Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 15 July 2025

SITTING PRETTY

Lets start with travel gear. I still get regular questions about the inflatable pillows I use in aircraft. I sit on one, with just a tiny bit of air, which stops back discs compressing. I have another behind my back. It makes economy seating comfortable on long-haul flights for me. An important feature, I think, is to have a twisting valve on the corner (not a flat one that you push your finger into). These last better. The whole effect is like sitting on air, or one of those fit balls. I am now using a Mountain Designs standard pillow (in grey raven). I see they are currently on sale in Anaconda’s online store — reduced from $39.99 to $19.99. anacondastores.com

NOTHING PHONE

I’m sure everyone reading this is familiar with the iPhone — but probably fewer are familiar with the Nothing Phone. But the Nothing Phone Pro 3 is now on sale. It’s the third generation of this Android smartphone series. The Nothing Phone 3a Pro has a triple rear camera — a 50 megapixel main camera, 50mp periscope and 8MP ultrawide. It is $849 for a 256GB model at jbhifi.com.au. More phone information at au.nothing.tech.

BATTERY HAZARDS

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is urging passengers to pack right — particularly taking care with lithium batteries. And CASA’s advice on dangerous goods is now available in 20 languages. CASA chief executive officer and director of aviation safety, Pip Spence, says most passengers now carry at least four lithium-powered devices. Pip explains: “Spare lithium batteries and power banks should be carried in the cabin, where cabin crew are trained to respond to any incidents.” More CASA advice:

Devices with lithium batteries — such as laptops, mobiles and electric toothbrushes — can be packed in either your carry-on or checked luggage, provided the battery is secured in the device, switched off and protected from accidental activation.

Electrical devices without a battery, such as hair straighteners, can also be packed in either. casa.gov.au/packright/resources

BACK TO MALTA

Qatar Airways has resumed flights between Doha and Malta. There are four non-stop flights a week.

SEAT SELECTION

Reader Bev Chapman has just flown from Perth to Copenhagen and back from Manchester with Emirates and says: “Our seat selection cost an additional $1200 for two people. I booked extra legroom seats on the longer leg of our flight ($250 per person). The entertainment screens were stuck in the cassettes and despite the best efforts of the lovely attendant, we couldn’t get them out so she told us to find another seat. In addition, there is now no standing room for the toilets so people waiting are constantly standing over your outstretched legs”

SCOOT TO VIETNAM

Scoot airline starts new flights to Da Nang and Nha Trang in Vietnam from Singapore later this year. Three-times-weekly flights to Da Nang begin on October 20, 2025, on Airbus A320 aircraft. They will progressively increase to daily flights by December 2025. Twice-weekly flights to Nha Trang begin on November 21, 2025, on Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, progressively increasing to five times a week by January 2026.

BALI ASH CLOUD

Some Bali flights were cancelled and others delayed last week after Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano erupted for a second time in recent months. There was an eruption this week which threw up an ash cloud from the 1584m twin-peaked volcano.

ALL THINGS SPICE

The restaurant Spice by Blake has reopened its doors in the heart of Ubud, Bali. That opening was marked with a traditional Balinese Melaspas Ceremony, blessing the restaurant’s new chapter with harmony and spirit. First opened in 2015 by chef Chris Salans, Spice is now under chef Blake Thornley — his menu paying homage to Indonesian ingredients.

WENDY’S AWARD

Wendy Wu, the founder of tour company Wendy Wu Tours, has been globally recognised for her contribution to the travel industry. She has just been named Female Trailblazer of the Year at the Growth 500 Business Leader Awards in London. This is a prestigious accolade, which sets Wendy alongside global successes like Victoria Beckham. Wendy says: “This award is not just a personal honour — it’s recognition of every team member, every traveller and every bold idea that’s brought Wendy Wu Tours to life.” Wendy took her first group tour to China more than 25 years ago. The company has grown into an international company operating across Asia, Latin America, India, the Middle East and beyond. Wendy Wu Tours was also recently named one of the top 10 fastest-growing companies in the UK.

SEEING THE WORLD

Ross and Wendy Dowling have just returned from lecturing on Regent Seven Seas cruise ship Mariner for 23 days, boarding the ship in Tokyo, then visiting four ports in Japan. Travellers could book segments of the ship’s 168-day round the world cruise — and this 23-day stretch included sea sailing across the North Pacific Ocean past Kamchatka (far east Russia), through the Bering Sea, and past the Aleutian Islands Arc before our arriving in Kodiak Island, Alaska. It then sailed to Vancouver and Victoria in Canada, then Seattle in Washington, and on to San Francisco in California.

CRUISE WA

Professor Ross Dowling is also the chair of Cruise WA, which is convening the Australian Cruise Association Conference from September 3 to 5 in Fremantle. A conference spokesperson says: “As we look towards the next phase of the exciting and ever-changing cruise market in our region, we open up to ideas that continue to advance cruise as a sustainable and vital pillar of Australia’s visitor economy.” australiancruiseassociation.com

CASH FOR AIRFARES

WA taxpayer money is subsidising 4000 discount airfares to Broome and the Kimberley. The WA Government has the subsidised fares on Virgin Australia’s Perth to Broome route and Nexus’ regional flights to the Kimberley.

Virgin Australia’s discount airfares are available for travel between Perth and Broome between August 25 and October 26, 2025, with fares starting from $199 one-way.

Nexus Airlines has discount airfares from Geraldton, Karratha and Port Hedland into Broome, for travel between July 19 to October 31, 2025.

The WA Government is also partnering with the Broome Visitor Centre to offer discounted tours and experiences for visitors between July 15 and October 31, 2025.

And how much public money is the government putting into subsidies? A spokesperson tells me: “Unfortunately, we can’t release the exact amount as it’s commercial in confidence.”

NEW TERRITORY

In the Northern Territory, Kakadu National Park’s Gunlom Falls has reopened for the first time since 2019. Gunlom, pictured at the top of the page, on Jawoyn Country in the southern part of Kakadu, starred in classic Australian film Crocodile Dundee. It has a natural infinity pool with views across the escarpment. The Gunlom campground has reopened, on a first-come, first-served basis.

And the NT Government has bought 30,000ha of land to expand Litchfield National Park by 20 per cent. It will open up a new southern section of the park with waterfalls, gorges, hot springs, 4WD tracks and a new hunting reserve.