Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 29 October 2025

SEIZE THE DAY

Attentive readers might have noticed that, for the past few years, I’ve been both travel editor and motoring editor ... but all that has changed. Olga de Moeller has (rightly) been appointed motoring editor. Her West Wheels supplement is in the middle of Saturday Travel.

But we’re still a team — and Jessie Stoelwinder’s story and in Saturday's West Wheels is a fine example. They tell of author David Riley retracing the tracks of the first car to drive round Australia, for his new book. It was a Citroen 2CV, which left Perth in 1925. But David also tells Jessie about his own, terminal health issues, and his travel belief: “Things can change quickly and you kind of have to just seize the day, now.” You can read it here.

HIGHER VIEW

Adults-only retreat Box Hill, near Esperance, has teamed up with Kununurra-based HeliSpirit to offer guests a chance to see the area by helicopter. A chopper will fly them from their doorstep. Box Hill is 12km west of Esperance and close to Cape Le Grand National Park. Lucky Bay, Hellfire Bay and Twilight Bay are all within a 30km radius. HeliSpirit will also offer Box Hill guests picnics on remote beaches.

In early December, a Box Hill cabin for two is from $650 a night. boxhillesperance.com.au

HeliSpirit is returning for its sixth summer season in Esperance, offering six flights from Esperance itself — from the six-minute Esperance Snapshot at $99 per person to the 15-minute Esperance Highlights Scenic Flight ($219) right up to the $1499 Middle Island Heli-Beach Adventure (three hours, 15 minutes, with one hour, 45 minutes flight time). helispirit.com.au

AVO FESTIVAL

The inaugural Pemberton Avocado Festival is on November 1. It will show off the avos of the Southern Forests and the people who grow them. WA is the country’s biggest avocado-producing State and Pemberton is responsible for 21 per cent of national production. And it’s looking like a good year for growers in Pemberton, Manjimup and surrounding districts, who are reporting a healthy crop set, with excellent fruit quality and “pack-out rates” above average. (The pack-out rate is the percentage of a harvest that is graded and packed for sale.) Southern Forests Food Council executive chair Arthur Wilson says: “We are seeing fruit with great size, texture and flavour.”

Pemberton Avocado Festival will have a “meet the growers” zone, food and farm tour, markets and food trucks, family fun and live music, and cooking demonstrations and workshops. It’s all in the Pemberton town centre and surrounds. pembyavofest.com

There’s no mention of a bar, which isn’t surprising, given an avocado’s propensity for getting smashed.

DINNER WITH US

We are busily working on our November 12 Round the World Dinner. I mention this because one of the countries we will feature is Norway. I LOVE our Round the World Dinners, which bring together live stories and music and a unique menu developed and cooked for the evening in the University Club of Western Australia’s banquet hall, in Hackett Drive, Matilda Bay. (You’ll never guess the story and food for Norway.) It’s impossible to put across the experience of being at our Round the World Dinners — you simply have to be there. We’ve sold more than 100 of the 140 tickets, which are $135 each, including all food, drinks and entertainment. Visit ticketswa.com/event/round-world-dinner to book.

TASSIE PRICE CUT

I’ve just spotted that Inspiring Journeys has reduced the price of its seven-day AAT Kings Tasting Tasmania and Flinders Island tour. Departing on November 30, 2025, it was $6657 per person but is now $5545. It visits historic towns and quaint coastal villages. Meet the many makers, vintners and growers. inspiringjourneys.com and 1300 669 175

CALM ROOM

Changi Airport in Singapore has unveiled its first sensory-friendly facility — the Calm Room. It is a space purposefully designed to support neurodivergent travellers and their caregivers. The 200sqm room in Terminal 2’s departure transit area is a quiet and soothing haven, helping to manage sensory overload and travel-related stress. It was developed through close collaboration with organisations like Asian Women’s Welfare Association and Metta Welfare Association.

INDIA WALKS

Eleven new heritage walks and eight curated tour itineraries have been developed with locals in Varanasi, on the River Ganges in India. Backed by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, they are designed to give travellers immersive cultural and spiritual experiences. A spokesperson for the project in Varanasi, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, says: “Our Varanasi walking tours take you beyond the well-known sights like Assi Ghat and Manikarnika Ghat. Discover hidden temples, relish authentic street food tours and witness the vibrant art of sari-weaving.” There’s even a visit to an authentic akhara — an Indian wrestling school. varanasiguru.com

MORAL VIRTUE

A record-breaking 2.6 million earthen lamps were lit in the temple town of Ayodhya, in India’s Uttar Pradesh, last Sunday ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Hindus believe this is the birthplace of Lord Rama. The seventh avatar of the god Vishnu, Lord Rama is a symbol of righteousness, duty and moral virtue. He is sometimes referred to as “the best of men” — a man of integrity, compassion and loyalty, and most welcome in today’s world.

ADDITIONS IN JAPAN

Holland America Line has unveiled its 2027-2028 Asia season, which includes three new ports in Japan — Hitachinaka, Nagoya and Maizuru. There’s also a new scenic cruising experience in Maizuru Bay. Maizuru is a historic port city with deep naval roots. Guests on the ship Noordam will sail by the area’s verdant islands, set against blue waters. Sailing from September 2027 to April 2028, Noordam will visit Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. hollandamerica.com.au

VENTURE FORTH

APT has launched its Europe 2027 preview brochure — and in it I spotted an interesting new Norwegian Fjords itinerary on the 264-guest, all-veranda Seabourn Venture. This 11-day voyage is from Amsterdam to Copenhagen and is from $16,995 per person. Guests can ride the Flam Railway and explore Oslo and Copenhagen. The ship has a 23-person expedition team to take guests on adventures. aptouring.com.au

FLEET INCREASES

Founded in 1997, the rise and rise of Viking has been extraordinary.

+ When we first sailed the rivers of Europe with Viking (many years ago) it was on one of 20-odd ships in Europe, Russia and China.

+ In 2015, colleague Niall McIlroy went aboard Viking Star, Viking’s first-ever ocean cruiser.

+ Based on Viking’s committed order book, the company is expecting to take delivery of 23 additional river ships by 2028 and 10 additional ocean ships by 2031.

With these orders, Viking will have 112 river ships in 2028 and 23 ocean and expedition ships in 2031.

HONIR & THOTH

And Viking has just taken delivery of its newest river ships, the Viking Honir (for the Rhine, Main and Danube) and Viking Thoth, which will sail the Nile.

Viking Honir can carry up to 190 guests in 95 staterooms — identical to the many other Viking ships sailing the rivers of Europe. Viking Thoth hosts up to 82 guests in 41 staterooms, and has been designed specifically to navigate the Nile River on Viking’s Pharoahs & Pyramids itinerary. viking.com

Honir is the Norse god of wisdom and eloquence. Thoth is the Egyptian god of wisdom, writing and the Moon.