This series documents the overseas trips made by Harold Edward Holt, with his wife (Mrs Zara Holt), in his capacity as Minister for Immigration (1952), Chairman of the General Council of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (1952-54), Minister for Labour and National Service (1953 and 1957) and Treasurer (1959-65). In this 13-year period the Holts visited South East Asia, Europe, London and the USA on each trip, including Africa in 1954 and 1961 and Jamaica in 1965.

The purpose of the earlier trips centred on meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the International Labour Conference. Later trips were mainly concerned with meetings of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers (also known as the Commonwealth Economic Consultative Council), the International Monetary Fund and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Other events covered in the series include the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (1953), Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conferences (1953, 1957 and 1962), Lausanne Trade Fair (1960), the opening race of the America's Cup Challenge (1962) and the Chase Manhattan Bank Seminar on Australia (1965).

The series of folders was maintained by successive Private Secretaries to Holt, and consists of his diaries and some of Mrs Holt's letters and diaries (typed and circulated), itineraries and related correspondence. The series consequently strongly reflects the arrangements made for each trip, and in most cases the Holts' personal accounts of them, but does not include the formal record of the various official meetings and conferences Holt attended.

A single number system was imposed on the records by National Archives some time after they were transferred to archival custody.