Your personal time machine - from Sydney to Honolulu

"Waikiki" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by pmsyyz

Experience time travel when you leave Sydney in the late afternoon only to arrive in Honolulu the same day! Extend your experience by stopping off for a day in Auckland on the way, and it it's the season see if you can catch some local rugby. Stay at the lovely Langham Hotel for Earth Hour and you'll enjoy a soy-candle-lit soiree while retaining your carbon credentials. Then on to Honolulu for iconic beaches and - really - swaying palm trees.

Take a surf lesson in the morning, then be amazed by the Friday night fireworks at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort at Waikiki - you might see them from your room if you book one with an oceanfront view. When you're not busy tipping the hotel staff, splash out at Hawaiian Waters water park. You can catch the bus from just over the road from the Hilton. A more upmarket option is the recently re-modeled Royal Hawaiian where you'll even earn Starwood points.

SYD-HNL Depart 18:35, Arrive 20:15          5748 miles