Earth could also be a reasonably uniform sphere, however the Northern Hemisphere has the lion’s share of landmass at an estimated 68%, whereas the Southern Hemisphere’s stable floor clocks in at 32%. Much more putting, roughly 87% of the world’s inhabitants lives up high, whereas simply 1.04 billion folks (13%) reside under the equator.
Arguably, much less land, extra water and, sure, even much less humanity make the austral half of our planet all of the extra particular and definitely worth the lengthy flight to get there. With so few folks and much much less improvement, landscapes are usually delightfully wild, customs intriguingly distinctive and wildlife fascinatingly uncommon.
In fact, touring to the Southern Hemisphere throughout its summer season — December by February — has the additional advantage of being heat when it is chilly on the opposite aspect of the globe. That stated, examine the climate as a result of in sure locations, it is monsoon (learn: the tremendous wet) season.
As a Southern Hemisphere dweller, dwelling simply eight-odd levels south of the equator in Bali, Indonesia, I extremely advocate venturing southward throughout these months for heat temperatures, pure wonders and world-class hospitality. Listed here are 10 of the very best locations to begin planning a visit for subsequent 12 months throughout summer season within the Southern Hemisphere, aka America’s winter.
Sydney
There’s nothing fairly like summer season in Sydney, an Australian metropolis that may, in a single second, really feel like one big seaside city and on the subsequent look like an city heart of cool positive eating and stylish vogue. There are dramatically lovely cliff walks, scenic spots for garden bowling with a drink in hand and Sydney Harbour cruises. Plus, the Sydney Pageant dishes out dance, theater and musical performances every January. You’ll be able to’t miss Bondi Seashore, the long-lasting Bondi Icebergs swim membership with its above-the-ocean pool and a go to to the storied Opera Home.
TPG tip: In a reimagined circa 1912 sandstone Division of Training constructing downtown, the glamorous and culturally related Capella Sydney — bursting with inspiring artwork, together with massive commissions by Indigenous skills — is a luxurious place to relaxation your head, dine and spa it up when not gallivanting across the radiant metropolis and its suburbs. Rooms begin at $692 per night time in the summertime.
Chilean Patagonia
Chilean Patagonia is a area of breathtaking magnificence spanning some 177,600 sq. miles, or about half the lengthy, skinny nation. Summer season is the best time to go to the epic vacation spot, the place you may hike in Torres del Paine, go white water rafting, kayak in fjords, view Perito Moreno Glacier and spot wildlife like penguins and whales. With highs sometimes within the 60s, the climate is delicate, however the thrills are something however.
TPG tip: Mixing into the panorama simply sufficient to let the Torres del Paine peaks shine, Tierra Patagonia overlooks Sarmiento Lake and includes 40 rooms that remember the staggering pure vistas above all else, nicely, apart from luxurious creature comforts. All-inclusive charges begin at $3,000 per night time subsequent December.
Bwindi Impenetrable Nationwide Park, Uganda
If summer season in Uganda is finest for one factor, it is gorilla trekking because the highlands of Bwindi Impenetrable Nationwide Park — designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Web site — are cooler than the remainder of the nation, which sprawls throughout the equator. The outstanding and endangered mountain gorillas’ house is within the Southern Hemisphere, the place the dry season of December to February ends in much less dense foliage that makes it simpler to view them of their untamed pure habitat. Planning for this sort of factor is essential, contemplating the necessity for gorilla trekking permits, that are restricted.
Each day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
TPG tip: When it reopens in 2025, Gorilla Forest Lodge, an A&Okay Sanctuary will put visitors of its 10 luxurious suites as shut as humanly attainable to the wildlife they’re in search of because the sustainable lodge is immersed within the nationwide park itself. Charges begin at $520 per night time, per particular person, based mostly on double occupancy.
Associated: Probably the most thrilling lodge openings of 2025
Sao Paulo
You may want to love — or, slightly, love — warmth to swing all the way down to Sao Paulo, Brazil’s most populous metropolis, within the summertime, as daytime temperatures hover within the 80s and the humidity and probability of rain are slightly excessive. But it is nicely definitely worth the steamy ambiance to discover the colourful metropolis with its eye-catching aesthetics. There’s loads of structure to absorb — a guided strolling tour is beneficial — and tradition and artwork, too.
Every February or March, the primary occasion is Carnival (Feb. 28 to March 4, 2025, and Feb. 13 to 18, 2026), an explosion of colourful parades, samba performances, music, avenue events and essentially the most fabulously over-the-top costumes conceivable.
TPG tip: Near the Carnival festivities within the Bela Vista neighborhood, the 180-room and -suite Rosewood Sao Paulo is a sublime possibility for a cultural immersion, due to the lodge’s 450-plus-piece assortment of works by Brazilian artists. Rooms in the summertime season start at $620 per night time.
Queenstown, New Zealand
Calling all adrenaline-fueled adventurers! Queenstown, set amid the Southern Alps and cerulean Lake Wakatipu, is all about pleasure, particularly in its warmest months. Sure, theoretically, an individual may journey all that manner with a thoughts to benefit from the area’s wine and the views — and there are various, particularly should you fly all the way down to Milford Sound in a teeny airplane for a morning spent aboard a waterfall-strewn cruise. However lively pursuits are what many come for: bungee leaping, white water rafting, mountain climbing, paragliding, jet boating and skydiving.
TPG tip: Rustic luxurious is on faucet on the shores of Lake Wakatipu at Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa. There are cozy hearth pits, an indoor pool and a water taxi to succeed in city. Summer season charges start at $244 or 50,000 Hilton Honors factors per night time.
Cape City
Breathtaking mountains, progressive and inexpensive Michelin-quality eating, and sandy seashores with turquoise waters await on this South African metropolis. You can even get pleasure from reside music, discover wine nation, immerse your self in wild areas and partake in outside actions like browsing, free diving and mountain climbing. And the motels: Cape City has among the better of any metropolis, due to the eye to element and plush design. This metropolis is value far more than a fast jet lag stopover earlier than or after a safari. Just a bit warning: Nonetheless many days you determine to offer it, they’re going to by no means be sufficient.
TPG tip: An icon on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Grace, A Fairmont Managed lodge reopened in 2024 with a completely new look, one which cements it as a dynamic vacation spot for not solely slumbering sweetly after hours in certainly one of its 112 soft rooms but in addition tasting native, generational recipes and flavors, ingesting in a see-and-be-seen waterfront bar and taking in South African artwork, too. Rooms begin at $1,035 per night time.
Antarctica
The mysterious and intriguing White Continent, Antarctica, is so darn wintery that we lay people can solely go to throughout its summer season season. In December, you are midnight solar and penguin hatchlings, whereas the chicks fluff up by January and, by February, are molting and rising their grownup feathers. To not point out the whales; there are such a lot of. Cruises present the chance to remain heat and see superb sights whereas having fun with actions like kayaking, penguin watching and glacier viewing — all relying on the particular cruise line and ship.
TPG tip: Silversea’s Antarctica Bridge fly-cruise possibility lets visitors fly straight to Antarctica as an alternative of crusing the lengthy and typically stomach-churning Drake Passage. It makes a compelling case for taking an uber-luxurious expedition ship, with voyages beginning at $17,500 per particular person.
Jose Ignacio, Uruguay
As in-the-know seaside cities go, Jose Ignacio is without doubt one of the coolest. The windswept Uruguayan paradise is a sizzling ticket within the festive season of the nation’s summer season and simply past. The truth is, a lot of the previous fishing village is closed for the remainder of the 12 months. However when it is open for enterprise, it is one thing particular (assume: yoga, gallery procuring and lengthy alfresco beachside lunches by day with even longer dinners underneath the celebrities accompanied by ample wine from close by producers, reminiscent of Bodega Garzon). Foodies ought to be sure you journey to chef Francis Mallmann’s romantic Restaurante Garzon, whereas design fiends ought to take a brief drive to the seaside metropolis of Punta del Este.
TPG tip: The 49-room Bahia Vik Jose Ignacio has all the things you may have to get pleasure from a soothing seaside vacation, however when it is time to discover the remainder of city, its complimentary bikes are able to journey. Charges begin at $500 per night time in the summertime.
Tasmania, Australia
Identified finest for its Tasmanian devils, this island off the coast of Australia is fabulous in the summertime. Its heat, lengthy days — like 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. — enable guests ample time to get lively on a bucolic seaside, river or mountains, eat and drink one thing scrumptious, absorb some tradition and spy on native wildlife like wombats. There’ll most likely even be time to make it to a pageant, of which there are various, devoted to all the things from people music to native wine.
TPG tip: Set between Hobart’s central enterprise district and Derwent Harbour, The Tasman, a Luxurious Assortment Lodge, Hobart occupies an architectural marvel spanning three centuries, with authentic art work and home windows, in addition to restored fireplaces all through. As interesting as it could be to remain in, the lodge’s programming entices visitors to enterprise out for actions like a Hearth + Ice wellness stroll stuffed with mountain tales or oyster harvesting. Charges begin at $180 or 37,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time in the summertime.
Tanzania
Whereas a lot of Africa’s southeastern coast and islands are entrenched within the wet season come summer season — Mozambique, Madagascar and the Seychelles, for instance — Tanzania’s tropical sizzling spot, Zanzibar, is having fun with its annual brief dry season. For memorable seashores trimmed in coral reefs, sundown dhow cruises, turtle visits and historic Stone City, it is a pretty selection.
It might be a sin to go all that manner with out embarking on a safari, too. January is called wildebeest calving season within the southern Serengeti, which suggests the large cats are on the prowl greater than ever, in search of meals. Because it’s dry within the bush as nicely, wildlife may be extra simply tracked down round watering holes.
TPG tip: 4 Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti is a legendary possibility within the Serengeti due to its infinity pool that overlooks a big watering gap the place elephants and different wildlife are always ingesting and taking part in. All-inclusive charges begin at $1,600 per night time in December 2025. E-book your keep by American Specific High quality Inns + Resorts for early check-in, a room improve upon availability and a $100 property credit score.
Associated studying:
