Behind the scenes with Ferrari's Steeds of Speed

Calling all lovers of chic, fast cars.

The Italian National Tourist Board is reminding visitors that they can get up close and personal with some of the world's most famous vehicles at the Ferrari Museum at Maranello.

Visitors to the Museo Ferrari get an inside look at the world of one of Italy's most iconic brands.

They can discover legendary cars, racing history and the passion behind the Prancing Horse from classic models to Formula 1 champions.

The museum is described as "a must visit for car enthusiasts and anyone looking to experience a thrilling piece of Italian heritage".

The museum does not only contain cars; there are also trophies, photographs and other historical objects relating to the Italian car industry and motor racing generally.

The exhibits also showcase technological innovations, some of which made the transition from racing cars to road cars.

The museum is located close to the Ferrari factory in Ferrari's home town of Maranello, near Modena.

See https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/museums/ferrari-maranello  

McLaren Vale gets a new cellar door in time for summer

McLaren Vale has a new cellar door destination with the opening of the new Larnook Wines tasting facility.

Larnook is the personal venture of Penny's Hill winemaker and Randall Wine Group executive Alexia Roberts and her husband Damon, founded in 2022.

"We set out to produce wines with vibrancy, texture and interest whilst reflecting a sense of place," Roberts says in a LinkedIn post announcing the new cellar door.

"We’ve spent the past four years travelling the country and attending consumer events to build brand awareness and connection," she said.

"We’ve also built some amazing relationships with trade, through our direct wholesale and distribution channel. To now see our wines on some of the best wine lists and establishments across the country is a real honour.

"Whilst the journey so far has been extremely rewarding, we knew our brand was missing something. It was a place to call home. And so, we’ve built a cellar door on our property and vineyard to welcome people to our special place, and to share our wines and our ethos.

"Whilst the Australian Wine Industry resets, we’ve made a conscious decision to lean in. We’ve backed ourselves on what our customers are looking for - a memorable experience, connection, storytelling and of course, some nice wines."

Larnook Wines is at 7 Settlement Rd, McLaren Flat. The cellar door has sweeping regional views and is open Thursday-Sunday, 11am-5pm. 

See https://larnookwines.com.au/

Calls for a new French tourism strategy

Travel industry leaders in France have called for a major overhaul of the country’s tourism strategy, saying the country must stop chasing visitor volumes and focus instead on longer stays, higher spending and year-round growth.

The Alliance France Tourisme, which brings together major companies from tourism, business travel and events, has unveiled a plan that sets out a 20-year vision for the industry, news hub Travel Mole reports. 

The group says nearly two-thirds of tourism spending in France comes from domestic travellers, making the domestic market a critical economic foundation.

The Alliance says the current concentration of tourism is a problem, with 80% of activity concentrated across just 20% of the country.

Its proposed solution is a national push for year-round tourism, including stronger shoulder seasons, more visitors to cities outside peak periods and more mid-range accommodation to make travel more accessible.

The Alliance is also proposing five broad priorities, including stronger French tourism sectors around events, business travel, gastronomy, heritage, wine tourism, agritourism, wellness and senior travel.

The events and business travel sectors would be positioned as territorial growth engines, building on the legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics and strengthening France’s ability to host international conventions, trade shows and major events.

The Alliance’s central message is clear: France cannot rely on simply attracting more visitors. It says that the next phase of French tourism must be about welcoming visitors better, keeping them longer and extracting more economic value from each trip.

New direction for famous London hotel

One of London's most famous hotels is to have a new identity and new direction. 

London's Iconic Dukes at St James’s will re-launch in spring 2027 following a complete transformation - although the legendary Dukes Bar will remain. 

Minor Hotels, a global hotel player with more than 640 properties across 67 countries, has signed a management agreement to operate Dukes London at 35 St James's Place. 

The landmark property will join the newly launched Minor Reserve Collection, marking the luxury brand's debut in the UK.

Dukes has welcomed statesmen and cultural icons since opening in 1908. 

It is currently undergoing an extensive multi-year transformation led by Russell Sage Studio, the 85-room property will re-open next year as Dukes London, Minor Reserve Collection, with redesigned guest rooms and suites, including 13 executive suites and five signature suites. 

The legendary Dukes Bar has remained open throughout the renovation. 

Dukes London will introduce a new restaurant, partnering with The Wolseley Hospitality Group, which is owned by Minor Hotels. 

The Dukes London, Minor Reserve Collection agreement builds on a longstanding relationship between Minor Hotels and Seven Tides, a holding company with an established presence in both Dubai and London. 

“Bringing Minor Reserve Collection to the UK through Dukes London is a defining moment for the brand,” said William E. Heinecke, chairman and founder of Minor International, parent company of Minor Hotels. 

“Few hotels capture the character and heritage of London quite like Dukes. Together with our trusted partner Seven Tides, we look forward to the hotel’s next chapter, preserving Dukes London’s unique identity while expanding its reach through Minor Hotels' global luxury platform.”

Launched in 2025, Minor Reserve Collection is Minor Hotels' luxury soft brand for "independent hotels defined by character, heritage and a strong sense of place". 

The collection currently includes Hotel Palace Portorož in Slovenia, relaunching in the first quarter of 2027; Aventora Resort Baía Formosa in Brazil, opening in 2028; and Dukes London in St James's, reopening in 2027. 

See https://www.minorhotels.com/en/upcoming-openings/dukes-london-minor-reserve-collection

Change in the air in the Adelaide Hills

One of the highest-profile cellar doors in the Adelaide Hills is changing hands with Tomich Wines taking over the Nepenthe tasting facility.

Australian Vintage Limited, which owns the Nepenthe brand, has announced the sale of its Adelaide Hills cellar door site and vineyard for $5 million to Woodthall Pty Ltd and Adelaide Wine Co Pty Ltd (Tomich Wines).

The deal will be finalised on November 9.

Australian Vintage will retain full ownership of the Nepenthe brand and has established a grape supply contract with Tomich Wines for vintage 2027 to ensure quality supply as the brand transitions to regional sourcing.

The decision is "consistent with the company moving towards an asset-light, brand-focused business model that aligned with the company’s long-term strategic goals removal of loss-making business units and a continued focus on debt reduction and steadfast commitment to enhancing shareholder value" the statement said.

“As wine tourism continues to decline, loss-making cellar doors do not add the value they once did," Tom Dusseldorp, the Australian Vintage CEO said.

"The sale of this asset can return cash to the business so the company can pay down debt and generate long-term shareholder value whilst maintaining high-quality standards.

"We will still be sourcing great quality wine from the premium Adelaide Hills region for Nepenthe."

Milestone for one of Australia's iconic rail journeys

 

Kuranda Scenic Railway in Tropical Far North Queensland has this year celebrated 135 years of operation, having first welcomed passengers to travel between Cairns and the rainforest village of Kuranda in 1891. 

The railway remains one of Queensland's most ambitious engineering achievements - the 37km journey sees passengers wind through the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics rainforest in the Barron Gorge National Park. 

The train crosses over 55 bridges and passes through 15 tunnels. It is celebrated globally as one of the world's great scenic rail journeys.



The route passes through the Macalister Range as well as several suburbs of Cairns en route to Kuranda on the Atherton Tablelands. 

While predominantly used for tourism, it is still also used for some freight and other passenger services. 

It operates daily throughout the year, with the exception of Christmas Day, and a one-way trip takes just under two hours. 

Adult return fares currently cost $87.00 but prices will rise from March 2027.

See https://www.ksr.com.au/