IT'S surely the perfect antidote to Heathrow gridlock on a cold, grey spring day - a silent glide by cable car to a peaceful monastery on the outskirts of balmy Hong Kong.

The new 3.5-mile Ngong Ping Skyrail drops passengers at the monastery which until recently was only accessible by a long, winding road. Incense was thick in the air and I couldn't feel further from home.

The stopover was a fine start to a round-the-world journey which took me as far as New Zealand via the East and then back to the UK via the West - Los Angeles. The new route gives travellers the first chance to circumnavigate the globe on the same airline from the UK, and the option of flying out in either direction.

Hong Kong is a new addition to the Air New Zealand route, and for those with only hours to spare, the monastery cable car is close to the airport and easily accessible.

There is, of course, the rest of the island to explore - a sophisticated city with beautiful restaurants and bars and remarkably good shopping.

stay up late It's worthwhile staying up late in Hong Kong to see the city lit up. The Symphony of Lights - in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest permanent light and sound show - is a must-see. Retail never stops, and the Temple Street night market offers an alternative to bar-hopping.

But it was time to move on. The stopover had not only made the prospect of another 10-hour flight bearable, but it also helped me acclimatise to a southern hemisphere spring. Instead of feeling jetlagged on arrival in Auckland, it was straight down to the city's beautiful waterfront for fresh air and wine.

The possibilities in Auckland, and of course the rest of the country, are limitless, and it is easy to mix city sights with outdoor pursuits without spending hours travelling.

The region boasts three harbours, two mountain ranges, 48 volcanic cones and more than 50 islands. It is also home to more than 80 vineyards, including Waiheke Island's highly-regarded Stonyridge.

Iconic volcanic island Rangitoto, a dominating landmark in Auckland's inner harbour, pushed its way through the ocean floor about 600 years ago. The walk to the summit through rugged black basalt lava ends with spectacular 360-degree views over the harbour and back to the city.

eco-friendly But nature-lovers should head straight to Tiritiri Matangi Island, an internationally-recognised conservation success story. It has been cleared of predators and more than three million native trees have been planted. Around a dozen species of endangered birds, including the extremely rare takahe, are now thriving.

For those with more time, Great Barrier Island is an unspoilt haven four-and-a-half hours by ferry or 30 minutes by air from Auckland. It has no electricity network, yet manages to provide luxury accommodation and gourmet dining as well as camping, hiking and fishing.

The Tamaki Hikoi, a Maori guided walk of Auckland, gives visitors a sense of the importance of the culture in what is a proudly bicultural country. The walk begins with a karakia, or prayer, in the dormant volcano Maungawhau (Mount Eden) and stops along the way at places of historical significance to the Maori.

It is very easy, however, to spend time wandering from cafe to cafe.

LA STORY Fortunately, the wrench of leaving the warmth and fresh air of this beautiful city for cold, dreary London was postponed with the western leg of the jaunt. And splitting the 24-hour flight back with a night in LA can mean the difference between a miserable and a manageable return to the UK.

There's no better place to get an instant dose of Hollywood glamour than the Roosevelt Hotel, which is almost directly over the road from the Kodak Theatre, home of the Oscars. Its front door opens onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame and there are numerous tours departing nearby taking in the neighbourhood of the stars.

Marilyn Monroe was a resident at the hotel for two years, while the pool, heated and surrounded by fires at night, contains a mural painted by David Hockney.

It would be easy to settle with a cocktail in the comfortable loungers by the pool , but sadly it was time to go home.

- JOSIE CLARKE

12:27pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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