into the upkeep of the park.
Q: MY HUSBAND and I would like to do a cruise around Fiji. What is the best time of year to do it for good weather as we have not been on one and worry about being sea sick? Can you recommend any remedies?
DOC: As far as anti sea-sickness medication goes, see your travel doctor or local doctor. There is a great product used by fishing show host Andrew Ettingshausen and his television crew, called Bova Compound. It is a specially formulated compound designed by pharmacists in Sydney. It's available in capsule form and is recommended for those aged over 12 years.
This product is achieving results where others aren't and doesn't make you drowsy. Nick and the other pharmacists from Bova will speak directly to you and ask some questions to ensure the seasick capsules are suitable for you. They are inexpensive and usually shipped out the same day (Ph 1300 732 7425). For most of the year, Fiji enjoys a mild and stable climate with average maximum temperatures rarely moving outside the 21C to 31C temperature range. Wet season in Fiji normally extends from December to April, and this is when tropical cyclones can develop. The months of April/May and October are the pick of the months for Fiji. The water temperature is pleasant without the winter chill. The same applies to the air temperatures, pleasant, quite warm but with cooler nights. Fiji has more than 350 islands, only 100 of which are inhabited. Cruising is a great way to see this nation, and there are a couple of options. You can jump aboard P&O, (pocruises.com.au) who has several Fijian cruises from Sydney and Brisbane, starting at $1819 a person, twin share for 14 nights, or Carnival (carnival.com.au) which also offers cruising to Fiji. For something a little more intimate, try Captain Cook Cruises (captaincook.com.fj). It offers a more personal experience onboard its 130-passenger MV Reef Endeavour and you can choose from day trips up to the more extensive Yasawa Island or Northern Fiji trips. As a local company, it works closely with the local people, allowing you to be welcomed into schools and villages and able to experience the real Fijian culture.
Q: LATER this year, a group of 11 of us will be flying to Brisbane from Perth, arriving late at night. What is the best way for us to get to the hotel, as the children will need child seats?
DOC: As an alternative to trying to find a couple of maxi taxis late at night, Darren from Gold Coast Transport (goldcoasttransport.com.au) will organise to meet your flight and transport you directly to your hotel. His company has several luxury Mercedes vehicles ranging from seven to 48 seats. He will tailor a quote for you depending on where your hotel is and what size vehicle you will need. Gold Coast Transport can also personalise sightseeing and day trips for large groups to the major attractions in the area according to your requirements. The vehicles are equipped with seat belts and child seats can be included.
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