Reimagined Novotel St Kilda starts a new chapter

St Kilda has a new showpiece hotel with the opening this week by hotel owner and hospitality group ERDI of Novotel St Kilda. 

The deal extended a growing partnership with global hospitality group Accor and marks a new chapter for the landmark Fitzroy Street property, which has previously been known as the Saint Kilda Beach Hotel and Rydges St Kilda..

ERDI has played a key role in the development of Novotel St Kilda as part of the broader St Kilda Collective, a partnership between Fortis, ERDI and Ondas, supported by the City of Port Phillip. 

Novotel St Kilda joins ERDI's growing portfolio, which includes Pullman Melbourne City Centre, Novotel Geelong and Mercure Melbourne City Centre.

“This is a significant moment for ERDI and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for this landmark St Kilda property,” said Ricky Jeffs, CEO and executive director of ERDI. 

“This transformation represents a significant investment in both the hotel and the future of this iconic location, and it builds on the successful partnership we have developed across our broader hotel portfolio with Accor.

“Our vision has been to completely reimagine the hotel and create an experience that feels connected to the character, energy and lifestyle of St Kilda. From the redesign of the guestrooms and public spaces through to the new restaurant and expanded events offering.” 

The hotel complex also features the launch of Urban Kitchen & Bar, a stand-alone all-day dining venue. 

“Reopening a property in a destination as iconic as St Kilda is a fantastic opportunity,” said Christos Pavlidis, general manager of Novotel St Kilda. “With the strength of the Accor brand and the vision and support of ERDI behind us, we have a great opportunity to create something really special.”

Novotel St Kilda features 80 completely redesigned rooms and suites. Rooms include 75-inch televisions with Foxtel, Nespresso machines, local minibar products and bathtubs in select rooms, alongside 24-hour reception, self-check-in, secure parking and a light-filled internal garden atrium.

Novotel St Kilda is offering 25% off bookings, starting from just $224 a night with bookings available via novotel.com. 

No snow, but Whistler has wine, art and movies on offer

Whistler in Canada is known as one of the world's most popular skiing and snowboarding destinations.

But Whistler is also a year-round tourism hotbed, even when it is not snow season.

Wine lovers and film buffs are among those catered for over coming months, the hard-working folk at Tourism Whistler inform me.

The Whistler Wine Walk, popular with wine lovers, returns on October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.

That is every Friday in October, inviting guests to explore Whistler’s vibrant gallery scene while sampling wines from across British Columbia - and they are very good.

New for 2026, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) joins the participating venues for one night only on October 9, bringing an Indigenous cultural experience and exclusively featuring wines from Kismet Estate Winery and indigenous-owned Nk’Mip Cellars.

Other featured wineries throughout the month include Fort Berens Estate Winery, Lightning Rock Winery and 8th Generation Vineyard.

October also brings a double dose of outdoor film and mountain culture to Whistler.

The Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF) World Tour comes to Arts Whistler for two evenings on October 8 and 16, showcasing films celebrating outdoor adventure and mountain culture.

Later in the month, iF3 Whistler brings four days of ski and snowboard films and culture to the resort from October 21–24, culminating in the iF3 Movie Awards and building excitement for the winter ahead.

* Whistler is scheduled to open for the 2026-27 ski season on November 20, 2026, pending snow conditions.

Air New Zealand boosts summer flights to and from Tasmania

Air links between Tasmania and New Zealand are set to grow over the 2026-27 summer season.

Air New Zealand’s direct flights between Auckland and Hobart are to return with increased capacity, additional flights and an extended operating season.

More than 35,000 seats will be available during the 2026-27 season - a 28% increase year-on-year and a record for the route.

Growing international access is a key priority for Tourism Tasmania, and services like this play an important role in supporting the long-term growth of our visitor economy and strengthening Tasmania's connection to global markets, GM Sarah Kingston Clark said.

"The direct route across the Tasman is not only important for our key New Zealand market, it also opens up access from our largest international market of USA, providing a one-stop connection for major US cities.

"With flights resuming on October 25, it's a strong vote of confidence in Tasmania's growing international appeal and the experiences that continue to draw visitors from near and far." 

Hobart Airport said this will be the sixth season of Auckland-Hobart flights.

The seasonal service will operate three times a week for most of the season, with the airline adding a fourth flight per week for the peak period between February 27 and March 28. 

Hobart Airport Chief Executive Officer Norris Carter said strong demand for the ongoing seasonal service had enabled Hobart Airport and Air New Zealand, in partnership with the Tasmanian Government through the Aviation Attraction Fund, to secure the extended season and increased capacity planned for the next three years.

“This is a great result for Tasmanians and reflects the strong demand we’re seeing for direct travel between Tasmania and New Zealand,” Carter said.

“The service will now run from October 25 through to the end of April, which is great for Easter and will also capture more school holiday traffic."

Orange Wine Festival offers over 40 vinous events

Orange is one of the prettiest, and liveliest wine regions in Australia, and is known for its quality cool-climate wines. 

One of the best times to visit the Central Western NSW hub is during the Wine Festival, which runs from Friday, October 16, to Sunday, October 25. 

That's 10 days encompassing over 40 events, promising innovative wine experiences and regional food and wine collaborations. 

The highlights include the opening night Night Markets in Robertson Park, Sip & Savour: The Ultimate Wine Tasting on Friday, October 23, and 2026 Orange Wine Show Trophy Masterclass. 

Or join Ross Hill Wines, Brangayne and Colmar Estate for the Pinnacle Wine Walk (above), an exclusive opportunity to explore the vineyards along Pinnacle Road. Wander through the vines, taste, and hear the stories behind each family winery. 

The Vintners Table Series will run throughout the festival with wineries hosting events:

The Printhie Vinters Table | Oct 17| Book now
Nashdale Lane x Norma Joan | Oct 17| Book now
Ross Hill Wines' Vintners Table Dinner |Oct 23| Book now
Golden Hour at Stockman's Ridge | Oct 24| Book now
The Barrel Room Lunch at Tamburlaine | Oct 24| Book now

Explore the full program

South Korean prices to rise, but still a bargain

South Korea is lifting the prices at some of its most popular tourism attractions - but there is no need for visitors to panic. 

The Asian nation will lift admission fees at Seoul’s historic royal palaces from January 1, 2027, news hub Travel Mole reports. 

The proposed increases will affect Seoul’s four main Joseon-era palaces: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung. 

It will also apply to Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon Royal Tombs across South Korea.

The good news: Visitors to Changdeokgung’s Secret Garden (above) will pay an extra 5,000 won (around $5.50), while admission to Joseon Royal Tombs will rise from between 60c to $2.50. 

Yep, South Korea is pretty affordable even as visitor numbers continue to climb and the cost of maintaining the country’s heritage sites rises.

At present, adult admission costs 3,000 won ($3.15) at Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, while tickets cost 1,000 won (just over $1.00) at Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Jongmyo Shrine.

But foreign visitors aged 18 or younger and seniors aged 65 or older currently enter these sites for free and heritage officials argue that Korean admission fees remain unusually low compared with major international attractions. 

They are right. 

Image: Visit Seoul 

Direct flights launched between Bali and Phuket

Ever wanted to combine trips to two of Asia's most popular beachfront destinations?

How about time in Bali, and then Phuket?

Kompas and the Bali Update report that TransNusa Airline has launched a direct flight service connecting Depnpasar (DPS) and Phuket (HKT), in Thailand, as of this month.

​Nugroho Jati, general manager of PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, said the new route strengthens air connectivity between Indonesia and Thailand.

“The launch of this direct Bali-Phuket route is good news for bolstering tourism connectivity within the Southeast Asian region,” Nugroho said in a media statement.

​The new Bali–Phuket route operates four times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and will expand to daily service from October 3, 2026.

​TransNusa’s scheduled flight, 8B 541, will depart Bali at 11.30 am and arrive at Phuket International Airport at 14.35, while the return flight, 8B 542, will depart the Phuket International Airport at 15.35pm and arrive in Bali at 20.35pm.

​For the four-hour scheduled flight from Bali to Phuket, TransNusa will be utilising its Airbus A320, which has 174 seats.

​To celebrate the launch, TransNusa is offering introductory promotional fares starting from Rp 2,399,000 ($190 in AUD) one-way, bookable via the official airline website.

“We see this route as having the potential to strengthen I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport’s position as an Indonesian tourism hub," said Nugroho. "The easier the access between destinations, the greater the opportunity for travelers to extend their trips and enjoy a wider range of experiences.”

See TransNusa Website