Singapore Airlines has increased its direct services to Adelaide to 12 flights a week, adding 1,328 seats. The expanded schedule began on 25 October, making the airline the international carrier with the most weekly year-round flights to Adelaide, according to the South Australian Government. The extra flights will also expand air freight capacity for exporters shipping seafood, meat and other premium produce. Minister for Tourism Chris Picton said the service would give visitors more seats and local businesses greater freight capacity. The actual benefits will depend on demand and how the added capacity is used.
A 5.25-metre fibreglass sultana sculpture has been unveiled on Mildura's riverfront in Victoria's north-west. The Big Sultana was built over 13 weeks to mark 100 years of dried fruit production in the Sunraysia region. It sits opposite Ornamental Lakes Park and features a beaming smile, which Sunbeam says is meant to bring a bit of fun. Local leaders say it will appeal to families and tell the story of the region's agricultural history.
Mildura has unveiled a 5.25-metre sculpture of a sultana to celebrate more than a century of sultana production in the Victorian town. Sunbeam commissioned the Big Sultana, which is roughly 525 times the size of an average sultana. Mildura Rural City Council mayor Ali Cupper said it honours the growers, workers and families who helped shape the region. The sculpture will undergo a year-long exhibition before its continued presence in Mildura is reviewed. Sunbeam general manager Elizabeth Miller said it marks 100 years of the company. The Big Sultana is at Ornamental Lakes Park, just off Hugh King Drive.
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Plans for a $3 billion upgrade to Perth Airport have been revealed, including a new Airport Central terminal, a parallel runway, two multistorey carparks and an airport hotel. Premier Roger Cook said the development, due to open in 2031, will add 4.4 million seats to and from Perth each year. Qantas and Jetstar will move to the new precinct. Airport chief executive Jason Waters said biometric technology will help passengers move through the airport more quickly. Several new routes have already started, including extra flights to Tokyo and a new service to Christchurch, New Zealand.
Air New Zealand has returned to Hobart for the 2026-27 season with an expanded direct Auckland route. The seasonal service is expected to run up to 170 flights and offer more than 33,000 seats. That is 36 more flights and 7,268 more seats than last season. The Tasmanian Government welcomed the service, saying it supports tourism, business and travel between Tasmania and New Zealand. Transport Minister Kerry Vincent said direct international access is critical to growing the economy and supporting jobs.
Western Sydney International Airport has welcomed its first international arrival, Air New Zealand flight NZ165 from Auckland. The flight will operate three weekly return services on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The airport can handle 10 million passengers a year and has a 24-hour cargo precinct. Daily non-stop flights to Singapore begin on 23 November, with services to Ho Chi Minh City and Nadi planned for 2027. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the opening a milestone that lets Western Sydney residents fly overseas without crossing the city first.
WA Premier Roger Cook has criticised federal changes to working holiday visas, warning they could cost thousands of tourism and hospitality jobs, particularly in regional areas. In a letter to Immigration Minister Tony Burke, Mr Cook said the reforms would hurt many industries in the state that rely on backpackers. Under the changes, a ballot will decide who can stay a second or third year, with 45,000 places for a second year and 5000 for a third. Mr Cook estimated the reduction would result in the loss of 4500 tourism and hospitality workers.
Far North tourism leaders have returned from Canberra after raising concerns about proposed cuts to the Working Holiday Maker visa program. Leichhardt MP Matt Smith joined industry representatives at Parliament House to stress the value of backpackers to the regional economy. Smith said the group had constructive meetings with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Senator Murray Watt. Industry bodies also backed a petition calling on the government to maintain visa availability and length of stay. Smith described the talks as just the beginning.
The WA government's plan to buy back the state's freight rail network has opened the door to a passenger train from Perth to Albany. The line was scrapped in 1978, and several attempts to revive it have failed. Rail advocates say now is the time to study the costs and benefits. The state government says public control of the network will allow new passenger rail options, but that significant investment would be needed. Community leaders in Albany and Katanning say a service would boost tourism and give residents better access to health care and education.
A new boutique retreat called The Cephalopod has opened on West Island in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The one-bedroom cabin was hand-built by local couple Emma Washer and Pete Wicks using upcycled materials, including timber salvaged from original island bungalows. It sits about 25 metres from a sand beach and is the only accommodation located out of town. Visitors can take part in cultural tours on Home Island, go fishing in the lagoon, and try kitesurfing at Kite Beach. The islands are a half-day flight from Perth and form part of a large marine park.
The Wonthaggi and District Historical Society will hold its annual memorial dinner on Friday, November 27, at the Wonthaggi Workers Club. The theme is the beginnings of the State Coal Mine Park. Guest speakers will recall how the Eastern Area mine was secured to become a heritage tourist site after the State Mine closed in 1968. Tickets cost $50 per person and bookings close November 14.
Hundreds of anglers have taken part in the 20th annual Barra Bonanza at Cardwell, a two-day catch-and-release event that drew record numbers this year. Boats must launch from Port Hinchinbrook before the tide makes the channel inaccessible, after silt and mud have limited access since Cyclone Yasi in 2011. The state government has allocated $64 million to restore the port, including dredging, and early works are complete. Local fishing club figures say the project would revive the town's economy, while environmentalist John Mewing has warned dredging could harm waterways and marine life near a World Heritage Area.
The Budburst Festival is marking 35 years of showcasing cool climate wines from the Macedon Ranges. The two-day event on 14 and 15 November features 26 winemakers across more than 15 venues. Festival hours run from 10am to 5pm on both days, with tastings, food, live entertainment and music. Festival passes start at $39, and weekend passes cost $55. Bus tickets cost $70 for a one-day pass and are available from Woodend station and Lancefield town centre.
A flood refuge site in Evans Head has been transformed into a holiday destination. Reflections Holidays has opened six tiny homes and 20 powered sites at The Terrace on Oak Lane, investing $2.5 million. The site was used as emergency housing after the 2022 floods. Minister Janelle Saffin praised the transition, highlighting its support for local businesses and tourism. Reflections CEO Nick Baker noted the park's popularity and the demand for both tiny homes and camping sites.
For Small Business Month, three regional enterprises are profiled. In Tenterfield, The Bungalow and Ivy Leaf Chapel run a boutique bed and breakfast, wedding venue and garden destination on a historic 1915 timber property. Dorrigo Transit, launched in October 2021, offers shuttles, door-to-door transfers and charters linking the North Coast and New England. At Mullumbimby Showground, a not-for-profit community reserve, markets, hireable halls, camping and the annual agricultural show bring people together.
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A giant yabby statue now stands in Windorah, a Queensland town of about 100 people known for its international yabby races. The 4.6-metre sculpture was unveiled on Albert Street during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Barcoo Shire Council funded the $13,000 project, which artist Jobella Bennett built from sheet metal and bird wire over three months. Mayor Sally O'Neil hopes the statue will attract tourists who stay longer and boost economic development. University of the Sunshine Coast history lecturer Amy Clarke says Australia continues to build more big things than many other countries.
