Before winter arrives and the temperature dips, you can start planning your winter escape. Who doesn’t want to trade chilly mornings with sunny skies or 2-degree Celsius evenings for the warm breeze in a tropical island? We listed down some out-of-the-country destinations where you can escape the Australian winter.

1. Fiji. It only takes nearly three-and-a-half hours (from Brisbane, four from Sydney, almost five from Melbourne) to get to the dreamy beaches and aquamarine waters of this South Pacific archipelago. During the Australian winter, from June to August, is the most popular time for tourists to visit Fiji. It’s the dry season for this exotic paradise getaway, which means a low chance of rain, generally a warm weather wherein you only need a light coverup in the cool evenings.

In Fiji, you can have an island paradise adventure where you can plunge into the deep blue preferably at Coral Coast for some snorkelling and at the Beqa Lagoon to dive with sharks or Somosomo’s Great White Wall for its lush coral life. On land, you can go on a hike to the summit of Waya Island, explore the protected Bouma National Heritage Park on Tavenui, experience a banana leaf wrap and massage at a top spa resort, and just let the day slowly stretch while you relax at any of the white sand beaches in Yasawa Islands with cocktail in hand and a gorgeous sunset right before you.

2. Vietnam. If you want to take a grand tour of Indochina, you can start your Southeast Asian adventure here. Leave your winter woes when you arrive at its former capital (Ho Chi Minh is a non-stop 8 hours and 50 minutes from Sydney), where a million motorbikes hurtling past you will immediately let you know you’re far from Oz.

You can start to take it slow (and leave the humidity) when you visit the cool Central Highlands where remote mountain towns provide treks through rainforests. If a relaxed tour is more your thing, take a luxurious river cruise through Lan Ha Bay and make your way down the Mekong River.

3. Thailand. Another country where the mighty Mekong flows, Thailand is often included in many tours covering the region. Many begin in Bangkok, which is over nine hours from Sydney, as the capital boasts an exciting food scene and an almost electric atmosphere running through its cool neighborhoods, rivers, and skyscrapers.

When you head out of the capital, make a trip to some of Thailand’s best beaches found in Ko Samui, Phuket, Krabi, and Ko Phi Phi. If you want to make a multi-country journey in the Mekong region, we can create a personalised holiday.

4. Philippines. Whether you’re coming from Sydney or Melbourne, you’ll spend around 8.5 hours flying to the capital of the Philippines, a country known for its beautiful beaches. When you arrive in Manila, you can spend two or three days learning its colorful history in the Walled City of Intramuros and its national museums and experience the dining scene and nightlife in the CBDs of Makati or Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, locally known as BGC.

Of course, you can also immediately jump off to any one of its more than 7,100 islands for a definite change of scenery and climate—the world-renowned ones are El Nido in Palawan for its lagoons and clear waters, Boracay for White Beach, Cebu for some first-rate diving in Malapascua, and Siargao for all waves you want to catch. If you prefer to have several beach holidays in one trip, you can get a bespoke itinerary with Starflights, just contact us here.

5. Japan. While June to August is considered the hottest months for the Land of the Rising Sun, summertime in Japan is a great opportunity to experience many of its traditional festivals and climb its iconic mountain.

Less than a 10-hour nonstop flight from Sydney or Brisbane, Tokyo is a thrilling starting point as you get to see traditional Japanese culture, with lots of dancing, music, and food. The Mitama Matsuri held at Yasukuni Shrine and the Koenji Awaodori Festival are just some of the huge ones. There’s also the Sumida River Fireworks Festival, which is deemed the biggest among summer fireworks festivals in Tokyo.

Summer, particularly July and August (until September), is also when Mt. Fuji opens its trails to climbers. If you simply want the enjoy the view, Hakone and Lake Kawaguchiko and the Fuji Five Lakes area are perfect for a relaxed (and much cooler) holiday out of the city.

To make the most of your holiday, be sure to consider getting a travel organiser. With several sights to see and cities (or countries) to cross, a travel organiser can make sure you save on time and get the best value for your money. Curious? Ask us for a no-obligation, free quote.