An ‘extraordinary’ study taking place at Dunedin in New Zealand It is the world’s rarest whale, with only seven of its kind ever spotted. Almost nothing is known about the enigmatic species. But on Monday a small group of scientists and cultural experts in New Zealand clustered around a near-perfectly preserved spade-toothed whale hoping to decode decades of mystery. “I can’t tell you how extraordinary it is,” said a joyful Anton van Helden, senior marine science adviser for New Zealand’s conservation agency, who gave the spade-toothed whale its name to distinguish it from other beaked species. “For me personally, it’s unbelievable.” Van Helden has studied beaked whales for 35 years, but Monday was the first time he has participated in a dissection of the spade-toothed variet...
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travelogues, travel articles and news from across the various countries of Oceania region
An emperor penguin found malnourished far from its Antarctic home on the Australian south coast is being cared for by a wildlife expert, a government department said Monday. In this photo provided by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, a male emperor penguin dubbed Gus, stands on a beach near Denmark, Australia, on Nov. 1, 2024, thousands of kilometers from its normal habitat on Antarctica. (DBCA via AP) The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on a popular tourist beach in the town of Denmark in temperate southwest Australia — about 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) north of the icy waters off the Antarctic coast, according to a statement from the Western Australia state’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. The largest penguin species has ...
Read MoreAmora Hotels & Resorts attracts the jet-setters of today with experiential lifestyle offerings such as the newly launched Brooksy in Sydney Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney’s newly-launched Brooksy makes its mark in the city’s vibrant food and drink scene by redefining the hotel lounge experience. As part of Amora Hotels & Resorts’ strategy to blend progressive hospitality with bold F&B innovations, Brooksy epitomises a new era where business acumen meets creative execution. The strategic launch of Brooksy not only enhances the group's portfolio of innovative lifestyle offerings but also sets a precedent for hotel lounges aspiring to transcend conventional offerings and deliver unique, memorable guest experiences rooted in efficiency and elegance. A Speakeasy Concept wi...
Read MoreThe International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed disappointment with the New Zealand Government's decision to increase the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). “It has been a double whammy for the New Zealand travel and tourism sector, starting with New Zealand Immigration announcing steep increases in visa fees, and now the increase in the IVL. These changes make travel to New Zealand more expensive and less attractive and could further delay the recovery in visitor numbers to beyond 2026,” said Dr. Xie Xingquan, IATA’s Regional Vice President for North Asia and Asia-Pacific (ad interim). The recovery of the New Zealand aviation market currently lags behind major markets such as Australia, Canada, France, Spain, the UK, and the US. These market...
Read MoreIf confirmed, will shed clues on spade-toothed whales Spade-toothed whales are the world’s rarest, with no live sightings ever recorded. No one knows how many there are, what they eat, or even where they live in the vast expanse of the southern Pacific Ocean. However, scientists in New Zealand may have finally caught a break. The country’s conservation agency said Monday a creature that washed up on a South Island beach this month is believed to be a spade-toothed whale. The five-meter-long creature, a type of beaked whale, was identified after it washed ashore on an Otago beach from its color patterns and the shape of its skull, beak and teeth. “We know very little, practically nothing” about the creatures, Hannah Hendriks, marine technical adviser for the Department of Cons...
Read MoreVivid Sydney 2024 has kicked off its 14th year with a spectacular opening night, as the festival transforms Sydney's glittering harbour, iconic landmarks and cityscape with a showcase of creativity and innovation for the next 23 nights. The Southern Hemisphere's leading multi-artform festival will run from Friday 24 May to Saturday 15 June, featuring the world's most innovative artists, culinary talent, contemporary musicians and thought leaders as part of its 2024 program under the theme of Humanity. The 'Lights On' moment wowed onlookers with over 30 light installations and 3D projections across the famed 8km Vivid Sydney Light Walk, highlighted by the Sydney Opera House featuring the breathtaking new digital artwork, Lighting of the Sails: Echo (2024). Created by multidisciplinar...
Read MoreAustralian scientists find coral bleaching in Great Barrier Reef’s far north
Australian researchers have found coral bleaching around six islands in the far northern parts of the Great Barrier Reef, after a government agency said last week a major bleaching event was unfolding across the world's most extensive reef ecosystem. Scientists at the James Cook University said on Friday they found only a few relatively healthy areas, mostly in deeper waters, after surveying sites at the Turtle Group National Park, about 10 km (6.2 miles) offshore the state of Queensland. "It was quite devastating to see just how much bleaching there was, particularly in the shallows ... (but) they were all still at the stage of bleaching where they could still recover as long as the water temperatures decline in time," lead researcher Maya Srinivasan told Reuters. Bleaching ...
Read MoreA gift for loved ones & the planet: Tourism Fiji and the Coral Gardeners introduce the Coral Bouquet It is the season of love, and how better to express your feelings to your loved one than by giving a bouquet of red roses, a box of assorted chocolates, a romantic dinner date, or a long drive. At Tourism Fiji it’s time to twist this age-old tradition and talk sustainable. This year, Fiji, the South Pacific archipelago and top honeymoon destination is offering lovebirds a sustainable alternative in the form of a Coral Bouquet planting for Valentine’s Day. Home to the third-largest barrier reef in the world (The Great Sea Reef, known as Cakaulevu), Fiji is surrounded by beautiful but also fragile corals at threat from warming oceans. 100% of the proceeds from this alternative ...
Read MoreHundreds of hip-shaking and wig-wearing Elvis Presley fans on Thursday began their annual pilgrimage to the Elvis Festival in the Australian outback, the world's largest tribute to the iconic musician. Revellers in their sequin-encrusted jumpsuits danced to several of the King's biggest hits at Sydney's Central railway terminal before catching the 'Elvis Express' to the rural town of Parkes, 357 km (222 miles) westward. FILE PHOTO: An Elvis Presley impersonator performs at Sydney Central Railway Station before departing for the Parkes Elvis Festival, in Sydney, Australia, January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy Passengers on the six-hour train trip will be treated to a steady stream of Elvis-themed entertainment, with tribute artists belting out the King's biggest hits along the journ...
Read MoreSydney Opera House celebrated its 50th birthday on Friday, with a laser show planned to illuminate the iconic building. Officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973, the Opera House is widely regarded as one of the greatest architectural designs of the 20th century, with 10.9 million people visiting every year. The building was illuminated on Friday evening by a light show created by Australian audio-visual artist Robin Fox, before welcoming an expected 37,000 people on Saturday for free tours, its first open day in eight years. FILE PHOTO: Former architect and tour guide Peter Sekules poses for a photo at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia September 29, 2023. REUTERS/Alasdair Pal "A symbol around the world and a national treasure turns 50," Australian P...
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