Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 11 November 2025

CHILL PILL

Regular readers will know that I always travel with two inflatable pillows (one to sit on, on long economy flights, and one to go in the small of my back). We have lots of reader interest in this and I’m always looking out for new pillows. Enter Zempire, a family-owned New Zealand company specialising in quality camping equipment style. Their Zempire Chill Pill Ultralight V2 Camp Pillow is $45. It packs to a tiny 14cm by 8cm and inflates to a substantial 46cm by 26cm, yet weighs just 161g. It has a 30D quilted stretch synthetic thermal cover. I’ve been using it and like the fact that it folds up SO SMALL, has a good valve and is easy to inflate. It’s “more air than foam”, which gives it the extreme portability. zempire.com.au

CLEVER CART

After moving from inner-city Melbourne to the east coast of New South Wales, Eliza and Tom Jordan couldn’t find a cart they liked for their nearly daily trips to the beach and other adventures. They were hard to steer and got stuck in soft sand. And so they designed and tested their own, and the Pull-About cart, and their company Easterly, was born. It won the 2024 Australian Good Design Award in the sports and lifestyle category, and is making waves across Australia. Smart and sturdy, the cart has a 101-litre capacity, and is built to carry over 150kg, with smooth control on stairs, soft sand and steep terrain. It folds flat, to one-third its size. And the Easterly Pull-About (in khaki, black or snow gum) is currently reduced from $475 to $399. easterly.au

TRUE 40TH BIRTHDAY

WA’s True North Adventure Cruises is marking 40 years of cruising with a 2027 sailing schedule that includes new destinations and expands existing favourites across Australia, West Papuan Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. “Our 40th year is both a celebration and an evolution,” says owner and director Chad Avenell. “It’s about revisiting the places that have shaped us, uncovering new horizons, and continuing to deliver journeys that redefine adventure.” Itineraries include the Rowley Shoals off the WA coast; Komodo and Wakatobi in Indonesia; Raja Ampat in Indonesia; and the Great Barrier Reef. truenorth.com.au

ELECTRIC SAILING

WA’s Ocean Eco Adventures has launched Wirraji, Australia’s first fully electric ocean-going charter vessel. It will sail with up to 12 guests in Coral Bay from mid-December 2025. Its “Coral Bay Exclusive” itinerary heads to coral gardens, seeks marine life and hopes for encounters with manta rays — all in extreme quiet and with a light footprint (or finprint?) on the ocean. Ocean Eco Adventures is family-owned and based in Exmouth. Owner James Small says: “Wirraji is more than a vessel — it’s a symbol of what the future of marine tourism can be. We are proud to be setting a new standard in ecotourism, showing that unforgettable experiences and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.”

The full-day Coral Bay Exclusive experience is $550 per person, including return transfers from Exmouth in an air-conditioned vehicle (150km each way), guided snorkelling, manta ray swims supported by a spotter aircraft, gourmet onboard catering, and expert interpretation from Ocean Eco Adventures’ crew. oceanecoadventures.com.au

COLOMBIA RIVER

In Europe, AmaWaterways has been family-owned and operated for more than 20 years. It has 31 custom-designed ships sailing Europe’s rivers and has just launched its second luxury river cruise ship in Colombia. AmaMelodia joins AmaMagdalena, christened earlier this year, on the Magdalena River. This second ship reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to fostering meaningful cultural connections in Colombia. Catherine Powell, CEO of AmaWaterways, says there is “an extraordinary collaboration with our Colombian partners” to build a sustainable foundation for tourism that benefits local communities along the river. AmaMelodia was designed to suit the river and takes up to 64 guests, who are offered locally inspired Latin American cuisine as well as Western flavours on seven-day itineraries. Prices for 2026 are from $5506 (reduced from $6256). amawaterways.au