Tradition collides with pop culture in Tokyo, where you can reverently wander ancient temples before rocking out at a karaoke bar. Wake up before the sun to catch the lively fish auction at the Toyosu Market, then refresh with a walk beneath the cherry blossom trees that line the Sumida River. Spend some time in the beautiful East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, then brush up on your Japanese history at the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Don’t forget to eat as much sushi, udon noodles, and wagashi (Japanese sweets) as your belly can handle.

Tokyo is the epitome of frenetic energy and jam-packed cosmopolitan culture—it’s populated by 12.5 million people. Still, it’s one of the safest cities in the world, ensuring a (nearly) carefree stay packed with pulsing nightlife, succulent cuisine and endless city experiences. Four national museums, gorgeous gardens and parks, Michelin-starred restaurants, and kooky-chic street fashions are only part of what makes Tokyo so unique. Don’t miss the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and the Gwen Stefani-lauded neighbourhood of Harajuku.

Some of Queensland’s most remarkable sights require you to leave terra firma. Off its coast sits the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef. Snorkel and scuba among 1500 resident fish species, or sail through the Whitsundays’ white-sand atolls. Back on dry land, you’ll find tropical escapes in the Daintree Rainforest to the north, rugged outback to the west and alfresco dining on the Gold Coast in the south. South East Queensland boasts mountain views, vineyards and ‘river city’ Brisbane.