More flights to Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown make NZ closer than ever
Plus, three other things Explore is loving this week.
New Zealand was the second most popular overseas destination among Australians last year after Indonesia. And now with Air New Zealand boosting capacity between Australia and the Land of the Long White Cloud, getting there is going to be even easier. Between October and March, the airline will add about 25,000 seats on the Sydney-Auckland route, about 16,000 seats on the Melbourne-Auckland route and about 9500 seats on the Melbourne-Christchurch route. The Sydney-Queenstown route will get a 26 per cent capacity boost, too, with the number of flights increasing from once daily to nine times a week, resulting in an additional 9600 seats. More seats mean more competitive prices, not just with Air New Zealand, but across other carriers, too.
Sporting tome's travel inspo
Visiting famous Australian sporting sites - from the MCG and SCG to Mount Panorama and Bells Beach - is a rite of passage not only for sports buffs but travellers who want to explore locations where legendary sporting feats took place. A new illustrated hardback, Great Sporting Sites: Australia (Gelding Street Press, $39), by ACM sports journalist Glen Humphries, makes the task easy. Showcasing ovals, stadiums, racetracks and oceans, the tome's packed with inspo, and also includes lesser-known but still beloved "Local Legends".
Hungry hungry Aussies
Australians who travelled overseas in the past year spent an average of $1477 on food and drink, says a survey by ING. That equates to 20 per cent of their travel budget, or a total of more than $12 billion spent on dining by Australians. Nearly 90 per cent said they prioritise food and drink experiences over other activities such as shopping.
BB King's very big party
The 100th birthday of BB King needs a big celebration and that's exactly what Memphis has in store. From now until September 16 - King's birthday - the Tennessee city is staging 100 days of revelries. Events range from a dinner where the legend's daughter, Shirley King, will perform to a three-day itinerary that'll allow visitors to soak up the city's infectious music scene. memphistravel.com/100daysofblues
Akash is the Deputy Travel Editor for Australian Community Media. He has lived and worked in four cities around the world – Sydney, London, New Delhi and New York – and, at last count, travelled to 42 countries.
My all-time favourite destination is ... New York. You can drop a pin anywhere in Manhattan and start walking in any direction, and the sights and sounds of the city that never stops will begin to stimulate all your senses in an instant.
Next on my bucket list is … Scandinavia - at the peak of summer, when the sun almost never sets.
My top travel tip is … If you’re flying to Sydney from anywhere in the world, pick a window seat far from the wing on the left-hand-side of the aeroplane. If the weather gods and flight path align, you’ll have the most incredible views of the Sydney Harbour and Opera House.
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