Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 18 November 2025

NEW NEO

I’ve been using my DJI Neo drone a lot lately. It’s particularly good inside, and at low level outside.

I fly it from my hand, so don’t even need to carry a controller. And I can fly it from my phone.

And on Thursday, the DJI Neo 2 was released, at $409 for the drone only. This new version of the 151g “follow-me” drone has more creative ways to fly, palm take-off and landing, gesture control and omnidirectional obstacle sensing (useful).

It’s a good beginner drone — and good for travel. It has a 12MP, 1/2-inch CMOS sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and a high-performance image processor. It even shoots 4K video. (A full review will be published soon.)

As mentioned, the basic DJI Neo 2 drone is $409 but there are combos with controllers and extra batteries.

Look and order at store.dji.com/au

SLEEPSAFE TOWEL

On stage in Melbourne, one half of the Oasis Gallagher brothers, Liam, declared that “Australia has the best towels” — and towel makers Sheridan quickly reacted with a statement saying he’s “not wrong”. A spokesperson also took the moment to mention that Sheridan is about to launch its “ultimate summer towel collection”.

I mention it because one standout is its SleepSafe towel. The Sheridan Sleepsafe Beach Towel (in polar blue) is currently reduced from $89.99 to $62.99 on the Sheridan website.

Part of the proceeds from sales go towards a sleep kit for a person in need.

SleepSafe, a non-profit project by Sheridan and StreetSmart, has handed out nearly 170,000 sleep kits to vulnerable Australians. They have a towel, flat sheet, fitted sheet and a pillowcase.

Readers can also donate to SleepSafe. Every $15 raised helps to provide a sleep kit. (Go to the Sheridan website and look under About Us.)

Sheridan was founded in Australia in 1967 by Claudio Alcorso but is now owned by Hanes Australasia, a subsidiary of US company Hanesbrands. sheridan.com.au

GIG TRIPPING

Liam and Noel Gallagher played three nights in Melbourne and two in Sydney, to a combined audience of 320,000 people. A spokesperson for Destination NSW says that hotel bookings were up almost 10 per cent during the British band’s Sydney concert dates compared with the same time last year. The spokesperson explains: “Music tourism — where fans travel to experience concerts, festivals and music-related landmarks — has emerged as one of the top global drivers of visitor economy growth.

“Also called ‘gig tripping’, the trend taps into the rising popularity of experience tourism, with travellers seeking immersive and cultural events, activities and experiences that enrich their trips.”

PILLOW TALK

Last week I mentioned family-owned New Zealand company Zempire’s inflatable pillows, and I’ll add to that the Zempire Chill Pill DLX Memory Foam Camp Pillow is a different kettle of fish.

It is $65 and more like, well, a real pillow. It is soft and comforting and rolls into its own “hood” but is bigger to carry. It has a plush memory foam base that really might challenge your home bedroom pillow for comfort. It has 12cm of supportive thickness, and is good for neck support. It packs to 30cm by 12cm and weighs 720g. I’ve been using it and it’s a REAL PILLOW.

It’s not something, personally, that I’d put in my carry-on but I do see people boarding planes with a real pillow, and this is one for them. And for car-camping it could be just the thing. zempire.com.au

NO CHINA VISA

Australians visiting China for a holiday no longer need a visa. From November 10, 2025, China extended its visa-free entry policy by 45 countries until December 31, 2026, and that list includes Australia. Under the policy, visitors can enter China for tourism, family visits, transit or business for up to 30 days without a visa.

EURO DEAL

We all like a good deal, and I like My Cruises’ 13-night fly, stay and cruise Baltic Wonders holiday from Copenhagen to Helsinki in 2027, which is from $6990. That includes return economy flights to Copenhagen and back from Helsinki. There are two-night stays in each city, before and after a nine-night cruise on Norwegian Jewel. It includes a beverage package with cocktails, spirits, wine, beer and soft drinks, onboard wi-fi and a $US350 ($490) shore excursion credit. mycruises.com.au or call 1300 692 784

WHITE CHRISTMAS

My pink flock Christmas Tree is up, the little donkey statue is out, and the countdown is on to an Aussie Christmas. And then (on our 30+C Monday), I get an email ... “Christmas in Switzerland”. Mmm ... that sounds perfect, too.

For Swiss Christmas markets away from the mainstream — Baden, Chur, Lausanne, Lucerne, Olten, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, St Gallen, Thun, Winterthur. myswitzerland.com

For Christmas illuminations and light shows just head to Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse, Illuminarium Zurich in the inner courtyard of the National Museum and Zauberpark at Airport Zurich.

ZODIAC MATCHES

My Switzerland (the Swiss tourism team) also has a nice new trick — matching a traveller’s zodiac sign and birth date and year to a destination.

For me ... “Sensitive Cancer finds peace near water. The calm lakes and cosy atmosphere in Jura & Three-Lakes are your retreat.” All of which is true.

Visit switzerlandtourism.typeform.com/to/iE2OdlY8.

STARS ALIGN

And finally, long-term friend of Travel (and me), Glen Chidlow has been appointed chief executive of the Kimberley Development Commission. Glen and I have travelled many thousands of kilometres across the Kimberley, over many years. And I’ve been thinking about him as we announce our Kimberley Wild Weekend (see the next page).

Glen, pictured with me above, has vast experience and understanding of the Kimberley. He was CEO for Australia’s North West Tourism between 2006-2018 (we travelled there every year then) and most recently has been commercial general manager at Broome International Airport. I have seen regional development commissions drive economic growth and employment in regional WA. Glen starts in February 2026. The stars have aligned.

A memory from travelling with Glen. We arrive at a Kimberley campsite and he goes into the outdoor shower room. I start writing. Glen finishes showering, comes out and says: “The shower’s free. But there’s a snake in it.” Classic.