Top Five

Sun Herald

Sunday April 13, 2008

Zoe Naylor. Zoe Naylor is co-host of Seven's Gladiators.

1. Maldives

I went to the Maldives for my honeymoon and one of the places we stayed was Huvafen Fushi, which is a small luxury hotel. It blew us away. It's expensive but worth every cent. The snorkelling was like the casting couch from Finding Nemo. The food and wine is first class, with a cellar sunk into the ground. My husband, James, caught a two-metre sailfish, which the chef cooked for us. We stayed in a 160-square-metre over-water bungalow, bigger than your average apartment, with a clear bottom in the lounge room. I've stayed in a variety of luxury accommodation and this was by far the best. The Maldives, as a destination, is just sensational.

2. New Zealand

I've worked a lot in New Zealand, in television and film, and I've fallen in love with the country. It's a really underrated destination - it's not far from Australia, it's affordable and it's spectacular. I'm a big fan of both islands; from the Bay of Islands to Waiheke Island, just a half-hour ferry ride from Auckland; to the Coromandel Peninsula, down to the Lake Taupo region and the ski-fields of Queenstown. I also love the fact that you can watch the Bledisloe Cup in both countries and get equally excited.

3. Sydney

I have grown up in Sydney and every time I go down to the harbour I'm reminded of what an amazing city it is. You can duck over to Taronga Zoo for the day, get fish and chips from Doyles, have a trip to Manly or the fish market. Most recently I was out there watching the Queen Victoria and QE2 as they passed each other at Fort Denison. It was awesome. The good thing about Sydney is that it's accessible. No matter what your income is, everyone can participate. Ferries are a great way to get around.

4. Sri Lanka

I was there a few years ago on holiday with my family, as well as two other families that are old friends. There were about 15 of us. We travelled from Colombo, south to Galle [a historic fortress town] where we rented a house. We visited tea plantations and saw ancient ruins and saw the fishermen on stilts. We got around by tuk-tuk and I surfed in Unawatuna, which is a great spot. Sri Lanka is east meets west; it's culturally different, yet so untouched and beautiful. To immerse yourself in a Third World country is amazing.

5. Aspen, Colorado

The snow at Aspen is phenomenal. The slopes appeal to all levels of experience, with off-piste skiing, groomed runs and four mountains to choose from. And the apres-ski life is great with lots of bars and live music. The star-spotting is fun. Last time I was there I saw Heidi Klum and Seal, Melanie Griffith and Goldie Hawn. But it's not just for the rich and famous, you can also stay somewhere affordable, such as a hostel.

© 2008 Sun Herald

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