Bali is a perennially popular choice for Australians, and for good reason. June, July and August fall right in Bali's dry season, making it one of the best times to visit, with warm temperatures hovering between 20°C and 30°C, minimal rainfall, clear skies and up to ten hours of sunshine a day. You can climb volcanoes, surf world-class breaks, or cycle through the serene green interior. You can lose an afternoon at a day spa beside a deep green pool, party hard at a boho beach bash, or duck into the thriving art galleries and ancient temples of Ubud. Don't miss fresh barbecued seafood at Jimbaran Bay, and consider a day trip to the quieter island of Nusa Lembongan for a more laid-back take on the Bali experience.

While Phuket is battling the monsoon, Koh Samui — sitting on the opposite side of Thailand in the Gulf of Thailand — basks in a completely different weather system. June, July and August are genuinely good months to visit, with warm temperatures around 29°C, mostly sunny days and only short afternoon showers that clear quickly. It's one of the best-kept secrets of winter travel in Thailand: when the west coast is wet, the Gulf Coast is glorious. And beyond the weather, Koh Samui delivers everything you'd want from a Thai island escape — palm-fringed beaches, outstanding seafood, beautiful Buddhist temples, and a buzzy atmosphere that balances between family-friendly resort territory and lively nightlife. Head to Chaweng Beach for the action, or find a quieter corner of the island for long lazy days by the pool.

Just a three-hour flight from Australia's east coast, Fiji is the stuff of castaway dreams and June to August is the best time to go. This is Fiji's dry season, the humidity drops right off, and the 300-plus islands look their most spectacular under clear blue skies. Temperatures sit pleasantly between 23°C and 27°C: warm enough for endless beach days and snorkelling over pristine coral reefs, but refreshingly cool compared to the wet-season peak. If beach-lazing isn't enough, you can relax on honey-coloured dunes, trek through rainforest to hidden waterfalls, or head out to the Yasawa Islands during manta ray season. It's a genuinely magical destination, and the short flying time makes it one of the most accessible winter holiday locations for Australians.

Hoi An is the jewel of the region. June and July fall firmly in Hoi An's dry season, with hot, sunny days, temperatures hovering between 26°C and 34°C, and the kind of clear blue skies that make its ancient lantern-lit streets and golden beaches look like a fever dream. The UNESCO-listed Old Town is a wonderland of atmospheric merchant houses, tailor shops, ceramic galleries and Vietnamese restaurants serving up cao lau noodles and white rose dumplings. Hop on a bicycle out to An Bang Beach for a dip in the warm South China Sea, take a basket boat through the magical Bay Mau Coconut Forest, or day-trip out to the Cham Islands for snorkelling over pristine reefs.

There are few cities on earth that match Bangkok for sheer sensory overload, and as a winter holiday location for Australians, it punches well above its weight. June to August sits in Bangkok's monsoon season, but don't let that put you off. Temperatures hover around 30–33°C, showers tend to arrive in short, dramatic afternoon bursts before clearing, and the city's extraordinary indoor attractions mean rainy days barely register. Explore the glittering Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, devour your way through the legendary street food stalls of Yaowarat (Chinatown), take a long-tail boat along the Chao Phraya River, or lose yourself in the city's extraordinary shopping malls and rooftop bars. As a bonus, this is the low season. Flights and hotels are significantly cheaper, and the city's big attractions are blissfully crowd-free.

If pure escapism is what you're after, nothing on earth quite compares to the Maldives — that impossibly beautiful string of coral atolls in the Indian Ocean where the water is so clear it barely seems real. June to August falls in the southwest monsoon season, which means resort prices drop significantly, making those legendary overwater villas and private island escapes far more accessible than in peak season. Rain does arrive in short bursts, but there's still an average of seven hours of sunshine a day, the sea temperature hovers around 29°C, and the Indian Ocean's warm waters remain utterly swimmable. It's also one of the best times of year to spot manta rays and whale sharks, which move through Maldivian waters from around June onwards.

Bora Bora's waters are every bit as dreamy as you've imagined. Sapphire seas and drooping palms combine to make this French Polynesian jewel the undisputed honeymoon capital of the Pacific. And the good news for Australians visiting in winter? June and July fall squarely in Bora Bora's dry season, making it one of the most popular times to visit. The weather is reliably beautiful, the seas are calm and clear, and the light breezes off the Pacific help keep the humidity comfortable. Beyond the overwater bungalows and Champagne sunsets, there's diving and sailing, hiking, lagoon tours, and snorkelling alongside black-tip reef sharks and stingrays at the Coral Gardens.

There's something wonderfully off-the-beaten-track about the Philippines, and the island of Cebu — stretching 196 kilometres from north to south — delivers it in spades. Hidden beaches, secluded coves and pinprick offshore islands give a real sense of discovery that more-visited destinations can rarely offer. Wallow in azure waters, float above pristine coral reefs, snorkel alongside whale sharks, and trek through the mountainous interior without the crowds. Seek out Paradise Beach on Bantayan Island and the incredible diving off the northern tip at Malapascua, where thresher sharks are a regular sighting.

Every bit as dreamy as its name suggests, Rarotonga is the jewel of the Cook Islands and remains blissfully off the radar for many travellers. June, July and August are the absolute best months to visit, this is the dry season, and the island is bathed in sunshine, with up to eleven hours of sun a day in August and minimal rainfall. The sand is brilliant white, a halo of orange coral circles the entire island, and the lagoon is warm, clear and glitteringly azure. Snorkel, dive and trek through the interior, pull up a seat at Muri Beach's legendary night market for BBQ and cold drinks, and try ika mata — a local dish of raw fish in lime, coconut and coriander — for a true taste of Cook Islands culture.

Buzzy, switched-on KL is the city break that keeps on giving and it's a genuinely easy winter holiday from most Australian cities. Discover an extraordinary food scene that weaves together Chinese, Indian and Malaysian influences, from the sizzling street food stalls of Jalan Alor to upmarket dim sum in a moody speakeasy in Old Shanghai. Head to the observation deck of the Petronas Twin Towers for a startling cityscape view, or clamber up the colourful steps of Batu Caves towards ancient Hindu shrines inside cool limestone caverns.