Offbeat Holiday Ideas for your 31st December – New Year Party

December 31. The evening that sets the tone for the year ahead in which we resolve to eat, play, love and work better. Sans a plan, you may end up welcoming the new year with a vague sense of déjà vu – familiar faces and the same old party. With one, you can look forward to daybreak somewhere inspiring! Like these six getaways that we suggest for the adventurers among you.

1. Evergreen Everest

Trek to the world’s highest party. There is nothing like winter in the Everest region. The landscape becomes a glistening snowy wonderland, with frozen waterfalls, clear days and lesser trekkers on the trails. Celebrate Christmas in the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar, trek to the storied Buddhist Thyangboche Monastery in Dingboche, then take a slow ascent through yak pastures to Khumbu Glacier and finally ring in the New Year in GorakShep, the closest village to Mount Everest. This is where you can really fulfill that resolution to see the world!

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2. In the land of the Rising Sun

In Japan, New Years’ Eve is an extremely important festival, and a treat for travellers to experience first hand. Entrances to all homes, stores and buildings are decorated with a pine and bamboo kadomatsu as a welcome for Shinto gods. At midnight, locals head out to visit Buddhist temples across the country, where a bell is rung 108 times to rid them of their worldly desires. The festival atmosphere at the temples is intoxicating, with vendors selling soba buckwheat noodles (a must-eat onDec 31), music, lanterns and colourful kimonos everywhere. Not to be missed!

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3. In heritage wilderness

Here’s one for those truly committed to that fitness resolution! In the pristine World Heritage Area called the Southern Wilderness, the South Coast Track is one of the world’s last expanses of untouched temperate wilderness. It is extremely challenging, but incredibly rewarding for those who are ready for it. The South Coast Track is a true wilderness experience, traversing 85km of Tasmania’s most remote beaches, rainforest and alpine landscapes where leeches, powdered meals and wading through creeks can bring a new meaning to having a wild night.

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4. At the peak of Kilimanjaro

Start the new year with a fresh perspective – from the highest point on the African continent! Mt Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak (5895m) is one of the seven summits, and a bucket-list item for most fit trekkers. Your challenge begins in dense tropical rainforest and passes through some of the mountain’s best features – the Shira Plateau, Barranco Wall, and Karanga Valley on the way to the summit. The Shira Route has a high success rate for reaching the summit–which makes it one of the best choices for those with their heart set on welcoming the new year gazing down on the clouds from atop the world’s highest free-standing mountain.

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5. Incredible Incas

The original capital of the Inca empire, UNESCO world heritage-listed Cusco in Peru abounds with  archaeological sites and colonial architecture. On New Years’ Eve, Cusco’s Plaza de Armas fills with revellers who gather for fireworks, a free concert, bikini dancers and to participate in Inca and Spanish traditions. The colour of the day is yellow, a traditional Inca symbol of good luck. Wearing yellow underwear is a popular choice amongst locals! After midnight, the revelers take a lap of the block with suitcases, which is thought to bring travel opportunities for the New Year. A great tradition for lovers of travel.

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6. To the end of the world

A great option for those who are truly planning ahead. Welcome the new year aboard a vessel bound for the frozen wilderness. Antarctica is a place where few can say they have been, and new year’s eve can be the perfect time for wildlife watching and photography. The summer is in full swing and with 22 hours of daylight, there’ll be plenty of opportunities! The penguin highways are busy with traffic between rookeries and beach as parents hurry to fatten up chicks. Glaciers shed ice with an echoing roar and waterways are alive with feeding and breaching whales. Zodiacs whisk you on whale watching cruises and amongst glorious icebergs. The near-midnight sun is powering an explosion of life.

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