Our hand-picked selection of travel news from Australia and around the world.
Beijing In Bloom
New York has Hudson River Park, reshaping dilapidated industrial banks into a world-class waterfront green corridor, while London’s Thames riverbanks are awash with spring flowers against a backdrop of classical architecture. Now, Beijing has its own spring spectacle, having transformed a forgotten waterway into a sea of cherry blossoms.
Dubbed Sakura River, a 4.2-kilometre stretch of the Beixiao River in the city’s Chaoyang District has captured hearts with its display of nearly 6,000 cherry blossom trees blooming in succession from late March to late April. Some 68 varieties produce a range of colours from powdery white and soft pink to crimson and pale yellow-green.
Earlier this month, the Beixiao River Spring Boat Tour set sail, gliding between the flower-lined riverbanks in a picture reminiscent of an oriental painting. Additionally, five stationary flower-viewing boats are moored on the river and decorated with tulips, hydrangeas, and bougainvillea for further photo opportunities.
The Drover’s Wife On Stage
What a feast of productions Opera Australia has scheduled for 2026, its 70th birthday year. We’re particularly excited about The Drover’s Wife, playing at the Sydney Opera House from August 7 to 15. A new Australian opera based on Leah Purcell’s adaptation of Henry Lawson’s classic short story, it’s described as “grand opera traditions meet contemporary Aboriginal storytelling”.
The late Dame Joan Sutherland will be celebrated in La Stupenda, on August 20 & 22, a star-studded tribute featuring highlights from her famous roles, joined by the full chorus and orchestra.
And there’s still time to catch the spectacle of The Phantom of the Opera on Sydney Harbour until May 3. While we haven’t seen this year’s production, we did see the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of Phantom a couple of years ago and loved it. Bookings here.
The Lion King Roars Into Sydney
Speaking of shows, Disney’s The Lion King has arrived in Sydney with an almighty roar. Opening at the Capitol Theatre on April 18, it’s one of the best-loved musicals of all time. More than 140 million people have seen it since its Broadway debut in 1997.
Aussies are in for a treat with this production, judging by the sneak preview we had over dinner at Jamala Wildlife Lodge in Canberra. James Robertson, Disney’s Director of Marketing and Sales (Australia), was on hand to tell us about the show, which promises to be a huge drawcard for Sydney. Around 65% of bookings are from out of Sydney.
Robertson says it’s Disney’s fastest selling show in Australia to date. In other words, you’ll need to get in quick to secure tickets.
The Last High Kingdoms
For the trip of a lifetime, it would be hard to beat The Last High Kingdoms, a rare journey through two of the Himalaya’s most restricted regions. Developed and hosted by Lisa Pagotto, founder of boutique tour company Crooked Compass, the 2028 Founder’s Tour takes in far-eastern Tibet and the Kingdom of Mustang, a former forbidden kingdom in Nepal where ancient Tibetan culture endures. These culturally complex, heritage-rich lands remain largely inaccessible to travellers.
Departing in February 2028, the tour includes private village encounters in Upper Mustang, sunrise rituals in Yamdrok Lake and Tsetang, and visits to Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Drepung Monastery alongside local scholars and spiritual custodians. The 18-day itinerary also takes in Eastern Tibet, a region of sacred lakes, forested valleys and remote monasteries that are rarely visited and increasingly difficult to access.
Accommodation has been selected to reflect both place and experience, from the heritage-rich Dwarika’s Hotel in Kathmandu to the ultra-luxury, Bill Bensley design led Shinta Mani Retreat in Mustang and the luxury boutique lodges of Songtsam on the ancient Tea Horse Road in Tibet.
Pagotto says the tour is designed for “travellers who understand that true luxury lies in rarity, access, and being present for experiences that may not exist in this form again”. Not surprisingly, it comes with a price tag that is not for the faint-hearted, priced from AUD $44,738 per person. Register your interest here.
New Chapter For Chamber Music Festival
The Australian Festival of Chamber Music enters a new chapter with its relocation this year from Townsville to Cairns. A highlight of Queensland’s cultural calendar, the festival from July 24 to August 1 promises a bold program of music with edge, story and emotional punch.
Artistic Director Jack Liebeck will deliver a program spanning everything from composers who met wildly dramatic ends in Horrible Histories, Composer Edition, to Schubert’s Winterreise reimagined for the tropics, a lost Holocaust-era work and a sweeping multimedia tribute to the natural world.
International artists include Berlin Philharmonic Principal Horn Stefan Dohr, French cellist Christian-Pierre La Marca, Irish tenor Robin Tritschler and world-renowned ensembles including the Sitkovetsky Piano Trio. They are joined by leading Australian musicians including Piers Lane, Karin Schaupp, Lloyd Van’t Hoff, Charlotte Miles and many more.
More information and tickets here.
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