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15 hours ago
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9 unmissable new luxury experiences in Asia that are worth the splurge
These hot new stays and services prove Asia does luxe best. Fairmont Udaipur supplied By Carrie Hutchinson The Aussie dollar's not stretching far in Europe or the US - but in Asia? It still buys you serious luxury. Think top-tier service, bold design and stays that are anything but ordinary. From jungle spas to design-led villas and palace hotels, these are the newest places to spoil yourself sensibly. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area 1. Fine dining meets star power Chef Andre Chiang in the Kitchen. Picture supplied Michelin-starred chefs are bringing their celebrity to Singapore. Like Madonna, he goes by one name only, and now chef Fei (real name: Fei Lianghui) offers a contemporary take on Cantonese and Teochew cuisines at the Mandarin Oriental's Cherry Garden. His aromatic lobster creation, with basil and pickled mustard greens, is an homage to Chaoshan, where he grew up. Take the pressure out of ordering by choosing a set menu, starting at about $165 a person. Across town, Taiwanese chef Andre Chiang is setting up a culinary home at Raffles, where he's been the artist in residence while writing his book, Fragments of Time . His outpost, in the hotel's most elegant dining space, opens later this year. 2. The world's biggest infinity bath Spa Junglia. Picture supplied Soak away stress on Japan's tropical Okinawa island. This week saw the scheduled opening of Spa Junglia, and the Guinness Book of Records has already certified its public infinity bath, at nearly 83 square metres, as the biggest on Earth. The views of dense mountain-side forest are hard to beat, but there's also an onsen, sauna, cold plunge and cave bath. It's part of a huge entertainment destination, so send the kids off to Dinosaur Safari - the landscape bears more than a passing resemblance to Jurassic Park - while you kick back. 3. A Maldivian retreat for mind, body and sea SOUL Festival, Maldives. How do you make a Maldivian break better? Add an immersive wellness program. Soneva Fushi hosts the annual SOUL Festival (October 9-13), with a line-up of thought leaders and practitioners including biohacker Tim Gray, sound therapist Roses Gabor and longevity expert Nils Behrens. Start your day with an energising morning ritual, take part in workshops, book healing therapies at the spa and eat healthy cuisine. Of course, there's also time to explore shore and sea. From $5130 a night for two people, all-inclusive; 4. A new palace hotel with next-level grandeur Fairmont Udaipur bedroom. When you've finished dodging traffic in Delhi, head to the City of Lakes and the newly opened Fairmont Udaipur Palace. Fit for modern-day royalty, this lavish 327-room hotel set atop the Aravalli Hills is spread across a seven-hectare estate. Guests enter through a jaw-dropping fortress gateway before being welcomed beneath a sparkling chandelier. The rooms are dotted with handiwork by village craftspeople, while the restaurants serve the cuisines of India, Asia and the Mediterranean. From $443 a night; 5. Colonial charm in the Sri Lankan highlands Uga Halloowella. Picture supplied In the highlands of Sri Lanka, Channa Daswatte, protege of revered architect Geoffrey Bawa, has transformed the former residence of a World War I RAF fighter pilot. Uga Halloowella's six suites overlooking a tea plantation have an eclectic colonial vibe, but it's the attention to detail - a butler attending to all your tea-drinking needs, exquisite cuisine inspired by its location, and thoughtful excursions - that makes this boutique hotel a gentle retreat into times past. From about $1200 a night; Ne. Picture supplied Japan has become one of Australia's favourite travel destinations, but if you're keen to avoid crowds, head outside Tokyo and Kyoto. Set on farmland outside Shibata City, two hours by fast train from Tokyo, is Ne, offering an exclusive, all-inclusive, cuisine-focused rental for a party of up to four adults. Designed by architect Kenta Fukunishi, Ne is built using wood, earth from the property and locally fired Yasuda tiles. The commitment to sustainability and local culture at the eye-catching property runs deep. Chef Makoto Fuse, who studied the culinary arts in Paris, sources ingredients from the local area - he dries mountain herbs, makes spices from crushed branches and ferments vegetables for broth - and returns anything unused to the earth. Opens in August; from $2075 a night for two; 7. Temples, tuk-tuks and the Ganges in style See India on a Globus cruise. Picture supplied Ready to dip your toe into the world of river cruising? Globus's new 13-day Heritage of India & the Ganges River tour and cruise (from $8668 a person, twin-share) blends land and water activities. See the Taj Mahal at sunset, ride a rickshaw through Chandni Chowk bazaar and visit the spectacular Amber Fort before setting sail down the Ganges from Kolkata. 8. Adults-only glamping in Phuket Twinpalms Tented Camp in Phuket. Picture supplied Bustling Phuket now has a chic adults-only glamping retreat. Twinpalms Tented Camp has 29 spacious safari-style canvas abodes, some with their own plunge pools, set back from Bang Tao Beach on Phuket's west coast. Rather than full moon parties and Muay Thai fights, this is a retreat for those ready to immerse themselves in nature and enjoy the finer things in life, like island hopping on a superyacht. From $270 a night; 9. A boundary-blurring new dining experience 9 unmissable new luxury experiences in Asia that are worth the splurge British chef Joshua Paris has worked across the world - including at the Sydney Opera House restaurant Bennelong - and now his skills are on show at Aster by Joshua Paris. Set in Shanghai's upcoming Jing'an neighbourhood, the restaurant has a menu Paris describes as borderless, which means he blends techniques and influences from Europe, Australia and China. Be sure to order his rendition of the classic drunken pigeon, which comes with marinated foie gras. Seating just 46, the space features a purple aster flower installation floating above the bar. Speaking of which, end the night here with a cocktail and bite from the snack menu, available from 10pm.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
'Air force baby': Why this Aussie TikToker is moving into Changi Airport
TikToker Maddy MacRae (inset) and Changi Airport, where she is living for a week. By Sarah Falson Updated July 29 2025 - 1:59pm, first published 12:52pm Move over Tom Hanks, an Australian comedian and TikToker has moved into Changi Airport until August. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area Can you actually die of boredom living in an airport? Sydneysider Maddy MacRae plans to find out for a week, and live stream her way through it. The viral sensation said she was inspired to live in an airport after watching Tom Hanks in the 2004 film The Terminal recently, and just had to try it out for herself. She chose well; there are definitely more boring airports out there than Singapore's Changi, which was named World's Best Airport 2025 by Skytrax. "It's quite insane how much stuff you can do at Changi - more than you probably expect," Ms MacRae told ACM (the publisher of this masthead). "I'm looking forward to visiting Jewel, which is this huge entertainment and shopping complex connected to the four terminals. It looks like there's lots of things to do there, which should help pass the time. Ooo and the butterfly garden. Can't forget that." Changi does indeed have an actual butterfly garden, as well as a cactus garden, a park with floral canopies, the Enchanted Garden full of orchids, and another garden called Dreamscape which "merges Nature and Technology in a magical symphony", according to the Changi website. Jewel Changi Airport is a multi-dimensional entertainment and retail complex, and the airport also boasts luxury shops, a huge array of food outlets, a swimming pool and a dinosaur trail called Jurassic Mile. Changi's Butterfly Garden. Ms MacRae isn't slumming it like Mr Hanks and sleeping across the airport seats; the TikToker is staying at the Crowne Plaza hotel inside Changi Airport. "I figured that if I'm going to be living inside an airport for a week, I at least deserve a decent night's sleep," she said. Ms MacRae's TikTok includes humorous content about friends, weddings, family, relationships and dating, and she also posts a healthy amount of travel content. She revealed travel had an important place in her life, and not just because it's fun. "I'm an air force baby! My dad was in the air force and is now a Qantas pilot, so I've been so very lucky to travel throughout my life," she said. "And now my job takes me all over the world and I get to share that with my audience. Learning about new cultures and trying new experiences and foods has always been the best part about travelling." Changi's Jewel Rain Vortex Rainbow. Her travel content includes a bit about the latest airline trend in which they record their safety demonstrations "anywhere but on a plane", as well as the ultra-organised individual who organises the friend-group holiday and keeps everyone on a tight schedule. Ms MacRae called travel content "so relatable". "I loved making the safety demonstration video but I've also made a couple on airport security being the scariest experience ever and also watching someone else's movie on a plane rather than your own - why is their movie so captivating when I can't even hear it and I have a screen right in front of me??" she said. Follow Maddy MacRae @maddy_macrae_ on TikTok to see her shenanigans at Changi Airport, including live streams, until she heads home on Saturday, August 2. Words by Sarah Falson Sarah is ACM's travel producer. She believes regional travel is just as fun (if not better) than staying in the big cities and loves any travel experience to do with nature, animals and food!.My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me. Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life. My top travel tip is … Don't plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what's within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Is Bali past its prime? This Asian region is on track to steal its thunder
Li River, Guilin, China. By Sarah Falson Updated July 29 2025 - 11:32am, first published 11:22am Asia is a perennial favourite with Australian travellers. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area But with every second friend posting pictures of Indonesia (read: Bali) on Instagram, is the island nation beginning to lose some lustre? Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows Indonesia remains the most popular destination for Australians travelling overseas. In May, residents returned from 149,080 trips to Indonesia, far exceeding the next most popular destination, New Zealand, with 83,020 trips and with Japan the second most popular Asian country with 82,920 trips. So, is Japan primed to steal Bali's thunder? According to Wendy Wu Tours managing director, Simon Bell, Bali isn't losing its appeal as much as other Asian destinations are catching up to it. Mr Bell tips Japan as the next big thing, and only a matter of time before its popularity overtakes that of Bali. Kyoto, Japan. And it's not just Tokyo and Kyoto people are interested in visiting when they go to Japan; more Aussies are heading off the beaten path to explore "hidden gems like Kyushu" or taking rail journeys through the islands to take in the scenery. Read also: 'Safe and clean': Aussie fascination with Japan skyrockets "In 2024, a record-breaking 920,000 Australians travelled [to Japan], a huge 50 per cent increase from the year before. That momentum has continued into 2025, with April figures showing a 42.6 per cent year-on-year rise," Mr Bell said. Amber Fort, Juipur, India. Travel to China is also heating up, following the introduction of visa-free access for Australians. Mr Bell said there was a "sense of curiosity among travellers who want to see the real China for themselves, often finding it to be far more beautiful, welcoming and modern than expected". The top-five Asian destinations for Wendy Wu tours in 2025 are Japan, China, Vietnam, India and South Korea. Vietnam is emerging as a "laid-back, affordable alternative to Bali", Mr Bell said. Green Limestone Mountains in Halong Bay, Vietnam. And South Korea is gaining traction with food lovers, thanks to its "world-class cuisine". "From street eats in Seoul to ancient temples and scenic hikes, it's a destination packed with energy, tradition and flavour." Bali's popularity endures Bookings and search data from Skyscanner also shows Bali is the top destination for Aussies. Skyscanner Australia travel expert, Jarrod Kris, said its "unbeatable combination of accessibility, scenic locations and cultural richness," makes it a favourite with Aussies. "With frequent direct flights and short travel times, it's one of the easiest international getaways for Australians," he said. Sunset at Gyeongbokgung, South Korea. It's also affordable with many budget-friendly food and accommodation options. But beyond Bali, the top five Asian destinations being booked through the website for travel this year are: Bangkok, Thailand; Seoul, South Korea; Singapore; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Manila, Philippines. "However, we're seeing growing interest in other interesting destinations, with Skyscanner's Travel Trends 2025 finding two Indonesian destinations increasing in popularity, Labuan Bajo and Yogyakarta, pointing to Aussies' shift to exploring places further from traditional tourist experiences," Mr Kris said. Words by Sarah Falson Sarah is ACM's travel producer. She believes regional travel is just as fun (if not better) than staying in the big cities and loves any travel experience to do with nature, animals and food!.My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me. Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life. My top travel tip is … Don't plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what's within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
What it's like inside Australia's biggest train museum: an insider's view
Bob Sampson on a historic Redhen railcar. Picture supplied By Anthony Caggiano A short train ride from Adelaide's CBD can get you to Australia's largest undercover railway museum. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area Steam and diesel locomotives, carriages and railcars sit across narrow, standard and wide gauges at the National Railway Museum, and it's a passion for train travel that fires chief executive Bob Sampson's engine. "You can look out the window and the scenery changes enormously," he said. Split across two pavilions, there are 60 exhibits on display including diesel and steam locomotives, freight trains and wagons, carriages, dining and sleeping cars, while another 40 are hidden away. These pieces of history don't just sit there; they can be moved around, thanks to the different gauges. Most of the collection is from former Commonwealth and South Australian railways, plus privately-run operations by BHP and Silverton Tramway, among others. A walk past the display cells in the Fitch Pavilion shares information about women in the railways, plus a model railway, theatrette, train departure board and a train simulator. Outside, entrants can go for a ride on a ride on a small one-foot-six gauge steam train around the grounds, while on special days it's possible to ride on a 1950s-style suburban rail car, pulled by a diesel locomotive. There's also more to explore inside the goods shed. PHOTOS: Locomotives and carriages from years gone by at the National Railway Museum Mr Sampson said carriages from the Tea and Sugar Train were among the most popular displays. The train ran across the Nullarbor for 60 years, supporting the railway families from Port Augusta to Kalgoorlie. "When they get in the old butcher's van, old provision store, or bank car and start to read up on it, they start to really appreciate just how valuable those items are and also the purpose that they served," he said. Mr Sampson's favourite display is the 900 class diesel-electric locomotive, named Lady Norrie. It was built in 1951 in Adelaide and was the first mainline operational diesel locomotive in Australia. He travelled on it during the start of his career, and to work on it again at the museum was "quite a realistic time tunnel." The 900 class diesel-electric locomotive Lady Norrie at the National Railway Museum. Picture supplied Mr Sampson worked in railways for 41 years, starting as a ticket collector on suburban trains, and later worked in public relations with Australian National Railways and other roles with Australian Rail Track Corporation before retiring. He's been associated with the museum since 1968, starting off as a teen helping with painting, mowing lawns, and driving the small steam engine, but has since taken over marketing, project managing and budgets. "It's understanding how it all fits together," he said. But he also loves getting hands-on, like jumping on a shunting engine. Retired locomotive driver and trainer Mr Holmes works behind the scenes, digitising a vast collection of material including rosters of what trains ran on any particular day, steam engine service records, and more. Among his favourite trains on display is the 520 class steam locomotive, which he used to clean at the start of his career, and the 930 class diesel locomotive, which he drove during his working career. Mr Holmes recalls driving steam engines through the Adelaide Hills, and it was the amount of water they went through that was most surprising. "Imagine trying to boil a kettle as you're putting cold water in them at the same time," he said. National Railway Museum is at 76 Lipson St, Port Adelaide.
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2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Discover the abandoned dam in Tassie's North-East that hides plenty of secrets
Mout Paris dam. By Phillip Biggs In North-East Tasmania, a dam built to supply the Mount Paris tin mine in 1936 hides away in the bush, ununsed for decades, and is the destination for this week's road trip. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area I left Launceston on the Tasman Highway on a lovely cold, clear winter day, where the sun makes you believe it's much warmer than eight degrees. The ABC's Mushroom Case Daily podcast was keeping me company as I pulled up for the first photo stop at Nunamara, at the foot of Mount Barrow. The lamp post outside what looks like a former hotel must lead straight to Narnia, I thought. With these frosty mornings it certainly seems like we are in the land of perpetual winter. Narnia lamp at Nunamara. One of the things I used to like about travelling with kids, back in a past life, was their enthusiasm about going on drives in the country. We'd jump in the car with a picnic in the boot and go off to a play park in the middle of nowhere, with maybe a kite or a ball or bikes. We'd explore, play a game, throw a frisbee, run around. Eat toasted sandwiches or sausages in bread at a picnic table like we were royalty at a banquet. So why was I so wistfully reminiscing as I tore along the Tasman Highway? I'd just rounded a bend at Myrtle Bank Road where, triggering my memory by not being there anymore, a fallen log with a large knot at the base once lay parallel to the highway. Over time people decorated the knot to make it look like a gorilla head - a mudflap for teeth, cans for eyes - and it constantly changed as items were added and subtracted. And one day, on one of our country drives, we pulled our car over for a roadside photo with the kids. A 2005 picture of the Tasman Highway roadside gorilla face - and as I would say to my daughter to get an eye roll, also a fallen tree. In that second of driving time past a familiar, yet unfamiliar place unfolded hours of memories of a past life with the delights and demands of little kids, one that, like the roadside tree gorilla face, has long gone. And then, how was it that my thoughts had travelled so far, for so long, and yet I had to rewind the podcast only a few seconds to catch up to where I was? Tasman Highway A3 took me further up into the hills over the Sideling, through Scottsdale. The old houses I aimed my camera at roadside at Winnaleah, as I bypassed Derby, had not been lived in for quite a while. Ghost house near Winnaleah. After Branxholm, a right turn directed me onto C425, a good gravel road, minus the odd pothole here and there, towards Mount Paris Dam. About 15 minutes later I pulled into a clearing, having skirted the edge of the former lake without even knowing it. The Cascade River flows through holes in the Mount Paris dam. Built in 1936, the dam was originally called the Morning Star Dam and supplied water for the Mount Paris tin mine. In the '90s holes were cut through the base to allow the Cascade River to flow through. I walked down a track to the river and spent the next 20 minutes playing with the camera, tripod and long exposures. Mount Paris dam. Looking on a map, I was interested to see Frome Dam on the other side of the Tasman Highway. It might be worth a look too, I thought, and made my way through Weldborough to Moorina. Corrugated iron patterns at Welbborough. Frome Road started off well but soon I was down to walking pace. The slow going continued for a few minutes - maybe 10, when the shimmering blue of Frome Dam appeared through the trees. Way out in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the Frome Forest. It had certainly seen better days - broken windows, frayed curtains hanging, an untamed hydraengea in what would have been a garden. Frome dam house. Frome Dam was constructed in 1908 to power the Pioneer tin mine and is a concrete-faced rockfill dam, the first of its kind in Australia. The track to the dam wall descended steeply over a few rocks and was definitely beyond the capability of an i30. I mean, I could have got it down there without any problems, but it would be like Beer O'Clock Hill to get back up again. I couldn't imagine too many cars would come by this way at this time of day to rescue me if I was stuck. So it was out of the car for a short hike. Frome dam reflections. As I was about to leave, a small grave caught my eye. Thomas Dunsburgh, read the incription, killed by a fall of earth. The enrgaving was difficult to read. He was aged 24 years, excavating on the Frome River on January 9, 1878, when the bank collapsed. A couple of his co-workers raised the alarm and some 60 miners quickly dug him out, but the fall had already been fatal. Discover the abandoned dam in Tassie's North-East that hides plenty of secrets "The Lord giveth, and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord", finished the inscription, quite aptly, partially buried in the dirt. Retreating to the car, I had another quick glance on the map and was intrigued to see the Moorina Power Station pinpointed at a nearby bridge over the Frome River. Frome River. This didn't add up, I thought, as I stood on the bridge in the cold air looking at the sunlight filtering through the trees onto the mossy rocks. Referring to the phone, up popped few seconds of video showing an area of the forest I wasn't looking at. Even with only one bar of 4G I was able to work out that there was more to see than I was seeing. After following my nose for a few minutes - well, quite a few minutes - I found myself looking at the ruins of houses and buildings from the Moorina Power Station. It was a bit spooky out there as nature reclaimed the site. It was silent but for the wind in the trees - and the ringing in my ears. A ruin at the Morrina power station site. The power station operated from 1909 using water from the nearby Frome Dam. When decommissioned in 2008 it was the oldest operating power station in Australia. I'd easily got my 10,000 steps up by the time I got back to the car. Back in civilisation, I was able to watch the video fully and found an interesting story, with a visit to the working power station by Scottsdale High School, as well as an old ABC interview about the Pioneer tin mine. Night was falling as I drove back over the Sideling, past the ghost of the gorilla face. I'm looking forward to seeing what else I can find in the forest on my next road trip. Words by Phillip Biggs Phillip Biggs is a photographer for The Examiner
