Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 26 August 2025

BIRDS IN THE BUSH

The weekend. We stand still in the West Australian bush, the bright dot of a scarlet robin’s breast vivid as a jewel in the bush before us. It flits off, and I follow its fast flight with my eye, which falls on a rufous tree creeper hopping serpentine up the dusty white-and-amber trunk of a wandoo tree. Just a few minutes later I stop again, to watch western spinebills, also vivid, with their dramatic orange-brown collars and bibs, and black-and-white striped heads. They are dashing around bushes, animated.

The Australian bush here, east of Mundaring, just an hour from the city, gives constant reminders to just stop, stay still, stay quiet, observe. Spring is officially just over a week away, but already in the air.

PHONE LIBERATION

Phone photography has been a liberation for me. I’ve spent decades carrying cameras, but now I have a quality camera, interactive maps and a notebook with me, all in one relatively tiny device. I was a slower learner. It was in 2011 that NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams asked photographer Annie Leibovitz for a camera recommendation and she picked an iPhone. The best camera is the camera with you.

SAUSAGE SIZZLE

Every autumn since 1994, the Polish city of Krakow has hosted the Dachshund Parade (known locally as “Marsz Jamnikow”). The next, for hundreds of costumed sausage dogs, is on September 7. A spokesperson for Krakow Travel says: “The Dachshund Parade allows us to take part in a unique barking procession along Czerwienski Boulevard. The parade will be concluded with a beauty and personality contest.” They will gather at the Dzok monument, a symbolic place for dogs. krakow.travel

DZOK IN KRAKOW

Still in Krakow, the Dzok monument is a memorial for Dzok the Dog, a black mongrel whose owner died of a heart attack near the Grunwaldzkie roundabout. Over the following months, Dzok waited for his master to return, living on snacks from locals. After a year, Dzok allowed himself to be taken in by a new owner. When she died, he wandered off again, and met his end under a train. The sculpture of Dzok is by the Cracovian artist Bronislaw Chromy. The epitaph reads: “Dzok the dog. The most trusty of all; a symbol of canine loyalty.” Dzok’s story is kept alive in books by Lidia Garczynska and Barbara Gawryluk and a poem by Karol Kozlowski.

Krakow is still “off the beaten track” for many tourists, but this southern Polish city, near the border with the Czech Republic, reminds of Budapest. Its old town is surrounded by Planty Park and the remnants of medieval walls and at its heart is Rynek Glowny, the market square. The centrepiece is St Mary’s Basilica, a 14th-century gothic church.

OFF THE TRACK

Visit Italy, which markets the country to the world, has statistics which show that 70 per cent of the 70 million internationals who visit each year go to just 1 per cent of its sites. So it is running a “99% of Italy” campaign, encouraging people to see the rest. The campaign is calling out what’s being called this “checklist era”, and focuses on off-the-beaten-track places. Which is just what this week's story by Melanie Anderson is all about, you can read it here.

HORSEGUARDS HOTEL

Luxury Escapes’ London all-time bestseller is back. Three nights at The Royal Horseguards Hotel overlooking the River Thames, with daily breakfast, is from $1399 per room. (The team at Luxury Escapes reckons that can be worth up to $4450). The impressive Victorian-era hotel is in an amazing location, and has hosted Winston Churchill, Scotland Yard and MI5 during its colourful history. Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and Trafalgar Square are a 10-minute walk away. 1300 889 900 or luxuryescapes.com/au

BLOCKBUSTER BRITAIN

The blockbuster tour is back, too: a 20-night best of British tour from $9999 per person. That’s about $500 a day. It starts on July 29, 2026, and is offered by Imagine Cruising. It includes flights, taxes and transfers. On the land, there are tickets for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, three nights at the InterContinental Edinburgh The George hotel and three nights at the four-star DoubleTree by Hilton near the Tower of London. All hotel nights include breakfast. The package also includes a 12-night, full-board cruise on Majestic Princess. An inside cabin is from $9999, a balcony from $11,499 and a deluxe balcony from $12,499 per person. imaginecruising.com.au and use the code EUR2264

SCOOTING TO ASIA

Scoot is adding three new international routes to its network, flying from Singapore. Singapore Airlines’ low-cost carrier will fly to:

Okinawa, Japan, with three weekly flights starting December 15. Okinawa is an archipelago of subtropical islands, and celebrates its Ryukyu heritage. Scoot will fly Airbus A320 aircraft. And Tokyo gets daily flights from March 1, 2026, in A320s. There are one-way, economy flights from $329 to Okinawa and Tokyo, inclusive of taxes.

Chiang Rai, Thailand, with five weekly flights from January 1, 2026. In the north of Thailand, Chiang Rai is set in mountain landscapes, and celebrates its Lanna heritage and hill tribe populations. Scoot will use Embraer E190-E2 aircraft. One-way economy fares start at $219, including taxes. flyscoot.com