Best Places to Travel in June - Top 10 for 2024 (Pt.2)

One thing that surprises many first time visitors to Copenhagen is that it's home to two of the oldest Theme Parks in the world. The magical Tivoli Gardens is a quirky, charming wonderland for visitors of all ages. It's been standing since 1843, fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen visited the park many times and even Walt Disney found the inspiration for his own Disney World here. Part of the gardens' secret is that there really is something for everyone. The scenery is beautiful with exotic architecture, historic buildings, and lush gardens with peacocks roaming around. At night, thousands of coloured lights create a fairytale atmosphere that's completely unique. Alternatively, head into the woods about 10 minutes north of Copenhagen to Bakken: the free to enter, oldest amusement park in the world (dating back to 1583) with nostalgic games, ice cream, candy floss, and an 82-year-old wooden rollercoaster.

COPENHAGEN x MÄLMO Mälmo is a climate-smart, cosmopolitan city with an injection of laid-back Scandinavian cool in Sweden; it's a short 20-minute drive across the Øresund Strait and is great for an afternoon trip from Copenhagen.

(6) NORTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Why would you visit New Zealand during the winter season if you’re not planning on skiing? Trust me, the North Island has numerous secret weapons that make an off-season road trip well worth it. There’s the geothermal activity which has created bubbling, steaming pools that you can soak in. There’s the surf at it’s biggest and most reliable at Raglan, and caves don’t care a bit about winter – the temperature’s the same year-round, and Waitomo’s famous constellations of glowworms just keep on glowing. For my join-the-dots route between the hotspots: Drive the Thermal Explorer Highway between Auckland and Napier. Detour to ride the left-hand break at Raglan and float through Waitomo Caves, browse your way through Hamilton, discover Maori culture and take a hot-spring dip in Rotorua, check out Orakei Korako’s cave and geothermal park, admire Napier’s Art Deco architecture and taste the finest drops from the Hawke’s Bay wineries – all without the summer crowds.

(7) GREECE

June marks the start of summer in Greece. The country is a treasure trove of Byzantine history, miles of soft sand and clear warm waters with unique coral reefs that make diving from the Greek islands a popular activity. Warm and sunny days with temperatures usually hitting 30°C are followed by pleasant nights, and islands like Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, and Corfu are perfect at this time of year before the summer crowds descend. Those after a lively vibe flock to good-time Mykonos, when the nights seem to stretch into infinity and the sunshine bounces off the little white stone houses. Forget ouzo, sipping Champagne as you spend the night dancing to international DJs at Cavo Paradiso, and the days recovering by the bluer-than-blue Aegean Sea at one of the hot new beach clubs is more the way. If like me you need a culture fix, take the ferry to Delos, one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece.

(8) TRINIDAD, THE CARIBBEAN

Although the leatherback is the heftiest turtle (they weigh up to 700kgs or 1,543lbs), it’s sadly now classed as Vulnerable. Meeting this ancient creature is always a special memory, and seeing dozens of females lumbering onto the shore to lay hundreds of eggs is magical. During peak nesting season (between March and June), the beaches of Matura, Fishing Pond and particularly Grande Rivierie, hosts up to 500 egg-laying females each night – and in June (when World Sea Turtle Day is celebrated on the 16th) the hatchlings start to emerge, and scuttle down into the sea. Make a turtle encounter the centrepin of your trip to this lesser visited Caribbean Island where (even though the tropical rainy season is starting) you can also enjoy plenty of warm sunshine, lively nightlife, and festivals…and often lower prices. It’s not all turtles though, birdwatchers are in heaven here too, with several hotspots for catching sight of rare species.

FOODIE TIP: Trace the northwest coast for waterfalls, soft sands, and bake ‘n’ shark (a tasty fried fish and flatbread combo) at Maracas Beach. Oh, and you absolutely must try the Doubles, Trinidad’s most popular street food - a fried flat bread filled with curried chickpeas.

(9) PARAGUAY

Leave any preconceptions about Paraguay at the check-in desk (if you have any). Few people know much about this diverse landlocked country, and I know fewer that have visited. Today, although tourism structure is pretty sparse, this friendly country is emerging from a time tainted by its reputation for poverty and unrest. June, when the climate is dry, temperatures moderate and before the July holidays season, this is the best time to explore the Spanish colonial architecture of the capital Asunción and to delve into the Chaco; a vast semi-arid region of marshes, saltwater lagoons, palm forests and savannahs populated by cacti the size of houses. This green hot-pit is home to the native Guarani people, Mennonite communities, is rich in wildlife and has an incredible array of birdlife too. Although Iguazu Falls straddles the Brazilian-Argentine border, it’s easily accessible from Paraguay via the crossing at Encarnación, providing a dramatic end to your trip.

(10) BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA

The June solstice sees people all over the world celebrate the International Day of Yoga, and although Byron Bay isn’t the “backpackers and hippies” hotspot that it used to be, having grown up into a stylish, upmarket destination now, it does still hold onto its laidback air and alternative vibe. That’s why it’s the ideal place to recharge your physical and spiritual batteries at one of the excellent yoga retreats or studios.

It may feel like it sometimes, but yoga sessions don’t take all day and although you could spend the rest of your time meditating, why would you miss out on all the beaches and other activities on hand? Pop on your mask and snorkel to encounter Julian Rocks below the surface – keep your eyes peeled for wobbegong sharks, sea turtles, rays and kaleidoscopic fish, or grab a surfboard and wetsuit to catch the reliable winter swells. This is also the time to spot whales too: thousands of humpbacks migrate through these waters between June and October every year. Do your spotting off the coast of Cape Byron or on a dedicated whale-watching boat tour.