Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 23 September 2025

HOME FOR BOWIE

There are some ch-ch-ch-changes at the Victoria & Albert Museum. The David Bowie Centre is due to open at the V&A East Storehouse this month. It will be the permanent home for legendary British singer Bowie’s archive — full of artefacts and memories, and even his unrealised projects.

Among the exhibits are:

The asymmetric catsuit designed by Kansai Yamamoto which Bowie wore in his Ziggy Stardust era.

The Harptone 12-string acoustic guitar and case used by Bowie on The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars.

Many photographs by Mick Rock, including one of Bowie applying make-up as Ziggy in 1973.

The costume he wore in his The Man Who Sold The World performances, designed by Mark Ravitz.

The Grafton alto saxophone and case which Bowie owned, about 1961.

A frock coat designed by Alexander McQueen which Bowie wore for his 50th birthday concert.

The David Bowie Centre is in V&A East Storehouse, Parkes Street, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hackney Wick, London. Timed tickets will be available. vam.ac.uk

LOVING ELVIS

An exclusive Elvis Festival train package to the Parkes Elvis Festival has been put together by Vintage Rail Journeys. The train departs Sydney on January 8, 2026, to head to the festival on a four-day itinerary through New South Wales, from $3795 per person. The trip includes regional experiences and dining — all blended into a rolling celebration of Elvis. David Donald, executive general manager of rail at Journey Beyond, says: “Imagine the excitement as you join fellow festival-goers, with live entertainment and the beats of Elvis classics from the moment you board.” The journey is all-inclusive, with breakfast, lunch, dinner and all beverages onboard including beer, wine and spirits. There are off-train experiences, including a visit to Rowlee Wines Estate in Orange. vintagerailjourneys.com.au

... & LOVING OZ

The Australian Travel Industry Association’s latest Travel Trends report shows how all-shook-up Americans have been fleeing to Australia on holiday. The data show a remarkable 19.2 per cent increase in US travellers to Australia in July 2025 compared to the same period last year. The number of Australians travelling to the US dropped by 2.7 per cent in the same period.

Overall, for the year ending July 2025, inbound international visitors to Australia rose 6.1 per cent to 8.49 million. Outbound trips by Australians rose to 12.32 million for the year, up from 11.14 million.

On the domestic front, the report charts shifts in airline capacity on major routes in June 2025 compared to June 2024. The Perth-Sydney route experienced a significant increase of 11.7 per cent in seat capacity.

JAPANESE CULTURE

Japanese culture is being celebrated right here, in the heart of WA. The Japan Education and Cultural Centre of WA is opening its doors to the public on Saturday, October 4, from 10am to 3pm. And this free community event at the centre, which is managed by the Australia-Japan Society of WA, will showcase the beauty and diversity of Japanese culture.

There will be a bonsai talk, ikebana demonstration, traditional taiko drumming and bon dance, and a Kyudo demonstration showing the precision of Japanese archery. There will also be a food truck with Japanese flavours.

It is at the Japan Exchange Cultural Centre of WA, Tuart College, corner French and Hodgson Street, Tuart Hill.

RIDING HIGH

Readers Tammy and Fred Liddle joined me on a trip to Antarctica — the group still stays in touch and recently had a get-together. And Tammy and Fred have just completed one of many seven-day bicycle tours while on a European holiday. Tammys says: “Every cycling tour we have completed has been amazing, and each different. Our latest tour was through the Cotswolds with a company called Active England, who do bicycle and walking tours. They were amazing. We had half the group cycling and half doing walking tours, which worked well for couples where one partner wanted to walk and one ride. Our guides were fabulous, the accommodation was wonderful, the company was great to deal with and the routes we took allowed us to view so much of the Cotswolds.” Tammy says the groups were considerably smaller than on their previous cycling tours. She had an electric bike, while Fred stuck to a deadly-treadly.

HIGHER VIEWS

We are always on the lookout for smart photography options for travellers. I like my tiny DJI Neo drone, which weighs just 135g. I’ve found a Decor plastic box that it fits in perfectly, and I fly it from my phone (so I don’t have to carry a controller). I just pop it up for an unusual angle (it flies for 17 minutes on a charge), and it costs $299. I used it over the Ganges in India, to take pictures of the river-cruise ship Ganges Voyager II, pictured at the top of the page. All manual flying and landing back on the swaying ship! d1store.com.au

DJI has $75 off its DJI Mini 4K in its September sale. It is also a good option for travellers. It weighs 249g, has a 4x zoom, a three-axis gimbal and a 31-minute flight time. It is now $424 (reduced from $499).

We have more tech, with our story on the new iPhone 17s, which you can read here.

SYDNEY OPENING

25hours Hotels’ The Olympia opens in Sydney on September 25. The launch marks the 25hours Hotels brand’s debut in Australia. Its philosophy is to “embrace the cultural fabric of the cities they are in”. Being in Paddington will help. Jake Guilfoyle, right, has been appointed general manager — after experience in luxury lifestyle hotels in Australia and South-East Asia, he’s coming home to Sydney. Jake says: “I grew up in Sydney and to lead a hotel that celebrates individuality, creativity and history in my hometown is very special.” The 25hours brand operates 17 hotels in German-speaking countries, as well as Florence, Paris, Dubai and Copenhagen. Its mantra: “25hours is a smart, culturally resonant hotel idea characterised by provocative urban locations, irreverent yet functional aesthetic, and the romantic nostalgia of grand hotels.” 25hours-hotels.com

SUFFERING SETTEES

Reader “JP” says he’s giving the camper trailer a rest, instead preferring to hire a car and book apartments or a villa — as he did recently in Queensland. “It seems a common denominator with accommodation that basically there are never any comfortable settees in the apartment. The reason? That every one has a bed/settee!”

I completely agree about bed-settees. In my experience, they are not much good at anything — not comfortable to sit on, and with a bar across that makes them horrible to sleep on!

I like the “car and accommodation” option, too (not being fond of caravan parks). My wife and I call it “car camping”, as we like motel-style accommodation where you can pull up outside.

JP has a positive thought: “My suggestion is that anyone who is renting holiday accommodation may stay there for two or three days just to get a feel of what they are offering.”