AWOL Australia

An invite to Jetstar’s recent ‘Knights of the Skies’ tournament where five would-be LARPers battled it out for their share of $50k worth of flights gave me the ultimate excuse to learn more about this incredible hobby, and the people who put their all into making it happen. One of my favourite things about 2025 is that it’s cool to try now. Gone are the days where we’d pretend we don’t care about the things we’re really into. Now, being a fan is how you find your people.

Ever go on holiday and just not want to feel like a tourist for a change? Well, do we have the answer for you because not only is a mid-week break the best way to sneak in more you time, it’ll also leave you feeling like a local. Picture this: you get to do your holiday, your way, without the pressure of conforming to what’s expected, all while avoiding the frantic rush of trying to cram everything in. And where better to escape life’s mayhem than with a little sneeky mid-weeky on the Gold Coast?

When you think of Port Hedland, which is nestled on the north coast of Western Australia, you probably wouldn’t imagine an upscale beachside oasis that transports you directly to Palm Springs. Somehow, that’s exactly what the Prendiville Group has achieved with its latest restaurant launch: Rays at the Headland Hotel. I stayed at the hotel with a group of food writers and it’s safe to say the food certainly lived up to our expectations.

Australia is known for its enviable flora and fauna, and now you can see it all from the comfort of one building. Australian Geographic is proud to bring their ‘Our Country‘ experience, a cinematic multi-sensory wonderland to Perth this December, in partnership with Tourism Australia, and AAT Kings.

While darkness falls over the spiritual heart of Australia each night, an ancient tale is taking flight as one of the country’s oldest stories is retold in one of the newest ways possible. Meaning ‘beautiful view out to the horizon’ in the local Pitjantjatjara language, Wintjiri Wiru by Ayers Rock Resort is a dramatic desert light show during which over 1,100 drones dazzle guests seated in front of one of the greatest backdrops in the whole of Australia. I’m talking about Uluru.

I’ve spent the last decade travelling around the world and have experienced some truly wild things. I’ve camped with bears in Alaska, hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and dangled my legs over New York City from a helicopter without doors. But there’s one thing I’ve missed: exploring our very own backyard, which is low-key embarrassing. Australia is massive, approximately 32 times bigger than the UK, and I’m slowly trying to rectify this glaring omission.

There’s nothing like travel for getting rid of a bad case of burnout — and you don’t need to worry about whipping out your passport, there are plenty of transformative experiences to be found in our own backyard in South Australia. Exploring South Australia is like uncovering a treasure trove of diverse landscapes, from the rugged outback to the pristine coastline, each revealing a unique and captivating facet of this remarkable place.

As a peachy keen runner who loves her holiday Aperols as much as the next tourist, there’s no travel itinerary I understand more than a vacay with a wellness twist. Full night on the dancefloor? Absolutely. Sunrise yoga and a 10-kilometre hike? You had me at namaste. While a holiday can be a chance to escape the routine of daily life and gym timetables, I always want to return refreshed, relaxed and with my fitness still in check — not a belly full of carbs and cocktails.

As a peachy keen runner who loves her holiday Aperols as much as the next tourist, there’s no travel itinerary I understand more than a vacay with a wellness twist. Full night on the dancefloor? Absolutely. Sunrise yoga and a 10-kilometre hike? You had me at namaste. While a holiday can be a chance to escape the routine of daily life and gym timetables, I always want to return refreshed, relaxed and with my fitness still in check — not a belly full of carbs and cocktails.

“To other countries, I may go as a tourist, but to India, I come as a pilgrim,” said Martin Luther King Jr. of his visit to India in February 1959. This quote perfectly sums up an experience in India. There’s something spiritual in the air here. Belief systems, social systems, caste systems and an inescapable proximity to life and death in the same breath make India an intense place to visit.