Forget generic guidebooks and overly enthusiastic tour guides that talk quicker than you can get your heard around what they’re actually saying, there’s a new audio walking tour in town and it’s all thanks to The Hari Hong Kong’s Live like a Local experience.
Now you can explore trendy neighbourhood Wan Chai with insider knowledge (sans tour group in tow) and be guided through the district’s coolest nooks and crannnies. From the hidden temples tucked between skyscrapers to the cha chaan teng (local diners) serving milk tea that promise to cure your soul, every stop along the way is dripping in authentic Hong Kong flavour.
This neighbourhood is a blend of the old and the new; think vintage teahouses rubbing shoulders with swanky bars. You’ll learn where to slurp noodles like a pro and hear facts about Hong Kong’s history that aren’t in any of the textbooks you had to buy in high school.
The Hari’s user-friendly app has interactive features that make it super easy to get around, and it even has narration of seven of the district’s hidden gems. Want the lowdown on where to get the crispiest egg tarts? Or the story behind those quirky street art murals? Maybe you want to visit an appointment-only gallery that was once a private rooftop clubhouse in the 1970s?
Wherever you choose to explore, the app has got you covered. It’s time to lace up those comfy walking shoes…
Hold onto your hats, New Yorkers— you’ve watched it on TV and now Netflix’s smash hit show Squid Game has arrived in the city. Only this time, you’re not just bingeing the series, you’re in for an experience that’ll leave you questioning your life choices (and survival instincts).
This game is all about the battle of wits, ultimate strategy, and, let’s be real, who can keep their shit together under immense pressure while wearing a red jumpsuit. There’s five thrilling games to try your luck at; some you’ll recognise straight from the show (Red Light Green Light, anyone?), and some that have been made especially for the experience.
But this isn’t some backyard production, Netflix has thrown some serious cash behind it. Everywhere you look, there’s iconic environments, set recreations and familiar characters from the show that’ll make you feel as though you’ve fallen straight through your TV screen.
You can’t even try to fool the infamous Front Man since the experience boasts advanced tech – think a custom real-time ranking mechanism feeding data directly to an innovative leaderboard – that’s designed to separate the winners from the losers.
Regardless of whether you’re on cloud nine or if your ego’s a little bruised, all that gaming works up an appetite. So, settle in for a feast at the neon-drenched Korean Night Market and wash every tasty bite down with a soju-infused cocktail.
And hey, if you fail spectacularly the first time ‘round, it only costs AU$45 to go again.
If it wasn’t for the crippling fear of climate change and the fastly rising cost of living, we’d probably all want to live forever. Or at least live long enough to make it to the big one zero zero. But we don’t get given the chance to decide…’til now.
ZEM Wellness Clinic in Altea, Spain is now offering guests a programme that’s specifically designed to ensure people live to see their 120th birthday. For most of us, that’s a whopping 35 more years on this planet. Like, we’re mentally trying to calculate how much longer we’d have to work to make sure we’d have enough superannuation (we wouldn’t).
Opening later this month, the high-tech clinic will combine AI-powered health monitoring and Mediterranean longevity principles to offer guests 32 different medical practices across 25 specialties.
It kinda sounds like a whole lot of mumbo jumbo to us, but the clinic’s committed to using an integrated tracking system that connects medical, nutrition, and lifestyle data in real-time, so you can see just how healthy you’re getting after each treatment.
And don’t worry, you’re not being treated by any old Tom, Dick or Harry. The clinic has a team of doctors, therapists, psychologists and nutritionists at their disposal, ensuring each guest receives the highest level of care and personalisation.
You probably don’t need any more convincing to book a little holiday season getaway, but in case you’re still on the fence, Ovolo Hotels is throwing its newly launched Summer Concierge initiative into the deciding factor mix.
Not only will you get 20% off your room stay at any of Ovolo’s hotels (think The Valley, Nishi, Laneways by Ovolo etc) from December through to February, but you’ll also get bonuses, special discounts and exclusive benefits at over 70 participating tour operators, wellness facilities, local restaurants and top attractions.
All you have to do is flash your Ovolo Hotels room key like it’s an all-access pass, and you can explore Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney like a true local without paying full price for anything.
If you’re thirsting for a drink and you happen to find yourself near one of Sydney’s finest waterfront restaurants China Doll, you’ll be sipping on their complimentary house cocktail ‘Sampan’ before you can say, “We’d like a table with a view”. They’ll even chuck a dessert at ya free of charge.
Or if Melbourne’s weather ever sorts itself out long enough for you to think boating down the Yarra River is a good idea, Go Boat is giving 10% off every booking (and 20% off on weekdays) for those with an Ovolo keycard.
There’s a little something for everyone from the beauty-obsessed teen (The Lab in Canberra is offering 20% off treatments) to the ultimate foodie (Middle Eastern vegetarian hotspot ZAZATA in Brisbane is promising Ovolo Hotel guests 15% off their entire bill), so the only logical next stop is picking which hotel you want to stay at.
Buckle up, little Earthlings, because Las Vegas just bought its one-way ticket out of this world. No, we’re not talking about Elon Musk’s newest space creation, we’re talking about Interstellar Arc; the city’s shiny new immersive space attraction where you can live out your astronaut fantasy without the terrifying rocket launch or questionable freeze-dried bangers and mash.
But what exactly is it? Well, no one really knows yet, but it will transport visitors on a futuristic space fiction experience – think an epic 26th-century space mission across the far reaches of the universe. It’s also made by Emmy award-winning creators Felix & Paul Studios (the pair who brought you Space Explorers), so you know it’s going to be good.
While the details are scarce (we do know it’ll be located in a completely custom-built 20,000 square foot venue at AREA15), Interstellar Arc was created to satisfy our collective obsession with space, curiosity, and escapism. And let’s face it: pretending to save the universe is a solid upgrade from waiting in a buffet line at one of Las Vegas’ overpriced casinos.
The only downside? You’ll have to wait a while, this experience isn’t set to open its doors until autumn 2025. Which is a shame because we can’t bloody wait, but that does give us enough time to brush up one our astronaut lingo, so we’re not really complaining.
Hold onto your pounamu necklaces, folks—travel experts New Zealand In Depth has just dropped a Māori culture programme that’ll make your standard guided tour feel like watching paint dry. This isn’t just sightseeing; it’s a crash course in mana (spiritual power), tikanga (customs), and kai (delicious food).
They’re offering guests the chance to fully immerse themselves into the spirit and culture of the Indigenous people of New Zealand on a 12 day itinerary featuring a tribal homestay where you’ll learn to weave, carve and cook a hangi feast (and if you ask nicely, your hosts might teach you the Hakka).
But wait, there’s more. Take a dip into the bubbling hot pools of Rotorua for a geothermal bathing experience straight out of Middle-earth. Trek through the lush wilderness on Kapiti Island and spot kiwi birds when night falls. Join an Ancestral Footprints Cultural Tour and explore former Maori settlements. Wake up at the crack of dawn for a unique sunrise experience at Maunga Hikurangi (the Ngati Porou people’s sacred mountain). And that’s not even all of it.
We can promise you’ve never travelled New Zealand like this. This isn’t just travel; it’s a soulful connection to the country’s indigenous heart. But be warned, your next holiday’s going to feel boring in comparison.
Say goodbye to 2024 and howdy to 2025 in the wildest way possible – by having a night at the museum, New Year’s Eve style. That’s right, London’s Natural History Museum is opening its doors on the 31st of December for an epic soiree to remember (or forget, depending on how many drinks you guzzle).
Forget the usual packed clubs and overpriced cocktails—this party is set to take you back in time. You’ll get to boogie under the watchful eyes of giant dinosaur skeletons as the clock ticks toward midnight, transporting you into a world where history isn’t just something in dusty library books – it’s your dance partner.
But there’s no chance of falling asleep or getting bored here (unlike your classes in high school), with live music from Old Dirty Brasstards (what a great name) blasting through the museum and a DJ spinning tracks so sick they’ll convince even the most uncoordinated to bust a move. There’ll even be a silent disco in the atmospheric Earth Hall; think of it as a prehistoric rave but with better lighting and fewer sabre-tooth tigers.
If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, you’ll also be able to explore the museum’s exhibits and join interactive sessions with expert animal handlers. Or stare at one of several jaw-dropping acts wandering around the party. Or try and sneak your way into the VIP area (we’ve heard they have their own private bar and exclusive entertainment).
Tickets might be on the expenny side (AU$250), but how can you put a price on fun like that? The answer? You can’t.
Image credit: Trustees of the Natural History Museum
Prepare your Lion King-loving heart and pack your bags for a stay at the recently opened Anantara Stanley & Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel. It might not have a catchy name, but it is the place where luxury meets the wildest adventure of your life – anything you post on Instagram post your stay here is guaranteed to be way less cool.
Nestled in the heart of the wild, this Zimbabwean beauty is set to make all your ‘I need a holiday, asap’ dreams come true, thanks to its prime location only 15 minutes from the epic UNESCO World Heritage-listed Victoria Falls. Its coordinates definitely shoot it to the top of the world’s must-stay-at list, but the property itself is nothing to sneeze at.
Featuring 16 suites (the intimacy!), a gourmet restaurant (the food!), a lounge and bar (the cocktails!), complimentary Wi-Fi (the connection!) and a garden swimming pool flanked by shaded loungers (the relaxation!), this hotel is like something straight out of a safari storybook.
And for the adventurous at heart, this place is the ultimate playground. You’re so close to the falls that you can literally do anything you want – think thrilling helicopter rides, sunset boat trips, zip-lining, wildlife-spotting cruises, swimming in the Devil’s Pool, game drives and black rhino conservation experiences.
You’ll be exhausted after all that and the hotel knows it. So, there’s an on-site spa to de-tense your muscles after you said yes to every activity but somehow forgot you hate heights (we’re pretty sure there’s a signature treatment for that).
If that doesn’t convince you to bring up booking.com immediately, we don’t know what will.
They already have the Harbour Bridge. They’ve got the Opera House. And now, from Feb 2025, Sydney’s beefing up its impressive touristic lineup with The EVE Hotel (lucky ducks).
It’ll be located in the heart of the city, convenient for when you’ve gorged yourself on wood-fired bread and drank too many Neapolitan Sours from Totti’s, and will showcase a bold new vision of boutique luxury thanks to its makeup of art, culture and culinary experience.
This place has it all – think vaulted ceilings, curated interiors, immersive art installations, rooftop gardens, a 20-metre rooftop pool and a mouthwatering restaurant with views overlooking the trendy suburbs of Surrey Hills and Redfern.
It might seem like you’ll have to sell both kidneys to stay here, but the sales team are doing each and every one of us a solid by celebrating the hotel’s opening with a specially designed package.
The package will include one night’s stay in your room of choice (presidential suite, here we come!), a signature cocktail at Bar Julius and a bespoke take-home gift you can’t get anywhere else, starting from AU$519. For Sydney?! That’s a bargain in today’s hotel economy.
But let’s back it right up because Bar Julius won’t just be The EVE’s hotel bar, it’ll be the trendiest watering hole in the whole city (you heard it here first). It boasts an all-day dining concept, food bursting with fresh and bold flavours, dynamic interiors and a cocktail menu filled with ‘Crystal Mimosas’ (served tableside) and ‘Bar Julius Negronis’.
Kicking off the new year in a new way sounds pretty good right about now.
Always wanted to explore the Scottish Highlands but never had a reason to actually book the flight? Maybe Guided by Nature’s 10-day Highlights of Scotland tour – a.k.a not your run-of-the-mill, “look out the bus window now” type of tour – will be the thing that finally sways you.
You’ll explore Scotland in its purest, muddiest, most breathtaking form. In other words, you’ll lace up for not one, not two, but three of the country’s most prestigious trails. So, pack your hiking boots, a serious sense of adventure and maybe a kilt (optional but very much encouraged).
First up on the itinerary is the legendary Fife Coastal Path, where thundering waves, pebbled beaches, rocky shores, rural farmland and craggy cliffs straight off a postcard do a damn good job of reminding you that Mother Nature is the ultimate show-off.
There’s also a bit of trekking to be done along the Speyside Way, 16km to be exact. But if you think about it: every step you take in those 4-5 hours is a step closer to arriving in whisky country. Which is a welcome distraction when you think you can’t possibly look at any more spectacular views (or take any more weirdly-better-than-your-professional-camera iPhone photos).
Now you’ve arrived at the main event: a visit to a proper whisky distillery. Sip on Scotland’s liquid gold, toast to your new hiking pals, and savour the warm, smoky goodness while reminiscing on the incredible memories you’ve made together over the journey because, by day 10, you’ll have earned those blisters, all the bragging rights, and the knowledge that you’ve truly *done* Scotland.
(
