Astrotourism is on the rise - and this is the place to go for it

Astrotourism is on the rise and with New Zealand's Tahuna Glenorchy being certified as the fifth International Dark Sky Sanctuary by DarkSky International (and the 23rd in the world), you won't have to travel too far to spot celestial magic. Set on the banks of Lake Wakatipu, the 200,000-hectare haven is about an hour's drive from Queenstown and is a spectacular location to camp under the stars at night and marvel at the Milky Way. It'll also be one of the very few places on the planet to witness the total solar eclipse in 2028.

Want to get your astro fix sooner and somewhere even closer? The Jump-Up Dark-Sky Sanctuary in Queensland and Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in SA are two locations where you can take in midnight magic right here in Australia. darksky.org

Inbound tourism in Singapore is going from strength to strength, with much love from Australian travellers. The country recorded a 21 per cent increase in the number of visitors in 2024, compared to the year before, according to the latest figures from Singapore Tourism Board. About 1.17 million Australians visited the Lion City in 2024, an 8.2 per cent increase on the 2023 numbers, becoming the third largest source of tourism dollars (after Mainland China and Indonesia). Heading there yourself? Check out our story on 74 Surprising Things to do in Singapore at exploretravel.com.au

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Looking for an excuse to travel? Here's our pick of some of the best upcoming festivals and events - from Ballarat Begonia Festival (March 8-10) in Victoria to Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail (April 12-13) in NSW. And if you're after a city escape, Melbourne has a few options. Head there for the Gin Festival (March 21-23) or make a beeline for Martin Grant (March 28-January 26, 2026), for the first-ever major retrospective of the works of the Australian-born Paris-based fashion designer at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV.