Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024, French Polynesia’s remote Marquesas Islands are three hours northeast of Tahiti by air. These high volcanic islands with towering cliffs and verdant valleys are home to an ancient Polynesian culture with a language related to both Tahitian and Hawaiian but distinct from either. The Marquesas were the first part of what is now French Polynesia to align with France by treaty in 1842. That same year, a young American writer named Herman Melville visited the islands, and his highly sensationalized account of his visit became the bestselling novel Typee (derived from a vulgarization of the Taipivai Valley).

These islands are where horses lazily graze on lush green riverbanks, rocky pitons rise directly from the ocean, and the communities have a timeworn feel, complete with weatherworn but still working telephone booths. The islands are also famed for their exquisite wood carvings, adorning everything from hairpins to serving implements, proudly sold at artisanal centers throughout the islands, and their enormous, green-fleshed grapefruits, exported daily throughout French Polynesia. The islands have a long history of drawing disaffected Westerners—both the painter Paul Gauguin and the singer Jacques Brel spent their terminal years escaping urban ennui on the island of Hiva Oa.

On Nuku Hiva, Le Nuku Hiva is the island’s only luxury resort, part of the Relais & Chateaux brand, with individual bungalows dotting a hillside above Taiohae. On Hiva Oa there’s a similar setup at the Hanakee Lodge Hiva Oa.

Capital cities are not always the most exciting destinations to visit, but Wellington is well worth the detour when visiting New Zealand’s North Island. Compact in size, Wellingtonians have everything at their doorstep, making it a wonderful destination for adventure-seekers who want to do more than just walk around a concrete city. The city center is a few steps from Wellington Harbour, the start of Cooks Strait, and a perfect place for seaside strolls, which lead to Queens Wharf via the City to Sea Walk Bridge featuring large Indigenous Maori carvings. For the adventurous, mountains are a mere short drive away, and a day trip out to Rimutaka ranges or Cape Palliser for coastal hikes and seal spotting are great for families, too. Sunbathers and surfers should visit one of Wellington’s sandy beaches like Scorching Bay, Seatoun Beach, and easily accessible Oriental Beach where locals head to after work on weekdays to unwind.

Wellington is considered the country’s cultural capital with a vibrant art scene–many neighborhoods have cutting-edge art galleries that host both contemporary and traditional local artists during pop-up exhibitions. The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is a good start for Maori culture and a history lesson; otherwise, Cuba Street is brimming with art galleries, too. Self-professed foodies will love the dining scene in Wellington: Hannah’s Laneway is home to some of the coolest bars and cafes in town, like Hanging Ditch and Pizza Pomodoro. A melting pot of cultures makes the New Zealand capital diverse–try anything from Southeast Asian at Chow Tory to Syrian at Damascus and traditional Maori dishes at Hiakai.

For a whimsical stay, check into Naumi Studio on bustling Cuba Street with its bold interior designs and steps away from the waterfront, or upgrade your stay and sleep at The Intrepid Hotel, 18-boutique rooms in a former chocolate warehouse with a wine bar featuring organic wines.