Sydney at $707 RT

Before setting off on an outback adventure (or settling in at the beach), stop by the Australian Museum in Sydney to check out a true Aussie gem - and we mean that literally.

Meet Eric, a 120-million-year-old pliosaur with a pretty unique skeleton. Unlike most fossils, which are formed when preserved organic tissue is gradually replaced by stone, Eric's bones are made entirely of opal gemstones. About 93% of his skeleton was recovered when he was found in an opal mine in the late '80s, making him the most complete opalized vertebrate on Earth and a genuine archaeological superstar.

Oh, and if you're wondering where his name came from, it's because paleontologists are big nerds who love Monty Python.