The Airbnb of the outdoors

Hipcamp has partnered with Australian private camping company Youcamp to utilise their 50,000 camping spots across 1,000 Australian private properties. The partnership will create the most comprehensive resource for unique outdoor stays including camp and RV sites, glamping, established caravans and homesteads. You can stay anywhere from a national park to a blueberry farm and have a variety of friendly farm animals pop in to say hello. Hipcamp Australia remain separate as a locally-based business, led by the same Youcamp team who for nearly seven years have helped people get outside and escape the crowds, an appealing idea at this time. The team is proud to be bringing additional income and support to their hosts in regional areas, especially through the ups and downs years of drought, bushfire and now a pandemic.

Sculpture by the Sea

In its 24^th annual exhibition, Sculpture by the Sea will once again grace the winding footpaths, cliff faces and shores from Bondi to Tamarama beach. Visit the coastal walk from 22 October – 8 November 2020 to experience the 2km long sculpture park over the three weeks featuring 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and across the world. Visit on a Saturday or Sunday between 10am and 3pm for the chance to meet the artists and hear their stories and perspectives about their work or pick up a copy of the $12 catalogue to read all the stories of the artists and their art. Keep an eye out closer to the date for more information regarding COVID-19 procedures for the event.

No trolly dollies

Have you ever wondered if there’s truth to the rumours surrounding how you taste things in the air? Gate Gourmet’s airline meals can answer them. As providers of in-flight meals at over 200 airports and airport lounges, they are considered to be global leaders. Now flights are grounded, they have joined the ready meal industry and are selling them to anyone. Standard meal packs cost $27 for 7 meals and have at least 3 meal variations. The menu this fortnight includes, grilled chicken chipolatas with creamy mash peas and onion gravy, ground beef tomato and thyme bolognaise with spaghetti, Hokkien vegetable noodles with soy chilli and garlic and more. You can order and pick up meals from both Sydney and Brisbane Airport locations for less than $4 a meal. Temper your expectations, airline food is still airline food but for $3.80 a meal, who can complain!

Viking Cruises ahead

Viking Cruise Line has unveiled its ocean and river cruises for 2023 after selling out cruises in both 2021 and 2022. Selected ocean cruises in Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, Alaska, the Caribbean, South America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand are now all available to purchase at this year’s prices with savings up to $3000 per couple. River cruises in Europe, Russia, Egypt and Southeast Asia have also been revealed. Viking is offering the freedom to change plans up to 24 hours before departure and still receive full cruise credit. Think about a 13-day Mediterranean Odyssey from Barcelona to Venice or vice versa, priced from $7,995 pp including savings of up to $1,000 per couple or perhaps a 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids roundtrip sailing from Cairo, priced from $8,295 pp is more up your alley.