Maritime Museum lights up for Vivid Sydney

The National Maritime Museum in Sydney has launched a special program of events to coincide with the Vivid Sydney festival, celebrating Indigenous artforms and storytelling.

Right through Vivid until June 13, the museum will be championing the work of renowned Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Island) artist Brian Robinson, with the precinct being illuminated after dark by Mythical Mashup: The Graphic Worlds of Brian Robinson.

Robinson’s work already is celebrated in his collaborative exhibition Ur Wayii (Incoming Tide) on show in the museum.

A centrepiece of the museum program will be a one-night event Sea Gathering on Tuesday, June 2

Sea Gathering: Myth and Modernity is a free immersive program which brings together light, music, creating, food, and storytelling in a shared harbourside setting. 

The program will combine contemporary visual art, live performance, digital play, hands-on workshops, and cultural storytelling. It operates as a hybrid between a night festival, exhibition activation, and community gathering, offering audiences a flexible and social experience.

Throughout the evening, Robinson will lead small groups to the Action Stations deck to view the large-scale projection, sharing insights into the stories, characters and creative process behind the animation. 

Floating Realm, meanwhile, will unfold across the harbour and Cape Bowling Green Lighthouse as a sculptural landscape of LED-lit forms, hovering on the water’s surface and suspended in the sky.

Immersive experiences of animation, illumination and storytelling will be visible at the museum nightly until June 13 from 6-11pm with optimal vantage points at Pyrmont Bridge or King Street Wharf as part of the Vivid Light Walk.

The Museum is also pleased to host Wonderverse by Patch Theatre and a Vivid Moonlight Sea Kayaking Experience by Sydney Harbour Kayas as part of Vivid. 

‘Vivid Sydney is a vital moment for the museum each year, giving us a powerful platform to connect audiences with art, culture and storytelling in unforgettable ways," says museum director and CEO Daryl Karp. 

"In 2026, we are especially proud to celebrate the extraordinary work of Brian Robinson, whose richly imaginative practice brings together ancestral knowledge and contemporary creativity."

For more info visit www.sea.museum/vividsydney

An alpine style winter escape, minus the mountains

Fancy an alpine-style winter experience in the Melbourne CBD? 

Fondue Chalet at Federation Square has partnered with DoubleTree by Hilton to offer a French style city break, with no flight to Europe needed.

So think a winter-decorated hotel room paired with some alpine taste treats (fondue or raclette) and mulled wine for dinner. 

The Fondue Chalet has returned with private wooden chalets, French-accented hospitality and the traditional feast of melted cheese on a winter's night. 

The experience is operated by a French team aiming to replicate genuine recipes, traditions and warmth from the mountains of France to the banks of the Yarra.

DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne, meanwhile, is offering specially decorated winter rooms (below).

"Across France and the Alps, fondue and raclette bring millions of people together around the table every winter. It's what we simply call the joy of the table," says Vincent Hernandez, founder of Fondue Chalet. 

"In France they are not just meals, they are moments shared with family and friends. Seeing that same ritual happening here in Melbourne is incredibly special."

The DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne winter room is available for bookings until August 31 on the hotel website. The winter package includes an overnight stay in a Winter Chalet Loft Room, a decadent free flowing hot chocolate station in the room, and breakfast in bed for two people.

Guests can enjoy 15% off their Fondue Chalet experience. Tickets cost from $79 per person (chalets seat six). Children under six dine free.

See www.fonduechalet.com.au and https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/melfsdi-gwint-0b248d82-0539-4578-b9d9-94bcbf45503f/

Discover new small group wine experiences in France

Calling vinophiles keen on an immersive experience in French wine regions. 

Tauck has opened bookings for its 2027 European land itineraries, including a new eight-day journey through France's Champagne and Alsace regions, and a new exploration of Bordeaux and south-western France.

A Week In… Champagne & Alsace is a new eight-day itinerary averaging 24 guests beginning in the village of Kaysersberg, Alsace, with a three-night stay at Le Chambard Hotel & Spa. Guests explore the nearby wine villages of Ribeauvillé and Colmar, visit a Munster cheese dairy in the countryside and enjoy a private dinner at a chef's home overlooking the Obernai Valley.

The journey continues to the Champagne capital of Reims for three nights at La Caserne Chanzy, a restored 18th-century military barracks. Highlights include a tour and tasting at a renowned Champagne house, an afternoon exploring the vineyards of Épernay by vintage car with a picnic lunch among the vines and an exclusive dinner at Moët & Chandon (above). 

The itinerary concludes with a visit to the Château de Chantilly and a farewell dinner at Château Mont Royal. Departures will run in April, May, June, September and October (from $12,190 per person, double occupancy, plus airfare).

Tauck has also reimagined its popular Bordeaux, the Dordogne & Biarritz tour. Refined from 14 days to a more focused 10-day journey, the itinerary is centred on south-western France's most interesting regions. 

Beginning with three nights at the very central InterContinental Bordeaux, highlights include a visit to the Cité du Vin wine museum and a château dinner in the Médoc. 

Guests then spend three nights at Hôtel les Glycines in the Dordogne, with a stop in the medieval wine village of St-Émilion, a private visit to Lascaux with dinner, and an exploration of Sarlat's excellent open-air market. 

The journey concludes with three nights at the Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz (above), with excursions to Basque country and the historic fishing village of St-Jean-de-Luz and additional free time to explore the coast. From $14,390 per person, double occupancy, plus airfare).

See www.tauck.com.au.

Parramatta accommodation options grow with new One Global property

 A new boutique hotel opening will further strengthen the accommodation choices in booming Parramatta. 

Following the opening of the new Sebel hotel, One Global Capital (OGC) has announced a new boutique hotel offering comprising 36 premium serviced apartment-style units. 

The moves is an expansion of OGC’s hospitality portfolio under its OGR brand, following in the footsteps of One Global Resorts Green Square inner Sydney. 

It sees OGR reposition a selection of larger-format residences within the building formerly known as SKYE Parramatta, marking the second hospitality asset under the One Global Resorts banner.

It showcases the group’s upmarket boutique hotel concept, "focused on design-led, experience-driven accommodation in key urban locations".

The Parramatta portfolio offers a flexible accommodation model suited to both short and extended stays. It is located a five-minute walk from both Parramatta Station and Parramatta Square. 

Iwan Sunito, chairman and group CEO of One Global Capital, said: “Parramatta is a suburb on the move and a critical part of Sydney’s future. Having delivered more than 750 apartments in the area in the past, with a value approaching half a billion dollars, we have a strong connection to this market and a clear understanding of its potential.” 

The development features a foyer designed by Koichi Takada (top image), who also led the interiors across the guest rooms. 

As part of the transition, One Global Resorts will introduce automated check-in technology. 

Looking ahead, Sunito will lead a program of progressive upgrades to both the building and interiors, further refining the 36 units. 

“We’ve selected the larger-format apartments within the building, as they align closely with our brand standards and the experience we aim to deliver,” Sunito said. 

“Our focus has been on securing the right product rather than scale, ensuring a high-quality, consistent offering as we continue to grow our portfolio.”

For more info see oneresortsparramatta.com.au

Canberra apartment hotel now part of global Best Western network

Leading global hotel brand BWH Hotels has welcomed Best Western Plus Canberra Central Apartments to its network, marking the first property under its new partnership with Central Apartment Group (CAG) Hotels.

Formerly operating as Canberra Parklands Central Apartments, the central property has a mix of studio and apartment-style accommodation. 

The opening marks the start of the partnership. Central Apartment Group operates 25 apartment hotels in key locations across Australia and has additional new‑build properties currently under development.

Best Western Plus Canberra Central Apartments is the first of its properties transitioning to BWH. 

Under the new agreement, CAG Hotels' diverse apartment portfolio will be rebranded across the Best Western Plus, Best Western, and SureStay brands - joining the global distribution platform. 

Sid Knell, CEO of Prime Group Australasia, which owns CAG Hotels, said the launch marks an important first step in the partnership.

“We chose BWH because of the dedicated service they offer to franchisees and owners, from design through to operations, as well as their strong global distribution and loyalty platform," Knell said. 

"The launch of Best Western Plus Canberra Central Apartments is an exciting milestone, and we look forward to bringing more of our properties into the network over the coming months.”

Rod Munro, managing director, BWH Hotels Australasia, said: “The addition of Best Western Plus Canberra Central Apartments is a proud moment for our team and sets the tone for what's ahead. It's the first of many high-quality apartment hotels that will strengthen our presence in key markets and broaden our offering for today's travellers."

* BWH Hotels is a leading global hospitality network comprised of three hotel brands, including WorldHotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts and SureStay Hotels. The global network boasts approximately 4,300 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide. 

On the right track: move to make rail travel in Europe easier

The European Commission has proposed new rules to make seamless rail travel across Europe a reality.

The proposals adopted this month are aimed at simplify planning and booking for regional, long-distance and cross-border travel, particularly for rail journeys involving multiple operators. 

At present, comparing all available travel options and identifying the most sustainable choices, especially for cross-border travel, remains difficult for passengers in the EU; especially for rail tickets.

Many passengers encounter obstacles when combining different transport services. 

Booking multiple-leg train journeys involving tickets from different companies can be complex, largely due to fragmented booking systems and the dominant market presence of certain rail companies.

Also, passenger protection is limited on rail journeys involving multiple tickets by different rail operators, travel news hub Travel Mole reports.

The proposals address these obstacles, delivering on President Ursula von der Leyen‘s suggestions. 

The Commission proposes measures enabling single-ticket bookings across multiple rail operators, making the rail market more transparent and accessible.

Passengers will be able to find, compare and purchase services combined from different rail operators into one single ticket, which can be bought in one transaction on a ticketing platform of their choice. This can be an independent platform, or the rail operator’s ticketing service.

In the event of missed connections during multi-operator rail journeys, passengers with a single ticket will benefit from new, full passenger rights protection, including assistance, rerouting, reimbursement and compensation.

The Commission will now submit the proposed regulations to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament for consideration. 

The Community of European Railways (CER), representing major national rail companies, strongly cautioned against the proposal’s mandatory distribution requirements and heavy burden of liability on railways. 

It says that railways will be left carrying the real cost and responsibility with inevitable repercussions on ticket prices.