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Hawai’i slaps a “Green Fee” on tourists

If you’ve ever snorkelled Hanauma Bay or stood on the edge of Waipi‘o Valley feeling like you’re in a Jurassic Park reboot, you’ll know Hawai‘i is outrageously good-looking. But paradise doesn’t come cheap, especially when it’s being trampled by nearly 10 million tourists a year and lit up by climate disasters like Maui’s catastrophic 2023 wildfires.

So, Hawai‘i is finally drawing a line in the volcanic sand.

As of January 1, 2026, the Aloha State will become the first in the U.S. to hit tourists with a statewide “Green Fee”, a tiny bump in the hotel tax (from 10.25% to 11%) that could generate a not-so-tiny $100 million annually. That cash? It’s earmarked for fixing the environmental mess: protecting fragile ecosystems, fighting off invasive grasses (yes, they helped torch Lahaina), and shoring up coastlines before they wash away.

Governor Josh Green summed it up with the kind of pragmatic aloha you’d expect from a man named Green: “We can’t sit around waiting for the next disaster.” Fair.

The fee applies to everyone, from hotel-dwelling honeymooners to short-term rental surfers to cruise ship buffet warriors (finally roped into paying their fair share). So, if you’re dropping AU$500 a night on a beachfront room, expect to cough up an extra AU$3.75. Hardly a bank-breaker, but when multiplied by millions, it stacks up like a volcano.

The tax hike isn’t without fine print. Total checkout taxes (including lodging and excise tax) will reach a spicy 18.712% in 2026, one of the steepest in the country. Will that deter sunburnt honeymooners and TikTok travel influencers? Unlikely. Especially when the trade-off is a cleaner, safer, more resilient Hawai‘i.

And let’s be honest: the islands need it. Lahaina’s ancient banyan tree might’ve survived the blaze, but hundreds didn’t. CAT (that’s the Climate Advisory Team, not a purring metaphor) recommended this very move after Maui’s fires. Think of the Green Fee as a climate insurance policy tourists chip into, rather than Hawai‘i’s locals footing the bill while serving you Mai Tais.

So, next time you’re sipping a piña colada under a coconut tree, remember that small Green Fee on your bill is helping keep Hawai‘i green, wild, and standing, long after your tan fades.

Kayak the Philippines on a multi-day tour

If your idea of a holiday involves sipping cocktails on a sunlounger, look away now. But if you’ve ever thought, “What if I could paddle my way through tropical islands, snack constantly, sleep in hidden beach camps, and possibly befriend a sea turtle?” then Kayakasia Philippines has your name written all over it (probably on a dry bag).

This adventure company offers multi-day, muscle-powered odysseys through some of the most untouched corners of the Philippines; think limestone cliffs, secret lagoons, beach bonfires, and zero crowds (unless you count the occasional curious fish). You’ll paddle between islands, feast like a castaway with a personal chef, and fall asleep under a trillion stars.

Worried you’re not Bear Grylls? Don’t stress. You don’t need abs of steel or Olympic stamina, just a sense of adventure and a healthy obsession with snacks. The Kayakasia crew sorts the logistics, hauls the gear, and keeps the vibe equal parts safe and silly.

Tours range from chill two-night trips to full-on five-day expeditions, with routes around El Nido, the Linapacan Islands, and Coron. Translation: postcard views, every damn day.

That means ditch the resort wristband and grab a paddle. These tours are for anyone who wants to explore paradise the slow, splashy, unforgettable way. And yes, your arms will get a little sore. But your soul? Very, very happy.

Stay at The Slate Phuket

If you’ve ever watched The White Lotus and thought, “Wow, I’d love to swan about a luxe resort in a silk robe, but without the pesky murder subplot,” then The Slate Phuket has read your mind (and possibly your group chat).

Enter the Indigo Lotus Package: a cheeky, extravagant escape that serves Thai luxury with a twist of HBO glam and (exactly) zero scandals.

Stay four nights in your own private pool villa, where you can dramatically sip cocktails like you’re about to drop a bombshell. Except here, the only drama is choosing between a coconut scrub or a full-body massage at Coqoon Spa.

Dine like a diva at Black Ginger; yes, the floating restaurant you reach via hand-pulled raft (because walking is boring), and pretend you’re being filmed by a hidden camera crew.

You’ll also get front-row seats to a real-deal Muay Thai fight, daily breakfast that does not include suspicious green smoothies, and an optional spiritual detox at Wat Chalong. Plus, there’s a beach club excursion with drinks because balance.

It’s the perfect package for lovers, besties, or your three favourite aunties. Yes, it’s a little on the expensive side AU$8,881 a couple), but we reckon it’s worth every cent.

This isn’t a holiday, it’s your main character moment. No messy plot twists, just tropical opulence, Thai culture, and a resort so beautiful, it deserves its own Emmy.

Become a ‘Sunset Supervisor’

Tired of your job not involving enough golden hour, white sand, and semi-aquatic chill? Same. That’s why Employment Hero, the Aussie tech unicorn shaking up the job market, has teamed up with Fitzroy Island Resort to launch what may be the most envy-inducing gig of all time: Sunset Supervisor.

Uh, translation please? Sit on the beach and make sure the sun goes down properly. Maybe snap a pic. Repeat for three days.

This dreamy job listing has officially dropped via EH Jobs – the shiny new app that matches you with over 1.5 million roles without requiring you to awkwardly loiter in a café clutching your resumé.

But there’s brains behind the beauty. Gen Z is clocking in more hours than ever (2.3% more, in fact), and Employment Hero is here to prove that work doesn’t have to be a soul-sapping grind (we feel that).

With hiring and wages on the rise, especially in sunny QLD, the Sunset Supervisor role is both a cheeky PR stunt and a serious reminder that the future of work should include more… well, paradise.

Flights? Covered. Accom? Luxe. Value? Over AU$4,000. All you need to do is show up, look at the sky, and let Fitzroy Island do the rest.

It’s time to embrace island time, powered by Employment Hero. Now, excuse us while we try to apply for this role using one hand while a piña coladas in the other.

Explore Worldwide’s new tours chase the solar eclipse

Ready for a holiday that’s literally out of this world? In August 2026, the cosmos is serving up a total solar eclipse, and Explore Worldwide is throwing an epic viewing party across Northern Spain and Iceland. Because what pairs better with complete solar obliteration than tapas or a glacier?

These are total eclipse-themed adventures with a side of wow and a dash of science. Whether you’re sipping Rioja in the Basque Country or road-tripping through Iceland’s volcanic wonderland, you’ll get front-row seats to one of nature’s rarest light shows. And yes, there will be a dedicated solar expert on hand to explain what’s happening in the sky (because let’s be honest, you haven’t googled “umbra” since Year 9 science, and maybe not even then).

Each tour comes with eclipse glasses – so you don’t accidentally blind yourself – and carefully chosen viewing spots. Think al fresco dining in Spain as the sun disappears, or standing in Icelandic wilderness with your jaw on the floor.

Three trips means three unforgettable experiences:

• Spain for the foodies (and romantics who like their eclipses with wine).

• Iceland for the wild souls who think molten lava and total darkness sound like fun.

• Picos de Europa for the hikers who prefer their astronomy at altitude.

Book now and be the kind of person who casually drops, “Oh, I watched the 2026 eclipse from a mountain in Spain” into small talk. You cosmic show-off, you.

Embrace the Polaroid Flip

Ah, the Polaroid Flip. It’s not just a camera. It’s a nostalgia-infused, red-shutter-buttoned, flash-wielding time machine disguised as a point-and-shoot. Designed for the creatively chaotic and the “let’s just see what happens” crowd, the Flip takes the pain out of photography and replaces it with instant joy, printed in your hand before you can say “hashtag no filter.”

Using it is so easy, even your technophobic uncle could nail a portrait on his first try. Thanks to its hyperfocal 4-lens system, the Flip automatically chooses the best lens for your subject, whether it’s a moody street scene or your mate mid-sip of a questionably named cocktail. Add in sonar autofocus (yes, it uses sound like a tiny Bat-camera) and the most powerful flash Polaroid has ever packed into a lid, and you’ve got yourself a pocket-sized photo beast.

Unlike other instant cameras that make you work harder than a barista at brunch, the Flip actually wants to help. It alerts you if your shot’s over- or underexposed and links via Bluetooth to the Polaroid app on your phone for double exposures, self-timers, and manual control because sometimes you want to feel like an artist and look good doing it.

At $399, it’s not cheap, but you can’t put a price on capturing life’s messiest, most magical moments in all their perfectly imperfect glory.

In short: Flip it. Shoot it. Frame it. And try not to fall hopelessly in love (oops, too late).

Join Much Better Adventures on a cycling tour in Kyrgyzstan

Tired of the same old bike rides past suburban hedges and nosy neighbours? Upgrade your handlebars to something worthy of legend with Much Better Adventures’ cycling tour through Kyrgyzstan: the land of nomads, sky-scraping peaks, and zero Starbucks (hell yeah).

We’re talking mountain passes, alpine lakes, yurt stays, and more sweeping landscapes than a David Attenborough voiceover. You’ll pedal across the Tian Shan mountains, cruise beside the glittering Issyk-Kul Lake (which is basically the sea, but cooler and inland), and pass through villages where time forgot smartphones and found hospitality instead.

Nights are spent under the stars or in cozy yurts with local families, possibly rethinking your life choices in the best way. Days are spent conquering terrain that makes your thighs scream and your soul sing. There are also horses, hot springs, and so many photogenic vistas your phone might overheat out of sheer gorgeousness overload.

Why go to Kyrgyzstan, you ask? Because it’s underrated, unspoiled, and unburdened by crowds. It’s like cycling through a Tolkien novel, but with more fermented mare’s milk and less orc activity.

If you’re on the fence, hop off, grab your bike (or borrow theirs), and saddle up. This is the kind of adventure that turns “where’s Kyrgyzstan again?” into “you HAVE to go.”

Join Wild Frontiers on a group adventure in Iraq

If your idea of adventure is sipping lattes in Paris or snapping selfies at the Colosseum, it’s time to level up. Wild Frontiers’ new 15-day “Iraq: Babylon & Beyond” tour is here to shatter your travel expectations and possibly (probably) your comfort zone.

Temper your expectations, this isn’t your average holiday. You’ll kick things off with a boat ride through the Mesopotamian Marshes, home to flamingos, pelicans, and the Marsh Arabs: people who live in reed houses and herd water buffalo like it’s no big deal. From there, you’ll explore the ancient ruins of Uruk and Ur, cities so old they make Rome look like a teenager. You’ll stand in Babylon, where Saddam Hussein once tried to outdo Nebuchadnezzar by building a palace atop the ruins.

In Baghdad, you’ll visit the National Museum, sip tea in atmospheric cafés, and discover a surprisingly vibrant dining scene. Then it’s off to the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, followed by the rugged mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan. You’ll even visit Al-Qurnah, believed by some to be the site of the fabled Garden of Eden.

Yes, Iraq has had its share of challenges, and a lot of Foreign Offices around the world still advise against travel there. But for the intrepid traveller, this is a chance to experience a land rich in history, culture, and resilience. Plus, Wild Frontiers plants ten trees for every traveller and supports local community projects, so you can feel good about your impact.

So, if you’re ready to trade tourist traps for ancient wonders and unforgettable experiences, pack your bags. Iraq is waiting.

Party at Mt Buller this winter

This winter, Mt Buller is trading thermals for thrills as renowned hospitality group, Tommy Collins, rolls into town with a culinary snow-storm of Melbourne’s finest. Forget soggy chips at the ski lodge, this is gourmet on the gondola.

Starting on the 5th of June, four weekends of frosty fabulousness will see Melbourne foodie royalty – including Marmont, Entrecôte, and MoVida – turn Villager and Little Villager into snow-dusted stages of decadence. Think five-course feasts with an alpine twist, cocktails with altitude (get it?), and tunes to keep your snow boots tappin’.

But wait, there’s more: après-ski has gone from hot choccy to hot mess (in the best way). Bourke Street (Mt Buller’s own icy catwalk, not the street in Melbourne’s CBD) will host raucous street parties with DJs, snow-side cocktails, and a dance floor that’s sure to warm you up from the inside out.

And to kick it all off, there’s a King’s Birthday Weekend bash with Grant Smillie & Friends that promises pyro performances, surprise eats, and enough canned cocktails to make you forget you’ve still got to ski down (yikes).

Whether you’re a snow bunny, après enthusiast, or just here for the drinks (no judgement here), this is one winter takeover where calories don’t count, style is mandatory, and the weather’s not the only thing that’s cool.

So, dust off your best faux fur, practise your wine-swirl, and prepare to party like you did at your 21st birthday. Because there’s a big bash happening at Buller, and you’re invited.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk to open in 2026

Strap on your fanciest hiking boots and start Googling ‘how to survive without Wi-Fi, because Australia’s Red Centre is about to serve up the outback adventure of a lifetime.

Tasmanian Walking Company’s brand new Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk, launching April 30, 2026, is not your average ‘go bush and eat trail mix’ situation. It’s five days and 54 glorious kilometres of expertly guided, fully catered, star-studded wandering through one of the most sacred and stunning landscapes on Earth.

For the ‘modest’ sum of AU$5,395 (twin share), you get more than just epic selfies. We’re talking private eco-campsites nestled inside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park – a world first. There’s even an architecturally-designed lodge, because nature is better with good lighting and a proper mattress. And your guides are a mixture of David Attenborough and Bear Grylls, with a side of outback humour.

You’ll feast nightly on three-course meals, including one unforgettable dinner while watching Kata Tjuta do its best impression of a glowing ember. Cultural workshops with Anangu Traditional Owners will leave your soul as nourished as your stomach, and AU$500 of your booking goes directly to conservation and community programs, so your conscience gets a holiday too.

Oh, and airfares to Yulara are now live, so there’s really no excuse. Book it, walk it, brag forever. Your next wild story starts here; headlamps, heart-opening moments, and all.