10 windmill adventures around the world that will blow you away

The seven windmills of Mykonos (known as Kato Mili), located on the western side of the island and on the edge of Mykonos Town, are perfect for that quintessential windmill-at-sunset selfie (as thousands of people already know). Their striking whitewashed exteriors, blue trim and small windows are typical of the Cyclades. The area is renowned for its gusty breezes, thanks to Aeolus, the Greek god of winds. The buildings were used to mill wheat and barley for local monasteries and moneyed local families in the 15th and 16th centuries. mykonos.gr/en/the-island/axiotheata

It will come as no surprise that The Netherlands is dotted with windmills; since about the 15th century they've been used to pump water out of the marshlands and create arable land. The largest concentration of the country's historic windmills is the Kinderdijk Windmills; these date to about 1740. This UNESCO World Heritage site offers boat trips and guided tours where you interact with "millers" and the like. Alternatively, for a novel and luxurious encounter, Viking Cruises heads here as part of the Windmills and Tulips itinerary. kinderdijk.com; vikingcruises.com.au

The Windmill Cafe Bargara, 14 kilometres east of Bundaberg, Queensland, has never functioned as a windmill; rather, it was built by an eccentric and homesick Dutch couple who wanted a slice of home in their backyard. In a quirky twist of sails (which do actually turn), the cafe owner collects - not diverts - rainwater off its roof to use in coffees. The chefs also whip up excellent all-day breakfasts, including one of the best dragon fruit bowls around (pink pitaya smoothie with fruit, chia seeds, nuts, granola and yogurt). windmillbargara.com.au

Located in the tiny Welsh city of St Davids, Wales, Twr y Felin Hotel, a contemporary art hotel, incorporates a former 19th-century windmill. Later it was converted to a temperance hotel, ironic for a place that, these days, is renowned for its fine dining. Elsewhere in the UK, the 18th-century and very photogenic Cley Windmill in Norfolk, England, is an upmarket BnB. It was used in the 1949 film Conspirator (think Elizabeth Taylor), though you might recognise it from the televised Ruth Rendell Mysteries. twryfelinhotel.com; cleywindmill.co.uk

One of the world's most unusual (and smallest, perhaps) libraries is housed in a tiny, restored windmill in the main village of Chora on the tiny Greek island of Astypalea. A committed labour of love, this enticing spot is run by volunteers, including the multilingual (and very intellectual) Stella Papadopoulou. You can borrow from more than 2000 Greek and foreign titles, many of which have been donated by foreigners.

The four bright red sails atop Moulin Rouge in Montmartre, Paris, are as famous a landmark as the raunchy cabaret performed at this venue; it's worth heading here to view both. It's not known why the owners decided to plonk a windmill post on the building's roof as part of its design in the 1880s. The most reasonable explanation is that it paid homage to the windmills that once dotted the then-landscape surrounds.

About 90 minutes drive south-east of Toledo, in the Spanish plains of Castilla-La Mancha, soars a striking line of windmills, believed to be those evoked by author Miguel de Cervantes, in the 17th century legend of Don Quixote. Known as the Consuegra Windmills, the impressive towers provide you with the chance to rub shoulders with the ghost of Don Quixote himself, and eyeball the towers and sails he mistook for giants. spain.info/en/destination/consuegra

Like to know how things tick? You can observe the milling of grain and learn about the millers at the windmill of Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, 40 kilometres south-west of Berlin. The original post windmill was constructed in 1738 but was dismantled and replaced by a Dutch windmill. Here, you can wander through exhibits to learn all about grain processing, plus buy bread made with local flour. And of course, the opulent palace is on the doorstep, too. spsg.de/en

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There's more to Palm Springs, California, than mid-century modern design. Just beyond town, hundreds of wind turbines emerge from the alien landscape like reimagined Statues of Liberty. These harness power that's fed into the energy grid. If this blows your mind, do a tour of the wind farm in a golf cart with the Palm Springs Windmill Tours. For a fee, you can navigate your own way in your own vehicle. windmilltours.com

If you're in the business of ticking off Australia's oversized things that include a banana, merino and lobster, you can add a windmill to your list. Measuring nearly 11 metres, and one of only 15 such windmills ever made, the giant Comet soars above the Windmill Museum in Penong, Nullarbor Plain. Unlike the other "big things", this apparatus was functional - it was used by the railways and then on a South Australian sheep station. facebook.com/penongwindmillmuseum