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New road initiatives rolling out this year

Several new road initiatives are set to be introduced this year, as government plans to trial out new technology in 2025. From wireless solar powered signs advising motorists of new hazards to in-road pods that collect data on traffic volume and speed, these initiatives will be trialled on regional roads as part of the NSW government's $5 million Smarter Highways program. Each trial will feature technology that detects an issue on the road, which will activate the Smarter Highway Activated Vehicle and Environment Systems (SHAVES) to warn drivers about hazards. The system will have self-adaptive electronic signage which will be able to predict events and advise motorist, including bad weather and animals approaching the road. The signs will communicate with each other using localised radio communications. The NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison said that the introduction of the technology aims to "reduce risky driving actions such as not driving to the conditions". They are also trialling a new in-road 4G traffic counter device which can detect and provide info on vehicle volumes, speeds, road temperatures and system health among other information in real time. It is being trialled on the Great Western Highway at Kelso and the Newell Highway at Dubbo, with its use particularly important for the start and end of holidays and during special events. “The more information you can give to the motoring public about an incident early, the better,” NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury told Yahoo News. “We’ve always said more needs to be done to alert people earlier when there is an incident. It gives them the time they need to make a judgement on whether they need to proceed along a different route, or delay their journey”. The NRMA supports the trials and introduction of the new technology, with Khoury saying: "the more we are relying on new technology to make our roads more efficient and safer, the better the outcome for the public.” Here are the five Smarter Highways trials this year 1. Smarter Highway Activated Vehicle and Environmental Systems (SHAVES)- Self-adaptive electronic signage able to predict events and advise motorists of hazards. 2. Road Pod Vehicle Magnetometer - 4G powered devices in the road to provide data on traffic volumes, vehicle speeds and other issues. 3. Rural Intersection Activated Warning System - Road sensors advise motorists through Variable Speed Limit signs of a slow and large vehicle entering from a side road. 4. Improved local area traffic management during major disruptions 5. Permanent Congestion Management - Using radars and traffic signals to manage traffic congestion at a notorious breakdown location in the Blue Mountains. Image: NSW Govt

Domestic Travel

Aussie locals call for tourist ban on popular island

Residents in Western Australia are urging the government to put a ban on tourists travelling to a popular island near Perth to help protect a dwindling little penguin population. Penguin Island is located about 53km south of Perth and is home to 114 little penguins, a decline in the bird’s population by 94 per cent since 2007. Save Rockingham’s Little Penguins activist Dawn Jecks said while climate change has made an impact on the dwindling number of penguins in the area, over tourism has also affected the penguins' habitat. “It’s essentially open slather in terms of visitors accessing the areas where the penguins try to cool off,” she said. “There’s nowhere on the beach they can go where they’re not going to be hounded, touched or picked up by visitors." Ms Jecks said about 25 per cent of little penguin deaths occurred by boat strikes with the area seeing an increase of watercraft in recent years. "They need to close down the island for a few years to let the population recover,” she said. Ms Jecks is one of many campaigning for the government to ban recreational boating and tourism on the island, saying it would be shameful if authorities did not act to save the little penguins in an area where the creatures were part of the city of Rockingham’s cultural identity. “How stupid is it going to look when we have Penguin Rd, penguins on the entry sign to Rockingham, penguins on the city’s coat of arms and penguins on the kid’s school jumpers but no penguins,” she said. A WA government spokesman said Penguin Island was an iconic part of WA, and the government was committed to supporting its penguin population. “The health and wellbeing of the penguins will always be the state government’s top priority when it comes to planning for the island," the spokesman said. “Tourism, however, also plays an important role on the island by educating visitors about the penguins and promoting enjoyment of our State’s natural environment.” Image credits: Facebook

Domestic Travel

True meaning behind common Aussie road sign

Thousands of drivers past this Australian road sign every day - but very few know what it means. A confused motorist took to Reddit to share an image of the road sign they spotted on the Northern Territory's Stuart Highway, which featured a picture of a hand. He and and his travel companion assumed the sign meant there was a spot to wash your hands or windows nearby, however they were both wrong. The sign, which was part of a larger rest area sign, indicates there is Aboriginal artwork in the area. "According to the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (South Australia), published in 'Road Sign Guidelines' issued 28/03/2023, it means 'Aboriginal Attractions'," one person commented "Yep, usually rock art or some other Aboriginal site," said another. It is often seen in national parks and is the same symbol used nationally. People shared their own hilarious assumptions with one writing: "Warning, jazz hands in 2km", while another commented: "Beware of swarming ants". "Love that it's for indigenous art, but my first thought was a warning to tourists to not put bare skin on the bitumen," another commented. Others admitted they never paid any particular attention to the sign. "Oh I've never seen this before! And think it's great. Honestly my brain went to kids craft area for some reason but why would a random regional picnic stop have a kids craft area," one wrote. "I genuinely thought someone had just spray painted the sign with their hand on it. i have never seen this," another commented. A third person added their own hilarious interpretation saying: "This is so cool, have never seen one of these before. I have to admit my first thought was 'car scene in the titanic' though." Image: Reddit/ Google

Domestic Travel

Exciting summer holiday destinations just a taxi ride away

With <a href="https://silverservice.com.au/services/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taxi services</a> from trusted companies like <a href="https://silverservice.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Silver Service</a> making local travel simple, you can skip the stress of long drives and focus on having a good time. Here are some exciting places to visit close to home this season. <h2>Royal Botanic Garden</h2> If you’re looking for a relaxing way to spend a summer day, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney has something for everyone. Families will enjoy wandering through the Palace Rose Garden, while plant enthusiasts can check out exhibitions like Alchemy of a Rainforest, which showcases rare tropical and subtropical plants. With stunning views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House, it’s also a must-visit for photographers and those after a peaceful scenic walk. <h2>Sea World</h2> For a day full of adventure, animal encounters and family fun this holiday season, visit Sea World on the Gold Coast. Here, you and your loved ones can walk through underwater tunnels, watch dolphins perform stunning tricks or get close to sea creatures in hands-on experiences. Thrill-seekers can also head to The New Atlantis precinct for the Leviathan roller coaster, the 42-metre-high Trident or the twisting, turning Vortex. <h2>Federation Square</h2> You’ll love Federation Square if you’re into arts and culture. Explore the Ian Potter Centre or ACMI for Australian art and screen culture, then take in the lively atmosphere of Christmas Square, complete with a giant LED Christmas tree, light shows and interactive decorations. For a different vibe, check out Open Air at the Square, featuring free live music, outdoor cinema and community festivals. Afterwards, grab a meal at one of the many nearby cafes or restaurants and soak up the energy that makes Melbourne so unique. <h2>Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary</h2> Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the perfect summer destination to connect with Australia’s unique wildlife. Capture a photo with a koala or learn about their fascinating behaviours from dedicated carers. Kids will also enjoy hands-on activities like holding guinea pigs and feeding friendly farm animals, while wildlife enthusiasts can marvel at the grace of raptors in flight or get to know Australia’s wild dingoes up close. <h2>Queen Victoria Market</h2> For a true taste of Melbourne’s vibrant culture, head to Queen Victoria Market. It’s the go-to spot for fresh produce, handcrafted goods and local treats that show off the city’s diversity. Grab a coffee and pastry from one of the many vendors and wander through rows of stalls packed with seasonal fruits and unique souvenirs. This summer, the market comes alive as the Summer Night Market brings global street food, refreshing drinks, live music and plenty of fun under the iconic sheds. <h2>Plan your summer adventure today</h2> With so many exciting destinations just a taxi ride away, you don’t need to fly or travel far to make the most of summer and the holiday break. Enjoy both without the stress of long journeys, thanks to reliable taxi services that keep travel simple and convenient. A simple ride with Silver Service is all you need to start your next adventure. To organise your trip, book a Silver Service taxi today. Image: Supplied This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Silver Taxis

Domestic Travel

Readers response: What's one thing you must do when visiting Australia?

We asked our readers what travellers shouldn't miss when they head to Australia. Here's what they said. Jim Bell - The one thing you must do is to take a couple months there. We were there for 3 weeks and it wasn't nearly long enough to see and do everything we wanted to. Lorraine James - Land in Brisbane and take a cruise ship to Tasmania. Princess does a cruise stopping in Sydney, Bega, a country town on the coast and then of course Port Arthur old penal settlement then Hobart ,Tasmania. Get a taste of Australia. Deedee Cullum - If you’re in a major city then catch a train for the day. Eg, Sydney to Blue Mountains or Melbourne to Dandenongs. That way you’ll see some bush without the bother of driving. Anne Hare - Go see Uluru in the Northern Territory. It's a long way from the coast but it will astound you. Suzanne Maree Saxelby - Remember to visit the outback. It has a beauty that the coastline doesn't have. Janette Mitchell - Take the XPT train from Sydney to Coffs Harbour. So much beautiful scenery & Coffs Harbour is a great place to stay. Mattie Smith - Don't just stick to the coast! Australia has so much to offer. Avis Tolcher - Visit the Whitsundays. So beautiful. Judith Turpin - Wander through the Daintree on foot. Swim in a deep fresh water hole. Take your children on a guided night walk through the forest. Magic! Image credits: Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

Bindi Irwin's glam hotel receives huge award

A Queensland hotel owned by Bindi Irwin has been named the World's Best Nature Hotel for 2024. The Crocodile Hunter Lodge, located in Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast, was given the honour at the Boutique Hotel Club Awards, which features the finest boutique hotels from across the world. Winners were announced across 18 categories, with 500-vetted nominees from 80 countries globally. The Crocodile Hunter Lodge is named after Bindi's father, the late Steve Irwin, who as known as the original Crocodile hunter capturing the attention of audiences worldwide. Judges commented that the property "really feels like you're entering into relaxation mode." Speaking of the huge win, Bindi said she and her team were "honoured" to receive the recognition for their commitment to an exceptional guest experience. "These awards showcase our dedication to providing extraordinary accommodation at The Crocodile Hunter Lodge, where guests can immerse themselves in the natural world, allowing them to reconnect with nature and one another," she said. The Boutique Hotel Club's panel of experts hand-picked a selection of destinations all around the world. They quality test over 400 gold standards of hospitality excellence to find exceptional stays. The title of the World's Best Boutique Hotel went to Akademie Street Boutique Hotel in Franschhoek, South Africa. Images: Nine/ Bindi Irwin

Domestic Travel

Readers response: What advice would you give someone visiting Australia?

We asked our readers what advice they would give to someone travelling to Australia, including where tourists need to see and what hidden gems cannot be missed. Here's what they said. Peggy Rice - Respect our rules, the outback needs to be researched, swim between flags, don't swim with crocodiles. It's the best country in the world, let's keep it that way. Also do yourself a favour and put Tasmania on your list of beauty. Kay L Bayly - Number 1 advice! Check distances between desired destinations. It is a much bigger country than most people understand. Michael Pender - Bring a sense of humour. Toni Stewart - You will need a year at least to see all the different areas from desert, scrub, rainforest, cities, beaches, country side fabulous little towns and lots of festivals. Maureen Prince - We don’t have Kangaroos running the streets. Koalas are not in everybody's back yard trees. Whilst we do have snakes you’d be very unfortunate if you were to come across a venomous one. We don’t all go around saying “Good day mate”. Our scenery is incredible. Our food is superb and, best of all, we have good friends who do say “Good day mate”. Tina Shaw - Leave preconceptions at customs. See who we are and you'll have a fantastic time. Dianne Savage - Put Tasmania on your must do list. Margaret Higgs - Use sunscreen, wear a hat, drink lots of fluids. Cheryl Anne - Don't assume you can cover the whole country in 6 weeks. Sarah Hayse-Gregson - Obey the beach culture. The flags, lifesavers are there for a reason. If a sign says, “beach closed” there’s no one to assist you if you get into difficulty. Our lifesavers are volunteers, don’t forget that. They give up their free time to monitor the beaches and are highly trained. Never turn your back to the sea. Ann Lusby - Watch out for drop bears. Image credits: Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

Qantas blames Coldplay for airfare surge

Qantas has blamed Coldplay's sell-out Australian tour for a surge in airfares, after new data revealed that prices on some routes doubled after Rex Airlines went into administration in July. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission released their latest report on domestic airline competition on Tuesday, and found the demise of Rex on capital city routes had an almost instant effect on airfares. “The recent spike in airfares corresponds with a less competitive domestic airline sector after Rex’s exit from 11 of the 23 services between metropolitan cities,” ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey said. “While we also typically see a seasonal peak in air travel in September due to major sporting events and school holidays, there were additional pricing pressures this year. "Passengers were no longer able to access the lower fares that Rex offered, and airline seating capacity decreased following Rex’s exit. This in turn has contributed to higher airfares.” One of the largest price increases was on flights from Adelaide to Melbourne, which went up 95 per cent to $296 one-way for discounted economy fares between July and September. Prices on the Melbourne to Gold Coast route increased by 70 per cent to $432 and Canberra to Melbourne by 54 percent to $298. The ACCC report added that prices of domestic flights might not come down until a new third airline comes in to challenge the duopoly that is Qantas and Virgin Australia. Qantas, which also owns Jetstar, and Virgin carried 98 per cent of domestic passengers, according to the ACCC. “The exit of Rex as a third competing airline group on services between metropolitan cities may have significant longer-term impacts on the domestic aviation sector,” Brakey said. However, Qantas Domestic chief executive Markus Svensson criticised the report, saying it only showed "a snapshot of the lowest fares available to purchase on a particular day", without taking into account events, like the Coldplay concert, "which may impact demand and fares." The airline said the day chosen for the latest report was October 31, when Coldplay had their show in Melbourne. “As such, demand was significantly higher on flights into Melbourne, which means lower fares were snapped up early and the fares left available to purchase three weeks out were higher than usual. The average fare increase on these routes between July and October was significantly lower,” Qantas said. The claimed that their airfares from July to September had increased in line with inflation from the same period in 2023. While domestic airfares are going up, international flights are coming down, with data from Flight Centre showing the cost of an international economy airfare falling by 5 to 10 per cent from the July to September period last year to the same time this year. Image: Claudio Veneroni/IPA/ Shutterstock Editorial

Domestic Travel

Predictably, domestic airfares surged after the collapse of Rex. There aren’t many good solutions

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/doug-drury-1277871">Doug Drury</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> Australia’s airline industry is famously duopolistic. Just two companies – Qantas and Virgin Australia – service 98% of the domestic passenger market. That’s not for a lack of other companies having <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/travel-news/grounded-five-of-australias-biggest-airline-failures-20221216-h28pzn.html">tried to secure a foothold</a>, over many decades. In 2024 alone, we’ve seen the high-profile collapse of both <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-just-happened-to-bonza-why-new-budget-airlines-always-struggle-in-australia-228995">Bonza</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/rex-airlines-future-up-in-the-air-amid-questions-about-viability-of-small-airlines-in-australia-235761">Rex</a>, airlines that once ignited hopes for much greater competition in the sector. Now, we’re beginning to see the predictable effects of their exit. According to a <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/domestic-airfares-increase-amid-reduced-airline-competition">quarterly report</a> released on Tuesday by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), domestic airfares on major city routes increased by 13.3% to September after Rex Airlines halted its capital city services at the end of July. There’s little reason to be optimistic about things changing anytime soon. Australia’s lack of competition means airfares are only likely to remain inflated due to higher demand and lower supply. <h2>How are airfares actually set?</h2> To predict what the market will bear in a given year, airlines use a process called <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0969699714000556">revenue management</a>. This involves sophisticated mathematical modelling, incorporating a range of factors – seasonal variations for school breaks, holidays, and major sporting events – to determine both what the airlines can charge per passenger and what the likely impact will be on their bottom line. There are three main expenses that airlines expect every year which fluctuate regularly: <ul> <li>fuel prices</li> <li>aircraft maintenance</li> <li>salaries.</li> </ul> But the Australian market has some unique characteristics. Our options for travelling the vast distances between major cities are very limited – and, if we’re not flying, very time-consuming too. Many of us choose to fly as it provides us more time at our destination for leisure or work, without a massive road trip or train ride. Our airline duopoly is very aware of this, and know we’re willing to pay a premium for convenience. The ACCC found that the price of “best discount economy” tickets on routes Rex had recently departed had <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/domestic-airfares-increase-amid-reduced-airline-competition">increased significantly</a> – up 95% between Adelaide and Melbourne, and 54% between Canberra and Melbourne. The report also noted that fuel prices declined by more than 40% in the 12 months to September, which the airlines have not adjusted for in their pricing model. <h2>The best solution’s a long shot</h2> For Australian passengers to pay lower domestic airfares, competition from another airline is the only viable solution. That might seem like a far-fetched proposition for the foreseeable future. Any airline attempting to start up in Australia would need significant financial backing to weather market fluctuations, and a singular focus on flying the airline. There might be some hope on the horizon with a possible new entrant, Koala Airlines, in the press recently, stating its intentions to enter this market and be successful. Many customers may be hoping Koala can excel where Bonza and Rex were unable to. However, its entry remains quite some way off. Koala is still working on attaining an <a href="https://www.casa.gov.au/licences-and-certificates/air-operators">air operators certificate</a> (AOC) from CASA and a fleet of new aircraft. Koala has given few details about its business strategy, except for a promised <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-29/koala-airlines-to-enter-qantas-virgin-duopoly-four-corners/104405640">cash refund guarantee</a> for passengers, and plans to implement <a href="https://koalaair.com.au/koala-tech/">artificial intelligence</a> to remain viable in the market. <h2>What else can be done?</h2> Can the government do anything to protect new entrants, to support them through the initial startup phase? Part-ownership of any new airline by the government is probably off the cards. Salvaging the competition we have left may be a better strategy. Also on Tuesday, the government announced an <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/transport/labor-stumps-up-80m-to-keep-failing-airline-rex-afloat-20241112-p5kpu3">$80 million support package</a> to keep Rex’s regional services operational. Much of Rex’s fleet of SAAB 340 aircraft is in need of repair, so this will help somewhat. But such a big spending package is reminiscent of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/government-funding-to-qantas-and-virgin-to-ensure-air-services-on-key-routes-136554">pandemic-era strategies</a> the government will not want to revisit on a grand scale. <h2>Better compliance</h2> Other strategies could focus on ensuring that everyone plays fairly and doesn’t abuse the system to keep market share. The ACCC’s latest report is part of ongoing quarterly reporting, after the Treasurer redirected the ACCC to monitor domestic airfares for another three years in November last year. But other regulatory oversight may have been lacking. <a href="https://www.aap.com.au/news/competition-at-sydney-airport-less-than-we-like/">Speaking</a> before a senate inquiry on Tuesday, Sydney Airport’s Scott Charlton said that until recently, a compliance committee set up to monitor Sydney Airport’s slot system hadn’t met for five years. The government will need to tread carefully. If it wants to provide incentives for new entrants, it will need to do so in a manner that does not appear to be a re-regulation strategy, creating hardships for Qantas and Virgin Australia. Ultimately, appearing to re-regulate the Australian aviation sector is not in line with the government’s long term strategy of keeping the airline market stable through less intervention. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/243463/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/doug-drury-1277871">Doug Drury</a>, Professor/Head of Aviation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/predictably-domestic-airfares-surged-after-the-collapse-of-rex-there-arent-many-good-solutions-243463">original article</a>. </div>

Domestic Travel

Readers response: Have you ever seen or met a member of the royal family during one of their visits?

When the royal family make one of their special, dedicated visits to Australia, some royal fans are lucky enough to catch a glimpse, or even have an interaction with them. We asked our readers if they have ever seen or met a member of the royal family, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Mike Rogerson - I saw the Queen and Prince Phillip on the Princes Highway at Blakehurst, NSW. They were on their way to Wollongong, NSW. We were a group of Blakehurst primary school children on the side of the road in 1954. I was eight at the time. Lorraine Strand - First saw the Queen when the country school kids travelled by train to Adelaide. Then again in Darwin, when she was visiting houses built after Cyclone Tracy. On a more recent visit by the royals, my husband and I attended the same St Paul’s Anglican Church Service in Canberra as the Queen and Prince Phillip. Annette Maree - I saw the Queen when she was driven past my house in the 1960’s. She was stunning. I clearly remember her wave, her smile, and her “peaches and cream” complexion. It was one of those flashbulb moments that stays in your mind forever. Glenda Grange - Yes in 1983 I saw Diana and Charles. They attended a royal command performance in Melbourne. I received a formal gilt edge invitation and was one person away from them. I was invited as a bush fire victim of Ash Wednesday. Elaine Smith - I haven’t but my mum and grandpa did, in 1954 when she came to our small country town of Red Cliffs, VIC. My grandpa and mum were on a special platform with aged residents of country towns, even got to shake hands with her. I was in the crowd with my girl guide group. Gary Johnson - 1970 when I was in first year high school we went to Perth airport to see Prince Phillip arrive. I had a school blazer on and Prince Phillip came over and asked what school I was from. If it wasn't for my mum forcing me to wear it, I wouldn't have that great memory. Janice Yvonne Colman - Not in Australia, but in the UK when they passed by our village on way to a county close by. My brother & I got the royal waves as we stood on the side of the road! We were quite thrilled as we were only 14 & 12 at the time. Jean Bryant - I saw Princess Margaret back in the 50's when she visited a British Air Force base in Germany. Ian Hewitt - Yes! At NSW Government house in 1992. It was an honour to us to personally meet their majesties. Image credits: Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

Bondi Rescue star charged with domestic violence offences

Bondi Rescue star Andrew Reid is facing domestic violence charges over a series of alleged assault in Sydney. The 45-year-old lifeguard and reality TV star has pleaded not guilty to two counts of common assault, which allegedly took place between November 2022 and January this year on the city's North Shore, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. He also faces a third assault charge dating back to March, while a fourth domestic violence charged was dismissed. The allegations relate to the same woman, who has been listed as a protected person under an apprehended domestic violence order against Reid. Reid has appeared at a hearing to oppose the allegations against him. His lawyer Margaret Cunneen told the Sydney Morning Herald that the allegations will be "vigorously defended". "There are three very disparate allegations with a long time in between all, of which on the defence case, could be accounted for by an accident," she said. "There is no hitting or punching alleged. His good character will be squarely raised in the question of proof in these allegations" Earlier this year, the longtime Bondi Rescue star made headlines for helping people during the deadly Westfield Bondi Junction attack in April. Reid, who has first-aid training, aided some of the wounded during the attack that left six people dead. At the time, he had been locked behind a safety door in Myer, before he convinced a security guard to let him out to help a woman who was bleeding. The hearing will continue in March next year. Need to talk to someone? Don't go it alone. Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). Readers seeking support can also contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636. Image: Nine

Legal

Aussies chat with King Charles on first day of royal tour

Hundreds of Aussies have lined up for a hours to catch a glimpse of King Charles and Queen Camilla on the first day of their royal tour of Australia, with some royal fans getting the chance to have a brief moment with the monarch. In their first public appearance of the royal couple’s five-day tour Down Under, Charles and Camilla attended a church service at St Thomas Anglican Church on Sunday morning in North Sydney as hundreds of fans waited to see the royals. After the service, Charles and Camilla made an unexpected stop to talk fans who had congregated on the street. Royalist Mary-Anne Spring said the monarch made the stop after a boy “yelled out” asking him to come over to the group, as Ms Spring shared that she spoke to the King about his health. “I welcomed them to Sydney and I wished the King all the very best in his cancer treatment. He said thank you very much I really appreciate it,” she told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/king-charles-queen-camillas-first-public-appearance-in-australia-on-royal-tour/news-story/f23713cc089ce37d149fd829c68e50fd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>. “I think it’s good to support them and the work they do.” Another royal fan, Malcolm Lemirae, managed to gift the Queen a bunch of red roses. “They accepted the flowers and Camilla asked if I grew them and I said I grew them in my garden,” he said. "I think she was thrilled about that. It’s just a little symbol of my gratitude for them coming out. The guy's got cancer. To come out here and do that trip, it’s a long, long trip.” Julianne McCartney, who is originally from the UK, also had her own moment with the King, recalling her previous encounter with the royal family. She said, “He told me he really appreciated the crowd. He noticed my British accent and asked if I was from the UK, I said I had met his mother before and I think he thought that was quite nice actually.” On Monday, King Charles and Queen Camilla will head to Canberra for a reception with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with other political and community leaders. Image credits: DEAN LEWINS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial

Domestic Travel

How do we save ageing Australians from the heat? Greening our cities is a good start

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/claudia-baldwin-248780">Claudia Baldwin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-sunshine-coast-1068">University of the Sunshine Coast</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-byrne-6066">Jason Byrne</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tony-matthews-234160">Tony Matthews</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a> Heatwaves have killed more Australians than <a href="https://ama.com.au/ausmed/heatwave-health-warning">road accidents</a>, fires, floods and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901114000999">all other natural disasters combined</a>. Although <a href="https://theconversation.com/forget-heatwaves-our-cold-houses-are-much-more-likely-to-kill-us-83030">recent research</a> shows extreme cold is a worry in some parts of Australia, <a href="https://theconversation.com/2018-19-was-australias-hottest-summer-on-record-with-a-warm-autumn-likely-too-112616">our hottest summer on record</a> points to more heat-related deaths to come. The <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-stubborn-high-pressure-system-behind-australias-record-heatwaves-110442">record heatwaves</a> have highlighted the damaging effects of heat stress. Understandably, it’s becoming a major <a href="https://ama.com.au/ausmed/heatwaves-nation%E2%80%99s-deadliest-natural-disaster-0">public health challenge</a>. The risk of extreme heat events and the adverse impacts on older people has been extensively <a href="https://jech.bmj.com/content/64/9/753.short">discussed in research</a>. Remarkably, very little attention has been paid to the role of urban greenery in reducing heat stress for seniors. Older people are particularly at risk of heat stress. Pre-existing medical conditions and limited mobility increase their vulnerability. <a href="http://www.cmaj.ca/content/182/10/1053.short">Deaths of older people increase</a> during extreme heat events. The physical features of urban areas shape the capacity of older adults to engage in many activities when it’s hot. These include vegetation volume and coverage, <a href="https://theconversation.com/building-cool-cities-for-a-hot-future-57489">thermal design</a>, and the extent of shading in public areas and walkways. Increasing urban greenery may offer a way to improve older people’s comfort and social experience. <h2>Ageing adds urgency to greening</h2> It is expected <a href="http://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/ageing/">20% of the global population</a> will be older than 60 by 2050. The figure for Australia <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mediareleasesbyTopic/2CA2134677EF9D03CA257C2E0017283B?OpenDocument">is even higher</a>, at 23%. This means that by 2050 around one in four Australians will be more vulnerable to extreme heat. <figure class="align-right zoomable"></figure> Climate change may make the problem worse by <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379708006867">fuelling even more extreme heat</a> events. Planning our urban centres to meet the needs of a <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australia-at-a-glance/contents/demographics-of-older-australians">rapidly ageing population</a> is a matter of urgency. Urban greening to reduce their vulnerability to heat stress should be central to this agenda. It can also improve people’s quality of life, reduce <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1353829208001172">social isolation and loneliness</a>, and ease the burden on health systems. An important task is matching the design of communities with the needs of an ageing population. Where older adults live and the quality of their local areas strongly influence their lived experiences. Yet <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0885412217704649">recent research</a> found the experiences of seniors were often not accounted for in research on neighbourhood design. <h2>What about aged care?</h2> People face choices about where they live as they age. The common choices are to “<a href="https://theconversation.com/for-australians-to-have-the-choice-of-growing-old-at-home-here-is-what-needs-to-change-91488">age in place</a>” or to move into aged care. Ageing in place includes living in one’s own home or <a href="https://theconversation.com/co-housing-works-well-for-older-people-once-they-get-past-the-image-problem-79907">co-habiting with relatives or friends</a>. Around 90% of Australian seniors <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/research/completed/housing-decisions-older-australians/housing-decisions-older-australians.pdf">choose this option</a>, with the remainder opting for aged-care facilities. If one in ten Australian seniors live in aged-care facilities, it is clear these should be designed to minimise heat stress. This isn’t just good for residents; it may also benefit operators by lowering health-care and electricity costs. While these facilities are purpose-built for older people, many in Australia were built well over a decade ago, when heat stress was not such a large concern. Many more facilities are being built now and will be into the future. Yet it is uncertain whether they are being actively designed to reduce the impacts of heat. <h2>What has our research found?</h2> We recently conducted a focus group to investigate this issue. Participants were senior managers from four large corporate providers of aged care in Australia. We investigated if and how providers try to minimise heat stress through design. We also sought to understand the rationales used to support these design approaches. Several participants reported on refurbishments that they expect will have cooling effects. Cited design approaches included green roofs and walls, as well as sensory gardens. Other expected benefits included reducing anxiety and improving the mental health of residents. The fact that single design interventions could produce multiple benefits improved the potential for corporate buy-in. Participants expected that increasing green space and green cover would give their facilities a competitive advantage by attracting more clients and providing a better working environment for staff. Participants also reported on challenges of including greening in their projects. For example, the benefits of trees were weighed against concerns about roots disrupting footpaths and becoming trip hazards. Species selection was another concern, with fears that inappropriate plants could die and undermine support for greening programs. Our research suggests that more can be done to make cities hospitable for older people, especially during extreme heat. Urban greening is a start. Encouraging aged-care providers to adopt green infrastructure will have benefits. But we should also consider reforms to planning systems and urban design to better protect older people who choose to age in place.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/112613/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/claudia-baldwin-248780">Claudia Baldwin</a>, Associate Professor, Urban Design and Town Planning, Sustainability Research Centre, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-sunshine-coast-1068">University of the Sunshine Coast</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-byrne-6066">Jason Byrne</a>, Professor of Human Geography and Planning, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tony-matthews-234160">Tony Matthews</a>, Senior Lecturer in Urban and Environmental Planning, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-we-save-ageing-australians-from-the-heat-greening-our-cities-is-a-good-start-112613">original article</a>. </div>

Domestic Travel

Clint Eastwood's daughter arrested for domestic violence

Clint Eastwood's daughter Francesca has been arrested for felony domestic violence following an incident at her home in Beverley Hills. A spokesman for the Beverly Hills Police Department told the New York Post, “On Saturday, October 12, 2024, at approximately 10.42pm, the Beverly Hills Police Department responded to the ‘Safety Zone’ at 464 North Rexford Drive (BHPD HQ) for a radio call of a possible domestic violence incident.” “Officers conducted an investigation, and based on statements and injuries, Francesca Ruth Fisher Eastwood of Los Angeles was arrested for a felony, PC 273.5 – domestic violence, and was booked at BHPD Jail,” the spokesman added. TMZ was the first to report on the incident, saying that Francesca had a verbal argument with her boyfriend while driving around Beverly Hills, before the fight allegedly escalated and became physical. Francesca's boyfriend called the police when the physical altercations began, with officers advising him to drive to what’s known as the “Safety Zone” outside of the Beverly Hills Police Department so he could speak with law enforcement officers. The couple arrived at the location and had their statements taken by police, where Francesca's partner was allegedly assessed for injuries, which led to her arrest. Her boyfriend refused medical aid, and Francesca was released from police custody after posting $US50,000 bail, TMZ reported. While the name of the alleged victim was not released, Francesca has been in a relationship with actor Alexander Wraith since 2018 and the couple share a a six-year-old son, Titan. It is not clear if Wraith was involved in the incident. Image credits: Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock Editorial

Legal

Millions of Aussies eligible for free holidays

Millions of Australians are set to be eligible for free holidays under a new initiative by the Victorian government in an attempt to ease cost-of-living pressures. From December, any Aussies wishing to embark on a camping trip in Victoria will have all their booking fees waived. Camping will be free at all 131 of Parks Victoria’s paid campgrounds from December 1st 2024, until June 30th 2025, saving families an estimated $7.3 million in booking fees, according to the state government. Those who have already booked a camping trip before the promotion's commencement date will still have the offer honoured, with full refunds available online. Premier Jacinta Allan said in the lead up to the festive season, every family deserves a holiday that won't break the bank. "Busy families deserve a great holiday in our great outdoors – and this summer, they can stay for free," she said. "I grew up camping with my family and those special memories have stayed with me forever." Each year, approximately 50 million people visit Victoria’s iconic state forests and national parks every year for activities including camping, hiking, fishing and hunting and four-wheel driving All bookings and refunds under the scheme can be made at <a href="https://www.parks.vic.gov.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">parks.vic.gov.au</a>. Image credits: Parks Victoria

Domestic Travel

Incredible reason behind Aussie woman's 5,500km outback ride

Sarah Wheeler has been travelling through the New South Wales outback for the last four and a half months, doing it entirely on horseback. The 26-year-old Aussie plans to ride 5,500 kilometres through outback Queensland and New South Wales to raise awareness about the rare cancer that killed her mum in 2022, a little over a decade after her father passed away. With around four months left on her trip, Wheeler and her two horses, Shifty and Sally, are slowly trekking across some of the most remote and rugged parts of the country in a trip that has never been done before. "I'd always thought about doing something like this throughout my life," Wheeler told Yahoo News. "So after my parents died, I went out and bought two horses and, yeah, set off on a five-and-a-half-thousand-kilometre horse ride to honour and remember, and grieve." Wheeler set off with her horses from her hometown Rowena in western NSW in May, and has since travelled across long stretches of highways, desolate plains and rocky terrain and has now passed the halfway mark. She explained that in recent weeks she has also been trekking on foot and has contact with other people only when she stops in towns for supplies or when she feeds her horses, using a support vehicle. "The car travels 10 kilometres at a time so that I can keep replenishing my horses, with both food and water. Ten kilometres takes me two hours, sometimes a bit longer, and I'm usually in the saddle for six to eight hours a day," she told the publication. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C89KIgsxb_A/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C89KIgsxb_A/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sarah Wheeler - The Outback Long Ride (@_beneaththebrim)</a> </div> </blockquote> "The most challenging thing has probably been the saddles and saddle pads and cleanliness — that's all so important. I have to wash my saddle blankets every second day. Otherwise, things just start happening, like fungus type of stuff." She added that while "this has been one of the hardest things I have ever done", the friendliness and support of locals has been a highlight of her trip. "Everyone's so lovely and inviting and, yeah, I just I didn't think that I was going to see that to this extent," she said. "People want to invite me in and feed me, they just want to help me as much as they can." Remembering her late parents' legacy, Wheeler said she wants everyone to know just how "remarkable" they both were. "They were like everything this world needed and more," she said. "They were very kind and genuine and humble." Wheeler's ride is raising awareness and funds for two key charities: <a href="https://pancare-gi-cancer.raisely.com/sarah-wheeler" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pancare Foundation</a>, the lead organisation supporting families and funding research for upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, which claimed the life of her mother, and A Daughter’s Way, her own charity supporting rural families experiencing grief. Images: Instagram

Domestic Travel

Great-grandmother celebrated her 93rd birthday by skydiving

A great-grandmother from the Gold Coast has proved that age is just a number, by celebrating her 93rd birthday by going skydiving. Betty Gregory first got a taste for the thrill of being in the sky when she was just 17 and working in England's Royal Air Force. She told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/today/queensland-great-grandmother-jumps-out-of-plane-to-celebrate-93rd-birthday/707b554c-f6e4-47a5-b63f-b05370bfaaad">Today</a>, "I was 17 and I was doing a photographic course where I had to go up in a plane to do some aerial photography training." "I had to crawl past the pilot's legs, where they'd taken a panel out of the nose and installed this camera on a framework and I could see all the little fields with animals and cars on little tiny roads and I thought it would be very nice to do a jump." After she landed safely on the ground, Betty tried to convince the pilot to take her back up and let her do a jump, but to no avail. She put the idea on the back burner, vowing to herself to do the skydive at some stage in the future. Fast forward a few decades, when Betty had settled on the Gold Coast and started a family, she began thinking of the skydive once more. "I saw them landing on Kirra Beach and I thought, 'Now there's an idea, I'll do that for my 80th birthday,'" she said. So she did, and she pledged to go again on her 85th birthday for her second skydive. "I was going to do another one at 90, but COVID-19 happened and everything was cancelled," she said. "Then, for my 91st birthday, my son came up from Victoria and I asked if he also wanted to jump, he said 'well, I suppose if you can do it at 91, mum, I can do it at 68.'" As Betty’s love for jumping out of planes grew, she decided not to wait until her 95th birthday to do it again. "The numbers of my age are getting quite high, so I thought maybe I won't leave it for 95, I'll do it at 93 instead," she said. Betty admitted she's even gotten friendly with the tandem jumper who lets her manoeuvre the parachute handles so she can spend a little bit longer sailing through the skies. "It's exhilarating, it really is - I really enjoy it," she said. Image credits: Today

Domestic Travel

Private island off Queensland coast up for sale

A private island in northern Queensland is up for sale for $15million. Timana Island, also known as Thorpe Island, boasts 15 hectares of rainforest, a private beach and a beach shack. The island located off Mission Beach between Cairns and Townsville is one of the few private freehold islands in Australia, that is in "pristine" condition. "It's sort of beyond words, but you're sitting there listening to the waves, lapping up the orchestra of birds and the smells of the blossoming rainforest," Steve Wiltshire from Mission Beach Real Estate told Today. He added that fruit trees were growing wild on the island and could be "gardened" up. "And then it rises steeply up to a hillock, and it's covered in dense rainforest," he said. While the beach shack is currently uninhabitable, he added that is has a strong foundation for those interested in renovating it and turning it into something special. "There's an old shack there that is in need of a lot of attention - but strong bones, as we say in the industry." Images: Today

Domestic Travel

Daylight savings is about to start. But why do the days get longer?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/laura-nicole-driessen-892965">Laura Nicole Driessen</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> The days are getting longer and in Australia, the switch to daylight saving time is almost upon us (for about 70% of the population, anyway). But why do we have longer days in summer and shorter days in winter? <h2>It’s all about the tilt</h2> Earth goes around the Sun in an almost circular orbit. But not everything is lined up perfectly. Earth’s axis is tilted by 23.44 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun. Imagine Earth’s orbit as a flat frisbee with the Sun in the middle and Earth as a ball on a stick going around the edge. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/623235/original/file-20241003-16-xourdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/623235/original/file-20241003-16-xourdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/623235/original/file-20241003-16-xourdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/623235/original/file-20241003-16-xourdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/623235/original/file-20241003-16-xourdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/623235/original/file-20241003-16-xourdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/623235/original/file-20241003-16-xourdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/623235/original/file-20241003-16-xourdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Diagram of Earth's rotation around the sun." /></a><figcaption>Earth goes around the Sun in an almost circular orbit. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/earths-orbit-earth-rotation-around-sun-2441275921">Angela Cini/Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> If Earth’s axis wasn’t tilted (if its tilt was zero degrees) the stick would be exactly perpendicular to the frisbee. If you grab that perpendicular stick and tip it 23.44 degrees sideways, that’s what Earth’s tilt looks like now. As Earth orbits the Sun, the tilt of the stick does not rotate relative to the Sun. If you were in outer space looking at the Sun and you watched from the exact same position for a whole year, you would see Earth go around the Sun while the stick stayed tilted the same direction. In other words, if the top of the stick was pointing to the right when you started watching Earth go around the Sun, it would stay pointing to the right the whole way around. This tilt gives us longer days in summer and shorter days in winter. Let’s set up the scenario so the Northern Hemisphere is the top of the planet and the Southern Hemisphere is the bottom of the planet. When Earth is on one side of the Sun, the top of the stick is pointed towards the Sun. This is summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Six months later, when Earth is on the other side of the Sun, the bottom of the stick is pointed towards the Sun – and the seasons are reversed. <h2>Solstices and equinoxes</h2> Those two points, when the top of the stick is pointing directly towards the Sun or directly away from the Sun, are the solstices. They are the longest and shortest days of the year, depending on your hemisphere. The shortest day of 2024 in Australia was June 21. Looking forward to sunnier times, the longest day of the year in 2024 will be December 21. In between the summer and winter solstice, we have the equinoxes – when days and nights are almost exactly the same length. Those are the days when the stick through Earth is “side-on” to the Sun. The equinox is also the day when the Sun passes directly over Earth’s equator. In 2024 this happened on March 20 at 2:06pm AEDT and September 22 at 10:43pm AEST. That means that since September 22, days have been getting longer than nights in the Southern Hemisphere. <h2>What does daylight savings do?</h2> Earth’s tilt means the Sun both rises earlier and sets later as we head towards summer. When the clocks (in some states) switch to daylight saving time, people in these states all get one hour less of sleep. However, the total length of the day doesn’t change just because we changed our clocks. For me, daylight savings means I need an extra cup of coffee in the morning for about a week before I adjust to the daylight savings-lag (like jet lag, but without the fun of travel). What it really gives us is more daylight in the evening, instead of more daylight in the morning. If you’re already a morning person, this isn’t the way to go. But if you prefer to have a long dinner in the summer sun it’s ideal. <h2>Has it always been this way?</h2> Earth’s axis hasn’t always been tilted at 23.44 degrees. It cycles from a minimum 22.1 degree tilt to a maximum 24.5 degree tilt and back again once every approximately 41,000 years. Earth’s axis also “precesses”, where the stick through it draws a circle once every approximately 26,000 years. You can see this in the animation below. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/622704/original/file-20241001-16-lh8pl9.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/622704/original/file-20241001-16-lh8pl9.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/622704/original/file-20241001-16-lh8pl9.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/622704/original/file-20241001-16-lh8pl9.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/622704/original/file-20241001-16-lh8pl9.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/622704/original/file-20241001-16-lh8pl9.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/622704/original/file-20241001-16-lh8pl9.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/622704/original/file-20241001-16-lh8pl9.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A gif of the Earth wobbling in a circle on its axis." /></a><figcaption>Demonstration of the precession of Earth’s axis. <a class="source" href="https://science.nasa.gov/resource/axial-precession-wobble/">NASA/JPL-Caltech</a></figcaption></figure> The length of a day on Earth hasn’t always been the same, either. At the moment, the length of a day is nearly exactly 24 hours. But it’s shifting all the time by tiny amounts. This is tracked very closely by a system of telescopes and satellites. These systems measure “<a href="https://ggos.org/item/earth-orientation-parameter/#:%7E:text=Accordingly%2C%20the%20EOP%20describe%20the,as%20tides%20and%20continental%20drift">Earth orientation parameters</a>” that describe Earth’s exact orientation compared to the position of stars in the sky. These are important to astronomers because the exact location of our telescopes is important for creating accurate maps of the sky. On top of all of this, the gravitational drag from the Moon causes days to become longer by around 2.3 milliseconds every 100 years. A few billion years ago, Earth’s day was a lot shorter – <a href="https://www.earthscope.org/news/a-day-is-not-always-24-hours-how-earths-shifting-systems-cause-day-length-variation/#:%7E:text=Billions%20of%20years%20ago%2C%20the,to%20the%20day%20every%20century">only 19 hours long</a>. Even though some of us are losing an hour of sleep this weekend, at least we get to enjoy 2.3 milliseconds longer every day than our great – and great-great – grandparents did.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/240221/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/laura-nicole-driessen-892965">Laura Nicole Driessen</a>, Postdoctoral researcher in radio astronomy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/daylight-savings-is-about-to-start-but-why-do-the-days-get-longer-240221">original article</a>. </div>

Domestic Travel

Australia’s best honeymoon destinations revealed

From picturesque beaches and charming wineries, to remote desert landscapes and enchanting rainforests, Australia is home to some of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world. And while many newlyweds may choose to honeymoon abroad, there are many special locations on our own shores to celebrate your nuptials. Travellers have voted for Australia’s top honeymoon destination with <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/destinations/aussie-travel-trends-index-best-places-for-honeymoon-australia-9travel-today-show/130ca8d4-46ef-43a7-924e-25fcb4acb948">9Travel’</a>s survey of <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/travel-survey">Aussie Travel Trends Index</a>, highlighting the top spots Down Under to explore after your big day. The tropical paradise of the Whitsundays has been crowned the most popular honeymoon destination in Australia, with 1 in 5 voting for the world-famous Queensland spot. Travellers can island hop their way through the 74 tropical islands and experience some of the world's best beaches and tranquil lagoons, while also indulging in a range of honeymoon accommodation packages. Tasmania and the Sunshine Coast were considered the next best options, with the Gold Coast also receiving plenty of love from eager travellers. If a beach holiday isn't quite what you're after, Broome in Western Australia and the Barossa Valley in South Australia were other destinations considered some of the best for honeymoons in the country. Check out the entire top ten list below. <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Whitsundays, Queensland </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Tasmania </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Sunshine Coast, Queensland </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Gold Coast, Queensland </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Broome, Western Australia </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Barossa Valley, South Australia </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Byron Bay, New South Wales </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Mornington Peninsula, Victoria </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Melbourne, Victoria </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Kangaroo Island, South Australia </li> </ol> Image credits: Shutterstock

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