Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 16 September 2025

WELCOME TO US

Some readers have been concerned about the welcome we can expect in the US. When visitors arrive in the United States on holiday, Customs and Border Protection officers are legally empowered to scroll through text messages, social media and emails on their phones. How would they feel about any anti-Trump sentiment? I offered advice to reader Gail Nas before she left, and she now reports on her experience of US immigration, from landing in LA to flying home: “We were both very pleasantly surprised that all staff members we came across throughout our five-week holiday were friendly, helpful and courteous. There was not a moment we had any difficulties with anyone. This also translated across to any Americans that we met during our trip.”

CASE FOR REPAIR

. . . and another good experience from reader Suzette Gould. After flying to London, she noticed that a piece had broken off the “rubbery hinge” on the side of her hand luggage. A Samsonite shop assistant told her that the Samsonite shop in Oxford Street “do repairs on the spot”, and she went there and they fixed the case in half an hour for $20.

PAPER SOUVENIRS

. . . and a final “thank you” (for now) to reader Gwen McNaught for sending her splendid collection of paper napkins from around the world. We used them at our team “morning tea” on Wednesday. They’re a nice, pretty, usable and biodegradable keepsake to look out for while travelling. Our thanks to Gwen for paying such close attention to what we do, and listing her favourite stories. (I nabbed the napkins from Monet’s Givenchy gardens in France.)

CULTURE CAPITAL

Oulu, pictured at the top of the page, with its 39 partner municipalities in northern Finland, is the European Capital of Culture 2026. The full program of thousands of events was launched on September 4.

A spokesperson says the city is approaching the year with the aim of creating a positive, lasting impact on the region: “Our goal is cultural climate change. We expand the perception of seeing and experiencing culture. We feed creativity and new development, and build a more sustainable and open Europe and world for all.” oulu2026.eu/en/programme/culture-programme

SPREADING COST

There’s a growing trend in offering “buy now, pay later” options — but Aussie travel lay-by service Paylater Travel claims to be different. A spokesperson says: “The service’s innovative model is fundamentally different from traditional buy now, pay later providers. It allows customers to lock in a flight with a small deposit and make flexible payments over a much longer period, removing the risk of paying interest, credit checks, and late fees.” It this week reported that more than 150,000 people have used its finance to travel “debt-free”. paylatertravel.com.au

TRACK CONCERNS

Trails WA is concerned about potential impact on the Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi Trail from Alcoa’s revised Pinjarra Alumina Refinery mining proposal. It has lodged a submission to Alcoa raising its concerns, acknowledging efforts to reduce some impacts, but calling for stronger protections to preserve trail amenity, access and continuity. A spokesperson says: “Our priority is ensuring WA’s world-class trail experiences are protected for generations to come.”

GULF PROTECTION

While Ningaloo Reef takes the limelight, the protected waters of Exmouth Gulf are important for nursing humpback whales and their calves, and one of the world’s biggest populations of dugongs. This big eddy between North West Cape and the mainland is a global hotspot for threatened sawfish and wedgefish, and home to at least 11 species of sea snakes, including two previously thought extinct. It has Australian humpback dolphins and four species of marine turtles. And it is to be protected within the new Exmouth Gulf Marine Park. The park will span the entire Gulf, and the WA Government is proposing that at least 30 per cent of the marine park be designated as no-catch sanctuary zones. This provides the highest level of protection for ecologically sensitive areas.

MORE WA VOYAGES

Coral Expeditions will sail 54 Western Australian voyages in 2026 and 56 in 2027 — increasing its sailings to meet demand. They will sail to the Kimberley, Abrolhos, Coral Coast, Ningaloo and South Western Cape. It is a 15 per cent increase on 2025. My pick:

New six-night Coastal Adventures expeditions will be introduced, sailing from Fremantle to Albany and timed for the wildflower and whale migration seasons.

Coastal Adventures: Western Australia departing October 2026 and 2027 is from $5990 per person, twin share.

The Kimberley Cruise departing March to September 2027 is from $11,815 per person, twin share.

coralexpeditions.com or (07) 4040 9999

STATE OF SOUND

For those of us (like me) who like to experience the State deeply, Tura (which explores Australian identity through the art of sound) this week shared the release of Buga Yanu Junba, songs for young children — a 22-song album and songbook that celebrates the voices, languages and stories of the Fitzroy Valley. It is the culmination of eight years of a community-led creative program called Sound FX led by Dr Gillian Howell. It was produced in partnership with Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre, Baya Gawiy Buga Yani Jandu Yani U childhood unit, Indigenous Languages and Arts, and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. tura.bandcamp.com

WILDFLOWER SEASON

During our last, eight-month summer, one of my most respected friends, landscape interpreters and weather watchers famously said: “It’ll never rain again.” Out of kindness, I won’t name him, given the rain we’ve had since.

It looks like the effect on the everlastings north of Perth will be to extend the season into October.

But travellers in Karara Rangeland Park (between Perenjori, Mullewa, Yalgoo and Paynes Find) this week faced wet conditions. Roads were closed, though the Lochada Track was open — albeit with large puddles on the road.

The advice is to stay on the road, which will have a hard base, even if you are driving through puddles.

My advice — if it feels hard (though under water), engage 4WD. If it feels really slippery down there on the bottom, don’t be scared of low range with some speed in third or fourth. If your vehicle has a terrain mode, use its “mud” setting. Lock the centre diff, drive at a steady pace and keep engine revs up, avoiding gear changes if possible. And I would take your mud tracks with a couple of metres of strap or rope on (so you don’t lose them in the mud).

INSECT DEFENCE

Fend Insect Repellent is free of the chemical DEET and has just been named best travel product at the Bounty Parents Awards 2025 (voted for by the public). The Fend team says its 50ml Travel Pump is compact, family-friendly and will keep mosquitoes away for up to 14 hours. It is $19.99 and also designed to repel sandflies, midges, ticks, leeches and wasps. A spokesperson says: “Fend is kind to even the most delicate skin. It is suitable for babies 2 months+, and for pregnant breastfeeding mothers.” fend.au