Longitude: 121.6° E
When to go: November to April
The Hualien Pacific Landscape Park is home to a boardwalk surrounded by tall, neon, candy-colored art-deco buildings. Further up the boardwalk, fish appear to climb up a staircase in a wonderful blue mural, draped in lanterns and next to an ornate local temple.
Longitude: 121.7° E
When to go: October to December
Nicknamed the “Little Niagara” for its horseshoe shape, at 130 ft/40 m wide Shifen is the broadest waterfall in Taiwan. On sunny days, the spray sends up distinct rainbows as it splashes into the emerald lake. The walk there is particularly scenic, as you cross the river via suspension bridges, surrounded by verdant mountains.
Longitude: 121.4° E
When to go: November to April
With breathtaking view upon breathtaking view, Taroko Gorge National Park is a true natural wonder. Lush trees climb the sides of gray and white limestone cliffs. In between a gorge is filled with deep blue water. Bright red temples can be found high in the mountains surrounded by dark green treetops.
Longitude: 121.5° E
When to go: November to April
One of the oldest in Taipei City, the Wanhua District is home to tons of restaurants, shopping, and temples. But all along the walls are bold murals in a broad spectrum of color. Further down the road, even more vibrant street art has popped up in the bustling Ximending Shopping District.
Longitude: 120.6° E
When to go: November to April
When Huang Yong-Fu heard that the government planned to demolish his village—which was a complex for war veterans—he thought he better do something to stop it. So he started to paint the walls of his home and the surrounding buildings in the neighborhood. Now known as Rainbow Village, the most colorful place in Taiwan, this technicolor town is completely covered in color. The vibrant artwork of “Rainbow Grandpa” has a surrealist element, mixed with humor, and love, in a somewhat childlike design. Dolls, animals, airplanes, and more fill the walls, floors, and ceilings of each building. What began as a project to save his beloved home—and worked—has turned into a famous location in the city of Taichung. On some days, visitors are lucky enough to meet Rainbow Grandpa, now in his nineties, who can still be found taking a stroll around his colorful wonderland. The real magic of the tiny town is the unparalleled joy and meaning it has brought to the community of Taichung. And it all started with a man with a paintbrush and big, vibrant dreams.
Longitude: 120.3° E
When to go: October to December
Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s second city, and while it’s not always at the top of the traveler’s bucket list, it’s a vibrant place with numerous beaches and several quirky tourist attractions, including Qijin’s Rainbow Arch. Set in a small pool of water, a series of multicolored square archways cover a paved walkway. It’s a popular photo spot and so many newlyweds come to have a wedding photo taken here that it has earned the nickname of “Rainbow Church.”
Longitude: 121.8° E
When to go: September to October
One of the most bizarre landscapes in China has to be Panjin Red Beach. It’s not actually a beach, but the largest reed marsh and wetland in the world. From late summer to early fall, it turns a spectacular shade of flaming crimson. The whole area is covered in a variety of seepweed and because of the makeup of the soil in Panjin, the plant flowers a much brighter shade of red here than anywhere else in the world.
Longitude: 123.3° E
When to go: All year
Rainbow eucalyptus trees are native to the island of Mindanao in The Philippines, although you’ll find them around the world now as people have taken a shine to their colorful bark. As the previous season’s bark peels off in strips, it reveals a bright green trunk below that changes color the longer it is exposed. Gradually, these brushstrokes of green change to red, orange, blue, purple, and gray. It’s like a living work of art.
Longitude: 120.5° E
When to go: All year (but May to October is rainy season)
What do you do when you have a steep hillside full of shanty houses that is considered an eyesore by some? Paint them into an enormous, colorful mural, of course! Inspired by the painting of favelas in Rio de Janeiro, the village of La Trinidad in Benguet decided to create a more welcoming spectacle for tourists by painting a huge mural across 170 of the houses. Under the direction of a group of artists, the local residents banded together to repaint the buildings, making this a true community project. Sunflowers, which are ubiquitous in the valley, were used as the primary motif for the initial designs, but the final result is more a blooming of color.
Longitude: 124.0° E
When to go: All year
The manmade mahogany forest of Bohol is a densely planted forest that carpets the mountainside between Loboc and Bilar. Planted so thickly, the trees have created an impenetrable wall of vivid green. It’s particularly stunning where the branches curve across the winding road to create a dark tunnel of green.
Longitude: 123.5° E
When to go: March to December for the best scuba diving
A UNESCO Marine Biosphere Reserve and the second-largest barrier reef in the world, Wakatobi is considered the world’s epicenter of coral biodiversity. The reef is home to 750 coral species, as well as a vast array of colorful sea creatures and marine vegetation.
Longitude: 120.9° E
When to go: All year
Ever wondered what it would be like to go through the hole in your doughnut? In Manila, there is a museum dedicated to dessert that encourages visitors to find out just that! This is not your average museum; rather it’s a series of interactive art installations dedicated to desserts and candy. Visitors can slide, swing, jump, and play their way through rooms decked out in bubblegum pink or dreamy lavender. Pose with gigantic cookies, wander through a cotton candy forest, and dive into a pastel-colored ball pit. Part art gallery, part gigantic adult playground, the Dessert Museum is everything you could hope it would be! Acting like a kid in a candy store is very much encouraged—so embrace your inner sweet tooth and get ready for a sugar rush.
Longitude: 120.2° E
When to go: All year
A relatively new addition to the stunning Cebu coastline is the popular Inflatable Island on Mactan Beach. On the shore, a sea of bubblegum pink parasols dominates the white sand while around the bar, a jungle of multicolored palm trees lines the gateway to what the owners promise is “the happiest floating playground in Asia.” A menagerie of unicorn and flamingo floaties bob on the waves around a floating obstacle course, including the main event: a gigantic unicorn with a slide on its back.
Longitude: 126.0° E
When to go: All year (March to October for dry season)
Known for its palm-lined beaches, rich forests, and crystal-clear turquoise waters, Siargao is a paradise of natural colors. Perhaps most impressive is Sugba Lagoon, on Caob Island just off Siargao’s west coast. Sheltered by thickly forested hills, the waters of the lagoon are impossibly calm and unbelievably blue.
Longitude: 129.0° E
When to go: All year
Roam around the streets and alleys of Gamcheon Village and be in awe of what a little art can do. In 2009, painters and sculptors got creative in the alleys, homes, and businesses of this neighborhood that housed many refugees from the Korean War. Their mission was to revitalize the community with art and their coat of paint transformed the village into a colorful display of spirit that caught the eye of tourists. Wander the village to discover its treasures. There’s even a very enjoyable scavenger hunt you can do: buy a map and visit various locations on it around the village and you’ll be rewarded with stamps. Collect all the stamps and you’ll receive a prize.
Longitude: 130.8° E
When to go: October to April
Located off the coast of West Papua, Raja Ampat is tricky to reach, and as a result, virtually devoid of tourists. It’s raw, rugged, and home to the most biodiverse waters in the world. Aboveground, exotic birds call to each other and gigantic colorful butterflies flutter by, while hermit crabs dance along the sand. Meanwhile, below sea level majestic lionfish prowl through the clear waters past purple pufferfish, turtles, dolphins, and sharks.
Longitude: 121.8° E
When to go: Best during the May to September dry season
At the center of Flores Island, the Kelimutu volcano hides a spectacular secret. Not only are the three crater lakes at the summit different colors, but they also change color. Depending on the levels of different minerals in each pool, the water can appear blue, green, white, red, or even black.
Longitude: 132.7° E
When to go: April to September
Just west of Alice Springs lies Palm Valley, the only place in the world you’ll find the red cabbage palm. Along with the unique tree, there’s also the stunning mountain range of the West MacDonnells, which changes color in the sun: from a vivid red to a deep orange as the sun sets over the desert.
Longitude: 137.2° E
When to go: All year
Splattered with golden-red pigments, the Remarkable Rocks on Kangaroo Island are a wonder. Formed centuries ago when molten rock bubbled up to the earth’s surface to create granite, the Rocks have undergone wind and sea erosion. What’s left is a collection of eerily shaped rocks spotted with black mica, bluish quartz, and pinkish feldspar.
Longitude: 133.0° E
When to go: All year
South Australia has several pink lakes scattered throughout the state, but the causeway dividing pink Lake MacDonnell and its green-blue neighbor creates a dramatic contrast of colors, emphasizing the beauty of the bubblegum-colored water. Once the site of a salt mine and now a gypsum mine, it’s best to visit Lake MacDonnell midmorning or at sundown on a clear day for the most brilliant pink and contrasts.
Longitude: 131.0° E
When to go: August to September, sunrise or sunset
An iconic image of Australia, Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is a sandstone legend in the country’s center and an extremely sacred spot for the Pitjantjatjara Anangu, an aboriginal people of Central Australia. At 1142 ft/348 m high and 5.8 mi/9.3 km around, viewing it in varying lights is the best way to experience Uluru’s magic as its color transforms before your eyes. Dust particles and water vapor in the atmosphere create a light filter, removing blue light from the sun’s rays, leaving the red light to shine and enhance its surrounding colors. Thanks to this pixie dust, Uluru is remarkable at any time of day, but reaches its most spectacular red at sunset.
Longitude: 139.7° E
When to go: All year
Daytime or nighttime, the Tokyo district of Shinjuku is always buzzing. It is one of those places that has its own special energy: it’s not overcrowded or over cool but you always feel as if at any moment you could walk off the street and stumble into an undiscovered out-of-this-world restaurant or equally plausibly a seedy sex show. The area around Shinjuku station—the world’s busiest—is a wonderful mix of epic skyscrapers stretching up into the air with bustling old-world alleyways that have been there for decades snuck in between them, as well as the more prevalent Tokyo street of post-war office blocks. These are where you often find the most color with advertising hoardings on every floor. Life here is lived vertically, so it’s not just the ground floors that house shops and bars, there’s always more to discover higher up the building too. By day it looks good; by night, it looks amazing. Go up high in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for aerial views—or the Park Hyatt for a Lost in Translation moment. Or stay low in the Golden Gai area for bustling atmospheric nightlife.
Longitude: 139.7° E
When to go: All year
Tokyo is known for its weird and wacky cafés and restaurants, of which there are hundreds. But one of the most colorful—and utterly bonkers—has to be the Kawaii Monster Café in Harajuku. The district of Harajuku is famous for crazy cosplay and colorful pop culture, and the Kawaii Monster Café is the neighborhood’s crowning glory. The whole restaurant was decorated by artist and sculptor Sebastian Masuda, who has created a world of giant desserts and half-cutesy, half-terrifying monsters. Think disco lighting, glow-in-the-dark acid-pop paint, and mirrored ceilings. Even the food is colorful, with rainbow spaghetti and bright blue dipping sauces for your fries. At the center of the restaurant an enormous, hot-pink cake doubles as a stage for surreal dance acts that keep diners entertained (or confused) while they eat. The effect is like a drug-fueled trip to Wonderland, and it’s sure to leave your senses reeling.
Longitude: 138.8° E
When to go: Beginning of August
There’s nothing quite like a fireworks festival in Japan, where epic pyrotechnic displays last for hours at a time, synchronized perfectly to music. Nagaoka Festival is one of the biggest, taking place every August. These aren’t your typical backyard fireworks. The finale covers more than 1 mi/2 km of the river, making it potentially the widest span of fireworks in the world.
Longitude: 139.1° E
When to go: Late April to early May
Every spring, Shibazakura Hill in Chichibu’s Hitsujiyama Park becomes a carpet of striking hot pink, thanks to the blooms of shibazakura (pink moss) that carpet the valley. More than four hundred thousand flowers in varying shades are planted strategically into swirls and shapes, creating a garden that wouldn’t look out of place beside a Disney castle.
Longitude: 130.7° E
When to go: April and May
Spring may be best known in Japan as cherry blossom season, but these aren’t the only blooms at this time of year. At the Kawachi Fuji Gardens in Kitakyushu City, the annual Kawachi Wisteria Garden has become a major event. Two 330-ft/100-m tunnels of wisteria trees create a lavender rainbow of shades ranging from white to dark purple.
Longitude: 135.5° E
When to go: All year
Nestled within the mountains of Wakayama prefecture lies the tiny temple town of Kōyasan. This is the birthplace of Shingon Buddhism in Japan, and the Danjo Garan is where the religion’s founder, Kobo Daishi, taught his disciples. The complex is dominated by the Konpon Daitō, the Great Pagoda, a 164-ft/50-m-high tower in striking red.
Longitude: 141.2° E
When to go: All year
An ongoing series of multicolored floor designs by artist Jim Lambie, Zobop is the collective title of these psychedelic works. The installation, which uses brightly colored vinyl tape laid out in flowing stripe patterns, covers the entire entrance lobby floor of the Towada Art Center. Lambie’s hypnotic designs have been installed in galleries across the world, including the Tate in London and the MoMA in New York City. Lambie begins by applying a strip of tape along the baseboard of a room, until the entire space has been outlined with a single color. Then, he adds another strip of a different color, overlapping the first one by precisely 2 mm. Each new color is chosen at random. This continues until the entire floorplan has been covered, resulting in a totally unique and site-specific artwork that is different every time. Not quite a painting, not quite a sculpture, but somewhere in between.
Longitude: 142.8° E
When to go: May to August
Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s main islands, is best known for its ski season. But as spring arrives and the snows melt, the island becomes a hotbed of colorful scenes, as the Hokkaido flower fields bloom. Farm Tomita is home to the largest lavender field in Japan; then there’s the rainbow-striped Shikisai Hill; Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park, with over two hundred kinds of tulips, stretching in orderly rows; and Hokuryu Sunflower Field, which epitomizes summertime.
Longitude: 138.2° E
When to go: Late March to early April
Each year, cherry red blossoms open on the sakura trees in Japan. Pink flowers cover the country in a blanket of color. Symbolizing the return of spring, the Japanese have a word for the pastel pastime. Hanami means “watching blossoms,” and is a tradition of gathering under blossom trees to picnic with family and friends.
Longitude: 131.4° E
When to go: All year, but summer can be unbearably hot
Beppu is one of the most famous hot spring resorts in Japan, home to the intriguing Bloody Hell Pond or Chinoike Jigoku. Named for the violent orange color caused by iron oxide, it’s one of seven “hells” found in Beppu. Apparently once used for torture, the intense 172° F/78° C heat means this onsen is for viewing only.
Longitude: 135.4° E
When to go: All year
Only Japan could create a museum for instant ramen—and make it colorful. The Cup Noodles Museum in Osaka may sound like one of the weirder tourist attractions in the city, but its interactive exhibits are a surprisingly fascinating, and fun, look at the history of cup noodles. Exhibitions showcasing the mind-boggling array of cup noodle flavors and styles from around the world create a rainbow tunnel of ramen. And in the neon-orange-striped factory, visitors can learn to make chicken ramen by hand. Osaka is the spiritual home of the instant noodle as they were invented here in 1958 by Momofuku Ando, who spent a year working on the idea from his garden shed. Later, after spending some time in the U.S.A., Momofuku had the idea to create cup noodles in 1971, which transformed Japanese instant ramen into a global food. This quirky museum dedicated to the food’s father is the perfect place to discover the history of cup noodles.
Longitude: 135.7° E
When to go: October, November or March to May
A magical tunnel made from thousands of vermilion torii gates wraps around the wooded forest of Mount Inari in Kyoto. The seemingly never-ending pathway leads to the summit of the mountain. Along the way, small shrines stacked with even more torii gates line the trail. Inscripted on the backs of the torii gates in beautiful black lettering are the names of the donor of the gate. Accompanying the inscription is their wish of health, wealth, or happiness. Dedicated to the god of rice and sake, the shrine features dozens of statues of foxes, which are said to be the messenger of the god Inari.
Longitude: 135.6° E
When to go: October, November, March to May
Rows and rows of imposing bamboo shoots line a shaded pathway in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto. The sprawling green bamboo stretches up to the sky, glowing in the early-morning light while it slowly sways back and forth in the breeze. The Bamboo Grove is the epitome of peacefulness.
Longitude: 136.5° E
When to go: March to June
Yoro Park is beautiful in both a natural and an artificial sense. The experience park was designed to combine nature and art to give visitors a sense of the unexpected. The park boasts around three thousand cherry trees that bloom in springtime as well as maple trees in autumn for shades of yellow, orange, and red. You can also find 100-ft/32-m-high Yoro Falls here, one of Japan’s most idyllic waterfalls, loved by writers and artists. For art and nature lovers, the Site of Reversible Destiny will hit the spot. This conceptual art project developed by contemporary artist Shusaku Arakawa and poet Madeline Gins is a created landscape containing a series of pavilions, billowing planes, shifting colors, and disorienting spaces that play with the visitor’s sense of balance and perspective.
Longitude: 139.7° E
When to go: October to December for fall colors
At the foot of Kyoto’s Mount Hiei lies the Daigoji temple complex, home to around seventy temples, bridges, and pagodas. The most significant is the five-story Goju-no-to Pagoda, the oldest building in Kyoto. But the star of the show is the tiny Benten-dō hall, a small red altar dedicated to the goddess Benzaiten. Situated on a small island surrounded by a picturesque lake, the altar is connected to the land by a carmine-colored bridge. This pretty lakeside scene is particularly gorgeous in the fall, when the leaves of the surrounding forests turn ruby and gold, dotted with the electro-bright yellow of ginko trees.
Longitude: 140.5° E
When to go: All year, but best from late April to early May
Known for its spectacular displays of seasonal plants, the biggest draw at Hitachi Seaside Park are the fields of nemophila, which bloom during mid-spring. Also known as Baby Blue Eyes, around 4.5 million of these dainty little flowers coat the slopes of Miharashi Hill, carpeting it in a gorgeously soft powder blue.
Longitude: 135.5° E
When to go: All year
Jam-packed with cheap shops, Shinsekai in Osaka, is a vibrant area most famous for the iconic Tsutenkaku Tower. The technicolor district was modeled after New York and Paris. Modern and filled with bright and gaudy signage for countless restaurants, the run-down carnival vibes make it come to life.
Longitude: 135.9° E
When to go: All year
Deep in Japan’s Wakayama Prefecture, a region known for soy sauce, fresh tuna, and beautiful mountains, is one of the most quintessentially Japanese views you’ll ever see. At 436 ft/133 m, Nachi Waterfall is the tallest waterfall in Japan. It sits close to the beautiful Seigantoji Pagoda—a bright red three-story structure.
Longitude: 144.9° E
When to go: All year
Melbourne’s street art scene is internationally recognized and Hosier Lane is front and center and in your face. The stretch between Flinders Lane and Flinders Street gained notoriety as a place for street art in the 1990s and grew, hosting events such as All Your Walls in 2013, where more than one hundred local artists were invited to repaint the entire street. Now, almost every inch of the laneway is touched by artistic magic. Outside of Hosier Lane there is an impressive array of street art scattered throughout the city. Other areas include Centre Place, AC/DC Lane, the Keith Haring mural, Caledonian Lane, Croft Alley, and Duckboard Place. The city of Melbourne has also taken the love for street art to the next level by creating a mentoring program for young people between thirteen and twenty-five who have an artistic interest in the medium. Fostering spaces and artists, it’s clear why Melbourne garners international attention for its art.
Longitude: 145.7° E
When to go: October
An extinct volcanic vent with dramatic cliff drops into Bass Strait is home to the largest open tulip fields in the southern hemisphere. Farming on the land since 1910, the Roberts-Thomson family imported their first tulip bulbs from the Netherlands in 1984 and Table Cape tulips began. The stunning views and rainbow hues are a must-see annual delight.
Longitude: 148.1° E
When to go: September
The gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands are home to one of the best beaches in the world. Bright powdery sand on Whitehaven Beach can’t be found on any other island in the archipelago, making it a mysterious paradise. Surrounded by the bluest water imaginable, the islands really are a dream.
Longitude: 144.9° E
When to go: September to May for best weather
Like many things bright and beautiful, these boxes are a social media sensation, but their history goes much further back than Instagram or Facebook. Over one hundred years old, they are iconic to Dendy Street Beach and the Melbourne beach scene. Originally used as covered change areas for female swimmers, the boxes are now privately owned and used as a sheltered place to sit on the beach or a spot to store beach necessities. There were calls to tear them down in the 1950s and 1970s, but they survived both and were then painted the bright colors they are today. Since only a limited number of the eighty-plus boxes still exist, they are often passed down from generation to generation.
Longitude: 174.4° E
When to go: November to April
Black sand, the result of high iron content, covers the coast of Piha Beach, a popular surfing beach in New Zealand. Deemed the birthplace of New Zealand board riding in 1958, Piha Beach is the perfect place to watch surfers ride the bright blue waves of the Tasman Sea.
Longitude: 151.2° E
When to go: All year
Bondi’s famous beach has more to it than the sand and surf. Along the seawall is a rotating display of street art that is renowned for its talent and heart. With origins in the 1970s and 1980s when graffiti was the thing to do (and not get caught), it has since become a community space for young artists, and has grown into an internationally recognized place for street artists to showcase their work.
Longitude: 166.9° E
When to go: September or October (check dates beforehand)
Dress in white to party at this dance festival with a difference: Every hour, colored powder is thrown over guests, transforming their washing-commercial white outfits into a multicolored rainbow. Set on a beach on this stunning island, if it all gets too bright, just wash it away in the surf.
Longitude: 170.4° E
When to go: November to December for lupine season
Lake Tekapo shines turquoise thanks to glacier water flowing from the Southern Alps, and from November to December the lupines bloom, creating an idyllic storybook mountain scene. Part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, it’s best to go while the sun’s up for the blue water, and stay for a night under the perfectly visible stars.
Longitude: 152.9° E
When to go: Mid-October to mid-November
Jacaranda trees are an iconic springtime sight in Australia, but to celebrate this natural beauty properly, the place to go is Grafton. Every year when the trees are in full bloom, the town holds the Jacaranda Festival, ten days of parades and parties—with everything purple to pay tribute to these blossoming beauties.
Longitude: 156.4° E
When to go: May to September
Two-hundred-and-seventy-nine different fish species call the transparent aquamarine water of Njari Island in the Solomon Islands home. The small island, located in the South Pacific, is almost entirely covered in trees and is surrounded by a vibrant coral reef that gives divers a chance to see undersea life like nowhere else.
Longitude: 170.2° E
When to go: All year
According to the Ngai Tahu legend, Aoraki and his three brothers were canoeing through the sea when their canoe flipped and they climbed on top, turning to stone in the wind. The canoe became the South Island and the brothers, the peaks of the Southern Alps. The backdrop to this story is Mt. Cook National Park with its spectacular lakes and views.
Longitude: 172.6° E
When to go: January and February
Standing on the grassy edge of a steep rocky cliff is the Cape Reinga Lighthouse. Watching over the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean, the white lighthouse overlooks an ombre of blue water. Translated from Maori, Reigna means “Leaping-off Place of Spirits,” and it is here that Maori spirits return to their ancestral homeland.
Longitude: 168.4° E
When to go: All year
Located on Lake Wakatipu close to the action of Queenstown, Little Paradise Lodge offers a whimsical break from the adrenaline-pumping activities of its neighbor. With over forty thousand daffodils and three thousand roses and lilies that stand over 13 ft/4 m tall, this garden escape is a flower lover’s dream.
Longitude: 172.6° E
When to go: All year
The street art in Christchurch began as a response to the devastation left by the earthquake of 2011. Many buildings were so badly damaged that they had to be demolished, which left the large empty walls of neighbouring buildings exposed. In 2013, art collector George Shaw mounted a street-art festival, and commissioned new works for these walls. The city is now full of murals. Enjoy them independently as you explore or take a guided walk to learn more about the artists behind them.
Longitude: 171.0° E
When to go: June
The vivid turquoise water of the Hokitika Gorge looks more like a fluorescent sports drink than a river. Its unique color comes from the Southern Alps and glaciers that lead down to the gorge. Rock flour, which is ground-down mineral-rich rock and sandstone, suspends itself in the water, creating an almost glow-like effect. A swinging rope bridge hangs over the water, creating a passageway into the deep forest and onto winding hiking trails.
Longitude: 173.4° E
When to go: March to July
From valleys of vines to sheltered waterways, the golden wine country of Marlborough is a field of dreams. Known for its famous Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, the colors of Marlborough are constantly changing. Every nook and cranny of the region is covered in lines of vines that transform from bright shades of green to hues of orange with the seasons. Surrounded by the Marlborough Sounds, the winding river valleys colored blue and green flow toward the Pacific Ocean.
Longitude: 176.3° E
When to go: Fall and spring
Possibly one of the most surreal places in the world, the thermal wonderland of Wai-O-Tapu is home to a series of smelly sulfur mud pools, colored geothermal pools, and exploding geysers. Lady Knox Geyser blows a pillar of water into the sky each and every day. The Devil’s Bathtub, an iridescent lime green pool, colored by sulfur floating on the surface, resembles a toxic bathtub. Nearby gray, sludgy mud pools spit, cough, and bubble mud onto the outer edges.
Longitude: 174.0° E
When to go: All year
An active volcano lies dormant on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island. Although the last eruption was hundreds of years ago, Mount Taranaki has erupted over 160 times in the last 36,000 years. Considered one of the most symmetrical volcano cones in the world, Mount Taranaki is shrouded in local legend. It is said Taranaki was banished to the west for making romantic advances toward a mountain named Pihanga, causing the Tongariro volcano to erupt in jealousy. Oh, those lusty mountains.
