Jetstar launches Newcastle-Bali flights

Jetstar has announced it will take off from Newcastle to Bali for the first time on October 21, 2025.

Operating three times a week using Jetstar’s A321LR fleet, the Newcastle to Bali (Denpasar) route will provide more than 70,000 seats annually between the two destinations.

With a direct flight time of just over six hours, the new service will eliminate the need for passengers from the Newcastle region to take connecting flights, making it easier than ever for people to experience Bali’s beaches, cultural heritage, and hospitality

This milestone marks Newcastle’s return to international travel, the first ongoing international route since 2020, and reinforces Jetstar’s continued growth.

The announcement of the new route also comes just one month after Jetstar launched direct flights from the Gold Coast to Bali, commencing August 1.

Bali remains Jetstar’s most popular international destination, with around 100 flights taking off to Bali each week.

Jetstar Group CEO Steph Tully said the new international route is an exciting milestone as Jetstar continues to significantly expand its network.

"We're thrilled to be the airline to launch Newcastle’s first international flights in more than five years with our new direct service from Newcastle to Bali,” she said.

“Jetstar is committed to making travel more accessible, and people living in and around Newcastle will no longer need to drive to other airports to fly overseas, which means more time and money can go toward their holiday.

"We want to thank Newcastle Airport and the NSW Government for their support in making travel more accessible”

Fancy a mental challenge? Meet Melbourne's new drawcard

Looking for something different to do in Melbourne this winter?

Prison Island just might fit the bill.

Promoted as being "packed with adrenaline, teamwork, and challenges", Prison Island is a new interactive adventure that can be enjoyed by friends, families, or corporate teams.

Opening on Friday, June 5, the new attraction will be located at District Docklands, bringing a completely new leisure concept to Melburnians.

Brought to life by immersive entertainment specialists Make It Now, and co-produced with leading global live entertainment platform Fever, Prison Island features more than 30 unique "cells" - each offering a combination of action games, sports, and skills-based tests.

Forget typical escape rooms, Prison Island is a fast-paced, team adventure where strategy and skills must be combined.

With 34 unique challenge cells to choose from, every room is a new mission, and every win gets you one step closer to the top of the leaderboard.

Teams of two to five players have 90 minutes to conquer as many challenges as possible - ranging from logical thinking and dexterity to physical tasks.

Each cell is individually designed to keep players constantly engaged, allowing friends, families and colleagues to reveal their competitive sides.

Originating in Scandinavia, the concept of Prison Island has proved popular in numerous European cities.

“Our mission is to bring people together through play and create an unforgettable experience. The various cells provide a dynamic and versatile experience that combines action, logic, and teamwork,” said Mikael Bouteillon, founder of Prison Island.

Tickets are available at https://feverup.com/

Ferry, ferry dumb: Tasmania botches major project

If you order two new high-tech ferries to boost tourism to your island then the first thing you need to do is ensure that you have somewhere suitable for them to dock.

Unfortunately for the tourism industry in Tasmania that did not happen when ferry operator TT-Line ordered two new ferries to run from Devonport, on the north coast of the island, to Geelong, outside Melbourne.

The new Spirit of Tasmania ferries, Spirit IV and V, have been built in Finland by shipbuilder Rauma Marine Construction and have been undergoing testing and preparations to travel to Tasmania after several delays. 

IV has spent several months docked at Leith in Scotland with nowhere to go, and now V is also homeless. 

TasPorts, which operates docking facilities around Tasmania, did not begin construction on the new berth in Devonport until last year and it is not expected to be completed until late 2026 at the earliest.

That left the two ships with no role - and nowhere to berth. The government was left with huge bills to dock the ships in Scotland, It investigated leasing them out but could not find anyone willing to do so.      
Both ships, which will add 40% to freight capacity between Tasmania and mainland Australia, were originally due to be delivered to Tasmania in late 2024.

Former minister for infrastructure and transport Michael Ferguson resigned ahead of a no-confidence motion over his handling of the saga - but he remains a member of the government. 

The former TT-Line chairman Michael Grainger and chief executive Bernard Dwyer also left the company. 

Earlier this month, the government revealed one of the projects central to the cost blowouts and delays - the construction of the new berth - had blown out by over $100 million on the most recent estimate. 

Initially quoted at $90 million prior to 2024, the berth construction cost was estimated at $375 million last year, and that figure has now been revised to $495 million.

Last week, the flailing Tasmanian Government revealed that both new ships have issues with their LNG (liquefied natural gas) systems.

The state’s Minister for Transport Eric Abetz said TT-Line has advised the problems will “take some time” to fix, and will again delay the duo of vessels’ arrival in Australia from Finland.

"RMC has advised TT-Line that the issue needs further assessment and rectification, and as a result Spirit IV will not depart for Australia until the work is completed," Abetz said.

"The government is awaiting further details in relation to a new expected departure date, but it is understood that this work will take some time."

Abetz said that any necessary repair costs will be covered under warranty with RMC, and that TT-Line had representatives on the ground in Finland and was engaging with the company.

Abetz had previously said in June last year: “All going well, we expect that the first of the new ships will be ready for delivery in Q3 of 2024, commencing its journey to Tasmania not long after.”

That proved wildly optimistic.

 
Repairs are also being made after a gas bottle was sucked from the seabed into the thrusters of one of the new ferries during testing

The LNG blow has added to delays previously caused by port construction blowouts and bad weather, delivering a sizeable hit to the Tasmanian tourism economy and anger among those exporting goods from the island state.

 It has also sparked comments that Tasmania should change its slogan to "State of Inertia" and has been described by an opposition MP as "the biggest infrastructure stuff up in Tasmania's history".    

Hawaii to impose environmental tax on tourists

Hawaii, a group of islands of outstanding natural beauty, is to become the first US state to impose a climate impact fee on visiting tourists.

Funds raised will be used to fund climate change projects and environmental stewardship, travel media outlet Travel Mole reports.

The ‘Green Fee’ is being added to Hawaii’s current transient accommodations tax, as a 0.75% increase. That will take the per night lodging tax imposed on visitors to 11%.

The new tax becomes effective January 1, 2026.

It is payable for guests staying in hotels and short-term vacation rentals and those arriving on cruise ships.

“As an island chain, Hawaii cannot wait for the next disaster to hit before taking action,” Hawaii governor Josh Green said.

“We must build resiliency now, and the Green Fee will provide the necessary financing to ensure resources are available for our future.”

The fee could generate up to $100 million annually - let's hope it is put to good use and not absorbed in consolidated revenue.

Specific projects funded by the Green Fee revenues will be announced will be announced during the next legislative session.

They are expected to cover sustainable tourism initiatives, environmental stewardship, and climate resiliency.

Cruise ship guests were added to the transient accommodation tax to ensure "equity across the tourism industry".

Image: Kauia, Hawaii Tours

Discover warming winter treats at Yalumba

Winter may have arrived but there is still a busy calendar for wine lovers at one of the Barossa's most popular destinations.

Yalumba's historic Wine Room is ready to welcome visitors indoors for a season of warmth, flavours and fine company.

The winter events begin with The Signature & Museum Release Tasting Lunch on Friday, June 14.

Held in the Signature Cellar, this is an intimate tasting experience hosted by former chief winemaker Louisa Rose.

Guests can enjoy a three-course lunch from Vintners Bar & Grill chef Peter Clarke with paired wines including the new release The Signature 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz along with a previews of the 2025 museum releases.

The SALA Festival at Yalumba runs in August.

South Australia’s Living Artists (SALA) will hold two exhibitions in the Wine Room.

First, the Vintners Art Prize - an annual collaboration with Vintners Bar & Grill - showcases local talent with artworks exploring themes of food, wine, and place. Open to residents and workers of the Barossa and Light Regional Council areas, entries close July 18, with the winner announced on July 23.

There will also be a solo showcase by Yalumba’s own Lisa Tekell. Inspired by Australian fauna and flora, Lisa’s finely detailed oil paintings are connected to the natural world.

Her works this year focus on native flowers in full bloom, as seen in her travels, and will be on 
display throughout the month. Book a wine tasting and explore these local works at the same time.

Winter Wine & Whisky at Yalumba will run on August 8-9 and is a mid-winter celebration of flavour, fire, and craft at Yalumba - including the release of a new Smith’s Angaston Whisky.

Guests can enjoy a guided tasting of the new limited-edition whisky along with a behind-the-scenes look at the Hill-Smith family's historic pot still and fistillery and live cooperage demonstrations with barrels being hand-charred for whisky maturation.

Acoustic music on the Terrace and a hearty fireside meal by Howard’s Fire will also be on offer.

Tickets include a glass of Yalumba wine, the whisky tasting, and a meal.

The Yalumba Wine Room is open daily 10am-5pm at 40 Eden Valley Road, Angaston.
Bookings recommended. www.yalumba.com

European vineyards worst hit by climate change

Europe’s wine regions have experienced the most significant climate shifts among global viticultural areas, a new study published in PLOS Climate reveals.

The Public Library of Science is a non-profit organization that publishes academic journals.

The research, conducted by a team of scientists led by Elizabeth Wolkovich, analysed climate exposure across 749 globally-distributed vineyard locations using over 500 grape-growing regions. 

It found that European wine regions have recorded the most extreme increases in warming metrics, particularly in the frequency of hot days and maximum temperatures during the growing season, trace journal the drinks business reported.

The study assessed 10 climate metrics relevant to viticulture - including daily minimum, maximum and mean temperatures during budburst, the growing season and harvest, as well as the number of hot days exceeding 35°C. 

It compared recent climate conditions (1981–2020) against pre-industrial baselines (1901–1940) to quantify the effects of human-caused climate change on winegrowing.

Southern and western Europe showed the highest levels of climate exposure across nearly all metrics.

In particular, the number of extremely hot days in these regions increased by nearly five times compared to pre-industrial levels. The average temperature during the growing season has also risen by more than two standard deviations in key European vineyard areas.

The study found that while climate change is impacting all wine regions globally, the severity and nature of that exposure differ. 

For instance, North American regions generally saw lower relative increases in extreme temperatures and hot days than their European counterparts.

These warming trends present growing challenges for viticulture. 

Changes to average and extreme temperatures during the growing season can alter grape phenology, including earlier ripening and shifts in harvest timing, which in turn may affect grape composition, wine style and regional identity.

Although the study does not offer prescriptive adaptation strategies, the authors emphasise that these observed changes are consistent with anthropogenic climate change, and suggest that many of the world’s most historic and prestigious wine regions are already undergoing unprecedented climatic shifts.

The findings underscore the need for wine producers, particularly in Europe, to assess and implement long-term strategies to address evolving climate risks, including grape varietal selection, vineyard management adjustments, and potential shifts in regional production norms.

Image: Vineyards in Catalonia. Silvia Arellano, Scop.io