A Trip News

Overseas nightmare … George Dobson.
Father of four and grandfather of two George Dobson turned 65 in a hospital in New Delhi last Sunday and is still trying to  adjust mentally to his new life as a quadriplegic. He had no travel insurance and his family in Australia are desperately trying to raise the funds to bring him home.
Mr Dobson, who was in India with friends, was walking along a steep mountain road in a town called Mussoorie on August 16, when he tripped and fell about 15 metres (more…)

Hot stuff … groups can book a private pool to avoid the crowds at the Glacier Hot Pools.
After a hard day trekking glaciers, Guy Wilkinson enjoys a well-deserved soak.
I’ve just hiked a mammoth glacier. Freezing rain pelted us all day. Due to the conditions, our guide marched us up and down at breakneck speed.
Back at my hotel, I have the shivers, my clothes are soaking and my whole body aches like tetanus.
“You look like a dip in the hot pools might do you good,” quips the receptionist, (more…)

Louise Southerden swims with dolphins, snorkels with seals and watches whales in eco-friendly Kaikoura.
New Zealand is the kind of place that could turn anyone into an environmentalist. Despite its small population and minimal impact on global climate change (just 0.2 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide), this is a country committed to preserving its natural assets. So it makes sense that it’s also where you’d find a place such as Kaikoura, a little town with big, environmentally responsible (more…)

Sky City Entertainment Group, New Zealand’s largest casino operator, has reported 6.4% drop in profits for the six months ending 31 December, according to a Bloomberg report.
The company, which derives over 70% of its profits from its casino and conference centre complex in Auckland, saw pre-tax income drop to NZ$148.5 million (US$76 million) for the half, down from NZ$158.7 million a year earlier, according to the report.
Earnings at the Auckland complex fell 5.2% as domestic spending slowed. (more…)

Carrying almost 500 passengers, the Emirates A380-800 left Sydney about 9.30am yesterday on its first scheduled passenger flight to Auckland, arriving just after 2pm.
At the controls was New Zealander Wayne Taylor, who learned to fly in Rotorua. Several other Kiwis were on the flight decks. Among them was barman Troy Whittle, of Mt Albert, Auckland.
Having worked for Emirates for about five years, Mr Whittle now mans the upstairs lounge bar, serving up cocktails and canapes to business class (more…)

I take the bus from Dunedin to Invercargill, the last town of any consequence in New Zealand’s South Island. I am going to get my van out of storage, where it has been for the past 15 months. It starts first time. Unbelievable. Massive celebrations. One hour later, I go to the post office to secure a new registration, thinking it’ll just need backdating.
"Sorry, Mr Donald. ON7598 is no longer valid. It needs to be re-registered and new plates." Trying to keep the panic out of my voice, (more…)

Aussie talent … snorkelling in the Whitsundays. Photo: Tourism Queensland
Now is a great time for a ’staycation’. Lee Atkinson has some home-grown alternatives to going overseas.
Travel trends come and travel trends go but the swan-diving Aussie dollar, economic uncertainty and restless political climate means the latest travel craze, the “staycation”, is the best-value holiday around.
A “staycation” is all about spending your hard-earned holiday time, and cash, at home. Purist staycationers (more…)

Why go abroad when there are so many places to explore at home? Nick Coleman travels to Lincoln to kick off our special UK edition
Zoom up the spiral staircase into the cupola; pitch through a tiny door and out on to the roof. Hold on. Be careful not to tread on the pleats in the lead. Be equally careful not to slide into oblivion – wet lead sheeting is as slippery as glass. Steady yourself with a firm grip on the parapet and narrow your eyes against the drizzle. Look due east into the murk. (more…)

Kay O’Sullivan
Smart Traveller
Cyberspace rivalry
Despite talk of mergers, Qantas and British Airways have long been fierce rivals in the air; now they are competing in cyberspace. BA has launched metrotwin.com, an social media website that compares and “twins” restaurants, shops, bars and sites in New York and London. So if you like Brixton, you are likely to love Harlem, that kind of thing.
Closer to home, Qantas has added the Travel Insider to its website. The new page has articles (more…)

A safe retreat awaits just an hour’s drive from the city, writes Christopher Hopper.
SOME people would say I’ve discovered the perfect destination. It’s close enough to avoid the “Are we there yet?” pleas from the car’s back seat and also near enough to home to leave the children behind with grandma while you have a break. There aren’t too many places in Sydney where you can feel miles away from hectic urban life just one hour’s drive from the CBD.
Bundeena used to be one of (more…)