World Directory, Oceania, New Zealand, Canterbury, Waitaki district

AN ATOLL with a land area of one square mile (2.6 sq km), Palmerston lies some 310 miles (500 km) north-west of Rarotonga. It is the only true atoll in the southern Cooks group. It consists of six sandy motu (islets) scattered around a coral reef covering 3,600 acres (1457 hectares) and surrounding a lagoon about seven miles (11 km) across.

World Directory, Oceania, New Zealand, Wellington, Kapiti Coast

Otaki is one of New Zealand's oldest urban settlements and the pre-eminent historic place in the Kapiti district. It has been, is and always will be a celebration of Maoritanga. Otaki was an important refreshment and overnight stop on the early stagecoach runs between Wellington and Foxton, which used the beaches as roads.

World Directory, Oceania, New Zealand, Auckland, Rodney District

Orewa Beach is a beautiful stretch of white sand. Sometimes the sea murmurs, and sometimes it roars. You see kids building sandcastles as high as themselves, and a lone fisherman dreaming of Marlin. Walk up to the lookout above the beach in the morning and see the sunlight break over the waves and cliffs.

World Directory, Oceania, New Zealand, Canterbury, Canterbury

The seaside settlement of Kaikoura, situated midway between Christchurch and Picton on the rugged east coast of New Zealand's South Island, is overlooked by majestic mountains, which are snow-capped for many months of the year.

World Directory, Oceania, Fiji, Viti Levu, Viti Levu

Sigatoka is a town in Fiji. It is found on the island of Viti Levu and is situated at the mouth of the Sigatoka River, after which it is named, some 69 kilometers from Nadi.

World Directory, Asia, Thailand, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Prachuap Khiri Khan

Hua Hin is a famous beach resort town in Thailand, in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, some 200 km south of Bangkok. It has a population of 84,883 in an area of 911 km², and is one of eight districts (Amphoe) of the Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

World Directory, Asia, Russia, Yaroslavl Oblast, Yaroslavl Oblast

Pereslavl-Zalessky or Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, is a town in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia. It was called Pereyaslavl until the 15th century. The town is located on the southeastern shore of the Lake Pleshcheyevo at the mouth of the Trubezh River.

World Directory, Asia, Japan, Kyushu, Okinawa

Chatan is a town located in Nakagami District, Okinawa, Japan.

World Directory, Middle East, Israel, Haifa, Haifa Bay

Caesarea is a town in Israel on the outskirts of Caesarea Maritima, the ancient port city. It is located mid-way between Tel Aviv and Haifa (45 km), on the Israeli Mediterranean coast near the city of Hadera.

World Directory, Africa, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban

The town of Umkomaas on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast in South Africa, with its spectacular sea views, developed on a hill crowning the river's southern bank and became a premier holiday destination. Today, thanks to a shipping hazard and evidence of the havoc it s wreaked, the town's colonial-style architecture is 'base camp' for scuba divers from around the world. Five kilometres offshore from Umkomaas lies the internationally-renowned Aliwal Shoal - a fossilised sand dune of sponges, soft and hard coral - first spotted in 1849 but not adequately highlighted until after it sank the steamer Nebo in 1884.