We are planning to visit Darwin, and have found some good fares flying via Brunei. Not having been on this route before, is Brunei worth a stopover? Tracy Cummings, London

A Sunday Times travel expert responds: While Bandar Seri Begawan – yes that really is the name of Brunei’s capital – isn’t another Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or Singapore, it is a very manageable and friendly place to break your journey to Australia. And as you don’t know when you’re next likely to be in the neighbourhood, I’d say it’s well worth a visit.

The population of the whole country is only about 300,000, and while there’s not a huge amount to see in the oil-rich mini-Sultanate, you can fill a few pleasant days here. It’s fun to take a boat trip around the Water Village, where about 30,000 people live in old wooden houses are built on stilts, incongruously with satellite dishes and other mod cons. Then visit the magnificent central mosque with its 52m high golden dome, followed by a tour of the Sultan’s official residence; an orgy of opulence, with 1778 rooms, and over 500 chandeliers. The city also has good shopping.

For more information, visit www.tourismbrunei.com, or Royal Brunei Airlines. Lonely Planet and Rough Guides both have good sections on the Bandar Seri Begawan in their guides to ‘Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei’.

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