Australia · Australia
Margaret River is what happens when big-wave surf culture and wine country occupy the same postcode. The coastline here faces the full force of the Indian Ocean, producing some of the heaviest waves in Australia at spots like The Box and Main Break, which hosts a World Surf League championship tour event. But you don't need to be a pro surfer to love this place. Sheltered bays like Meelup and Eagle Bay offer calm turquoise water, limestone caves hide underground rivers at Lake Cave and Mammoth Cave, and over 200 wineries produce some of Australia's finest Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Cellar door tastings typically run $10-15 AUD and come with views of karri forest. The local food scene punches hard too, with producers turning out artisan cheese, chocolate, and olive oil that you can sample along the Cape to Cape track.
Western Australia's Margaret River region delivers heavy reef breaks at Surfers Point, sheltered swimming at Gnarabup and Yallingup, 200 cellar doors pouring premium wine, and the 135-kilometer Cape to Cape coastal walk.
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Box jellyfish in Australia, man-of-war in the Atlantic, mauve stingers in the Mediterranean -- here's how to identify the jellyfish in your water, what actually treats a sting (hot water, not urine), and when to get to a hospital.
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Noosa's north-facing beaches deliver year-round calm swimming, a national park with koalas and hidden coves, point break surfing, and kayaking through the only everglades system outside Florida.
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Sayulita is a colorful surf village on Mexico's Riviera Nayarit with a beginner-friendly point break, $2 fish tacos, and a bohemian energy that hasn't been polished away by development. Forty-five minutes from Puerto Vallarta, it runs on its own clock.
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Lombok broken down: the south coast's white-sand bays and beginner surf, Gili Trawangan's diving and parties, Gili Meno's underwater sculptures, Mount Rinjani's crater rim trek, and practical details on fast boats from Bali, motorbike rental, and dry season timing.
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Montañita packs serious surf, nonstop nightlife, and South America's best-value beach scene into six blocks on Ecuador's Pacific coast. This guide covers the waves, the party, and where to escape both along the Ruta del Sol.
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