When it comes to world wonders, no one has seen more of them than Sir David Attenborough. But top of his list is the Great Barrier Reef, the subject of his latest BBC series. Stretching 1,400 miles along the Queensland coast in north-eastern Australia, with coral cays, tropical islands, incredible marine life and cosmopolitan coastal towns, it's more accessible than ever. Here's how best to experience the incredible natural wonder.
Why a family holiday to Porto Sani Village in Greece was the complete opposite of a Catastrophe for comedian Rob Delaney
The US Channel 4 sitcom star (inset) visited the Greek resort in the Aegean Sea with his wife and three children - and describes here why he ended up having the holiday of a lifetime. It was in part thanks to a 'super concierge' called Katarina, a 'beautiful network of linking pools' (top left and right) - and an inflatable crocodile. The amazing mountain-ringed beach (bottom left) also helped. Pictured bottom right is one of the resort's luxury rooms.
Beauty in the Balkans: Montenegro is cheaper and less crowded than the French Riviera - and does glamour, too (Sophia Loren, after all, spent her summers there)
Travelmail's Thomas W Hodgkinson ensconces himself at the Aman Sveti Stefan resort, which he describes as being as close to Heaven as it's possible to get without leaving the physical world. The resort is so beautiful, he says, that it is almost a shame to stay there - because it means you cannot gaze at it. Film star Sophia Loren was a regular in the Sixties.
Fairytale of New York: Why you should book a trip to the city of lights for the ultimate winter getaway
Just a short nip across the Pond, the Big Apple is close enough so you can be exploring the city within hours, but distinct enough from home that you still get goosebumps as you first see the skyline. And there is no time more magical to witness the city than at Christmas, when New York is transformed into a winter wonderland of arguably the best window displays and decorations in the world. From grabbing some last minute presents from department stores, heading to Broadway, to skating in Central Park - if this city doesn't get you excited for the holidays, nothing will. MailOnline Travel's Becky Pemberton (inset) has devised some of the must-do attractions to make your Christmas stay even more magical during a short but sensational weekend.
Looking capital this Christmas: The stunning rooftop panoramic photographs of a festive London dazzling at night
Max Cisotti, from West Sussex, started taking the breathtaking rooftop images in the capital this year after capturing his first mesmerising panoramic shot of the skyline from the top of Sushi Samba in Liverpool Street. The Italian, who has been a photographer for the last 25 years, has captured iconic landmarks including The Gerkin (top), Tower Bridge (bottom left) and Sloane Square from the rooftops of the Heron Tower (top), the Embassy Gardens (bottom right) and City Hall (bottom left) using a tripod, a mono-pod and some were taken free-hand.
The best drone photos in the world? MailOnline Travel rounds up the images that made us wish we could fly in 2015
Drones have elevated photography to new heights this year offering us a breathtaking glimpse of Earth's stunning vistas and iconic attractions like we've never seen before. Stunning images from above have captured the awe-inspiring scale of waterfalls such as Victoria Falls in Zambia (bottom left) as well as the towering futuristic metropolises of Dubai (bottom right) and Manhattan. From the vibrant patchwork of tulip fields in Holland (top middle) to Australia's azure waters surrounding the Great Barrier Reef (top left), talented drone photographers have explored all corners of the world. Beauty is found amidst popular attractions but also in the candid everyday moments, such as a mass exercise class in a Lithuanian park (bottom centre). MailOnline Travel rounds up some of the best drone pictures of 2015.
How a savvy California traveller snagged an $11,000 first class flight for just $130
Sam Huang (top left), from Pasadena, California, flew from Chicago to Hong Kong in Cathay Pacific's first class cabin after accumulating and redeeming nearly 68,000 frequent flyer miles. For lunch he had caviar served with a mother of pearl spoon (top right) and refills of expensive Champagne (inset). After that he settled into pyjamas provided by the airline (bottom right) and dozed off in a 36in wide seat - double the width of those in economy - that folds into a bed (bottom left) before waking up somewhere over Russia.
Nothing's changed (except the clothes)! Vintage photos from the Christmas travel rush in 1941 show chaos in an overcrowded bus station long before the days of jumbo jets and high-speed trains
These black-and-white snaps from the golden age of travel show well-dressed passengers - wearing suits, dresses and fur coats (inset, bottom right) - racing through a Greyhound bus terminal in Washington, DC. There were no orderly queues to board the buses (top left, top right) and anxious passengers who queued for tickets (bottom left) didn't have the luxury of self-ticketing machines or mobile apps. While most of today's travellers are rushing through airports or train stations, the crowds and anxiety of the holiday crush are still with us nearly 75 years on.
Britain basks in a Christmas heatwave: Sunshine, daffodils and even the odd topless sunbather... but it's all about to change as Storm Eva brings rain and 70mph gales tomorrow
A hypersonic jet that can soar from London to New York in half an hour, a flying car and a plane that can land almost anywhere: The year's most radical aircraft concepts revealed
Designers and engineers have envisioned hypersonic passenger jets that can reach speeds of nearly 7,700mph and rockets that can propel aircraft from London to Sydney in just four hours. TriFan 600 (left) is a fixed-wing jet that can soar like a plane and take off and land like a helicopter, eliminating the need to travel to airports. Nasa has invested millions in researching supersonic jets (bottom right) that drastically reduce flight times, while travellers may one day be able to go on holiday in a vehicle that doubles as a plane and car (top right).
Mad Men takes to the skies! Fascinating images reveal sharply dressed passengers enjoying cigarettes and cocktails during the golden era of flying
Endless leg room, cocktails and trays of gourmet food can be seen in the incredible vintage photographs that illustrate the glamorous jet age between the 1950s and 60s, with shots resembling classic scenes from Mad Men. Other images include cabin crew working to make passengers comfortable by readjusting pillows (left), canapés doing the rounds (top right) and a pilot spending time outside of the cockpit to mingle with his guests (bottom right).
British Muslim family is banned from visiting Disneyland in California by U.S. officials - and now the UK Prime Minister has been asked to intervene
Christmas in Tehran: Santa makes a Middle Eastern pit stop in Muslim country that turns out to be more tolerant than you thought
While many foreigners see the country as super-conservative, recent changes have led to a more relaxed way of life for younger people in Iran. As nations across the world ready themselves for the festive holidays, Iranians have also been pictured selecting pre-decorated fake Christmas trees (left) and shopping for last minute stocking fillers (right top and bottom) in Tehran. There are about 150,000 Christians living in Iran, most of them Armenians, who celebrate Christmas in churches and at home. As children are attracted by the tradition, many Muslim families have also adopted some of the customs such as giving gifts.
The out of office is on! Mariah Carey leads the way as a procession of celebrities fly out to the snow, surf and shops for the Christmas holidays
Celebrities are getting into the festive spirit with a vacation over Christmas. Some are heading to Aspen and Colorado for snow, while others are getting a hit of culture in New York and Kerala. Pictured (left) Mariah Carey and James Packer enjoy Aspen while Nina Dobrev stretches out in the Utah snow (bottom right) and Lucy Meklenburgh and Louis Smith hit Times Square in New York (top right) for the festive break.
The best seat on the plane! Mesmerising footage filmed from the cockpit reveals what it's like to fly a jumbo jet
Offering a perspective most passengers will never see, this video shows the incredible views that Qantas pilots enjoyed when they flew a Boeing 747 from Sydney to San Francisco. On its final approach, the jumbo jet banks to the right (inset), descends through the clouds and flies low over San Francisco Bay (right). Footage captured by a camera in the cockpit shows the plane touching down on the runway (left) and taxiing to its gate.
To the ends of the earth: Photographer travels to Greenland to capture the striking splendour of the 'iceberg capital of the world'
Paul Zizka's collection of mesmerising images show the Northern Lights illuminating endless rows of majestic icebergs lying peacefully in western Greenland. The photographer includes himself in many of the shots to provide a sense of scale to the stunning landscapes. The Iceberg Capital of the World, Ilulissat, is just one of the locations Paul visited in order to compile the incredible collection, shooting from day (right), to sunset (top left) to under the aurora (bottom left).
Putting love on the line: Mistletoe has appeared all over the London Underground (but awkward commuters still look grumpy)
Commuters avoided making eye contact with fellow travellers after the yuletide decorations were hung up by a group in a bid to 'bring Christmas cheer to one of the most miserable places in the capital.' The plant, typically used to prompt a Christmas kiss, has so far had mixed reactions from those who have found themselves under the plants, ranging from joy to mainly sullen confusion.
A photographer's dream: Spectacular images showcase Iceland's breathtaking winter scenery from a waterfall of icicles to wild horses grazing in the snow
Hinrich Carstensen travelled to Iceland in March to capture the end of the winter as the country began to thaw. He photographed the epic waterfalls (left), wild horses (top right) and endless roads (bottom right). His stunning photographs show off the Nordic island nation's natural wonder; capturing the glistening ice, beautiful blue water and earthy rugged green landscape.
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TOP STORIES IN TRAVEL
- Why a family holiday to Porto Sani Village in Greece was the complete opposite of a Catastrophe for comedian Rob Delaney
- Leave your cruise to the last minute, buy your hotel room a month ahead and take the train on a Tuesday: When to book for a bargain in 2016
- Reef encounters! You'll love Sir David Attenborough's new series on the Great Barrier Reef - but nothing beats the real thing
- Beauty in the Balkans: Montenegro is cheaper and less crowded than the French Riviera - and knows how to do glamour, too (Sophia Loren, after all, spent her summers there)
- Fairytale of New York: Why you should book a trip to the city of lights for the ultimate winter getaway
- Maroon yourself on Castaway, Fiji's friendliest island: Snorkelling, speedboats and the smiliest staff in the South Pacific await guests at this private paradise
- Start 2016 with a bang: The best places to see spectacular firework displays around the UK on New Year's Eve
- Heat map using over one million geolocated snaps taken by 40,000 people reveals London's most photographed attractions
- Toasting marshmellows in a volcano, stopping sea turtles laying eggs and riling squirrels: The tourists who've made the headlines in 2015 for all the wrong reasons
- Smelly feet, children running wild in the aisles and asking where the toilets are located: Flight attendants reveal passengers' most annoying habits
- How a savvy California traveller snagged an $11,000 first class flight for just $130
- Looking capital this Christmas: The stunning rooftop panoramic photographs of a festive London dazzling at night
- The best drone photos in the world? MailOnline Travel rounds up the aerial images that made us wish we could fly in 2015
- The Taj Mahal is 'just a fancy tomb': Locals reveal their 'most overrated' tourist attractions
- Nothing's changed (except the clothes)! Vintage photos from the Christmas travel rush in 1941 show chaos in an overcrowded bus station long before the days of jumbo jets and high-speed trains
- Mad Men takes to the skies! Fascinating images reveal sharply dressed passengers enjoying cigarettes and cocktails during the golden era of flying
- A hypersonic jet that can soar from London to New York in half an hour, a flying car and a plane that can land almost anywhere: The year's most radical aircraft concepts revealed
- British holidaymakers unlikely to return to Sharm el-Sheikh until Spring 2016 as Thomson Airways extends its flight ban to the Egyptian resort
- Christmas in Iran: Santa makes a Middle Eastern pit stop as families are pictured shopping for festive decorations and stocking fillers in Tehran
- The out of office is on! Mariah Carey leads the way as a procession of celebrities fly out to the snow, surf and shops for the Christmas holidays
- Is this the most beautiful country on earth? A photographer captures Scotland's spectacular natural landscape through all four seasons
- To the ends of the earth: Photographer travels to Greenland to capture the striking splendour of the 'iceberg capital of the world'
- Holidaymaker dies from traumatic injury after she was struck on the head in tragic accident at airport
- 'They acted irritated, rude and completely lacking empathy': New mother slams Delta Airlines after staff refuse to allow iced container of breast milk on plane
- The best seat on the plane! Mesmerising footage filmed from the cockpit reveals what it's like to fly a jumbo jet
- Putting love on the line: Mistletoe has appeared all over the London Underground (but awkward commuters still look grumpy)
- Love Actually IS at the airport! Video shows families reuniting at Heathrow ahead of Christmas holidays in scenes reminiscent of the classic festive film
- Handcrafted gifts, Britain's finest gingerbread - and luxury hotels: Why the Lake District is the perfect place for a 2016 shopping mini-break (and a trip there will help the flood-hit economy, too)
- Coyote causes havoc as it runs amok through airport security and baggage for an hour (before being tasered)
- A photographer's dream: Spectacular images showcase Iceland's breathtaking winter scenery from a waterfall of icicles to wild horses grazing in the snow
- World War II air raid shelters that kept 8,000 Londoners safe from German bombs during the Blitz to open for regular tours
- Would YOU be able to locate these banned items in airport hand luggage? X-ray images reveal just how eagle-eyed security staff have to be
- Watch the dramatic moment a KLM passenger plane makes a VERY wobbly landing as it battles high winds during Storm Desmond
- A cruise to the Garden of Eden: Shallow bays, sandy shores and paradise on Earth - a small-boat voyage around the Seychelles
- Hotel guests reveal their most bizarre and disturbing experiences from finding a CAT in the mattress to naked men in the hallway
- The real life Dr. Dolittle: Plucky traveller takes hilarious selfies with exotic animals (and reveals how you can do the same)
- Making mincemeat of it all: A hunt for Italy's take on this cake classic - amid the hilltops and meandering roads of lovely Lunigiana
- Fancy buying your own luxury hotel? The five-star Claridges Hotel in Lutyens' New Delhi is up for sale (but it could cost you £152m)
- Oops! Postal worker crashes van into plane's wing on tarmac at Spain's busiest airport
- It came out of nowhere! Bus carrying flight attendants crashes into rival airline's plane after driver fell asleep at the wheel
- The ultimate Australian road trip: Adventurer quits his job to travel the country in his red truck picking up thousands of Instagram fans (and a girlfriend) along the way
- The abandoned airports and airfields that are being transformed and reinvented as unlikely new attractions
- The world through a lens: Breathtaking winners of the 2015 Travel Photographer of the Year awards
- Foie gras delivered by private jet, a new £88,000 kitchen and a crew who won't talk to the client: The most outrageous requests from superyacht passengers revealed
- 'My nose bled every 30 minutes during a five-hour flight': Tourists share their worst experiences of travelling home for the holidays on confessions app .
- The shocking moment passenger demands cabin crew open plane door so he can have a CIGARETTE while refuelling
- Stars flock to the Caribbean for some Christmas sun (again)... but which island is the biggest A-List haunt?
- Would you pay £225,000 for a beach shack? One bedroom hut with kitchen, bedroom and electricity goes on sale in Kent (at the same price as a three-bedroom house)
- Now THAT'S bananas: The bizarre parade in Colombia where farmers compete to load as much as possible onto their Jeeps
- Would you share a room with a stranger? Hotel guests could soon get half-price accommodation... but they won't be sleeping alone
- Should passengers be told when there's a bomb scare on board? Experts back Air France crew's decision to describe emergency as a 'technical problem'
- The incredible moment passengers were forced to exit plane on a LADDER after the stairs malfunctioned
- Would you share a room with a stranger? Hotel guests could soon get half-price accommodation... but they won't be sleeping alone
- Animal magic: The stunning images submitted by amateurs to the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards
- A cut above the rest: Stunning drone photographs capture the new Seven Wonders of the World like you've never seen them before
- You can't go in there! Hilarious footage shows a VERY inexperienced traveller climbing into an airport X-ray scanner
- Female staff in hijabs, prayers before take-off and no alcohol: Muslims climb aboard Malaysia's first Shariah-compliant airline
- 70,000 fairy lights, meeting Santa and experiencing pure relaxation... why Winter Wonderland at Center Parcs is truly magical
- From ghost town to captivating capital: How Cambodia's Phnom Penh is one of Asia's fastest growing cities
- The angel in the sky: Photographer captures rare phenomenon that shows a HALO appear around his shadow in the Norwegian mist
- Forget Vienna and Prague, head to Zagreb: Croatia hopes Christmas tourism can boost flagging economy and prove there's much more to country than sea and summertime
- Millions of passengers could be set for Christmas misery as month of December revealed to be the worst for flight delays
- The coolest hotels in the world: If you're fed up of the mild winter why not head for the snow and stay in an IGLOO
- Would YOU take a dip in this bathtub? Natural hot springs converted so tourists can enjoy a soak while watching the sunset over the Utah desert
- One Christmas tree per person, catapults in the hold and leave the roasted chestnuts behind: MailOnline reveals the rules for bringing festive treats back on the plane
- China steps up efforts to blacklist its trouble-causing tourists by proposing flight bans for those caught misbehaving
- From 78 per cent inclines to waterfall jumps: The scariest ski slopes in the world revealed (and at one you'll need to take a shovel and tracking device in case you get caught in an avalanche)
- Ethiopia? I'll get the hang of it: How dangling from a cliff is the only way to reach one of the world's oldest churches
- Inside the hotel Sofia Vergara got married: Why The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida is pulling in the it crowd
- Rocking in the Arctic Circle: Hanging out in the tiny Norwegian town where white reindeer are sacred and it gets dark at 2pm
- In the footsteps of Aristotle: A Greek walking tour around the stomping ground of the one of the world's greatest philosophers
- How to find Neverland: Tracing the secrets behind J.M Barrie's Peter Pan from his hometown to Kensington Gardens
- Think Jamaica is just beaches, Bob Marley and Bond? Think again says a twitcher bewitched by the island's lush landscape and wildlife
- Architecture, academia and the birthplace of democracy: Athens is the grandest open-air university in the world
- Why there's more to Seattle than Starbucks: Glaciers, lakes and RAIN FORESTS are just a stone's throw from the Emerald City
- Peace on earth: TV explorer Levison Wood is captivated by the goodwill and serene scenery of Sri Lanka
- The ultimate ski-in, ski-out: The 1960s Avoriaz resort in Portes du Soleil celebrates 50 years in style
- An Inspector Calls:The Fuzzy Duck's heart is in the right place - it just needs fewer guests or more staff
- 'Have you never seen a pilot's Tinder profile? The cockpit selfie, just drop your knickers now': The shocking confessions of an air hostess laid bare, including how she propositions passengers
- Living la dolce vita: The glamour of a Roman retreat revealed in candid photographs of movie legend Sophia Loren's 16th-century palazzo and sprawling grounds from 1964
- It was a ruff flight! Hilarious photograph shows a large German shepherd in its own seat in the passenger cabin
- Is this the most space-efficient hotel room in the world? Inside the micro-loft that has a retractable staircase, elevated bed, hidden shower room and fully-equipped kitchen
- Turkish delight: Stunning photographs reveal Istanbul's colourful side featuring polka dot, zig-zagged and rainbow-hued streets .
- Going away soon? Revealing the most innovative new luggage and carry-on cases including one that you can ride and another to charge your phone on the move .
- Fancy staying at the CEO of Airbnb's apartment? Despite being worth $3.3bn Chesky offers his couch to tourists (for $50)
- Cruising through Christmas: Vintage pictures reveal the glamour of the holiday season celebrated on the high seas in the 50s and 60s
- Are they talking about delays, overcrowding and fare hikes? National Express vows to bring a 'very British' service to GERMANY after launching two new routes
- Wish it could be Christmas EVERY day? At these hotels with all year round visits from Santa, evergreen garlands and towering festive trees, it really is
- 'Cold food, overflowing bins and dirty toilets': Family claim 'nightmare' cruise around the Mediterranean left two of their party violently ill
- Now THAT'S how to time travel! Visit the incredible tri-points around the globe where three time zones meet
- Superyachts of the future revealed: The stunning concept vessels making waves with underwater viewing decks, go-kart tracks and the ability to break through polar ice
- Cruise ship giant reveals plans for $200m 'island marine reserve' in the Bahamas complete with a 2,000-seat amphitheatre, restaurants, bars, zip wire and spa
- From a night in the 'Harry Potter hotel' to dinner at Hogwarts' Great Hall: How to enjoy the ultimate super fan weekend in London this Christmas
- Cod this flight get any worse? Passengers delayed as 'fish smell' spreads through the cabin on Delta Airlines flight to LA
- A five-star Christmas: Take a sneak peek inside the top hotels around the world decked out in extravagant festive decorations from a 17ft gingerbread ship to a rooftop forest cinema
- New York City named world's top shopping destination... but Bucharest and Kuala Lumpur are great for scoring major deals
- World-class beaches, a burgeoning foodie scene... and it's affordable: Why Australia has been named the top destination for 2016
- 500 day honeymoon: From kissing giraffes in South Africa to freeing turtles in Nicaragua, the newlyweds who toured the world (on £66 a day)
- I would ride 4,000 miles: Love story of a man cycling from India to Sweden crossing eight countries to be reunited with wife has captivated thousands of hearts
- Holidaying alone? Barcelona, Venice and New York are among the most popular destinations for solo travellers
- Where is Disneyland, what do I pack for Cancun and what is there to do in Albuquerque? Google reveals the most popular travel-related questions of 2015
- Fangs for coming! After 10 years and £30,000 spent searching for rare tarantula, explorer finally finds spider when it falls out of a tree fighting with a wasp