This remote NT wonder has just become one of the world's best stargazing spots
Plus, three other things Explore is loving this week.
Stargazing enthusiasts should add the NT to their travel plans - Karlu Karlu Conservation Reserve (pictured), home of the Devils Marbles, has just been designated the territory's first International Dark Sky Sanctuary. It's one of only 24 in the world, including two others in Australia - the outback town of Winton and the Sunshine Coast hinterland, both in Queensland. Travellers can camp beneath a pristine night sky, brilliant with stars and unparalleled views of the Milky Way. During the day, there are several short self-guided trails to walk. You'll need to get a Parks Visitors Pass and have a campsite reservation. tourismandeventsnt.com.au
Rewards for good travellers
As pressures of overtourism and reports of bad traveller behaviour continue to make the news, Exmoor in England's south-west, a region of moors, forests and sea cliffs, is trialling a scheme launched in Copenhagen in 2024 to reward good tourists. In Copenhagen, it might be meals or free bike hire in return for using public transport. In Exmoor, tasks like picking up rubbish or recording wildlife sightings earn 20 per cent discounts in visitor centres. Bremen and Berlin in Germany have run pilots of their own, while Helsinki has one under development. exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
Dog-friendly Sunshine Coast
If you hate to leave your best friend at home, Queensland is the place to holiday. New research from Compare the Market puts the Sunshine Coast ahead of Hobart, followed by the Gold Coast as Australia's most dog-friendly destination. Ratings are based on criteria including the number of dog parks, and pet-friendly hotels and cafes. Sydney came in last place.
Choose your own adventure
What bucket-list destination would you tick off with a $20,000 win? See polar bears and glaciers in the Arctic, search for lemurs in Madagascar, explore Tokyo and Mount Fuji, or something else entirely? This September, Explore readers have the chance to win a $20,000 Bunnik Tours voucher and turn that dream into reality. Bunnik specialises in small-group tours and immersive local experiences, with itineraries spanning some of the world's most extraordinary destinations.The voucher is valid for 36 months. Entries open today and close September 30. See thesenior.com.au/giveaways/bunniktours
My all-time favourite destination is … Argentina. One of my favourite moments was horse riding with a gaucho, the snow-tipped Andes ahead of us and a condor wheeling above us in the bluest sky. Elvio didn’t speak any English, so we didn’t talk at all and the only sound was the ring of our horse’s hooves on shale as we ascended the foothills.
Next on my bucket list is … Georgia (the European country rather than the US State) has been on my hit list for ages and I’ve yet to get to Canada, so either (or both).
My top travel tip is … Always include a destination on your itinerary that doesn’t have “big things” to tick off, a place where you can slow down and interact with locals going about their day. It really gives you a deeper understanding of the destination and people that you won’t get if you just stick to the big tourist spots.
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