I HAVE journeyed to the end of the world... and it’s really rather nice.

Luxury lodgings, wall-to-wall sun, top nosh and loads to do... think Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Swoon.

Fourteen miles east on the western Algarve is my Temple Of Swoon — Parque da Floresta — a golf and leisure resort set in a national park.

It is about an hour from Faro and past Lagos, the pretty town that marks an end to big development you can find on other parts of the Algarve.

Strict planning laws keep building down. At Parque da Floresta that means four areas of traditional, whitewashed villas built around the hilly and challenging golf course.

(As you ask, me and the boy played while the ladies got pampered at the spa. Drove OK but my short game was pants.)

The villas are top notch. Our three-bed slept six and had balconies front and back plus a roof terrace and a posh kitchen.

Apart from golf, the complex has swimming pools, a luxury spa, gym, tennis courts, golf driving range with pros to give lessons, three restaurants with others nearby and even a bowls club.

Tee time activity ... golf

It is spread out but there is a shuttle bus in the summer.

There is a footie school for wannabe Cristiano Ronaldos, kids’ clubs and they can arrange active days out.

And there are plenty of those. For instance...

VISIT THE END OF THE WORLD: It’s rugged and impressive. And I’m assuming those tars weren’t waved off by the likes of the people in burger vans and stalls selling tourist trinkets that now take up the last few yards of Europe.

VISIT THE ACHINGLY PRETTY VILLAGES OF SALEMA AND BURGAU: A short drive from Parque da Floresta, both have sandy, gently sloping beaches, bars and places to eat.

But they are proper working fishing villages too. In the morning the boats will be on the sand with the fishermen sorting the sardines you could be eating for lunch.

VISIT LAGOS: A great mix of ancient and modern with a fair amount of FREE parking.

GO DOLPHIN SPOTTING: Through the park managers, we went to Lagos and sped out into the Atlantic to see dolphins in the wild with boat trip firm Bom Dia.

Bombing out and back in the super-fast boat is as good as any rollercoaster.

Despite my surname I get seasick on a damp lawn but we went out with a bit of a swell and I was fine, and we soon had dolphins right next to the boat.

EAT FRESH FISH: Most restaurants will show you the catch of the day and a little while later it will be looking up from your plate.

GO SURFING: The west coast of Portugal is dotted with brilliant surfing beaches.

Again through the park, we got lessons from the real surfie dudes from Atlantic Riders, who took us to the beautiful Arrifana beach.

My eight-year-old was standing up in no time though I found it a bit too gnarly (OK, I was rubbish).

CHILL BY THE POOL: The atmosphere at Parque da Floresta is cool and relaxed. Keep your eyes peeled and you might get a star spot.

It would be easy to spend a whole holiday at the complex, making use of the facilities and relaxing in the homely villas.

But do that and you would miss out on what is on the doorstep — some of the best Portugal has to offer.

By PAUL BENBOW