Boxing Day Bonanza: Australian Airlines Slash Fares for 2026 Travel
AFP Warns Young Australians Against ‘Suitcase Courier’ Drug Scams
Turkey Terror Raids Trigger DFAT Travel Alert for Australians
Latest News
Monsoon Trough Threatens Holiday Travel in Northern Australia
Up to 300 mm of rain is forecast as a monsoon trough sweeps the NT and north Queensland, prompting BOM flood watches and potential road and flight disruptions during the peak holiday-travel period.
AFP rolls out high-visibility patrols as Australia braces for record holiday travel
More than 500 Australian Federal Police officers are being redeployed to major airports as passenger numbers during the December–January peak are forecast to hit a record 23.4 million. The high-visibility operation, coordinated with the Australian Border Force, aims to keep security queues moving and reduce passenger aggression. Travel managers should budget extra time for departures and monitor dynamic airport alerts.
Qantas opens Melbourne–Honolulu route and puts 50,000 trans-Pacific seats on sale
Qantas will start direct Melbourne–Honolulu flights in May 2025 and has discounted 50,000 seats on North and South American routes to mark the launch. The new thrice-weekly service restores a Hawaii link for Victoria and gives travel managers another one-stop option for U.S. connections, while the sale fares signal intense competition on trans-Pacific corridors.
Backpacker Christmas shifts south as thousands descend on Coogee Beach
After Bronte Beach imposed tighter controls, thousands of backpackers and expatriates converged on Coogee Beach for Christmas Day celebrations. Extra rangers and police kept order, highlighting how mobile working-holiday communities can shift crowd-control challenges between councils. Employers of working-holiday visa holders should remind staff of safety and conduct expectations over the holiday period.
Bali immigration offices shut for holidays—Australian travellers urged to extend visas early
Bali’s immigration counters will close on several days over Christmas and New Year, prompting authorities to urge foreign visitors—especially Australians—to file visa extensions early or risk daily overstay fines. Corporates with staff in Indonesia should verify visa validity now, as electronic applications lodged during the shutdown cannot be finalised until offices reopen.