Each week we bring you a hand-picked selection of travel news from Australia and around the world.
Bringing The Arabian Leopard Back From The Brink
The Arabian Leopard is one of the world’s most endangered big cats, with fewer than 120 believed to remain in the wild. Efforts to reverse the species’ decline demonstrate AlUla’s growing role in eco-tourism.
Located in north-west Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a striking landscape of desert, oases, towering mountains, and ancient sites including Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also home to some stunning luxury resorts including The Chedi Hegra, Our Habitas AlUla, and Banyan Tree AlUla.
The Royal Commission for AlUla, established in 2017 to manage the region’s heritage and preservation, views conservation as fundamental to tourism in the region. It has partnered with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and established an Arabian Leopard Conservation Program.
A core pillar of its work is a breeding centre in Taif which has seen the birth of six cubs in the past year. Preparations are underway for a dedicated Arabian Leopard Rewilding Centre in Sharaan National Park, where visitors can already enjoy low-impact guided nature encounters. At Hegra, wildlife experiences further connect AlUla’s ancient heritage with its living natural environment.
Journey By Train To Europe’s Christmas Markets
If you’ve been dreaming of the magic of a European Christmas, now is the time to start planning. For a special festive celebration, Golden Eagle Luxury Trains promise an unforgettable winter experience.
Departing in December from Budapest, its Christmas Markets of Central Europe itinerary takes in cities such as Vienna, Salzburg and Munich. Excursions feature cultural highlights like Schonbrunn Palace, local Christmas markets, and a private Viennese classical concert.
The 8-day package includes all meals and drinks, premium hotel stays pre- and post-tour, ensuite cabin on the Danube Express, all excursions, porterage and gratuities, plus a UK registered medical doctor onboard.
With every detail taken care of, guests can simply relax and enjoy the ever-changing landscapes, seasonal dishes, and splendid service Golden Eagle is renowned for.
Milestone For Uluru’s Field of Light
For something that was only ever intended to be temporary, it’s amazing to think that Field of Light at Uluru is nearly 10 years old. The ambitious installation by artist Bruce Munro has been visited by around 750,000 people since it opened in April 2016.
Inspired by desert wildflowers bursting to life after rain, the artwork features 50,000 solar powered stems illuminating an area the size of seven football fields. Its success sparked a global movement, with Munro later creating similar installations at Sensorio in California, Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia, Freedom Plaza in Manhattan, an installation in Albany, Western Australia to commemorate the Anzacs, and one in Salcombe, Devon, in the UK.
Ayers Rock Resort will host special events throughout the year to celebrate the Field of Light milestone. On select dates in March, guests can book the Field of Lights Dinner or Star Pass and enjoy a personal introduction to the installation by the artist himself.
Also in March, Munro will host free Q&A sessions at Arkani Theatre, Ayers Rock Resort, where guests can learn more about the creative process behind Field of Light and ask questions in an informal setting.
From April 1, Field of Light Dinner and Star Pass experiences feature new menus that hero native ingredients from First Nations-owned Creative Native and Cooee Native Ingredients Australia.
From March 26 to April 18, a special mural will bring Field of Light to Melbourne. Anangu artist Valerie Brumby has created a bespoke artwork depicting the Field of Light through her own eyes, and Wurundjeri muralist Alex Kerr will reimagine it with Valerie by his side. Valerie’s original painting will later be exhibited permanently at the Gallery of Central Australia at Ayers Rock Resort.
Stays That Forge Family Bonds
Multi-generational travel is booming with an increasing number of Australians enjoying holidays with the extended family. Some grandparents travel with the young ones alone, giving parents a break and strengthening family bonds.
One hour from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Queensland’s Scenic Rim is catering to this growing trend with immersive farm stays, eco-certified nature experiences, mountain walks, and adventure playgrounds like Thunderbird Park.
Capitalising on the trend, Tamborine Mountain Glades, home to Thunderbird Park, has launched a Grandcation Package, with accommodation options to suit every style, from adventurous glamping to luxury Vista Suites, or a relaxed stay in a lodge.
Stays start from $253 and include a complimentary round of mini golf for the whole family. Simply use the code GRANDCATIONS when booking. More information here.
Nearby, Clandulla Farm Stay is also seeing a steady rise in ‘grandcation’ bookings, offering hands-on farm experiences that let grandparents and grandchildren bond over feeding animals, exploring paddocks, roasting marshmallows over the firepit, and enjoying the fresh air.
“Farm life feels a world away but is only a short drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, while offering something for everyone to share joy over,” says Clandulla’s NambokHoward. “No long flights, no jetlag, no expensive transits or currency exchange; just more time together making memories with adorable animals in a beautiful countryside setting.”
Multi-generational travel is booming with an increasing number of Australians enjoying holidays with the extended family. Some grandparents travel with the young ones alone, giving parents a break and strengthening family bonds.
One hour from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Queensland’s Scenic Rim is catering to this growing trend with immersive farm stays, eco-certified nature experiences, mountain walks, and adventure playgrounds like Thunderbird Park.
Capitalising on the trend, Tamborine Mountain Glades, home to Thunderbird Park, has launched a Grandcation Package, with accommodation options to suit every style, from adventurous glamping to luxury Vista Suites, or a relaxed stay in a lodge.
Stays start from $253 and include a complimentary round of mini golf for the whole family. Simply use the code GRANDCATIONS when booking. More information here.
Nearby, Clandulla Farm Stay is also seeing a steady rise in ‘grandcation’ bookings, offering hands-on farm experiences that let grandparents and grandchildren bond over feeding animals, exploring paddocks, roasting marshmallows over the firepit, and enjoying the fresh air.
“Farm life feels a world away but is only a short drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, while offering something for everyone to share joy over,” says Clandulla’s NambokHoward. “No long flights, no jetlag, no expensive transits or currency exchange; just more time together making memories with adorable animals in a beautiful countryside setting.”
Benalla Street Art Through A New Lens
Benalla’s much-admired street art trail is undergoing an exciting evolution with the appointment of Simon Grant as creative director of the Benalla Street Art Festival. Grant is the owner and founder of Australia’s largest and longest-running street art festival, Wonderwalls.
With more than 95 murals and installations already lining the streets of Benalla, the regional Victorian town is building on the success of its record-breaking 2025 festival.
This year’s festival, to be held from 17 to 19 April, will once again see local, national and international creatives transforming walls, laneways and public spaces into compelling works that invite reflection, conversation and discovery.
“Benalla already holds a special place in Australia’s street art landscape, and this next chapter will build on that legacy while introducing new voices, new stories and a fresh creative energy,” Grant said.
“Our vision is to create an experience that is inclusive, accessible and inspiring — one that invites both locals and visitors to engage with art in unexpected ways and see the city through a new lens.”
