Guess who’s back? Back again? AirAsia’s back—tell a friend (or everyone you’ve ever met). That’s right folks, from the 22nd of March 2025, Indonesia AirAsia will swoop in to save the day (and your wallet) with three direct flights a week between Darwin and Bali. This isn’t just a win; it’s a cheap-as-chips jackpot for travel lovers everywhere (a.k.a. you).
We know exactly what you’re imagining right now: sandy beaches, vibrant markets, and satay skewers that practically melt in your mouth. And all just a short hop from Darwin for as little as AUD189. Like what?? That’s cheaper than a good night out.
Once again, AirAsia (the reigning champion of budget travel) is giving us what we love: epic affordability without sacrificing the fun.
Not only is this great news for Aussies craving a Bali escape, but it’s also a huge win for travellers everywhere. Over 1,000 seats a week will flood Darwin and Bali with happy holiday-makers, injecting tourism dollars into both economies. It’s like a high-five for everyone involved—well, except the competition trying to keep up (here’s looking at you Jetstar).
But AirAsia’s not just about Bali. With Bali as your gateway, the entire Asian continent opens up like one epic travel buffet. Tokyo, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur—it’s all within reach.
So grab those fares, dust off your passport, and get ready for sunsets, sambal, and spontaneous adventures. Because AirAsia is back, baby—and the skies have never looked cheaper.
First there was the Field of Lights in Uluru. Then there was Melbourne’s Lightscape in the Royal Botanic Gardens, and now a dazzling new permanent light show is set to illuminate the night sky over Kingfisher Bay Resort in K’gari, Queensland.
But Illumina isn’t just any old light show; it’s a journey through time, blending K’gari’s ancient stories with cutting-edge tech. Kinda like if Mother Nature and modern innovation threw a massive rave party and invited you as their VIP.
The story behind this dazzling new show is as rich as the culture of the island itself. It draws inspiration from the Butchulla people, the Traditional Custodians of K’gari, celebrating their deep connection to the land, the sea, and the stars.
We don’t want to spoil it for you, but as the show unfolds, you’ll be swept into a world where shimmering lights and vivid projections bring Creation stories to life—think glowing forests, celestial skies and moments so magical, you’ll forget you’re not actually in an Aussie version of Alice’s Wonderland.
This is sensory immersion at its absolute best; lights dance above your head, surrounding trees whisper with ethereal sounds, and the sky’s stars lean in for a closer look. If we haven’t already spelt it out for you, this show will make your jaw drop, your Instagram feed sparkle and your imagination run wild.
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.
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.
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.
Sick of staring at spectacular scenery like a typical tourist? Dive into Kangaroo Island’s cultural deep end by embracing the ancient stories of its First Nations people with SeaLink’s new Indigenous tour.
This unique experience has been created in partnership with recently inducted South Australian Hall of Famer, Ngarrindjeri elder Mark Koolmatrie (founder of Kool Tours) and blends the island’s cultural history with its modern history through interactive storytelling and personal perspectives.
Mark knows his stuff – he’s basically a walking, talking encyclopaedia of island lore—so you’ll get the chance to discover sacred sites, learn about native bush foods and hear creation stories that have been passed down through the generations.
Spoiler alert: you won’t get to throw a boomerang or hear a didgeridoo. But you will participate in a smoking ceremony and get your steps in with a bushwalk in Penneshaw, exploring the island’s plants and animals and discovering how the locals used them for food and medicine (and everything in between).
This isn’t just a tour, it’s a fascinating peek into a world that’s as beautiful as it is resourceful – one that’s largely been unheard of. Until now.
By the end of the day, you’ll not only have a deeper connection to Kangaroo Island, but you’ll also have a new understanding of just how this breathtaking island came to be and how long it’s been used, loved, lived on, and treasured, explained to you by the people who know it better than anyone. Sign us the hell up.
Forget the socks and the Christmas trinkets no one wants – this year, why not gift the beach lovers, thalassophiles and wannabe mermaids in your life a piece of the ocean? And no, we don’t mean getting a really nice jar, putting some salty water in it and placing it under the tree.
With Coral Gardeners you can actually adopt a baby piece of coral on behalf of your loved one, which they’ll plant in a reef that needs a little tlc, helping to preserve the world’s beautiful marine ecosystems.
Coral gardening might sound like something straight out of Moana, but it’s actually a fantastic and eco-friendly way to restore reef systems that have been damaged. By gifting a piece of coral, you’re not just wrapping up a little bit of nature (not literally), but you’re also giving our favourite reefs a real chance to survive.
And you can choose which coral species you want to adopt. There’s Pocillopora Meandrina, an iconic Fijian species that’s also known as cauliflower coral. Or Pocillopora Verrucosa, a raspy coral that’s native to Mo’orea Island. Or Montipora Grisea, an encrusting species of coral that’ll spread over the reef’s surface to help bind it together.
Your loved one can even track their baby bit of coral and watch as it grows thanks to regular updates and plenty of images. This isn’t some ordinary stocking stuffer, it’s a gift that keeps on giving.
Hold onto your caps and cork hats, folks, because everyone’s favourite small-group tour operator Intrepid Travel, has joined forces with Lucinda Light (remember her from season 11 of MAFs?) to lead an ‘everyone’s welcome’ trip to tropical Far North Queensland.
If this seems like a weird collab, then it’s not. Lucinda was an Intrepid tour leader back in the day and is now reprising her role for this exclusive, 7-day trip so that people can experience a transformative journey through the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation.
It’s essentially Intrepid’s Daintree & Cape Tribulation Adventure with a light-soaked twist. Leave your office chair behind to swim under waterfalls, dodge cassowaries (just kidding, they’re not that scary), and bask in the kind of natural beauty that’ll have you questioning whether you can’t just stay in Queensland indefinitely.
Not only will your body relish time spent in the sun, but this Aussie adventure will have your soul doing cartwheels – think guided earthing sessions and immersive discussions on emotional intelligence and wellness, all designed to invite calm reflection and inner exploration.
And Lucinda will be there every step of the way to share her expert knowledge of the iconic destinations and help cultivate a connection between you and your fellow travellers, all while cracking jokes and making you laugh so hard you’ll forget you’re covered in mosquito repellent.
We’ll swap our routine for self-rejuvenation any day. Sign us up.
Alert everyone you know, Dark Mofo is set to come back on full throttle in 2025 (did you miss it?) That’s right, next June in Hobart is looking more wild than wintery.
If you don’t know what Dark Mofo is, first of all, where have you been, and second of all, it’s Tasmania’s dark, weird and downright rebellious festival. It opens its eccentric arms to all the misfits, art lovers, and thrill-seekers looking to dive headfirst into the Dark (Mofo).
It may have taken a small hiatus, but its back with a bigger vengeance than you’ve ever seen – think firelit ceremonies, spine-tingling art installations, boundary-pushing performances and a Winter Feast that’s part pagan bonanza, part foodie heaven.
Don’t get it twisted, this isn’t some backyard shindig. Artists from around the globe descend on Australia’s southernmost city to create an experience that’s both unsettling and unforgettable, and no, we’re not just talking about the infamous Nude Solstice Swim. Night Mass will also make its return alongside the Ogoh-Ogoh.
While the full festival program hasn’t been released just yet, the anticipation of the boldest thing Tassie’s produced since the Mona’s vulva wall is enough to whet your appetite. So, grab your mates (and a little bit of bravery) and get ready to embrace the bizarre. Because when the lights go off and the thermals come on, Dark Mofo will be waiting to welcome you into its beautifully twisted heart. Where you’ll probably stay. Until June 2026.
Stepping into the Adina Apartment Hotel in Chippendale is like falling into a rabbit hole and landing smack in the middle of Palm Springs—minus the desert, but with all the style. Think mid-century vibes, retro palm tree wallpaper, and a pool that looks like it’s auditioning for an Instagram influencer’s next post. You half expect to see Frank Sinatra lounging in a cabana, martini in hand. But no, it’s me instead, clutching a hazy IPA and wondering how the hell I ended up in this chic little oasis in the heart of inner Sydney.
Chippendale is one of those suburbs that’s equal parts gritty and glamorous, with a dose of “why haven’t I heard of this place before?” The area’s got its fair share of converted warehouses that scream “cool creative types live here.” Locals sprawl across Chippendale Green, picnic baskets in hand. Just nearby is Central Park Mall, sleek, shiny, and futuristic, the kind of place where you could spend an hour deciding between artisanal gelato or fusion tacos.
But what really makes Chippendale buzz is its art scene. Around Abercrombie Street, you’ll find contemporary galleries packed with pieces that’ll either blow your mind or make you think, “Am I not getting this?” The creative energy is palpable. Then there’s Kensington Street, which is like the food truck of your dreams came to life, packed with hawker-style Asian joints and alleyways with cafes that pumping out flat whites at record speed.
Back at the Adina the rooms are a step up from your typical city hotel—spacious enough to stretch out like you’re on a mini-holiday, but with the convenience of being smack in the middle of everything. You could literally walk past this place if you didn’t know where it was. It’s got all the trimmings: kitchenettes for whipping up a snack, a gym for pretending you’ll work off all that hawker food (spoiler: you won’t), and that iconic pool for when you want to channel your inner Palm Springs cool.
If you’re looking for a stay that’s equal parts chill and chic, with Chippendale’s cutting-edge charm right on your doorstep, the Adina’s got you covered. Now excuse me while I lounge by the pool, pretending I’m not in Sydney but somewhere between 1960s California, an art gallery opening and a craft beer bar.
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