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Beenleigh launches new drink

Remember those sticky summer days spent slurping down Sunnyboys and chasing the ice cream truck in your thongs? Well, Beenleigh just cracked open a very adult version of that memory, and yes, it’s got booze in it.

Introducing Hard Orange Crush, the newest creation from the legends behind Australia’s oldest registered distillery. It’s fizzy. It’s juicy.

It’s 4.5% ABV. And it’s got real Aussie orange juice doing the heavy lifting. But don’t get it twisted, this isn’t a sugar bomb, it’s a lightly sweet, sherbet-scented citrus refresher with just enough tang to keep things interesting and none of that weird fake aftertaste.

Basically, it’s the love child of your favourite childhood soft drink and your grown-up Friday night. Smooth, sessionable and dangerously crushable, it’s made for beach days, BBQs, pool hangs, or just smashing a cold one on the back deck while pretending to mow the lawn.

With a clean finish, soft carbonation and full-flavoured nostalgia in every sip, Hard Orange Crush is here to make your summer a little sunnier and a whole lot orang-er.

Available now at select Dan Murphy’s and all good independents, it’s the can you didn’t know you needed…until you try one and realise you absolutely do need it.

P.S. It also pairs beautifully with not answering emails. Just saying.

Noema

Move over, party hotels – Bali’s got a new kid on the block, and she’s swapping bottle service for breathwork. Opening August 22, Noema is the freshest face in Pererenan (just a coconut’s roll from Canggu), and she’s got curves in all the right places: rooftop rituals, climbable art, spa scrubs, and cocktails with a view.

Yes, this place is a beach resort, but it’s also a mindfully designed, art-infused playground for surfers, families, nomads and dreamers who prefer their holidays with a side of soul. Think Korean rooftop spa scrubs, mythical kraken-inspired play towers, and restaurants that could win awards and win over your stomach.

Noema’s got 157 airy rooms (including a penthouse), two stellar restaurants – Mamaloma and Paparempa – and even a wellness centre that believes exfoliation is a spiritual experience.

At its core, Noema is built on one lovely little idea: that you can come to Bali and actually relax. *Gasp*. So, whether you’re here for the seafood sambal, the Saturday brunch, or to chase your inner calm around a vertical playground, Noema’s ready to welcome you barefoot and blissed out.

Oh, and don’t miss the three-day launch fest from August 22–24. There’ll be culture, cuisine, connection, and maybe even a kraken or two.

Prison Island

Brace yourselves, Brisbane – you’re about to willingly walk into a prison, and love every second of it.

Launching September 4, Prison Island is the city’s newest adrenaline-fuelled playground, where escape rooms go to retire and teamwork comes to thrive.

Forget breaking out, here, you break in… to 35 challenge cells packed with puzzles, physical feats, and just enough laser-dodging drama to test your friendships (and flexibility). It’s an escape room, a ninja warrior course, and a high-stakes game show, all in one.

Brought to life by immersive entertainment wizards Make It Now and global experience pros Fever, Prison Island is a Scandinavian-born sensation that’s already dazzled crowds across Europe and in Melbourne. Now, it’s Brisbane’s turn to get a little competitive and whole lot sweaty.

Here’s how it works: teams of 2–5 have 90 minutes to tackle as many themed cells as possible. Think brain-bending logic, memory games, agility courses, and the occasional “how is this so hard?” moment. Every success earns points. Every fumble earns laughs. And yes, there’s a leaderboard, so bring your A-game, or prepare for a light roasting in the group chat.

From workmates to mates’ dates, Prison Island is the ultimate test of brains, brawn, and competitiveness.

Selar expeditions set to launch in 2026

If your idea of a cruise involves endless buffets, bingo nights, and enough emissions to melt the poles, Selar would like a quiet word (and a strong gust of wind).

Launching in 2026, Selar is the world’s first fully sustainable polar expedition company, and it’s here to prove that you can chase adventure and save the planet at the same time.

Helmed by Arctic explorer, ice pilot, and all-around badass Sophie Galvagnon (alongside two entrepreneurial trailblazers, Julia Bijaoui and Quentin Vacher), Selar’s luxury voyages will take just 36 lucky adventurers on noise-free, zero-emission journeys into the most remote reaches of the Arctic. We’re talking sails with solar panels, cabins with horizon views, a rooftop sauna, and hot chocolate served in driftwood huts. Pinterest, eat your heart out.

But there’s more. Selar’s trips have no set itinerary, just pure, spontaneous adventure. Spot a polar bear? Go silent and observe. Fancy a kayak around a glacier? Done. Want to ski down an untouched fjord then sip glögg under the Northern Lights? Absolutely.

You’ll share the ship with scientists, artists, and maybe a seal or two, as well as take part in polar clean-ups and citizen science. Because why just see the world when you can help save it?

Selar’s whole motto is that they’re ‘not a cruise, but an expedition’. But make it carbon-negative, luxury-forward, and wildly unforgettable.

Community Homestay Network’s new tours

Want to see the real Nepal? Ditch the crowds and head to someone’s living room.

If your idea of an authentic travel experience involves actually meeting people (rather than just waving at them from a tour bus), then say namaste to Nepal’s Community Homestay Network.

Fresh off the back of being named one of TIME’s ‘World’s Greatest Places of 2025’ – no biggie – they’ve just launched three new trips that put communities, culture, and seriously good cooking front and centre.

Forget cookie-cutter itineraries. This is travel with heart (and homemade wine). The new adventures include everything from momo-making marathons and waterfall hikes in Narchyang to crafting with artisans in Bungamati and sipping tea in Indigenous Aathpahariya homestays in Eastern Nepal (yes, it’s as cool as it sounds).

The idea behind these new trips is to let travellers experience Nepal through the eyes (and kitchens) of the locals, all while boosting rural economies, preserving cultural traditions, and ensuring tourism doesn’t bulldoze the very things we travel to see.

Founder Shiva Dhakal calls it “building bridges between cultures”, but honestly, it just sounds like the best way to actually get Nepal without just Googling it.

Each of the three new trips runs for eight days and includes a delightful combo of cooking, hiking, heritage, and human connection.

Our advice? Bring an open mind, an empty stomach, and a spare bag for all those handmade souvenirs.

ROKI Collection Queenstown set to open

Mark your calendars (and maybe invest in a tiny private jet) because ROKI Collection Queenstown is landing lakeside on September 1, 2025, and it’s bringing serious glamour and a lot of Kiwi charm.

Positioned smack bang on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and framed by the epic Remarkables mountain range, ROKI dubs itself an “urban retreat” with all the tranquility of a remote lodge, but none of the mosquitoes.

Imagine fireplaces, private bathtubs, walk‑in wardrobes, and panoramic views in each of the 15 swanky suites, ranging from cosy one‑bedroom hideaways to full‑on opulence in the four‑bedroom ROKI Suite or the seven‑bedroom Grand ROKI Suite (which could double as a small country).

When you’re hungry, you’ve got two tricks up your sleeve. Essence serves up European‑inspired fine dining on a plate of NZ produce, courtesy of culinary whiz Paul Froggatt (Luxury Lodges Chef of the Year 2023/24). Or head to The Terrace for seafood that matches those views, and yes, the fireplaces cosy up at dinner too.

And if you’re into wellness, ROKI Pure is no ordinary spa. It’s more like a zen fortress with thermal pools, an indoor lap pool, private treatments, ice baths, a personalised sleep concierge, and even “Rewild” sensory journeys. It’s like self-care, but a million times cooler.

But the bottom line is, ROKI Collection Queenstown is that rare combo of being a luxe lodge but with boutique‑hotel energy. Suggested nightly rates start at around AU$1600, going all the way up to AU$ 29,000 for the over‑the‑top suites, so it’s expensive to stay here, but dare we say it – it’s worth it.

Ēthos opens at Alsahwa Estate

Forget clinking cutlery and overzealous waiters with tasting menus that you need help figuring out. At ēthos, the newly opened restaurant on the Alsahwa Estate in the Sunshine Coast hinterlands, the vibe is less ‘performance’ and more ‘permission to exhale’.

Nestled among wild botanicals and dam-fed paddocks, ēthos doesn’t scream luxury; it hums soul. Designed by Alex Zabotto-Bentley (AZB Creative), the space is a tactile love letter to nature. Think rough-hewn timbers, antique bread tools, and bathrooms that may or may not deserve their own design podcast (spoiler alert: they do).

And while the interiors are worth swooning over (hello, Ghanaian woven pendants), the real seduction happens on the plate. Hatted chef Sophie Phipps (formerly of Spice Bar) has created a Mediterranean-leaning menu rooted in Alsahwa’s spray-free gardens and local producers. No foam. No fiddly bits. Just flavour, clarity and a menu that feels like a warm hug, just with olive oil on top.

It’s the first public offering from Alsahwa Estate, a 30-acre regenerative agritourism haven founded by Jo Walker. More goodness is coming, including long lunches, garden picnics, and wellness happenings designed to nourish your body, your mind and your Instagram feed.

Open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am till late, ēthos is less about dining out and more about tuning in. If you come for the food, you’ll end up staying for the feeling. And you might even take a bathroom selfie or two, but we won’t judge.

Drink pairing & chocolate pouring at Every Man and His Dog

If your idea of winter involves snuggling up with wine, chocolate and not much else, then congratulations, you’re our kind of person. And Every Man and His Dog Vineyard in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley gets it too. That’s why, during the Off-Season (May to August), they’re serving up an indulgent little number that’s delicious, delightfully messy, and only for adults.

Here’s how it goes down: you arrive at this quirky, boutique vineyard where the owners, Maurice and Helen, hand you a glass of small-batch vino and point you in the direction of some dangerously good chocolate. But not just any chocolate, this comes from Federation Artisan Chocolate, crafted right on-site.

And the best part is, you don’t just eat it. You pour it. Yep, your very own chocolate slab, designed by you, drizzled and smoothed into a dreamy, molten masterpiece you can take home (or demolish immediately, there’s zero judgement here).

To keep the good vibes rolling, there’s also a wine and chocolate pairing to really get those tastebuds doing the tango. It’s like speed dating for your senses (sip, bite, swoon, repeat).

It’s basically winter the way it should be: warm, a little indulgent, and wildly Tasmanian.

So rug up, grab a mate (human or canine – Jax the Wine Dog will be there), and treat yourself to an Off-Season escape where the only thing more satisfying than the chocolate is the smug glow you’ll wear after.

Much Better Adventures launches new e-bike tours

Much Better Adventures just dropped a new collection of e-bike tours, and frankly, our legs are already thanking them.

With global e-bike interest rising faster than your heart rate on a hill climb (up 17% year-on-year), the adventure travel legends have launched five brand-new itineraries that’ll take you from Vietnam’s misty highlands to Machu Picchu, all with a little extra “oomph” under the seat.

These aren’t your average gentle Sunday rolls. Think jungle trails in Costa Rica, sacred Inca sites, Jordan’s epic desert landscapes, and a whole lot of smug satisfaction as you climb seemingly impossible passes with that delightful e-bike boost. They’re part of a now 18-strong lineup of cycling holidays across 14 countries because apparently, using your legs to walk is soooo 2024.

“This isn’t about taking the easy route,” says cycling guru Vicky Leach. “It’s about going deeper, further, and wilder without crying halfway up a mountain.”

Co-founder Sam Bruce agrees: “E-biking makes tough terrain feel more doable and adventure more accessible. You’re still powering yourself, just with an extra gear (and less swearing).”

So, whether you’re chasing Andean sunsets, dodging Vietnam’s water buffalo, or cruising Costa Rica’s coast-to-coast chaos, these trips serve up sweat, scenery and serious bragging rights without the trauma to your thighs. Adventure? Activated.

Tourism Fiji launches nationwide search

Move over, beach balls, there’s a new (well, old) star rolling back onto Australian shores! After 25 years lost at sea, the world’s most famous volleyball, Wilson, has finally been found, and Tourism Fiji is throwing a nationwide search party to celebrate his epic return.

Remember Wilson? The beloved, slightly battered volleyball who stole our hearts in that iconic island survival movie filmed in Fiji? Thought to be lost forever, Wilson has been discovered right where his story began: the sunny, smiley shores of Fiji. And now, he’s making his grand comeback by washing up on Australian beaches this July!

On July 24, early risers at Bondi Beach, St Kilda, and Gold Coast Main Beach will have the chance to spot one of three Wilson volleyballs popping up on the sand from 6:00am. But this isn’t just any beach find. Scanning the QR code on Wilson unlocks the chance to win a dreamy trip to Fiji, where happiness really does come naturally.

Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill sums it up best: Wilson’s story has touched millions, and now it’s time for the volleyball’s happily ever after; playing, making friends, and soaking up Fiji’s sun.

Not in town for the beach hunt? No worries! Spend $250 online or in-store at Wilson’s Sporting Goods starting July 24, and you’ll automatically be in the running for a Fijian escape.

So keep your eyes peeled, and maybe start practicing your volleyball serve. Wilson’s back, and he’s ready to bring a slice of paradise to you!