Toronto, Canada: a blend of natural landscape, culture and history.

Looking for a holiday spot with the cosmopolitan feel of New York and the style of London? Then visit Canada's jewel, Toronto - the ideal place to shop, party, people-watch and generally have a good time.

Nestled on the shores of Lake Ontario, Toronto is Canada's largest city. The many flavours, sights and aromas of this multicultural metropolis, chock-full of cool bars and restaurants, fabulous hotels and great shopping, have placed Toronto at the top of the world's cool list of places to explore. The UN declared Toronto the most ethnically diverse city in the world, due to it being home to more than 80 ethnic groups speaking in excess of 100 languages and dialects between them

Take a walking tour
Slip on your walking shoes and explore some of Toronto's unique neighbourhoods. Walk the Danforth Avenue strip, known as Greektown, and discover there's far more than just fabulous Greek restaurants to entertain you. Several scenes from the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding were filmed here, and if you're looking for uptown chic in a relatively downtown neighbourhood, start with Bloor Street West between Yonge Street and Avenue Road. This thoroughfare is lined with upscale stores, such as Canada's premier luxury department store Holt Renfrew, as well as Chanel, Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton.

A few steps north will take you to Yorkville. This former hippie hangout of some of Canada's finest musicians, including Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, is now one of the ritziest neighbourhoods in the city. Nearby, Chinatown is a colourful place to be at any time of the year and is one of five distinctive Chinatowns in the city.

Just east of downtown you'll find the Distillery District, where 19th century stone warehouses and 21st century design merge to become an architecture lover's dream. In the past few years, the Distillery District has become one of the most romantic and enjoyable destinations in the city.

The best way to explore Toronto (whether by car or by foot) is with Bruce Bell Tours. Entertaining and enlightening, Bruce will show you the city's heart and soul from a truely Torontonian perspective. Check out www.brucebelltours.ca.

On top of the world
Be sure to take in the view from the CN Tower, Toronto's best-known landmark. It's the tallest completed freestanding land structure in the world. Those who don't get vertigo should visit the glass-bottomed floor, where you can bounce about as if you're walking on air - or just peer over the edge.

Celebrity spotting
Each September, the eyes of the world are on Toronto as it hosts its annual International Film Festival. A-list celebrities descend on the city for this, the world's largest film festival, which is open to the general public. The city is also used to film big-budget movies, including X-Men and Chicago.

Stay in style
After enduring the long flight to the other side of the world, one must recover from jet lag in style. For that, The Fairmont Royal York is the place to stay in Toronto. Once the tallest building in the British Empire, The Royal York has featured in Hollywood movies including John Cusack's romantic comedy Serendipity and Russell Crowe's boxing epic Cinderella Man. The hotel has also played host to a number of celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, Winston Churchill and the Queen. With its central location, The Royal York is handy to most things. For more information, visit www.fairmont.com/royalyork.

To go

• Air New Zealand flies from Auckland to Toronto via Los Angeles or San Francisco. Visit www.airnz.co.nz for more information.
• The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 4 to 13, 2008. Visit www.tiffg.ca.

Niagara Falls

After soaking up the city streets of Toronto, you are only a two-hour train ride away from the thundering Niagara Falls, one of the true wonders of the world. Jump on board the carriage and take in the view while feasting on free cheese and wines from the local Niagara on the Lakes region.

Go back in time at the Brock Plaza Hotel, which is known as the grand dame of Niagara hotels. It's located directly across from the falls, allowing a spectacular view. In 1952, room 801 became Marilyn Monroe's temporary home while on location shooting the movie Niagara.

For a bird's-eye view of the falls, see this landmark from the sky in a helicopter. To get even closer, hop on the Maid of the Mist boat ride. The experience is intense as you approach the tonnes of surging water and begin to feel the mist on your face.

The Journey Behind the Falls tunnel tour takes you so close that the regulation plastic poncho comes in very handy. Jump aboard the Niagara SkyWheel, a 53-metre observation wheel, which offers unique views of Niagara Falls and the city.