Fancy an autumn weekend in the Yarra Valley?

Fancy a couple of autumn night away in the vineyards of the Yarra Valley? 

Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley has unveiled a new Winery Retreat Package, designed to bring together wine, dining, relaxation and luxury accommodation in one experience. 

The resort is located just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne CBD and has 70 accommodation options ranging from comfortable rooms to luxurious suites.

The Winery Retreat Package includes overnight accommodation in a premium room or suite; daily breakfast at Restaurant 1309; a  hosted wine tasting at the cellar door; a dining credit for the seasonal menu at Restaurant 1309, two bottles of Balgownie Estate wine and an in-room cheese plate, along with an endota spa voucher for use during the stay.

 “This package brings together everything guests love about visiting the Yarra Valley, without needing to plan each element separately,” said Rachel Caldwell, marketing, brand and business development manager at Balgownie Estate. 

“It’s about creating a seamless, high-value experience that feels considered from arrival through to departure.”

Stays start from $539 for two nights. Only available for direct bookings, from now until the end of September.

See https://www.balgownie.com/experience/winery-retreat-package/

Little Sista aims to offer big flavours

Heading for the Blue Mountains and feel like a warming foccacia before, or after, tackling a brisk winter walk?

Leura has a new eatery in Little Sista, a focaccia-driven café that also spins vinyl.

From the family behind the long-lived Cafe Leura, Little Sista sees daily fresh-made focaccia take centre stage on the menu, along with coffee, house-squeezed juices, and that vinyl soundtrack.

Each focaccia is made as a sandwich with the crowd favourite, ‘Everything She Wants,’ stacked with prosciutto, mortadella, sopressa, ham, mozzarella, pesto, sundried tomatoes, and rocket.

For something with a Mediterranean accent, 'The Grecko' layers slow cooked lamb, tzatziki, semi dried tomato, onion, feta, peppers, and oregano, while The Big Veg' stars grilled eggplant, mozzarella, roasted peppers, and pickled onions.

Toasters imported from Italy crisp each focaccia in just 90 seconds, which the owners say "preserves the bread's texture while keeping meats tender, lettuces fresh, and every bite perfectly balanced".

The space is intimate by design with seating for 16 inside and eight outside,

At the centre, a Rega Planar 6 record player spins from open to close, while Wharfedale Linton speakers and a Marantz Model 40n amplifier deliver the warm, rich sound: I'm told that 1960s aesthetics meet modern audio precision.

Co-owner Andrew Tsaroumis says Little Sista marks an exciting new chapter for his family, with the next generation bringing fresh energy to the space.

“Our kids have grown up in this world and have been hands-on in shaping LittleSista - it feels vibrant and full of life," Tsaroumis says.

"Everything centres around the focaccia, made fresh and served the way we love to eat it - simple, generous and made to be shared. You can grab one on the go or stay for the music and great company. It’s fresh, it’s fun and it still feels like home.”

Little Sista is open Monday to Sunday, 8am-4pm, for dine-in and takeaway.

Head to https://www.littlesista.com.au/ to learn more.

Thai Airways cuts back flight schedules

Thai Airways International has joined a growing number of airlines cutting back on flights in the wake of US leader Donald Trump's ongoing Middle East madness. 

The Thai flag carrier has alerted ticket agents to a round of frequency cuts in May across domestic, Asian and European routes, news hub Travel Mole reports.

Thai Airways has blamed rising fuel costs and softer low-season demand for the cuts.

The carrier said it may adjust schedules throughout the month, trimming services on a wide range of routes.

Within Thailand, several key routes will see reduced frequencies from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Across Asia, flights to Phnom Penh will be reduced from 14 weekly flights to 11 and Singapore trimmed from five daily flights to four.

Beijing flights will be cut from two daily to one and Hong Kong trimmed from four daily to three.

Long-haul services to Europe are also impacted, with multiple routes seeing temporary reductions.

Istanbul is reduced from daily to five weekly flights with similar cuts to Munich, Stockholm and Oslo.

Thai Airways International said it will continue monitoring conditions and may make further schedule changes as needed.

What to do when a stomach bug could ruin your holiday

It can be called Bali Belly, Montezuma's Revenge, Delhi Belly, or the Rangoon Runs by old timers.

Whatever it is called you want to avoid it if possible - and recover as soon as possible.

Eating spicy dishes, street food or even unfamiliar ingredients can cause horrible issues - as can simply drinking ice, or impure water. 

The result can be hours, or days, with the runs followed by time to rehydrate. It can ruin any holiday. 

Welcome, then, to The Belly Solution: a new Australian travel wellness brand focused specifically on prevention, treatment and gut recovery for travellers’ diarrhoea.

The brand has been founded by a husband-and-wife team from Victoria who love to travel and are keen to continue doing so well into later years - with a practical focus on staying well while away.

The website is now live and takes an education-led approach - helping travellers to more exotic corner of the globe understand the condition itself, and importantly, what they’re taking and why certain ingredients are effective.

The Belly Solution is billed as "a travel-friendly electrolyte oral rehydration powder combining: Saccharomyces boulardii, Sunfiber PHGG prebiotic, electrolyte rehydration support, ginger (for nausea support) and pomegranate (for antioxidant support and palatability). 

I'm not totally sure what that all means, but it has been designed very deliberately for travel - compact, lightweight, shelf-stable (ideal for hot climates), and in a resealable pouch for use on the go.

One of the key differentiators is the formulation. There are very few products in Australia offering 10 billion CFU of Saccharomyces boulardii, and the creators are not aware of any that combine probiotic, prebiotic and electrolyte support in a single format designed to span the full journey - from pre-travel planning and prevention, through support during symptoms, to gut recovery afterwards and once home.

It’s also suitable for both adults and children, making it a practical option for families travelling together.

At full retail, it works out at approximately $4 per daily dose, offering a combined, convenient and relatively affordable alternative to sourcing each of these elements separately. And it can be taken when you need it, not when you are staying in the safety of a five-star resort. 

 
The first product will, in time, become a dedicated range, with each product designed to stand alone, but also work together - all focused specifically on travellers’ diarrhoea, which the creators say remains a surprisingly under-served area.

It's a new product so I haven't tried it yet, but you can check out https://thebellysolution.com.au/

Taste wines from four producers in the one place

 

Four leading West Australian wine brands will be hitting the big(ger) smoke next month - for one weekend only. 

West Cape Howe will be leading the quartet on May 23-24 at The National Hotel in Fremantle. 

They will be teaming up with Hay Shed Hill, Mount Trio and Risky Business to pour over 50 wines from vineyards from Margaret River through to the Great Southern. 

The format will be simple: grab a glass, wander, taste what you like and have a chat to the people who make the wines. 

The full West Cape Howe range will be open for tasting - and they always offer excellent value, as do the Hay Shed Hill offerings. 

Wine lovers can choose between Saturday with the wine tasting and finger food from 2-5pm ($55), or Sunday, with the wine tasting and shared lunch from 10am-3pm ($90). 

TICKETS ON SALE link to Hay Shed Hill

Flying economy? Here's how you can still stretch out and sleep

Fancy escaping your economy seat for a few hours of lie-flat luxury during your long-haul flight?

A break from your cramped space; a chance to stretch out and grab some sleep by paying a supplement?

Air New Zealand' has announced that its innovative Economy Skynest will be available to sample from November, with bookings opening from May 18.

The initial Skynest project will operate between New York (JFK) and Auckland (AKL) - one of the longest routes in the world.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Nikhil Ravishankar says Skynest is an example of the airline backing innovation that improves the travel experience.

“New Zealand's unique location means we understand long-haul travel better than anyone," he said.

"On some of the world's longest commercial flights to and from New Zealand, Skynest is designed to make a real difference to the journey. Featuring six lie-flat pods in a bunk-style layout between the economy and premium economy cabins, it gives customers the opportunity to stretch out, lie flat and get a few hours' proper rest in the air.”

Developed over several years and tested with more than 200 customers, each Skynest pod provides a private space with a full-length mattress, bedding, ambient lighting, ventilation and charging ports.

The sessions have been designed to allow for natural sleep cycles giving time to settle, sleep and wake gradually. Initially, two sessions will be offered on each flight for a payment of around $495 per person.

“It's a simple idea with a powerful impact: swap the headrest for bedrest, and arrive ready to go,” Ravishankar says.

None of the publicity material has addressed what happens if one of the residents in a very enclosed space is a loud snorer, a bold farter, or, heaven forbid, tries to sneak a friend into the pod for some extracircular activities. 

It is bound to happen sooner or later.   

Learn more about Skynest at https://airnewzealand.com/economy-skynest