Dr Latitude: Getting your kicks on Route 66

Mozambique's lively capital Maputo is near a pristine white-sand beach. Photo / Supplied

We are part of a group doing Route 66, arriving in Chicago on September 12 and departing San Francisco on October 5. What kind of weather can we expect for that time of the year and what clothing should we pack to suit the climate?

- Lynne Davidson

Immortalised in song by Bobby Troup and subsequently covered by the likes of Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones, Route 66 has taken on a mythical quality over the decades.

Although parts of it may not live up to expectations, the experience of following the route from its beginning in Chicago to its conclusion in Los Angeles is for many travellers more important than the sum of its parts.

Route 66 no longer exists as a single highway, having been replaced by the interstate highway system. Driving this famous old route provides fascinating insights into the country's past, from the Depression of the 1930s onwards. It also has its fair share of kitsch tourist attractions along the way.

Whether you're travelling in a tour group or driving independently on a road trip, most tours along the hallowed route tend to veer a little out of the way to take in other attractions, such as the Grand Canyon.

Another option would be to incorporate one of the more interesting sections of the old Route 66 road, then take off in another direction from there. The best-preserved section of Route 66 is considered to be in Arizona, with iconic motels, roadhouses and diners in the towns of Winslow, Flagstaff, Williams, Seligman and Kingman.

As you'll be travelling during the early autumn months, you should be able to avoid any real extremes in the weather. However, you'll be covering large distances in your trip to the West Coast so you are likely to experience all sorts of weather, including warm days, chilly nights and possibly wet or windy conditions. Dressing in layers, from light shirts to warm jumpers, and including a waterproof jacket in your suitcase should cover most variations in temperature.

Exploring Africa's rising star

I am travelling to South Africa in September for two weeks for work. I thought I would extend my trip by a week to explore Mozambique, which people tell me is just beautiful. What do you recommend I do in one week?

- Susan Chester

What you hear is absolutely right. Mozambique is indeed a stunning part of the world with sublime coastlines, magical islands and fascinating cultures. For a long time many of the country's greatest attractions were inaccessible because of the guerrilla war, but since the 1992 peace accords Mozambique has become Africa's rising star.

You'll now find colourful villages with lively markets, cities with stately colonial-era buildings, pristine white-sand beaches, Portuguese and Arab ruins, wildlife parks with elephants, lions, buffalo and rhinos and some unique cuisine.

Start by visiting some of Mozambique's gorgeous beaches and islands. Those in the south - Ponta d'Ouro, Tofo, Morrungulo - are particularly lovely and the Archipelago das Quirimbas and Ilha de Mocambique (a Unesco World Heritage site) in the northeast crown the list of island getaways.

For something more adventurous, Cabo Delgado and Niassa provinces in the north will give you an authentic taste of the African bush. Set off on a safari in the Reserva do Niassa or soak up the rugged remoteness of the Lago Niassa.

Of course you could spend about a week wandering Maputo's flame tree-lined streets, sampling its street food and hitting its many night spots. Take in some of the capital's art museums and try to see a performance by the Companhia Nacional de Canto e Danca.

Don't miss the city's colourful produce and fish markets and try to squeeze in a meal at Restaurante Costa do Sol on Av Marginal. A great way to see the city sights is to hire one of the habanas - sleek 1950s cars imported from Cuba - complete with fedora-sporting drivers and period tunes on the sound system.

While the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade doesn't currently issue a travel advisory for Mozambique, it might pay to check out the Australian equivalent before heading off. It is advising that travellers exercise a high degree of caution because of high levels of serious crime.