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The ultimate in travel experiences

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.

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!

Laugarás Lagoon

Just when you thought Iceland couldn’t get any more extra with its volcanoes, geysers and Björk, along comes Laugarás Lagoon, a brand-new, two-level geothermal wonderland opening this August. Yes, August 15. Mark it. Tattoo it. Whatever works.

Nestled in the Golden Circle near the town of Laugarás, this steamy newcomer isn’t your average hot spring. For starters, it has a cascading waterfall inside the lagoon. That’s right. You can literally soak, slide, and swan dive your way through levels of geothermally-heated luxury (it’s doing the most).

And the vibe is Nordic chic meets “I may never leave.” Expect warm mineral pools reaching up to 40°C, forest views, and two bars because nothing says wellness quite like sipping bubbly in a 5,000-year-old lava field.

If that’s not enough, there are also saunas, a glacial plunge pool (for people who enjoy voluntary suffering), and a secret grotto where you can hide from your travel companions or contemplate your life choices in peace.

And if all that lounging makes you hungry, fear not. Ylja, the onsite restaurant, is headed up by Icelandic culinary wizard Gísli Matt. Think hyper-local ingredients served with mountain views and zero shame if you wanna wear a robe to dinner.
In short: Laugarás Lagoon is set to be the country’s next hot thing, literally.

UBS Digital Art Museum

Forget everything you think you know about museums; you know, the stiff silence, velvet ropes, and the security guard sitting down in the corner of every room. Hamburg’s UBS Digital Art Museum is smashing all that with a pixel-powered wrecking ball when it opens its neon-soaked doors later this year.

This isn’t a place where you look at art. It’s a place where art looks back at you and then follows you around. The museum’s crown jewel is a full-blown immersive takeover by Japan’s teamLab Borderless – those digital wizards who turn rooms into kaleidoscopic, interactive wonderlands where flowers bloom around your feet and waterfalls rearrange themselves as you walk through.

Set in HafenCity and billed as Europe’s largest digital art museum, this 6,500-square-metre dreamscape is what happens when tech, creativity, and just the right amount of ambition get together for a late-night brainstorm. And yes, your phone’s camera roll is about to suffer (in the best way).

But this isn’t just an art-fuelled fever dream, it’s also climate-neutral. Because why not save the planet and blow people’s minds at the same time? So, if you’ve ever wanted to stroll through a living canvas or just need somewhere better than your living room to take a dramatic selfie, this one’s for you.

Join Cupitt’s Estate’s Blend & Feast

Ever wanted to play winemaker without having to own a vineyard or wear tweed?

Cupitt’s Estate in NSW is handing you the reins (and a glass) with their Blend & Feast experience, but it’s not your average wine tasting. This event is wine wizardry with a side of some pretty serious feasting.

First, you’ll be guided through a behind-the-scenes wine blending session with the estate’s Head Winemaker (aka the grape whisperer). You’ll swirl, sniff, sip, and mix your way to your custom blend like you’re Willy Wonka, but with grapes.

But wait, there’s more. Once you’ve unleashed your inner sommelier, you’ll tuck into a three-course long lunch with all the trimmings. Think seasonal, estate-grown produce, expertly paired with Cupitt’s handcrafted wines.

It’s the perfect blend (see what we did there?) of indulgence, education, and just the right amount of day drinking (without going overboard). Whether you’re a wine snob, a foodie, or just here for the vibes, Blend & Feast is your chance to eat, drink, and ferment merrily.

Bookings are essential, though, and loose lips and red wine-stained teeth are highly likely, so be prepared.

Fujifilm’s GFX Challenge is Back

Calling all shutterbugs, storytellers, and video visionaries, Fujifilm’s GFX Challenge is back for 2025 and it’s throwing open the doors to your wildest creative dreams (and paying you to make them real).

With a hefty AU$150,000 in grants up for grabs, this competition is practically a golden ticket for aspiring Aussie and Kiwi content creators to show the world exactly what they’ve got.

Whether you’re a full-time filmmaker or just someone who knows their way around a lens (and a latte), this challenge is your chance to score up to AU$15,000 and the latest Fujifilm gear to shoot your dream project. That’s right — cash, cameras, and clout, all rolled into one deliciously creative bundle.

Entries are open from June 30 to August 31, so you’ve got a solid two months to come up with an idea that’ll blow the socks off the judges. Previous finalists have gone on to shoot global campaigns for Fujifilm, so this isn’t some flash-in-the-pan opportunity, it’s a launchpad.

Winners also get mentoring, technical support, and a starring spot on Fujifilm’s global stage. Imagine your work in an international exhibition, your name in lights (or at least on the Fujifilm website), and your camera gear fully stacked. Unbelievable.

So, dust off that dream project you’ve been sitting on, hit the GFX Challenge site, and get clicking. Your big moment is one submission away.

Embrace medical wellness at Amanpuri

If your idea of “wellness” is a green juice and an occasional yoga stretch while doomscrolling, Amanpuri’s about to gently (and glamorously) blow your mind.

Nestled in a ridiculously lush corner of Thailand, Aman’s OG resort has levelled up its already swanky wellness game with a new medical-meets-mystical experience that’s basically a total reboot for your body, mind, and very possibly your soul.

At the Holistic Wellness Centre – Aman’s first of its kind – you won’t just get a massage and a mint tea. No, no. We’re talking full-spectrum healing with diagnostic wizardry that checks your hormones, immune function, and cardiovascular health before you’ve even unpacked your kaftan. Then it’s IV drips of NAD+, Resveratrol, Vitamin C, and other things that sound like high-grade spaceship fuel but are really just your fast pass to feeling fresh.

But wait, there’s more. You can dip into MSC therapy, cryotherapy, hydro-colon cleanses (don’t ask), and sneaky aesthetic upgrades like HIFU facials and ThermiVa, all while being gently coaxed into balance with acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and Chi Nei Tsang massage. It’s modern science meets ancient wisdom meets “how are they making me look this glowy?”

Forget bootcamp-style wellness where someone yells at you while you juice fast (and subsequently pass out after the 9th burpee). At Amanpuri, the vibe is serene, deeply personalised, and borderline magical.

Come for the transformation, stay for the coconut trees and the discreet age-reversal sorcery. Your future self just sent you a thank-you note.

Gwinganna launches mother/daughter retreat

Forget awkward brunches and passive-aggressive text chains, Gwinganna is giving the classic mother-daughter bonding session a full-blown glow-up.
This spring, the luxe lifestyle retreat in Queensland is launching its first-ever Mother Daughter Retreat, and let’s just say, it’s not your average spa weekend with Mum.

Running from 28 September to 2 October, the four-night escape is like therapy, yoga, a nature walk and a group hug all rolled into one leafy, luxe hinterland experience. Open to daughters aged 14 and up, it’s the perfect excuse to disconnect from screens, ditch the drama, and actually talk to each other (without emojis).

Expect expert-led chats on hormones, nutrients and other magical biological things you both pretend to understand, hosted by superstar health humans like Dr Libby and Dr Karen Coates. There’s also sound healing, mountain bathing (yep, that’s a thing), dance, cooking demos, and a Circle of Light fire ceremony that’s deeply Instagrammable.

Oh, and did we mention the massages, organic food, and wellness credits? Gwinganna knows how to lure us in…with snacks, serenity, and soul work.
So, whether your mother-daughter dynamic is more Gilmore Girls or Game of Thrones, this is your chance to hit pause, breathe deeply, and maybe even hug it out in a place with no Wi-Fi and zero judgement.

But there are limited spots available, so book now before someone else nabs the last massage and your mum finds out you still haven’t returned her tupperware.