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Up, up and away in a beautiful balloon

Hot air balloons, one of them shaped like a clock, are prepared before taking flight during the 42nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico October 5, 2013. Thousands of spectators gathered on Saturday at the city's balloon park to watch more than 500 balloons of all shapes and sizes lift off in two stages during the so-called mass ascensions.

Hot air balloons take flight in the 42nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico whilst competitors take off for the Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championships.

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Richard Branson's Necker Island

Richard Branson's Necker Island

Sir Richard Branson's private island is available for rent when he is not in residence, for a cool $US60,000 a night.

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The Big Picture: reader travel photos, October 5, 2013

DATELINE: GRAND CANYON, USA

We were on a tour of the US visiting the Grand Canyon. Surreally, a party had brought their own mystic with them and he was sitting on a rock at one of the lookouts when I snapped this picture.

John Hollingsworth

Send one image of a special moment taken in the past two years (at least 1MB and 300dpi in JPEG form) to bigpicture@fairfaxmedia.com.au.

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Top travel photos, October 4, 2013

Sanya storm surge

Take a look at some of the best travel photos from around the world this week.

Airbus A380 arrives in Brisbane

A380 arrives in Brisbane

The Emirates Airbus A380 makes its first flight into Brisbane.

Punthill Apartment Hotel

Punthill Apartment Hotel

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The Big Picture: reader travel photos, September 28, 2013

Deep in South East Morocco, lie the Erg Chebbi dunes forming an intriguing island in the otherwise flat and rocky desert. Walking through the dunes was a surreal and transcendent experience leaving us feeling like we where in the middle of nowhere. Once we reached the highest peak in our sight, from every angle was a sea of dessert. We took a moment for a celebratory jump on the mountain we had just conquered.

Send one image of a special moment taken in the past two years (at least 1MB and 300dpi in JPEG form) to bigpicture@fairfaxmedia.com.au.

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Top travel photos, September 27, 2013

Take a look at some of the best travel photos from around the world this week.

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Cheers to the 180th Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest 2013

Millions of beer drinkers from around the world will come to the Bavarian capital of Munich, Germany, over the next two weeks for the 180th Oktoberfest, which started last Saturday and runs until...

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Singapore's casinos are a tourism ace

A tourist boat passes the Marina Bay Sands casino resort complex in Singapore

Singapore's two casino resorts, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World on Sentosa island, have led a tourism boom in the city-state with their wide range of attractions beyond their gambling floors.

Silky Oaks Lodge in Mossman

Silky Oaks Lodge in Mossman

QT Port Douglas

QT Port Douglas

Peppers Beach Club & Spa in Palm Cove

Peppers Beach Club & Spa in Palm Cove

Pullman Reef Hotel Casino

Pullman Reef Hotel Casino

Eight of the world's best airport hotels

Inside the spa at Sofitel London Heathrow.

A comfortable bed, good shower, dark rooms and absolute quiet are other cravings of the jetlagged. Nobody wants to be desperate for sleep and have to listen to aeroplanes or traffic noise.

The tear-drop island

Bathing time at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Sri Lanka.

Take a look at some of the attractions of Sri Lanka, named the No.1 destination in the world for 2013 by Lonely Planet.

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New Zealand has the white stuff

A helicopter heads back down from the landing base at the top of Mt Turner for the Freestyle competition.

Take a look at what New Zealand skiing has to offer, including the 2013 World Heli Challenge, from Fairfax photographer Dallas Kilponen.

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The Big Picture: reader travel photos, September 21

Just after dawn and I was on the descent from the summit of Mt Everest.
With the sun rising behind me, the shadow of the Everest was projected across the clouds and lower mountains of Nepal.
Whilst hypoxic and extremely tired, this view was showing me what an extraordinary place I had been to and also how serious the route remained for the descent. Photo by Steve Wyatt

Send one image of a special moment taken in the past two years (at least 1MB and 300dpi in JPEG form) to bigpicture@fairfaxmedia.com.au.

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

Melbourne Aquarium officially relaunches as SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium.

Melbourne Aquarium officially launches as SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium after a five-month, $8 million refurbishment.

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Wonderful junk: world's coolest boneyards

Uyuni train graveyard, Bolivia

When old machinery is no longer loved or wanted, it doesn't just disappear. Unless it's completely dismantled, an old plane, train or automobile has to be stored away somewhere to die a rusty death.

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